Winning welcome for ISL champs

KOLKATA: The slogan “Jitechhe ke? ATK” filled Quest Mall on Sunday afternoon as the Atletico de Kolkata team, the proud winner of the first ISL, stepped on the podium with the Cup amid thunderous cheers. A beaming Sourav Ganguly led the crowd on with “Three cheers for ATK..”. However, the hero of the moment, Mohammed Rafique who netted the most important goal of the league, was absent as he missed his flight.
In spite of this disappointment, the moment the team walked in, the roar that went off would simply not stop. ATK co-owner Sanjiv Goenka took the microphone but his voice was drowned by the “ATK” chant. CESC properties vice-president Sanjeev Mehra took the mike and requested for silence but the fans shouted themselves hoarse. But the chant quickly changed, though the decibel level remained same, to “Dada, Dada” as Ganguly took over.
“It’s a proud moment. Many thanks to Antonio (Habas) for finishing as the first champions of ISL,” he said. “We’ll win next year again,” he thundered. The team then popped the Champagne and sprayed it. The crowd cheered deafeningly for Fikru Teferra, who has won hearts not just for his performance but also his summersaults as well as Habas and captain Luis Garcia. Mehra later told TOI: “It’s unbelievable… A fairy tale. Now Kolkata is the champion in both cricket and football leagues.”
When asked whether there would be a bigger celebration on the lines of Kolkata’s first IPL win, co-owner Harshavardhan Neotia said: “It’s difficult as all the players are going home for Christmas. We are yet to know when we will meet the chief minister.” Goenka added: “Within minutes of the finish, the CM SMSed to congratulate us.”
Many among the crowd who had walked in without a clue were stumped. Once in, though, they hung around for over an hour after the event was over and the players having lunch. Riya Mittal, a fashion student, walked in thinking Amitabh Bachchan had come to the mall. She realized the truth and stayed back to catch a glimpse of the champs.
The most active supporter was surely Jamuna Das, who is known as ‘Lojense (candy) Didi’ in Maidan circle. “I never miss a match and am a die-hard fan of East Bengal. It’s a double bonus for me as the winning goal was scored by an East Bengal footballer. I’m deeply disappointed that he missed the flight,” said Das.
Soumya Ghosh, a BCom graduate, was ecstatic. “I haven’t missed a single ISL match at Yuva Bharati stadium. This Cup will remain in Kolkata next year too,” he said confidently.
The Cup is now kept on the Quest Mall ground floor for public viewing.