For a group of passionate football fans gathered in a Bayshore apartment in Singapore on May 27, it was far more than just a football victory. It was history, identity, memory and emotion rolled into one unforgettable afternoon.
As East Bengal FC ended a 22-year wait to become champions of India once again by winning the 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) title, around 30 East Bengal supporters in Singapore celebrated like generations of pain had finally been lifted.
Seventeen of them gathered physically at the apartment, dressed proudly in the club’s iconic red and yellow jerseys. There was traditional Bengali food, specially cooked hilsa fish bought from Little India, endless football discussions, WhatsApp video calls with fellow supporters worldwide, and a customised cake featuring all the major trophies the club won this season.
The celebrations came after East Bengal defeated Inter Kashi 2-1 in a dramatic final league match in Kolkata, overturning a first-half deficit before goals from Youssef Ezzejjari and Mohammed Rashid sealed the title. The victory allowed the Red and Gold Brigade to edge out Kolkata arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant on goal difference and clinch their maiden ISL crown.
For supporters in Singapore, many of whom trace their roots to Kolkata and families displaced from East Bengal during Partition, the triumph carried profound emotional significance.
“This is beyond football,” said Amritava Chakraborty, who works in the IT industry. “We are born East Bengal supporters. Even after moving overseas and following world football, East Bengal remains closest to our hearts. After 22 years, honestly, many of us thought we may never see this in our lifetime.”
East Bengal was founded in Kolkata in 1920 and gradually became the footballing symbol of refugees and migrants from East Bengal, now Bangladesh, who crossed into India during and after Partition in 1947. Over the decades, the club evolved into more than a sporting institution – it became an emotional identity for millions of “Bangal” families.
That refugee spirit, supporters said, still defines the club’s DNA.
“We are a club of refugees. Never losing hope is part of who we are,” said Avra Paul, who works in the shipping business.
The Singapore supporters’ group itself began in 2019 during celebrations marking East Bengal’s centenary year. What started with a small gathering near the Merlion has now grown into a vibrant football community.
“We kept supporting even when the club was struggling,” said IT specialist Aniket Roy. “For 22 years we waited. Some of us were teenagers when East Bengal last won the league. Now we are nearing 40.”
The group regularly plays football in areas such as Changi and Bayshore and at Khalsa Association, bringing together Indians, Singaporeans and expatriates through the sport.
IT company Atanu Mandal credited the club’s success to stability within management, investors and coaching staff.
“For the first time in many years, there was proper collaboration between the investor, club officials and the coach, Spaniard Oscar Bruzon. The coach was given freedom to build the squad, and the players responded brilliantly,” he said.
IT specialist Kishaloya Roychowdhury said East Bengal’s fierce rivalry with Mohun Bagan remained central to Kolkata football culture.
“The derby rivalry pushes both clubs to become better. Football in Kolkata cannot exist without that rivalry,” he said.
One of the biggest highlights of the Singapore celebration was the traditional hilsa fish feast. Hilsa, or ilish, carries deep cultural symbolism among East Bengal supporters because of the club’s roots in East Bengal, where the prized fish originates from the Padma River.
IT expert Shamik Sen said the food was about preserving tradition as much as celebrating football.
“Whenever East Bengal supporters gather, hilsa must be there. Win or lose, we celebrate together,” he said.
The specially designed cake also symbolised a memorable year for the club, featuring trophies won by both the men’s and women’s teams during the 2025-26 season.
As the celebrations continued late into the evening, the supporters proudly waved scarves, sang club songs and relived every moment of the dramatic title triumph.
For them, the victory was not simply about ending a trophy drought. It was about resilience, belonging and keeping alive a legacy passed down across generations.
santosh@sph.com.sg
