West Bengal, a state frequently ravaged by floods, is set to experience the unifying power of football with The Match for Bengal. Organised by PR Solutions, this exhibition match aims to raise funds for the flood victims and donate the money to the Chief Minister Relief Fund for providing vital support to flood-affected communities.

The match will take place at Ashok Nagar Stadium on 30th November 2024. The event will feature an exciting clash between Legend Blue and Legend Red, showcasing some of the most iconic names in Indian and international football.

The initiative garnered support from prominent figures, including Honourable MLA of Ashok Nagar Mr. Narayan Goswami, East Bengal legend Alvito D'Cunha, East Bengal Club Secretary Rupak Saha, Mohun Bagan Secretary Debasish Dutta, Mohammedan Club Secretary Mohammed Kamar Uddin, and Southern Samity Club Secretary Sourav Pal.

Honourable MLA of Ashok Nagar Narayan Goswami, while opining on the match at the press meet at Calcutta Sports Journalists Club on Wednesday, highlighted the significance of this initiative in addressing Bengal’s recurring floods. “Kolkata football has a strong presence in North 24 Parganas, now being organised more effectively. To address Bengal's recurring floods, the innovative Match For Bengal initiative has been launched. I’m proud to contribute to this effort, supporting sports and cultural development in the region,” he remarked.

Debasish Dutta, along with Rupak Saha, Mohammed Kamar Uddin, and Mr. Sourav Pal, lauded the initiative but stressed the importance of grassroots development. “Match For Bengal is indeed an innovative initiative. However, we must ensure that grassroots-level development takes place, especially for children. We need to further inspire enthusiasm among the younger generation. It’s essential to nurture and develop them from a young age,” they emphasised.

Legend Blue Squad:

Arindam Ghosh (goalkeeper), Syed Rahim Nabi, Arnab Mondal, Safar Sardar, Suley Musah, Douglas Silva, Sasty Duley, Subhash Chakraborty, Mehtab Hossain, Alvito D'Cunha, Bruno Coutinho, Saumik Dey.

Legend Red Squad:

M. Suresh, Sangram Mukherjee (goalkeeper), Dipankar Roy, Deepak Mondal, Kingshuk Debnath, Denson Devdas, Lal Kamal Bhowmik, Venkatesh Shanmugam, Debabrata Roy, Ashim Biswas, Surya, and Raman Vijayan.