MUMBAI: An earlier report that storied Kolkata football club East Bengal, which is currently in its centenary year, will conclude its year-long celebrations with a game against English Premier League giants Manchester United next July, has gained further traction.
A delegation from United comprising four members arrived in the city on Thursday and met state sports minister Aroop Biswas at Nabanna, Indian Express reports. Allan John Dawson, Manchester United’s director of football, Christoffer Laurens Komen, director of tours and friendlies of the club and officials Philip Malcolm Smith and Matthew Charles Jones were among the four-member delegation team.
The MUFC delegates also visited the Salt Lake stadium in the afternoon to inspect the grounds, media facilities, dressing room, and galleries and were reportedly “satisfied” with what they saw.
Bengali sports portal Xtra Time was the first to report that Manchester United would travel with their number one team during their pre-season Asian tour to India, China and Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Football Federation are also planning to host the Red Devils on the 100th anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
East Bengal began their centenary celebrations on July 31 with a march from Kolkata’s Kumartuli area to the club ground at Maidan. Around 60,000 people had gathered to witness the beginning of the celebrations that will run till the same day of next year.
The official celebration began the on August 1, the foundation day of the club.
If United do play in Kolkata, it will mark the second time a big club from Europe will be playing at the Salt Lake Stadium. Bayern Munich had come calling in the summer of 2008 for Oliver Kahn’s testimonial match.
Their opponents then were East Bengal’s arch-rivals Mohun Bagan.
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