A major announcement was made by world football's governing body FIFA on Friday, April 28, and it was about the beginning of the ticket sales ahead of the U17 World Cup 2017 scheduled in India, this October. The announcement nevertheless came as a much-needed welcome news, especially for Mohun Bagan fans, thanks to a wonderful connection with history.
"The (online) ticket sales begin on May 16 from 19 hours and 11 minutes. This start-time signifies Mohun Bagan's victory in the IFA Shield in 1911, which is a landmark in Indian football," announced Javier Ceppi, the U17 World Cup tournament director (LOC).
Tickets for #FIFAU17WC India 2017 will go live on 16th May at 19:11 hrs, paying tribute to the year in which Indian football made history. pic.twitter.com/HoVZ7JvnmG
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) April 28, 2017
"The Indian Football Association (IFA) felt it was important to honour the history of football in India and that occasion in 1911 was certainly a very significant achievement for Indian football."
The resplendent Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) in Kolkata is set to host ten matches -- the most number among all the venues -- come this October. That includes the final as well.
New Delhi, Kochi, Navi Mumbai, Goa and Guwahati are the other venues for the FIFA U17 World Cup 2017.
Mohun Bagan: What happened in 1911?
IN BRIEF
- Date: July 29, 1911
- Occasion: IFA Shield Final
- Venue: Calcutta Football Ground
- Fixture: Mohun Bagan (India) vs East Yorkshire Regiment (Britain)
- Ticket prices: 2 INR to 15 INR
- Attendance: 100,000 (approx)
- Result of the match: Mohun Bagan 2-1 East Yorkshire Regiment
1st half: GOAL! East Yorkshire Regiment captain Jackson scores from a free-kick.
2nd half (80'): EQUALISER! Mohun Bagan's Sibdas Bhaduri dribbles and scores a wonderful solo goal.
88': GOAL AND THE WINNER! Bhaduri's pass meets Abhilash Ghosh, who blasts the net with his shot.
Mohun Bagan, on that day, became the first Indian football side to defeat a British football team. Many have even said that a win was a major booster for everybody in India's war against independence.
The Mohun Bagan team, who played in that match, were referred to as the 'Immortal XI'
THE TEAM:
Hiralal Mukherjee (GK), Rajendranath Sengupta, Neelmadhab Bhattacharya, Manmohan Mukherjee, Sudhir Chatterjee, Bhuti Sukul, Sibdas Bhaduri (C), Kanu Roy, Habul Sarkar, Abhilash Ghosh, Bijoydas Bhaduri.
The squad of the Immortal Eleven also featured the legendary Mohun Bagan Bhaduri family -- Haridas, Ramdas, Dwijodas, Bijoydas and Sibdas.
These Mohun Bagan heroes were paid a fitting tibute in Arup Roy's 2011 Bengali film, Egaro.
July 29 also marks the Mohun Bagan day, every year.
Egaro full movie
