Bengaluru FC vs East Bengal: 'East Bengal in Bangalore' group to make match special

East Bengal will be in for something special when they go head-to-head against Bengaluru FC in a crucial I-League tie at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium Sunday. A plethora of Bengalis, not just East Bengal fans, but anyone who likes football (and not Mohun Bagan!) will be seen cheering for the Red and Golds during the crunch game.

'East Bengal in Bangalore' — a group in the city who do not call themselves as East Bengal 'fans' but just passionate supporters of the club, will be occupying the entire lower block stand of the Kanteerava Stadium on the day of the match and show their incessant support to the club which has a big chance of lifting their first-ever I-League title this season.

"We gave a grand welcome to the club at the Bangalore airport when the team arrived for the match and kept the celebrations on until they entered the team hotel," said Amartya Dasgupta, a member of the group to International Business Times, India. "'Three cheers for East Bengal', 'We want I-League' and 'Jiteche jitbe East Bengal' (East Bengal have won and will keep winning) will remain our chants during the match day."

Around 25 members from the group arrived during the Red and Golds' training session at the Kanteerava Stadium Saturday morning where they also distributed flowers to the player. "We will do everything to keep the morale of the East Bengal team high going into the game against Bengaluru FC," added Amartya.

East Bengal are currently third in the I-League — two points behind Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru FC. A win Sunday can give bright hopes to their title ambitions this season and the Red and Golds supporters are aware of that. "East Bengal have a tendency to bounce back, and they definitely will against BFC," Amartya continued.

"It doesn't come as much of a worry that we could not get another win after the Kolkata derby win in Siliguri, but the momentum and the confidence is there this time," he spoke of East Bengal's 2-2 draw against Mumbai FC in the midweek. "We are really hopeful and this is East Bengal's year, for sure," he added.