IFA (IFA means Indian Fans Alliance) Shield UK is a diaspora football event played mainly between the Fans of the Big Three (Tin Pradhan) of Kolkata - East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting Club. Reliving the fanhood of the Clubs in faraway UK, this tournament has become the launch of ‘Bangaliana’ over the summer followed by the Durga Puja in autumn. Fans troop in even from neighbouring countries and mainland Europe besides London and the Home Counties to take part in this unique event where they play in the Club colours, with jerseys being provided by the Organisers.
Now in its 7th year, this year also had the Kolkata legend Chima Okorie as the Guest of Honour, who enthralled the audience with unheard stories of the Maidan. Although this event has been organised annually, it was a first time for some of the Organisers, Prasun Mandal, Sam Mukherjee, Apurba Bose and Radha Dhiman Das. For Jayanta Bej, it was a comeback to organising, after long break from the dreaded Covid year.
This year, the tournament was moved to Harrow and for Tournament Director Dhrubajyoti Ghosh it was a challenge of its own, ensuring that the success from the previous years is carried on to this year also and it was a very fulfilling experience at the end of a long day.
Tournament wise, this year was very competitive - last year’s winners Mohammedan Sporting fans put up a very spirited fight in the semi finals but lost to Mohun Bagan fans who eventually lost the final to the champions East Bengal fans.
For East Bengal fans, it was a particularly proud year, winning every match from the group stage and having beaten the Runners Up Mohun Bagan fans, twice- once in the group stage and again in the Final, with Moitreya putting up an exceptional performance under the bars and Arijit, Yadrif, Rishi and Clayton keeping the scoreline ticking.
The Harrow Council extended full support not only by getting a team led by Cllr Matthew Goodwin Freeman, the Deputy Mayor Anjana Patel kicked the tournament off in the afternoon, while the Mayor Salim Chowdhury attended the prize distribution ceremony with the immediate past Mayor Cllr Ramji Chauhan. The Deputy Mayor also cut her birthday cake providing a birthday party experience to the kids who had attended a football workshop on the day.
The Mayor, with roots in Bangladesh, was particularly pleased to meet Chima Okorie who played for Abahani Krira Chakra and Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting also.
