Kolkata: Kolkata giants East Bengal and Emami Group announce their new venture as “Emami East Bengal Football Club Pvt. Ltd.” Emami will hold 77 percentage of total share, leaving the rest 23 percentage to East Bengal Club with the investor having 7 board members and the club will have 3 – in the newly formed company.
Emami Group had been associated with the sports fraternity for since long. Starting from legend Late Milkha Singh to BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar to Saina Nehwal and from Sania Mirza, to Mary Kom and others.
From the Director, Emami Group :
According to Mr. Aditya V. Agarwal, Director, The Emami Group believes that as corporates, they need to come forward to provide impetus to the budding sportsmen right from the grass root levels. Emami Group has ventured as investors and are open to sponsors, said Aditya Agarwal. The agreement “seems like a marriage” with long term planning to the 25000 Crore worth conglomerate. The century-year-old club has had trouble holding down investors resulting this is their third in four years.
From the East Bengal FC :
Debabrata Sarakar (Nitu), Executive committee member of East Bengal thanked the Chief Minister of West Bengal Shri. Mamata Banerjee to come forward and help align the deal with Emami Group. Mr. Kalyan Majumder, Hon. Secretary, East Bengal Club said, “As Emami East Bengal, we are hopeful of building one of India’s best Football team. The sporting activities of the club will gather pace now with efforts to join all tournaments including ISL as well as to enhance the player base, training capacity and infrastructure required to achieve more sporting successes.”
The Team :
East Bengal will play this season of Indian Super League (ISL) without investor’s name attached to it, confirmed Nitu. East Bengal is likely to use the ‘summer transfer window’ to rope up with Indian and Foreignin players. Ivan Gonzalez, the former FC Goa defender has already signed for East Bengal this season. Thus, the remaining five foreign consignments will be done with consideration of senior coach Stephen Constantine. Assistant and Reserve team coach Bino George is already in the city and will start their Durand campaign later this week.
East Bengal FC is all set to rope on Jobby Justin and Aniket Yadav. British forward Rushian Hepburn-Murphy and Former Dutch International Luc Castaignos are Stephen Constatine’s top preference.
East Bengal will start their season with the 131st Durand Cup which starts on August 16. The competition will feature the season’s first Kolkata-derby with arch rivals ATK Mohun Bagan on August 28.
