Behala Club hosts successful football tournament for Durga Puja

Kolkata's Behala Club hosted a two-day knockout football tournament called the Behala Cup 2025 for clubs famous for their Durga Puja celebrations. The event took place at Behala Harisabha Maidan and featured 16 local clubs. Behala Nutan Dal won the tournament, and Pally Unnayan Samiti finished as the runner-up. The tournament was broadcast live on social media and received support from The Times of India. Eight teams reached the quarter-finals on the first day. The semi-final matches saw intense competition. In one match, Pally Unnayan Samiti advanced to the final after a coin toss decided the winner following a tie in regulation time and a shootout. In the final game, Behala Nutan Dal defeated Pally Unnayan Samiti 3-0 to claim victory. Ranjit Sardar from Behala Nutan Dal was the tournament's top scorer with three goals. He expressed that the tournament held special significance for him. Dudhkumar Mondal, the secretary of Behala Club, noted that this year’s tournament added a new competitive aspect to clubs that were previously rivals during Durga Puja celebrations. Participating clubs appreciated the unique nature of this event, seeing it as a way to support their football aspirations. The tournament included various awards, such as the best goalkeeper trophy awarded to Subhojit Das of the winning team. Participants and officials expressed hopes for the tournament's continuation in the future. The main organizer, Sayantan Bhattacharya, planned to expand the tournament next year. Local politicians, including Kolkata Dakshin MP Mala Roy, attended to support the players. Community members expressed excitement about the intersection of football and traditional celebrations in the area.