Latest news with #NamdhariFC
News18
a day ago
- Sport
- News18
Durand Cup 2025: East Bengal eye third consecutive win against Indian Air Force
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], August 10 (ANI): Indian Super League (ISL) side East Bengal FC will look to notch up their third win on the trot in the Durand Cup when they face the Indian Air Force Football Team in their final group-stage match at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan on Sunday, as per the official website of Red & Gold Brigade sit atop Group A with six points from two matches, ahead of Namdhari FC, who also have six points but from three Bengal FC kicked off their campaign with a thumping 5-0 win over South United FC before edging past Namdhari FC in a hard-fought opponents, IAF FT, are already out of contention for a knockout berth, having secured just one point from their first two games. Bottom-placed South United FC also have one point, which came from their draw against IAF East Bengal FC, the objective will be to maintain their winning momentum and head into the knockout stage with a perfect record, making this a key clash despite already being top of the the other hand, their arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant thumped Diamond Harbour FC by a 5-1 scoreline at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Thapa, Jamie Maclaren, Liston Colaco, Sahal Abdul Samad, and Jason Cummings were on the scoresheet for the Mariners as they advanced to the Durand Cup the Mariners missing key players like Manvir Singh, Alberto Rodriguez, and Suhail Bhat due to injuries, Jose Molina's men dominated the game from the outset, controlling the ball possession and creating goal-scoring chances through both wings. Thapa broke the deadlock in the 19th minute with a beautiful curling finish from the edge of the Diamond Harbour FC shortly found the equaliser courtesy of Luka Majcen's goal from a one-on-one situation against Vishal Kaith. A sloppy defensive lapse from the MBSG's backline saw them concede the goal in the 24th restored the lead for the Kolkata giants with a clinical finish to score past the onrushing DHFC goalkeeper. Samad was again with his excellent passing range, initially snatched the ball from the opponent and played an inch-perfect through pass for the Australian, who got the better of that, Mohun Bagan Super Giant went into the halftime break with a 2-1 Harbour FC were down to ten men early in the second half as Naresh received a direct red card for a foul on Colaco inside the penalty box. Colaco, who has been in great form in the tournament with four goals in two games, made no mistake in finding the back of the net from the who was looking in better shape since the opening minute, also found himself on the scoresheet. A brilliant link-up play among Liston, Cummings, and Sahal saw the Mariners increase their also joined the party with a brilliant strike from the edge of the box. The forward came off the bench early in the second half and scored the fifth in the 80th such a dominating victory, Mohun Bagan Super Giant sealed their spot in the Durand Cup quarter-finals. (ANI)
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
NRC encore: As language pot stirs, politics re-enters football field
Kolkata: Blurring the lines between sport, fandom, and socio-political consciousness, football fans in Kolkata have increasingly turned stadiums into spaces of protest, using giant tifos as powerful visual statements voicing political and social anguish. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Over the years, these choreographed, handmade, and crowd-funded fan displays — traditionally used to show support for teams — have become instruments of dissent. On Wednesday, during a Durand Cup match against Namdhari FC at Salt Lake stadium, East Bengal fans unveiled a striking tifo: "Bharat Swadhin Korte Sedin Porechhilam Phansi, Maa er Bhasha Bolchi Bole, Ajke Bangladeshi (I was hanged that day to free India! Am I a Bangladeshi today because I speak my mother tongue?)" The banner condemned the recent row of labelling Bengali-speaking people as "Bangladeshi", a sentiment that many in the state say undermines the cultural contributions and sacrifices of Bengalis in the freedom struggle and Indian nation-building. The tifo was crowd-funded and hand-painted by the East Bengal Ultras, a group known not just for fan fervour but also for activism. "Our hearts are wounded," said an admin of East Bengal Ultras. "Calling Bengali a foreign