Football reigns in Calcutta bites of lobster and shad

New Delhi, February 26, 2007. - The city of Calcutta has one of the oldest rivalries in Asia and rough, pitting supporters of Mohun Bagan football club, known as "lobster", with East Bengal (" shad "), with a smaller budget but passion so intense as in Europe and Americ a.
While in India cricket is the most popular sport and hockey is considered the national sport, football holds his scepter in the coastal areas of Kerala and Goa (west) and the region of Bengal (East), whose capital, Calcutta, are remeasured morning the two clubs.
"Cricket is the sport in India. But football is enthusiastic young people, especially those from the lower classes, that after every match is thrown into the streets to celebrate the triumphs of his team, "said Efe Gayatri Bhattacharyya sociology professor at the University of Calcutta.
In New Delhi, the organization Youth Football Association of India (IYSA, acronym in English), carries out projects to promote the sport among the smallest of the nation's capital, with attention also to those with fewer resources, through a street league.
"In our Little League play some 550 children over a period of seven months. And among them, there are about 60 to those who provide transport and equipment. We play every Sunday, "he told Efe IYSA secretary, Arup Das.
However, there is a world between the laudable efforts of NGOs such as the IYSA to promote the sport and passion of football unleashes masses in Calcutta around rojigualda colors of East Bengal, and green and purple of Mohun Bagan, which will meet again on Tuesday.
With deep marks of British colonization, India Calcutta is the city that feels more football, and many still listed as a national landmark building Mohun Bagan's victory against Yorkshire Regiment, a 2-1 in 1911 that considered the end of the primacy of English in the country (football, that is).
In the city, the fervent supporters of Mohun, founded in 1889, is proud that in Bengal had a Football League before there Barcelona or Real Madrid, but have little to celebrate if we analyze the clashes with the opposing team, the East Bengal Club.
The latter squad, knowing that statistics are favorable, includes on its website a comparison with the victories and defeats in clashes with rivals Mohun Bagan, which obviously kept quiet about it.
However, the Mohun Bagan, considered the oldest club in Asia, it boasts a track record longer than the East Bengal and counting in its ranks with "Ronaldinho" Indian, Baichung Bhutia, who leads the classification of the scorers against the eternal rival.
Each time there is a derby as the morning, some 120,000 spectators crammed calcutí of Saltlake Stadium in hopes that his team scores more goals than the opponent, to fill after massive street celebrations and celebrate a great feast of fish and seafood at home.
"Both teams have their own idiosyncrasies and gastronomy. The Mohun Bagan is identified with the lobster, and East Bengal with hilsa shad, a tropical fish. When Mohun wins, the fans go to the fishmonger to buy lobster. And if you win East Bengal, shad runs, "says Bhattacharyyia.
In the city, the more cautious and have bought their ration days before the match, because in Calcutta everyone knows, when Mohun Bagan faces the East Bengal, fish prices rise.