2003–04 East Bengal F.C. season

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East Bengal
season
ChairmanDr Pranab Dasgupta
ManagerSubhash Bhowmick
GroundSalt Lake Stadium
National Football LeagueChampions[1]
Calcutta Premier DivisionChampions[2]
Federation CupQuarter Finals[3]
Super CupRunners-up[4]
ASEAN CupChampions
Durand CupRunners-up[5]
IFA ShieldRunners-up[6]
← 2002–03
 →

The 2003–04 season was East Bengal Football Club's 8th season in the National Football League, and also marked the club's 84th season. East Bengal successfully defended their league title from the previous season, competing in the 2003-04 NFL. They have also won the 2003 Calcutta Football League and the 2003 ASEAN Club Championship. They became runners-up in the 2003 Super Cup, 2003 Durand Cup and 2003 IFA Shield.

First-team squad[]

East Bengal FC squad for the 2003–04 season.[7]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK India IND Sangram Mukherjee
2 DF India IND M Suresh
3 DF India IND Deepak Mondal
4 DF India IND Mahesh Gawli
5 MF India IND Malsawmtluanga
6 MF India IND Kulothungan
8 MF India IND Sasthi Duley
9 MF India IND Alvito D'Cunha
10 FW India IND Mike Okoro
11 FW India IND Bijen Singh
12 FW India IND Bhaichung Bhutia
13 GK India IND Sandip Nandy
14 MF India IND Chandan Das
15 MF India IND Douglas Silva
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 DF India IND Debjit Ghosh
17 DF India IND Surkumar Singh (c)
18 MF India IND Subhash Chakraborty
19 FW India IND Raman Vijayan
22 DF India IND Suley Musah
26 FW India IND Cristiano Júnior
— GK India IND Arpan Dey
— GK India IND Jitu Chhetri
— DF India IND Surya Bikash Chakraborty
— DF India IND Subhashish Roy Choudhury
— DF India IND Anit Ghosh
— MF India IND Dipankar Roy
— MF India IND Sujoy Dutta
— MF India IND Arunava Sarkar
— MF India IND Tushar Rakshit
  • Coach: India Subhash Bhowmick[7]
  • Physical Trainer: South Africa Kevin Jackson
  • Team Doctor: Dr. S R Dasgupta
  • Team Manager: Swapan Ball

Stadiums[]

Kingfisher East Bengal F.C. have been using both the Salt Lake Stadium and the East Bengal Ground sense Salt Lake Stadium opened in 1984. As of today the Salt Lake Stadium is used for East Bengal's I-League, AFC Cup, and Federation Cup games. The East Bengal Ground is used for the Calcutta Football League matches.

Competitions[]

Overall[]

Competition First match Last match Final Position
Calcutta Football League 20 June 2003 2 November 2003 Champions
ASEAN Cup 14 July 2003 26 July 2003 Champions
Federation Cup 31 July 2003 4 August 2003 Quarter Finals
IFA Shield 20 September 2003 28 September 2003 Runners-up
Durand Cup 4 November 2003 10 November 2003 Runners-up
Super Cup 14 November 2003 Runners-up
National Football League 30 November 2003 12 May 2004 Champions

Matches[]

  Win   Draw   Loss

Calcutta Football League[]