language is an insult to the legacy of Tagore, Bose, and countless others. We won't stay silent. This is our way of fighting back." This is not the first time political messages have found space on the football field in Kolkata. In 2020, several fan groups used matches to voice opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens ( ). Tifos at the time carried messages calling for unity, secularism, and adherence to constitutional values. Last year, fan-created banners demanding justice after the rape and murder of a postgraduate doctor at RG Kar Medical College highlighted growing concerns about women's safety. Following the growing voice of dissent, the Bidhannagar City Police issued a notification last year, restricting the use of tifos during the semi-final match between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Bengaluru FC. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now However, the Calcutta High Court turned down the notification, allowing spectators to use tifos. Sociologists opine it's a rather new phenomenon in India where people are choosing football stadiums as a safe space to express dissent since public protests are monitored. "People are looking for new mediums to voice their dissent. Tifos carry the weight of the collective, the anonymity of the crowd, and the legitimacy of fandom. Those willing to send a message through tifos know there will be public gathering and media glare and that their message will spread, which will help create an opinion," said sociologist Prasanta Roy. Globally, tifos have long served as tools of protest. During the Arab Spring, Ultras Ahlawy, the hardcore fan group of Egypt's Al Ahly football club, played a prominent role in mobilising protests against the regime. In Europe, German fans have opposed the commercialisation of the game, while Polish ultras have used tifos to address historical memory, such as the Warsaw Uprising. In 2019, FC St Pauli fans in Germany unfurled a massive tifo condemning racism and xenophobia in the wake of far-right political gains. In Italy, fan groups have protested against corruption in football and even state policy through coordinated tifo displays. The term "tifo" is rooted in the Italian word "tifosi", referring to passionate sports fans. Post-World War II, the term was linked to typhus — suggesting that the feverish excitement of fans mirrored the delirium of illness. Today, tifos are massive visual statements that cover entire galleries, sometimes spanning dozens of metres. They are either 2D, which are flat banners, or 3D, that use rods and pulleys, often backed by pyro shows or choreographed movements. In India, creating such large tifos is particularly challenging due to stadium structures. "Salt Lake is among the world's largest stadiums," said a member of East Bengal Ultras. "You need weeks of planning and coordination to create something that spans even one gallery." But fans have mixed reactions. "I go to matches to watch football, not politics," said Abir Chakraborty, a Mohun Bagan supporter and a resident of Behala. "But I respect the right of fans to express themselves, especially when the issue is about identity and language."
News18
5 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Durand Cup 2025: East Bengal Edge Past Namdhari To Move Closer To Knockouts
Last Updated: East Bengal FC beat Namdhari FC 1-0 in the Durand Cup with Hamid Ahadad's debut goal. East Bengal leads Group A with six points, dominating possession despite Namdhari's defense. East Bengal FC took a significant step towards qualifying for the knockout stages of the 134th Durand Cup with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over a determined Namdhari FC in a Group A clash at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Wednesday. Making his debut for the Red and Golds, Moroccan forward Hamid Ahadad came off the bench to score the decisive goal in the 68th minute, marking a memorable first appearance. The win was East Bengal's second in as many matches, taking them to the top of Group A with six points and a healthy goal difference of +6. Head coach Oscar Bruzon rang in four changes from their opening fixture, handing starts to goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Brazilian midfielder Miguel Figueira, Greek striker Dimitrios Diamantakos, and winger Bipin Singh. Namdhari FC, still reeling from suspensions, made two forced changes. Skipper Akashdeep Singh returned to bolster the defence, while Manish Chaudhary was included in