Heritage Bengal Global launched its 8th Indian Fans Alliance (IFA) Shield UK Football Championship on Friday 27 June, at City of London’s prestigious Guild Hall.
East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting clubs are very popular in Bengal, so much so that this IFA Shield UK is played between the fans of the three clubs who live in UK. Undoubtedly the most sought-after sporting event in the Bengali community in UK, this tournament draws massive support including the clubs themselves who provide the jerseys, giving a professional look to the event.
It’s a Football Association accredited tournament as a Community League and played in the Home Ground of Rayners Lane FC, the local Harrow Club- Tithe Farm Sports and Social Club Fields. The tournament will be played on Sunday 13 July, 2025.
Tournament Director Dhrubajyoti Ghosh, Prasun Mandal, Sam Mukherjee and Radha Dhiman Goswamy, are working tirelessly to pull off another very successful event this year.The children’s section this year will be seeing a scouting organisation from India, India KheloFootball, led by Phani Bhushan and ably supported by Aritra Nandi, who scouts junior players for the Indian Clubs, will be scouting the diaspora kids on the tournament day under the able guidance of Anantha Ramakrishnan and Dr Debojyoti Das.
The evening also witnessed felicitation of Olympic shooter Joydeep Karmakar, an Arjuna Awardee who now practices as an acclaimed coach through his academy, producing national level shooters on a regular basis.
Joydeep’s son Adriyen, who accompanied his father, a product of JKSA, recently won two medals in the World Junior Shooting Championship. One of the rising stars in Indian shooting was also felicitated.
Acclaimed singer Soumyen Adhikari, winner of several awards, was also felicitated. He is the only singer who has sung a song on Queen Elizabeth II in Bangla, which was presented to King Charles in Buckingham Palace. It is now being translated in to English.
The event also witnessed signing of partnership between Heritage Bengal Global’s director Anirban Mukhopadhyay and Kolkata London Club Founder Imam ul Haque for collaboration in the areas of education, sports and business for the living bridge.
Munsur Ali, Chairman, Culture, Heritage and Libraries, City of London Corporation was the host and Greater London Authority (GLA) Member from City and East, Unmesh Desai AM was the Chief Guest. Both had recently visited Kolkata.
