Sahitya Academy award winner and eminent sports journalist, Moti Nandi, passed away at a city nursing home on Sunday. He was suffering from multiple-organ failure and was admitted to the nursing home on December 23. The former president of the Calcutta Sports Journalists’ Club was 79, and is survived by wife and three daughters.

Nandi was honoured with the Sahitya Academy Award for Bengali novel Sada Kham in 1991. As sports editor of the Ananda Bazar Patrika, Nandi changed the face of Bengali sports journalism. His sports-related fiction writing, reflecting his experience about the trials and tribulations of sportspersons, however, made him a household name.

But, people adored him mostly for his sensitive portrayal of an aspiring sports person, who faced all sorts of obstacles on the path of her rise, in the book ‘Koni’ which was made into a successful film. Another book ‘Stopper’ was also made into a film and serialised in television.

The leading characters Striker, Nanida Not Out and Jeeban Ananta touched the hearts of people like never before. He had also covered the 1980 Moscow and 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

                                                                                        May his soul rest in peace.

                                                                                                                      mohunbaganclub.com

Mohun Bagan was upset 2-0 in the Federation Cup semifinals Derby match today. With couple of sublime strikes by Yakubu and Mehtab ending a 10-match unbeaten streak.

On the last day of the year 2009 its another derby match between the two arch rival of Kolkata Football. But this time not in Kolkata, in fact in Guwahati, 2nd semifinal of Federation Cup. This is the three consecutive years when these two teams are facing each other in Federation Cup Semifinal. In last year Fed Cup in Kolkata Bagan defeated KEB in tie-breaker, while it was 1-1 in 120 minutes. These two teams already met once in the season, it was an I-League clash, where Mariners derailed their arch rival by 5-3, and made a history. Edeh Chiddi scored a brilliant hat-trick with 4 goals.

But this is a knock-out encounter, when the margin of error will be very costly for both the teams. Mohun Bagan was in the Group-B, where they played against two Kolkata giants Mohammedan Sporting and Chirag along with starred Mahindra United from Mumbai. Mariners defeated both MSC and MU in the first and last group match by 4-1 and 2-0 respectively, whereas in the second match they faced CU and the result was goalless draw. The match against Mahindra United was seemed to be the best performance for the mariners till now of the season and they have to continue this type of performance to defend the Fed Cup championship for the 14 th time.

On the other hand Kingfisher East Bengal was in the group A, the most easiest group of the tournament. In the route to Semifinal they defeated Salgaocar and JCT by one goal in each occassion, while in the first match they drew against Viva Kerala. It is very improtant for KEB that they didn’t consume any goal till now in the tournament. Baichung Bhutia, the icon may play the match as he scored the winning goal in the last match against JCT and made easy the road to enter in to the Semifinal for his team. However his foriegner partner Yusuf Yakubu is not 100% fit as him. But Philip de Rider, coach of KEB has no other option to play without them. Young Budhiram Tudu is there but against Mohun Bagan there must be severe pressure, so experience always vital for this type of match. In the defence Oga Opara the newly recurit Nigerian for the red and gold brigade is playing well and Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Mehtab Hossain also back in the form as well.

Mohun Bagan is favourite declared by the other coaches of variuos teams. Churchill Coach Carlos, Lajong FC Coach Stanley Rojario, Pune FC Coach Derek Perreira have already given upper hand to the team Mohun Bagan by seeing ther performance. But Bagan coach Kareem Bencheria is not so over-confident as he knows that the match will  not be so easy to win. But he is confident about his team as his boys are well focuced. But the 5 goal tempo should be avoided this time as this the the knock-out round and as important as Semifinal of Federation Cup, Kareem told. He also told that they will think about themselves 70% and rest 30% about the opponent. Jose Barreto, Edeh Chiddi, Sueoka, James, Deepak, Sangram are the key players for them. Isfaq also played well in the last match against Mahindra. He is playing in the place of Snehasis Chakraborty. Snehasis was injured in the match against Chirag United in the group league stage.

However, this is the derby match, and no prediction will counted there in the match, only the time will say who will party in the night of 31st December.

In another semifinal I-League champion Churchill Brothers will meet the newcomer, the surprise package Shillong Lajong FC today from 5pm.