the attack in place of the suspended Manbir Singh. From the outset, East Bengal dominated possession and pinned Namdhari deep inside their half. However, goalkeeper Niraj Kumar produced a sensational performance to keep the favourites at bay. In the ninth minute, he rushed off his line to deny Diamantakos, and minutes later cut off a dangerous low cross from Bipin Singh to thwart a clear chance. Midfielder Mohammed Rashid tested him with a fierce shot in the 17th minute, before Miguel Figueira rattled the post twice—once from distance and again with a header. In the 39th minute, Niraj denied Saul Crespo from close range before watching Miguel hit the crossbar yet again with a thunderous header. Despite wave after wave of East Bengal attacks, Namdhari's deep defensive setup—anchored by their keeper's brilliance—kept the game goalless at halftime. Substitute Ahadad Breaks the Deadlock East Bengal resumed the second half in similar fashion, searching relentlessly for the breakthrough. After another saved effort from Diamantakos and a rare Namdhari chance that Dharmpreet Singh fired wide, Bruzon made a tactical switch—bringing on Hamid Ahadad in the 61st minute. The Moroccan wasted no time making his mark. In the 68th minute, Miguel Figueira swung in a corner which Niraj misjudged, allowing Ahadad to head in unchallenged at the far post. East Bengal continued to press for a second goal, but Namdhari remained compact, avoiding further damage. With the win, East Bengal moved to six points from two matches and remain firmly in control of their knockout destiny. Namdhari, who have also registered two wins in three games, remain in contention with six points and a goal difference of +3. They can still progress as one of the two best second-placed teams. (with PTI inputs) About the Author Siddarth Sriram First Published: August 06, 2025, 23:35 IST
NDTV
5 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
East Bengal vs Namdhari FC Live Streaming, Durand Cup Live Telecast: Where And When To Watch
East Bengal vs Namdhari FC Live Streaming, Durand Cup Live Telecast: East Bengal face a crucial test against Namdhari FC in the Durand Cup on Wednesday. The The Red and Gold Brigade started its campaign with a terridi 5-0 win against debutant South United. Namdhari FC, on the other hand, head into the contest after successive wins against South United FC (2-0) and Indian Air Force FT (4-2). East Bengal vs Namdhari FC Live Streaming, Durand Cup Live Telecast: Check Where and When to Watch The Durand Cup Match East Bengal vs Namdhari FC Live Streaming, Durand Cup Live Telecast, Check Where and How to Watch LIVE Telecast in USA When will the East Bengal vs Namdhari FC, Durand Cup match take place? The East Bengal vs Namdhari FC, Durand Cup match will take place from Wednesday, August 4 (IST). Where will the East Bengal vs Namdhari FC, Durand Cup match be held? The East Bengal vs Namdhari FC, Durand Cup match will be held at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. What time will the East Bengal vs Namdhari FC, Durand Cup match start? The East Bengal vs Namdhari FC, Durand Cup match will start at 7 pm IST. Which TV channels will show the live telecast of the East Bengal vs Namdhari FC, Durand Cup? The East Bengal vs Namdhari FC, Durand Cup match will be televised live on on the Sony Sports Network. Where to follow the live streaming of the East Bengal vs Namdhari FC, Durand Cup match? The East Bengal vs Namdhari FC, Durand Cup match will be live streamed on the Sony LIV platform. (All details are as per information provided by the broadcaster)
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
East Bengal vs Namdhari FC LIVE streaming info: Where to watch Durand Cup 2025 match?
East Bengal resumes its Durand Cup 2025 campaign with a fixture against Namdhari FC on Wednesday. The Red and Gold Brigade opened its campaign with a thumping 5-0 win over debutant South United. Namdhari FC, meanwhile, will head into this contest on the back of successive victories against South United FC (2-0) and Indian Air Force FT (4-2). LIVE STREAMING INFO When is the East Bengal vs Namdhari FC Durand Cup 2025 match? The East Bengal vs Namdhari FC Durand Cup 2025 match will kick off at 7pm IST on August 6, Wednesday, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. Where to watch the East Bengal vs Namdhari FC Durand Cup 2025 match LIVE? The East Bengal vs Namdhari FC Durand Cup 2025 match will be telecast on the Sony Sports Network and streamed on the Sony LIV platform.
