Indian football everyone so often throws a story that feels directly from a sports film. This season, this script belongs to the Diamond Harbor football club – a party that did not exist even before 2020 and is now 90 minutes from the Durand Cup fame.
Diamond Harbor FC was founded in 2020 and cleaned Indian Football Association (IFA) to play in the first Football League Calcutta League (CFL), began as a district team with big dreams. The club, supported by the leader of the Congress of Trinamool and the deputy Diamond Harbor Abhishek Banerjee, did not waste time climbing the football ladder.
They went through I-League 3, then conquered I-League 2 and now appears in the i-League-Indian second level of the National League. For a team that started playing competition football, barely three years ago, it is an increase faster than most clubs dare to imagine.
At night they were silent by the East Bengal
Then came 20 August. East Bengal just defeated Mohun Bagan Super Giants in Derby Kolkata and looked popular for Durand Cup. Enter Diamond Harbor FC – Debutants, Underdogs and apparently intimidated last but not least.
In the semifinals 2-1, shocking, They eliminated East Bengal, while former players of East Bengal Mirshad Micha and Joby Justin gave the heart break. East Bengal was heading and shots, but Diamond Harbor showed that goals, not statistics, win matches. Suddenly the new children on the block stole the headlines.
Kibu Vicuna’s Magic Touch
Kibu Vicuna, a Spanish coach known for led Mohun Bagan to the I-League title, was on the sidelle, and was driven by Keraral Blasters and Mohammedan Sporting. Below it, Diamond Harbor developed a clear style of playing – compact, organized and ruthless when chances come.
When Borejee launched the club in 2022, he spoke openly about achieving the Indian Super League one day. The first step was to qualify for CFL Premier and and try against Calcat’s big three. They did it – and now one of them defeated much larger on stage than the local league.
Next above is Northeast United in the final. Win it and Diamond Harbor FC will go from the district debutants to the National Cup winner in three years.
In the meantime, the youngest finalists in the recent memory are the only match far from the conversion of a bold dream into reality. And whether you support them or not, you can’t help but admit – that’s what football romance live for.
– ends
Published:
Debodinna Chakracorty
Published on:
August 21, 2025
