In the final of the 1978 IFA Shield – the fourth oldest football competition in the world and, at that time, open to overseas teams – against Soviet (and now Armenian) club Ararat Yerevan, Mohun Bagan coach ‘PK’ substituted another star Compton Dutta with Bose after the hosts fell behind by a goal in the 30thminute. Bose’s speed changed the pace of the match – contributing to its final mandate.
A first-touch attack with Bagan great Shyam Thapa made for Mohammad Habib scoring an equaliser in the 37thminute at Eden Gardens. The match ended 2-2 with both sides sharing the IFA champions title that humid September. This humid May, there is a clear winner, and Bose was again on the winning side. It is worth noting that Ararat were no CPI(M). At that time, they were quarter-finalists in the 1974-75 European Cup (today’s Champion’s League). And neither was Bose’s opponent this time around a pushover like, say, East Bengal. Khela holo – and the great Bidesh Bose won on both fields.