The Bengal Super League is rapidly establishing itself as a significant breeding ground for emerging footballers in the state. Launched for the first time in Bengal by Srachchi Sports in collaboration with the Indian Football Federation, the franchise-based tournament has brought district clubs into the spotlight, offering local players a rare opportunity to compete in a structured, high-intensity league environment alongside experienced coaches and foreign professionals.
League format and structure
The inaugural edition features eight teams competing in a 14-round league stage on a home-and-away basis. At the end of the league phase, the top four teams advance to the knockout rounds, while the remaining sides exit the competition.
Sundarban Bengal Auto FC set the pace
After two weeks of action, Mehtab Hossain’s Sundarban Bengal Auto FC lead the standings with 13 points from five matches. Royal City FC of Malda sit close behind with 12 points from five games, coached by Nigerian tactician Shahid Raman.
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Howrah-Hooghly Warriors, guided by Jose Barreto, are currently third with nine points from four matches, while Biswajit Bhattacharya’s North Bengal United hold fourth place with seven points from four outings. A home victory in Siliguri on Sunday could push North Bengal United into third position.
Crucial results from the latest round
Sundarban’s perfect start was halted on Saturday as they were held to a 1–1 draw by Gautam Ghosh’s North 24 Parganas. Aqib Nawab opened the scoring with a spectacular goal before Jamuan Sangha struck late to level the match and earn Man of the Match honours. North 24 Parganas now have seven points from five matches.
At the Aravind Stadium in Midnapore, FC Midnapore secured their first win of the season, defeating Birbhum Kopa Tigers 1–0. Arpan Seth scored the lone goal for Jayant Sen’s side, while Birbhum, coached by Bulgarian Georgi Raev, remain just one point adrift of the rest of the table.
Local talent takes centre stage
The league has drawn praise for spotlighting local footballers rather than relying solely on foreign recruits. Senior coach Biswajit Bhattacharya pointed to promising names such as Rajibul, Sonam, Raunak, Shlok, and Sanjura, all of whom have impressed during the opening weeks.
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Sundarban coach Mehtab Hossain also highlighted the league’s value for players overlooked by the Kolkata League, noting strong performances from Devdoot, Nab, Aqib, and Yasir.
Coaches raise fitness and scheduling concerns
Despite the encouraging start, coaches have expressed concern over limited pre-season preparation and the physical strain caused by back-to-back home-and-away fixtures. With only Howrah-Hooghly Warriors and Royal City FC enjoying adequate practice time, there is a growing view that scheduling the league after the Kolkata League concludes could significantly improve player fitness and overall standards in future editions.
