Uh @gaffertape, United SC didn't go to Kerala, their sponsors Chirag Computers left them to take over Viva Kerala, who were in search of a sponsor that time. Chirag were always under this false impression that the Sponsor owns the club. That started the rift with Nabab & co., and they left. And destroyed Viva too.
I was being sarcastic...as when Chirag went to Kerela...they took a few Bengalie players , and eventually a Bengali coach , and sorry to say a certain "Bengali football mentality"
Football and passion. These two words are always
intermingled with each other. The picture is the same all over the world. One
could get a hint of how deep, how sincere the embrace between the two is at the
practice of United Sports and Pathachakra. Only love is their capital. And
banking on this capital runs United’s dream factory in Kalyani. The two teams
practice together at the same time every day. After practice they have lunch
together. There are lodging facilities for economically backward footballers or
those players who travel from distant places. The scope of their arrangements
could put to shame the academies of the reputed clubs.
United
Sports is a well-known name in Kolkata and Indian football. The middle of the
first decade of the twenty first century saw the sensational rise of this club.
They became one of the major powers in Kolkata football. With the change of
sponsors the club has also changed its name. But United Sports has continued to
remain a threat to the “Big Clubs”. On the other hand they have continued as
the “supply line” of the Maidan. A lot of footballers have established
themselves at United before playing regularly for the Big Two. Some for the
Indian National Team. Many of them are playing in the ISL.
These days
even the I-League clubs are finding it strenuous to get sponsors. United has not
been a part of the I-League for quite some time. Nowadays, they play in the CFL
Premier B Division. Pathachakra, another team of United, plays in the same
division. Both the teams do not have any sponsors. In spite of that, the United
Sports officials have not changed the tradition they have been following for a
long time. The likes of Nawab Bhattacharya, Alokesh Kundu somehow arrange for
money for the survival of the club. In spite of facing severe financial
problems, they try to stand by the footballers. Nawab Bhattacharya comes from
Shyamnagar to the practice grounds of Kalyani every morning. He said, ‘We do
not have much resource. We cannot pay the footballers too much. A number of
boys come from poor families. We provide them one square meal a day.’
There is no limit to the expenses incurred in running a
football club. The officials have made insurance for each and every footballer.
They have made a medical insurance of about two lakhs. Even outside that, the
footballers have to depend on the officials. They have to pay around three lakh
rupees per year on insurance. How much does it cost to run two teams on such
elaborate arrangements? We were informed that it was about 40 lakh rupees. The officials
arrange for this huge sum on their own.
Both
the teams are in contention for a place in the Premier A. United has already
qualified for the Championship round. If Pathachakra beats West Bengal Police
on Friday, they will also qualify for the Championship round. In that round,
four teams among the six will play in the Premier A next season. The United
Sports officials dream that both their teams will make it to that stage. Only
then will they be crowned with success in this unequal battle.
Apropos of the above post, I checked and found out that Pathachakra were defeated by West Bengal Police 0-2. So not sure whether they could qualify for the Championship round. But hats off to the two teams--United/Pathachakra and their officials for their never-say-die attitude and their dogged refusal to be cowed down by any adversity. They are an inspiration to football lovers all over the world.
Indian Football: With very little money and lot of passion, United Sports Club still running strongly
The Nabab Bhattacharya-led United Sports Club is still a breeding ground for future football stars
United Sports Club is a familiar name in the Indian football fraternity, having regularly plied their trade in the top tier of Indian football between 2008 and 2014.
The club was established in 1927 as Everready Association but it rose to prominence only in the 90s when a bunch of youngsters then, which includes the current general secretary of the club Alokesh Kundu and director Sidhartha Bhattacharya or ‘Nabab’ as he is fondly known in the Kolkata Maidan, revived it.
The club climbed up the rungs of the Calcutta Football League (CFL) and reached the top division in 2002. In 2005, they made their presence felt at the national level for the first time when a young Everready side reached the final of the IFA Shield. They lost the final against Bayern Munich’s reserve side 5-1, but their run in the competition was inspiring.