20 June 2003 1 East Bengal 4–1 Eastern Railway F.C. Kolkata
Surkumar Singh Goal 1', 81'
Debjit Ghosh Goal 38'
Bhaichung Bhutia Goal 41'		 Henry Odogo Goal 62' Stadium: East Bengal Ground
23 June 2003 2 East Bengal 3–0 West Bengal Police Kolkata
Bhaichung Bhutia Goal 15'
Alvito D'Cunha Goal 35', 89'		 Stadium: East Bengal Ground
30 June 2003 3 East Bengal 3–0 Wari AC Kolkata
Suley Musah Goal 52', 68', 80' Stadium: East Bengal Ground
2 July 2003 4 East Bengal 3–0 Mohammedan AC Kolkata
Bhaichung Bhutia Goal 42', 71'
Alvito D'Cunha Goal 77'		 Stadium: East Bengal Ground
5 July 2003 5 East Bengal 3–0 Mohun Bagan Kolkata
Suley Musah Goal 23'
Bhaichung Bhutia Goal 68', 83'		 Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
11 August 2003 6 East Bengal 2–1 Everready Association Kolkata
Douglas De Silva Goal 37'
Bhaichung Bhutia Goal 70'		 Ernest Jeremiah Goal 47' Stadium: East Bengal Ground
16 August 2003 7 East Bengal 2–0 Tollygunge Agragami Kolkata
Bhaichung Bhutia Goal 78', 79' Stadium: East Bengal Ground
19 August 2003 8 East Bengal 5–0 Bharati Sangha Kolkata
Mike Okoro Goal 9', 71'
Suley Musah Goal 30', 40'
Malsawmtluanga Goal 60'		 Stadium: East Bengal Ground
23 August 2003 9 East Bengal 4–1 Mohammedan Sporting Kolkata
Mike Okoro Goal 36', 40'
Bijen Singh Goal 67'
Surkumar Singh Goal 86'		 Dipendu Biswas Goal 83' Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
25 August 2003 10 East Bengal 4–0 Railway F.C. Kolkata
Mike Okoro Goal 3', 13', 22'
Malsawmtluanga Goal 29'		 Stadium: East Bengal Ground
28 August 2003 11 East Bengal 3–0 Calcutta Port Trust Kolkata
Suley Musah Goal
Mike Okoro Goal 45'
Kulothungan Goal		 Stadium: East Bengal Ground
4 September 2003 Championship Group East Bengal 0–0 Mohun Bagan Kolkata
Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
7 September 2003 Championship Group East Bengal 1–2 Mohammedan Sporting Kolkata
Mike Okoro Goal 51' Sheikh Sanjib Goal 49'
Abdul Rauf Khan Goal 87'		 Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
10 September 2003 Championship Group East Bengal 2–2 Everready Association Kolkata
Suley Musah Goal 40'
Mike Okoro Goal 85'		 Eugene Gray Goal 44'
Ernest Jeremiah Goal 88'		 Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
13 September 2003 Championship Group East Bengal 2–0 Mohammedan A.C. Kolkata
Bijen Singh Goal 51'
Sashti Duley Goal 86'		 Stadium: East Bengal Ground
16 September 2003 Championship Group East Bengal 2–1 Tollygunge Agragami Kolkata
Kulothungan Goal 37'
Raman Vijayan Goal 66'		 Manik Barman Goal 73' Stadium: East Bengal Ground
2 November 2003 Championship Final East Bengal 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)		 Mohun Bagan Kolkata
Suley Musah Goal 60' Ashim Biswas Goal 23' Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium

ASEAN Club Championship[]

Main article: 2003 ASEAN Club Championship

After winning the 2002-03 National Football League, East Bengal FC were invited to the 2003 ASEAN Club Championship held at Jakarta, Indonesia.[8] Top clubs from South-East Asia participated in the tournament which included the favourites BEC Tero Sasana from Thailand who already reached the 2002–03 AFC Champions League Finals. The star-studded team consisted of Golden Ball winner of 2002–03 AFC Champions League - Therdsak Chaiman. Other top teams like 2002 Malaysia Super League Champions Perak FC and Liga Indonesia 2002 Champions Petrokimia Putra participated in the tournament.[9]

East Bengal FC lost the first match against the favourites BEC Tero Sasana 1–0, courtesy of a solo goal from star man Therdsak Chaiman. The Red and Gold brigade bounced back in style as they defeated Philippine Army F.C. 6–0, with Bhaichung Bhutia scoring all 6 goals, becoming the only Indian player to score a double hattrick in an International game till date.[10]

In the Quarter Finals, East Bengal FC faced Persita Tangerang of Indonesia. Goals from Bhaichung Bhutia and Bijen Singh ensured a 2–1 win for the Kolkata side. Bhaichung was again on the scoresheet when East Bengal FC faced Petrokimia Putra in the Semi-Final. The score was 1–1 after 120 minutes and the Red and Golds won 7–6 in the shootout.

On 26 July 2003, East Bengal FC made history as they defeated the favourites BEC Tero Sasana 3–1 with goals from Mike Okoro, Bhaichung Bhutia and Alvito D'Cunha, hence becoming the first Indian club to win a top-level officially recognised tournament from Foreign Soil.[11] Bhaichung Bhutia became the Top Scorer of the tournament with 9 goals. Sandip Nandy was adjudged as the Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament.

Group stage[]

Main article: 2003 ASEAN Club Championship § Group D
Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Thailand BEC Tero Sasana 2 2 0 0 4 0 +4 6
India East Bengal 2 1 0 1 6 1 +5 3
Philippines Philippine Army 2 0 0 2 0 9 −9 0
Source:[citation needed]
14 July 2003 BEC Tero Sasana Thailand 1–0 India East Bengal FC Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta
Therdsak Chaiman Goal 85'
16 July 2003 East Bengal FC India 6–0 Philippines Philippine Army Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta
Baichung Bhutia Goal 20' (pen), 50', 53', 70', 75', 88'

Quarter final[]

East Bengal faced Persita Tangerang of Indonesia in the Quarter Finals of the tournament.

