Photo: East Bengal FC

Akhil Rawat
AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: Billed as favourites, taking pressure as ‘privilege’, East Bengal FC rocked their way towards the Indian Women’s League 2024-25 title, with a dozen wins in 14 games.

It’s been an exact mirror image of their previous season. Just one win and one draw in 2023-24. Just one defeat and one draw this time around. The prospect of the 2025-26 season is even bigger as the Red and Golds prepare to take on the continent’s best, being India’s representatives in the AFC Women’s Champions League.

East Bengal hired a serial winner in the name of Anthony Andrews, signed some of the best players in the country, and smartly recruited a few game-changing foreigners. Hell bent on lifting the IWL trophy, the Moshal Girls played some of the most scintillating football the women’s game has ever seen in India, dominating opponents left, right and centre.

And even on occasions, they couldn’t dominate, East Bengal had the innocuous ability to grind out results, evident by several one-goal margin victories. And even when they couldn’t win a game, they simply made up for it by replying with a steamroller of a winning streak. After suffering their only defeat in Round 5 at the hands of multiple-time champions Gokulam Kerala, East Bengal made sure to never repeat any mistakes until the end of the season, winning six on the trot and sealing the title with a game to spare.

Ultimately, the 3-0 win over the Malabarians at the East Bengal Club Ground on the final day was the sweetest cherry on the cake. April 18, 2025, was more than just an East Bengal matchday. It was a celebration of a first national league title in 21 years for the century-old club. That too at their own turf. But most significantly, a kind of celebration that women’s football had never witnessed in India before.

The grandest of tifos announced the Moshal Girls’ arrival in Asia, the Maidan sky brimmed with red and gold smoke and balloons, ‘Joy East Bengal’ echoed from the megaphones. There was everything.

Head coach Anthony Andrews, now a three-time IWL champion, spoke to i-league.org.

Q. Congratulations on your third IWL title in four seasons. How does that feel? What has been the key to your success?

Anthony Andrews: Thank you so much. It’s a fantastic feeling, and every title is special in its own way. To win three out of four — it’s a credit to the players, the support staff, and the belief we’ve built. The key, I’d say, has been consistency in our work ethic, our attention to detail, and building a culture where everyone knows their role and gives everything for the team.

Q. It’s your first season with East Bengal. Does it feel like your targets have been achieved? How would you describe the entire journey this season?

AA: Coming into a club like East Bengal, the expectations were always going to be high, and rightly so. From day one, our target was clear — compete at the highest level and win. But more than that, we wanted to establish a structure, a way of playing, and a winning mentality. I think we’ve achieved that. The journey has been intense, emotional, and incredibly fulfilling.

Q. The team had the favourites tag at the start of the season. Considering the top-quality signings the club made, including you as head coach, was there any sort of pressure?

AA: Of course, when you’re labelled as favourites, there’s always pressure. But pressure is a privilege — it means people expect something from you. We embraced that. We never shied away from it and used it as motivation to perform consistently. We trusted the process and kept our focus on the day-to-day work rather than external expectations.

Q. The only hiccup during the campaign was the defeat to Gokulam Kerala. What was the feeling at that point? How were you able to recover from it and go on a sensational winning run that ultimately ended with winning the trophy?

AA: That loss hurt, no doubt. But sometimes, a setback is what a team needs to reset and refocus. We analysed it, addressed a few things tactically and mentally, and made sure we didn’t carry any baggage from that result. The response from the players was incredible — they showed character, unity, and hunger. That’s what champions do — they bounce back stronger.

Q. East Bengal are a club with a rich football history, but are relatively new in women’s football. How does it feel to win a title for such a side?

AA: It’s truly special. To be part of East Bengal’s journey in women’s football and to deliver a title this early is something I’m very proud of. The badge carries so much weight, and to now have the women’s team contributing to the legacy is a big moment, not just for the club, but for women’s football in the country as well.

Q. How important have the fans been in your success this season?

AA: Massively important. East Bengal fans are passionate, loyal, and they made their presence felt throughout. Whether it was online, in the stands, or just the energy they brought to the players, they gave us that extra push. We played for them, and I hope this title gives them as much joy as it gave us.

Q. Qualifying for the AFC Women’s Champions League is a big prize. What are your thoughts on representing India in Asia’s biggest club competition?

AA: I’ve been there before (with Gokulam Kerala FC). I know what it takes to compete at that level. It’s a huge honour to represent India on the continental stage, and it’s something we take very seriously. The competition will be tougher, the standards higher, but we’re ready for that challenge. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to showcase the talent and progress in Indian women’s football. With the support of the club and the right preparation, we’ll go there with confidence and look to make a strong statement.