They were later re-christened as United Sports Club and they finally got promoted to the I-League in the 2008-09 season.
United Sports Club, under the guidance of their director Nabab Bhattacharya, has been nurturing young talents for more than a decade now.
Over the years, the club has nurtured some bright young talents. Snehashish Chakraborty, who had played for both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, Provat Lakra, who currently plays for ISL side NorthEast United FC and Monotosh Chakladhar, who joined East Bengal this season are some of their famous youth products.
Other than their academy graduates there are quite a few big names who made it big after starting their career at United Sports like Lalkamal Bhowmick, Kingshuk Debnath, CK Vineeth, Denson Devadas.
United Sports were ousted from the I-League at the end of 2013-14 season after the club had failed to fulfil the AFC Club Licensing criteria.
Since then, the club has been without a sponsor and is competing at the state level. Nabab Bhattacharya is single-handedly running the show at the club for now.
Even though the club aren’t in limelight for quite some time now, United Sports have youth teams at the U-13, U-15 and U-18 level, something which very few top clubs of Indian football, including Kolkata giants East Bengal can boast of.
The youth teams also participate in the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) Sub-Junior League, Junior League and the Elite League.
They currently run two teams simultaneously who participate at the senior level, United Sports Club and Pathachakra. All the training sessions are held at the ground in Kalyani.
Around 200m from the training field is a residential apartment where the club keeps their outstation footballers both at the senior and youth level. The club management has left no stones unturned to provide their footballers healthy meals and proper accommodation.
“It is our duty to provide the basic facilities to our players as many of them come from very humble backgrounds”, said Bhattacharya when asked about the club’s residential setup.
Nearly INR 70 Lakhs yearly is spent to maintain the entire setup at United Sports club, according to Bhattacharya and the entire sum of money comes from the pockets of the management.
Just to get a fair idea of how strong United’s youth setup is, their U-18 side recently made it to the final round of the ongoing Elite League finishing second behind ATK in the Kolkata zone. They finished above both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan’s junior teams.
Out of sheer love and passion for the sport and without a single penny in return, Bhattacharya has invested a lot his time into United Sports Club.
Comments
A Write-up in the Ganashakti about United Sports SC (short, abbreviated summary in English translation)
http://bangla.ganashakti.co.in/Home/PopUp/?url=/admin/uploade/image_details/2019-08-30/201908300006502.jpg&category=0&date=2019-08-30&button=
United’s dream factory running solely on love
Football and passion. These two words are always intermingled with each other. The picture is the same all over the world. One could get a hint of how deep, how sincere the embrace between the two is at the practice of United Sports and Pathachakra. Only love is their capital. And banking on this capital runs United’s dream factory in Kalyani. The two teams practice together at the same time every day. After practice they have lunch together. There are lodging facilities for economically backward footballers or those players who travel from distant places. The scope of their arrangements could put to shame the academies of the reputed clubs.
United Sports is a well-known name in Kolkata and Indian football. The middle of the first decade of the twenty first century saw the sensational rise of this club. They became one of the major powers in Kolkata football. With the change of sponsors the club has also changed its name. But United Sports has continued to remain a threat to the “Big Clubs”. On the other hand they have continued as the “supply line” of the Maidan. A lot of footballers have established themselves at United before playing regularly for the Big Two. Some for the Indian National Team. Many of them are playing in the ISL.
These days even the I-League clubs are finding it strenuous to get sponsors. United has not been a part of the I-League for quite some time. Nowadays, they play in the CFL Premier B Division. Pathachakra, another team of United, plays in the same division. Both the teams do not have any sponsors. In spite of that, the United Sports officials have not changed the tradition they have been following for a long time. The likes of Nawab Bhattacharya, Alokesh Kundu somehow arrange for money for the survival of the club. In spite of facing severe financial problems, they try to stand by the footballers. Nawab Bhattacharya comes from Shyamnagar to the practice grounds of Kalyani every morning. He said, ‘We do not have much resource. We cannot pay the footballers too much. A number of boys come from poor families. We provide them one square meal a day.’