20 July 2003 Persita Tangerang Indonesia 1–2 India East Bengal FC Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta
Ilham Jayakesuma Goal 62' Baichung Bhutia Goal 53'
Bijen Singh Goal 76'

Semi final[]

East Bengal faced Petrokimia Putra, who were the reigning champions of Indonesia in the Semi Finals. East Bengal won 7-6 on penalties after the game ended 1-1 after Extra Time.

24 July 2003 Petrokimia Putra Indonesia 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(6–7 p)		 India East Bengal FC Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta
Jaenal Ichwan Goal 23' Baichung Bhutia Goal 58'

Final[]

East Bengal faced the 2002-03 AFC Champions League finalist BEC Tero Sasana in the Final of the 2003 ASEAN Club Championship. BEC Tero Sasana defeated East Bengal 1-0 in the group stages. East Bengal shocked everyone to win the match 3-1 and create history as they became the first team from India to win any major tournament on the continental stage.

26 July 2003 East Bengal FC India 3–1 Thailand BEC Tero Sasana Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta
Mike Okoro Goal 20'
Baichung Bhutia Goal 46'
Alvito D'Cunha Goal 69'		 Panai Kongprapun Goal 58' Referee: Jimmy Napitupulu (Indonesia)



Federation Cup[]

31 July 2003 Round of 16 East Bengal 5–0 HAL Kolkata
Bijen Singh Goal 4', 31'
Chandan Das Goal 58', 83'
Dipankar Roy Goal 68'		 Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
4 August 2003 Quarter Final East Bengal 0–1 Vasco S.C. Kolkata
Sushanth Mathew Goal 85' Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium

IFA Shield[]

20 September 2003 Group Stage East Bengal 1–0 Eastern Railway F.C. Siliguri
Bijen Singh Goal 8' Stadium: Kanchenjunga Stadium
22 September 2003 Group Stage East Bengal 9–0 Wari AC Siliguri
Dipankar Roy Goal 9', 26', 35', 42'
Bijen Singh Goal 21', 40'
Kulothungan Goal 46'
Douglas De Silva Goal 75'
Malsawmtluanga Goal 81'		 Stadium: Kanchenjunga Stadium
26 September 2003 Semi Final East Bengal 2–0 Everready Association Kolkata
Douglas De Silva Goal 29'
Dipankar Roy Goal 55'		 Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
28 September 2003 Final East Bengal 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(3–5 p)		 Mohun Bagan Kolkata
Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
Penalties

Durand Cup[]

4 November 2003 Group Stage East Bengal 3–2 Indian Bank Delhi
Bhaichung Bhutia Goal 16', 49'
Mike Okoro Goal 80'		 Mahendra Mani Goal 2'
Syed Shabir Pasha Goal 84'		 Stadium: Ambedkar Stadium
6 November 2003 Group Stage East Bengal 3–0 Dempo Delhi
Mike Okoro Goal 51'
Malsawmtluanga Goal 82'
Kulothungan Goal 90'		 Stadium: Ambedkar Stadium
8 November 2003 Semi Final East Bengal 3–0 Air India Delhi
Malsawmtluanga Goal 22'
Chandan Das Goal 36'
Mike Okoro Goal 59'		 Stadium: Ambedkar Stadium
10 November 2003 Final East Bengal 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–5 p)		 Salgaocar Delhi
Mahesh Gawli Goal 62' Tomba Singh Goal 59' Stadium: Ambedkar Stadium
Penalties

Super Cup[]

14 November 2003 Super Cup East Bengal 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(3–4 p)		 Mahindra United Kolkata
Suley Musah Goal 19' Felix Aboagye Goal 45' Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
Penalties

National Football League[]

