A tale of two loyalties

Ujjwal Ghosh an unwavering devotee of Mohun Bagan Super Giant had never been too keen on visiting his inlaws in Worli but for a few weeks recently the idea grew particularly disagreeable to him ldquoYes however hard they try to control I keep seeing a smirk on their faces each time we discuss football nowrdquo said the marketing manager from DeloitteldquoI feel sorry for my wife itrsquos like multitasking for her smiled At her maternal place she supports Mumbai her home team but when she is with me she is all cheers for Bagan Yoursquoll see how I make a Bagan fan out of her in the next few years smiledrdquo he addedUjjwal radiating the timeless allure of Mohun Bagans green and maroon and wife Mansi resplendent in the blues of Mumbai City were among the throng of 60000 spectators at Kolkatarsquos Salt Lake stadium on Monday ldquoI think I should cheer for Bagan from now onwardsrdquo quipped Mansi seconds after Jason Cummings scored off a pass from Dimitri Petratos in the 80th minute from just inside the box to hit into the bottom cornerAlso Read The price of passionldquoIrsquom so relieved This win means a lot to me and you know why My inlaws havenrsquot been texting since Bagan wonrdquo murmured Ujjwal mindful of Mansirsquos watchful gaze While the pitched rivalry lives on uninterrupted Ujjwal and Mansirsquos marriage appears to face no threat from their seemingly incompatible football preferences ldquoWe often hear about parents forbidding interfaith marriages but I think in our case it has to do more with what football clubs we followhellipUnited or Liverpool Arsenal or SpurshellipI donrsquot know what would have been the case if my fatherinlaw was an East Bengal fan smiled But jokes apart above all we are lovers of this beautiful game and that makes us wholerdquo he saidNotably this was Mohun Baganrsquos maiden triumph over the twotime Shield Winners Mumbai across four seasons who having remained unbeaten in previous eight encounters had won six of them Consequently Mondayrsquos result confirmed Mohun Baganrsquos ticket to the AFC Champions League 2 for the first time as the stadium pulsated with the rhythm of chants and cheers a cacophony of devotion to the club coloursAlso ReadThis month that year A journey through timeAll it took was 28 minutes to remove any doubt about the Mariners resolve and for Mumbai it only got worse So often the provider of goals Petratos delivered a precise crossfield pass in the direction of India centreforward Liston Colaco that saw the hosts assume the lead in front of a sellout crowdFollowing the opening goal the match resigned to the meticulous choreography of a ballet each movement calculated yet imbued with spontaneity The Mariners with their trademark flair and finesse sought to impose their will upon the proceedings Every touch every pass was executed with precision a testament to the hours of toil on the training ground Yet Mumbai City proved to be a resilient adversary marshalling their defences with steely resolve Like a fortress under siege they repelled wave after wave of attacks with their goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa assuming the role of a bastion of defiance between the posts But the evening was not kind to Lachenpa and his comradesMumbai steering ahead with a refusal to capitulate in the face of adversity can now only take consolation from its solitary goal against the run of play in the 89th minute by Lallianzuala Chhangte As for their fans who dispersed into the night their hearts still aflutter with the euphoria of the contest they knew that though the battle may have ended in a stalemate the war rages on For in the world of football as in life it is not the victories or defeats that define us but the passion camaraderie and spirit of competition that unite us all as one