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
There is no limit to the expenses incurred in running a football club. The officials have made insurance for each and every footballer. They have made a medical insurance of about two lakhs. Even outside that, the footballers have to depend on the officials. They have to pay around three lakh rupees per year on insurance. How much does it cost to run two teams on such elaborate arrangements? We were informed that it was about 40 lakh rupees. The officials arrange for this huge sum on their own.
Both the teams are in contention for a place in the Premier A. United has already qualified for the Championship round. If Pathachakra beats West Bengal Police on Friday, they will also qualify for the Championship round. In that round, four teams among the six will play in the Premier A next season. The United Sports officials dream that both their teams will make it to that stage. Only then will they be crowned with success in this unequal battle.
the culture has to improve
Indian Football: With very little money and lot of passion, United Sports Club still running strongly
United Sports Club is a familiar name in the Indian football fraternity, having regularly plied their trade in the top tier of Indian football between 2008 and 2014.
The club was established in 1927 as Everready Association but it rose to prominence only in the 90s when a bunch of youngsters then, which includes the current general secretary of the club Alokesh Kundu and director Sidhartha Bhattacharya or ‘Nabab’ as he is fondly known in the Kolkata Maidan, revived it.
The club climbed up the rungs of the Calcutta Football League (CFL) and reached the top division in 2002. In 2005, they made their presence felt at the national level for the first time when a young Everready side reached the final of the IFA Shield. They lost the final against Bayern Munich’s reserve side 5-1, but their run in the competition was inspiring.They were later re-christened as United Sports Club and they finally got promoted to the I-League in the 2008-09 season.
United Sports Club, under the guidance of their director Nabab Bhattacharya, has been nurturing young talents for more than a decade now.
Over the years, the club has nurtured some bright young talents. Snehashish Chakraborty, who had played for both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, Provat Lakra, who currently plays for ISL side NorthEast United FC and Monotosh Chakladhar, who joined East Bengal this season are some of their famous youth products.
Other than their academy graduates there are quite a few big names who made it big after starting their career at United Sports like Lalkamal Bhowmick, Kingshuk Debnath, CK Vineeth, Denson Devadas.
United Sports were ousted from the I-League at the end of 2013-14 season after the club had failed to fulfil the AFC Club Licensing criteria.
Since then, the club has been without a sponsor and is competing at the state level. Nabab Bhattacharya is single-handedly running the show at the club for now.
Even though the club aren’t in limelight for quite some time now, United Sports have youth teams at the U-13, U-15 and U-18 level, something which very few top clubs of Indian football, including Kolkata giants East Bengal can boast of.
The youth teams also participate in the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) Sub-Junior League, Junior League and the Elite League.
They currently run two teams simultaneously who participate at the senior level, United Sports Club and Pathachakra. All the training sessions are held at the ground in Kalyani.
Around 200m from the training field is a residential apartment where the club keeps their outstation footballers both at the senior and youth level. The club management has left no stones unturned to provide their footballers healthy meals and proper accommodation.
“It is our duty to provide the basic facilities to our players as many of them come from very humble backgrounds”, said Bhattacharya when asked about the club’s residential setup.
Nearly INR 70 Lakhs yearly is spent to maintain the entire setup at United Sports club, according to Bhattacharya and the entire sum of money comes from the pockets of the management.
Just to get a fair idea of how strong United’s youth setup is, their U-18 side recently made it to the final round of the ongoing Elite League finishing second behind ATK in the Kolkata zone. They finished above both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan’s junior teams.
Out of sheer love and passion for the sport and without a single penny in return, Bhattacharya has invested a lot his time into United Sports Club.
https://www.goal.com/en/news/indian-football-money-and-passion-united-sports-club-kolkata/14bdjdznjmqp61lrhjknwto0c5