City Football mania is all set to hit a new high with Apollo 24/7 and the Bangla Soccer League sending winners of their soccer tournament to Qatar for the Fifa Qatar World Cup 2022.
Many stalwarts are shocked and appalled by the non-inclusion of any Bengali player in the current National team. This was unthinkable even two years ago. But sadly this is the reality of the day. We may root for East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, we may fight in our offices, schools and colleges over it but it is a proven fact that Bengalis don’t play the game; rather they watch and speak about Football. The critic in Bengal still lives happily yet the player in him has died.
To combat this Apollo 24|7 is supporting Bangla Soccer League (BSL) and would want to re-induct Bengalis back to the game. Shamik Banerjee, CMO Apollo 24|7 notes: “the Bengali Bhadralok in us has stopped putting on his favorite team jersey, warming up, rushing to the field and playing football and instead has in essence become “a watcher” staring at his screen and rooting for his favorite EPL, La Liga and local teams.”
To combat this Apollo 24|7 is supporting Bangla Soccer League (BSL) and would want to re-induct Bengalis back to the game. Shamik Banerjee, CMO Apollo 24|7 notes: “the Bengali Bhadralok in us has stopped putting on his favorite team jersey, warming up, rushing to the field and playing football and instead has in essence become “a watcher” staring at his screen and rooting for his favorite EPL, La Liga and local teams.”
BSL is holding matches between corporate houses and between RWAs and getting a greater section of Kolkatan involved with the game; it’s thereby creating new bonds and friendships as it believes in the adage “a strong body makes the mind strong.”
Currently, 2560 players, 320 teams from Corporates and RWAs are fighting for the coveted title of Ke Hobey Footballer Champ. The initiative is bring former players back to the playing field, re orienting them with the smell of the grass and thereby the adrenaline rush. From Corporates like Cap Gemini, Wipro, PWC to RWA residents of Salt Lake, Ballygunge, Alipore, Behala etc. have become part of the football madness.
The BSL is also providing free health checkups at the match locations which include among others – free ECGs, eye and blood tests, testing lipid profiles etc.
Footballing Star icon Bhaichung Bhutia and Cine Megastar Prasenjit Chatterjee along with one of the youth icons Lohoma Bhattacharya are the Brand Ambassadors and their music video is the talk of the town – Ke Hobey Footballer Champ?
Footballing Star icon Bhaichung Bhutia and Cine Megastar Prasenjit Chatterjee along with one of the youth icons Lohoma Bhattacharya are the Brand Ambassadors and their music video is the talk of the town – Ke Hobey Footballer Champ?
From the 320 teams, 20 winning teams plus 12 other teams (wild card entry through online voting) will play in knockout matches.
From these matches for the First time, The Man of the Tournament, Highest Goal Scorer and winner of the Trivial Quiz (keeping in mind the online dominance), actor Prosenjit Chatterjee + 1 lucky individual all will be flown to Qatar with an all-paid for stay at a luxurious 5 star hotel, and will watch a Category A match where Christiano Ronaldo will be representing Portugal. The winning team also will be trained by Abhra Mondal at the East Bengal ground premises.
