May 13: Indian football's oldest rivals - Mohun Bagan and East Bengal - face each other in the Federation Cup semi-final at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack tomorrow.
The match provides Cuttack residents a unique chance to witness India's answer to the Milan derby.
Frenzy surrounding the match already has Cuttack residents excited. Former state-level player Pravat Mohapatra said: "Mohun Bagan, the defending champions, will be favourites on form, having maintained momentum with a 1-1 draw against Bengaluru FC yesterday."
"In contrast, East Bengal is on sticky turf, having failed to win two of three matches in the group stages," said Subashis Sahu, who has watched all the matches played so far.
The rivals clashed in the 2010 Federation Cup final, the last time the competition was held in Cuttack. "East Bengal had won 1-0. The return engagement tomorrow is a nerve-wracking affair," said Satyajit Roy, an East Bengal supporter. "It will virtually be the final," he said.
Cuttack, known for its passionate love for cricket, is seeing a glimpse of the frenzy that grips Calcutta when these giants of Indian football clash. Hundreds of fans of both clubs are already in the city, while some hundreds more will reach tomorrow.
The clash between the titans has found mention in the website of Fifa, world football's governing body. Listed among Classic Rivalries, Fifa said a match between "Mohun Bagan and East Bengal deserves a place on the must-see list for those football cognoscenti with a global view".
Arijit Paul, 29, has been going back and forth between the two cities to support East Bengal. He will be in Cuttack tomorrow for the derby after having cheered his team against Aizawl FC on Thursday.
Paul is a member of a 100-strong movement, East Bengal Ultras, that has brought a European approach to football matches in India with their chants and songs. "We have followed East Bengal across India, lending support to the team as the 12th man," Paul said. They make efforts to motivate the players from the galleries and, according to Paul, "are prepared for a lung-busting 90 minutes against Mohun Bagan."
On the other side, Banibrata Ghosh, 25, will make the short trip from Bhubaneswar with 10-15 friends, mostly ardent Bagan fans, to root for the team. Originally from Malda in north Bengal, Ghosh's love for the Mariners stems from his visits to the club ground with his grandfather. The Infosys employee has also asked for a leave of absence for the final. "The IT sector is in a churn, jobs are at stake. But I couldn't have missed the final if Bagan goes through," he said.
Ghosh and team will join up with Mariners Base Camp, an umbrella organisation of Bagan fan clubs, at the stadium. Base Camp member Prasenjit Sarkar said: "We incorporate the ultra culture of European football with traditional Bagan support." Sarkar is a part of 50-strong group of Bagan fans who have been camping in Cuttack throughout the competition. He said nearly 300 more people will arrive for the match tomorrow.
Apart from them, several fans of both clubs, not wanting to wait for a last minute rush for train tickets, are also driving down to Cuttack for the match.
The final is set for May 18. But it will depend on an AFC Cup 2017 match between Bengaluru FC and Bagan in Calcutta on May 17.
"If either of the two qualifies for the final, it will be played on May 21. Otherwise, it will be played according to schedule on May 18," said Football Association of Odisha secretary Sanjay Behera.
