Newcomer Dejan Drazic embraces his first Kolkata Derby, while Jeakson Singh backs East Bengal FC to continue their winning momentum under Antonio Habas.

Kolkata, July 25: The wait is finally over. The 135th Durand Cup gets underway with Indian football’s biggest rivalry as Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC ready to play the Durand Cup 2026 opener in the evening.

Every Kolkata Derby carries its own story. For Dejan Drazic, Saturday’s Durand Cup opener will be the first chapter in one of Indian football’s fiercest rivalries. For Jeakson Singh, it is another opportunity to step into a fixture he knows all too well. As Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC prepare to open the 135th Durand Cup, the two players reflect on what the Kolkata Derby means from opposite ends of the experience spectrum.

Arriving in Kolkata on July 22 to join the Mohun Bagan Super Giant team, Dejan Drazic signed for the club on a two-year deal from FC Goa. The attacker, who displayed an impressive performance for the Gaurs, scored six goals and provided two assists in 12 ISL matches. He also left an impact for the Gaurs AFC Champions League Two campaign.

Since joining a few days ago, Drazic has started training with the team under the new head coach alongside his new mates. The warm welcome and support from the fans have also helped him become more familiar with the city and the club. With just a few days of training and while still settling into a new team, Drazic is unlikely to be in the starting eleven. However, he has a great chance to announce himself to his new club through this great rivalry.

The Kolkata Derby is still a new experience for Dejan Drazic, but the Serbian already knows the weight this rivalry carries. Having played in big matches before, the Mohun Bagan Super Giant attacker believes a derby is where every footballer, Indian or foreigner, dreams of making the difference with a goal, a dribble or a match-winning moment.

Even before stepping onto the pitch, Drazic got his first taste of Mohun Bagan’s passionate fanbase. The warm reception at Kolkata airport left him surprised, with supporters waiting to welcome him on his arrival. Grateful for the gesture, he said it was his first such experience and a reminder of the expectations and stature that come with wearing the green and maroon jersey.

Unlike Dejan Drazic, Jeakson Singh is no stranger to the Kolkata Derby. Having featured in several editions of this historic rivalry, the East Bengal midfielder knows the intensity, the atmosphere and the emotions that surround the fixture. Emerging from India’s historic FIFA U-17 World Cup squad, where he scored the nation’s only goal in the tournament, Jeakson started his senior career in an interesting way. Having joined East Bengal FC two years ago from Kerala Blasters FC, Jeakson has participated in several Kolkata Derbies.

Having spent two seasons at East Bengal, Jeakson has witnessed the club’s rise from a rebuilding phase to lifting the ISL title last season. Looking back, the midfielder admitted that success did not come overnight, stressing that building a strong team is a gradual process and that the squad grew together like a family.

Now, with Antonio Habas the new guardian, East Bengal have entrusted the team to one of the most successful foreign coaches in Indian football and Kolkata Derby history. Having recorded a dominant stats in the fixture during his time with Mohun Bagan, Habas now begins a new chapter with East Bengal. Jeakson is looking forward to working under the Spaniard and hopes the team can achieve its objectives with even greater determination this season.

With both teams expected to field strong line-ups for the Durand Cup opener, Mohun Bagan Super Giant are likely to rely on the experienced spine of Vishal Kaith, Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Liston Colaco and Kiyan Nassiri, while Manvir Singh is expected to lead the attack. East Bengal FC, meanwhile, are set to line up with Prabhsukhan Gill in goal, with Anwar Ali leading the defence and Jeakson Singh and Rohit Kumar controlling the midfield. Up front, the pace and creativity of David, Edmund Lalrindika and Bipin Singh are expected to take responsibility of the Red and Gold Brigade’s challenge in what promises to be an intense Kolkata Derby.

In the age-old rivalry, which is not only a fixture but also a festival of emotions, the squad may change, the coach may change, and the perspectives of new debutants and experienced players may vary. But one thing remains constant, the intensity of Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal FC. And in a tournament like the Durand Cup, where these two giants have faced each other in 12 finals and several knockout matches, this opener is set to be another intense contest.

Derby Voices:

Drazic eager for maiden Kolkata Derby, says Mohun Bagan SG are built to win!

“Ahead of the derby pressure I feel positive, how I can say pressure, I like this because I’m focused, so I’m relaxed. So I like to feel some positive pressure before the game”.

Jeakson knows what the derby demands, confident East Bengal FC are favourites!

“For me, we are favourites. Last year we competed very well and that’s why we got the trophy(ISL). This year, with the coach, the thing which he had done in Indian football, And in derbies, it will be a pleasure for me to play under him”.