30 November 2003 1 Salgaocar 2–1 East Bengal Goa
Felix Ibrebru Goal 24'
Micky Fernandes Goal 29'		 Douglas De Silva Goal 38' Stadium: Fatorda Stadium
4 December 2003 2 Vasco 1–1 East Bengal Goa
Amaechi Goal 82' Dipankar Roy Goal 83' Stadium: Fatorda Stadium
9 December 2003 3 JCT Mills 0–0 East Bengal Ludhiana
Stadium: Guru Nanak Stadium
16 December 2003 4 East Bengal 2–1 Churchill Brothers Kolkata
Cristiano Júnior Goal 45'
Bhaichung Bhutia Goal 90'		 Yusif Yakubu Goal 4' Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
20 December 2003 5 East Bengal 1–0 Tollygunge Agragami Kolkata
Cristiano Júnior Goal 1' Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
27 December 2003 6 Dempo 3–2 East Bengal Goa
Stanley Colaco Goal 8'
Sunday Seah Goal 25'
Nacimento Silveira Goal 75'		 Cristiano Júnior Goal 1'
Bhaichung Bhutia Goal 7'		 Stadium: Fatorda Stadium
31 December 2003 7 Mahindra United 0–1 East Bengal Mumbai
Cristiano Júnior Goal 68' Stadium: Cooperage Ground
8 January 2004 8 East Bengal 2–0 Sporting Clube de Goa Kolkata
Bhaichung Bhutia Goal 38'
Cristiano Júnior Goal 73'		 Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
12 January 2004 9 Indian Bank 1–1 East Bengal Chennai
Kamaldeen Fuard Goal 25' Cristiano Júnior Goal 22' Stadium: JL Nehru Stadium
16 January 2004 10 East Bengal 4–0 Mohammedan Sporting Kolkata
Alvito D'Cunha Goal 45'
Bhaichung Bhutia Goal 70'
Cristiano Júnior Goal 75'
Mike Okoro Goal 89'		 Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
22 January 2004 11 East Bengal 2–1 Mohun Bagan Kolkata
Dipankar Roy Goal 23'
Mike Okoro Goal 75'		 Ashim Biswas Goal 41' Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
29 February 2004 12 East Bengal 3–1 Salgaocar Kolkata
Bhaichung Bhutia Goal 5', 45'
Subhash Chakraborty Goal 53'		 Bello Razaq Goal 40' Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
5 March 2004 13 East Bengal 2–0 Mahindra United Kolkata
Cristiano Júnior Goal 35'
Bhaichung Bhutia Goal 87'		 Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
11 March 2004 14 East Bengal 1–0 Vasco Kolkata
Cristiano Júnior Goal 43' Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
15 March 2004 15 East Bengal 0–0 Dempo Kolkata
Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
19 March 2004 16 East Bengal 3–0 JCT Mills Kolkata
Bhaichung Bhutia Goal 45+1'
Mike Okoro Goal 51'
Cristiano Júnior Goal 60'		 Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
12 April 2004 17 Tollygunge Agragami 0–1 East Bengal Kolkata
Bhaichung Bhutia Goal Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
15 April 2004 18 Mohammedan Sporting 0–3 East Bengal Kolkata
Cristiano Júnior Goal 59', 62'
Bhaichung Bhutia Goal 65'		 Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
25 April 2004 19 Mohun Bagan 1–2 East Bengal Kolkata
Ashim Biswas Goal 16' Bhaichung Bhutia Goal 53'
Cristiano Júnior Goal 60'		 Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
28 April 2004 20 East Bengal 3–0 Indian Bank Kolkata
Bhaichung Bhutia Goal 19'
Douglas De Silva Goal 73'
Dipankar Roy Goal 83'		 Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
9 May 2004 21 Churchill Brothers 1–0 East Bengal Goa
Santa Singh Goal 75' Stadium: Fatorda Stadium
12 May 2004 22 Sporting Clube de Goa 1–2 East Bengal Goa
Adbullatif Seriki Goal 84' Cristiano Júnior Goal 46', 60' Stadium: Fatorda Stadium

Statistics[]

Top Scorers[]

Goal Scorers for East Bengal FC in 2003–04 season
Rank No. Pos. Nat. Name CFL ASEAN Fed Cup IFA Shield Durand Cup Super Cup NFL Total
1 12 FW India Bhaichung Bhutia 9 9 0 0 2 0 12 32
2 10 FW Nigeria Mike Okoro 10 1 0 0 3 0 3 17
3 26 FW Brazil Cristiano Júnior — — — — — — 15 15
4 22 DF Ghana Suley Musah 9 0 0 0 0 1 0 10
5 6 MF India Dipankar Roy 0 0 1 5 0 0 2 8
6 11 FW India Bijen Singh 2 1 2 3 0 0 0 6
7 9 MF India Alvito D'Cunha 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 5
15 MF Brazil Douglas De Silva 1 0 0 2 0 0 2 5
5 MF India Shylo Malsawmtluanga 2 0 0 1 2 0 0 5
Own Goals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Sponsors[]

References[]

  1. ^ "8th "Coca-Cola" National Football League 2003/04". IndianFootball.de. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  2. ^ "India 2003 Regional Championships". rsssf.com. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  3. ^ "25th "TATA" Federation Cup 2003". IndianFootball.de. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  4. ^ "7th Super Cup 2003/04". IndianFootball.de. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  5. ^ "116th Durand Cup 2003". IndianFootball.de. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  6. ^ "109th IFA Shield 2003". IndianFootball.de. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "Team Archives - East Bengal Club". East Bengal Club. Archived from the original on 8 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  8. ^ "East Bengal's Greatest Hour: The 2003 ASEAN Cup Triumph". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  9. ^ "Before BFC in 2016, there was East Bengal's ASEAN win in 2003". ESPN. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  10. ^ "15 Facts and Untold stories of Bhaichung Bhutia". Sports Libro. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  11. ^ "East Bengal makes History". The Hindu. 2003-07-27. Retrieved 12 April 2020.[dead link]
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