Merlin CSJC Football Tournament 2026 Kicks Off at Merlin Rise

Kolkata, August 2, 2026: The Merlin CSJC Football Tournament 2026 kicked off today at the football ground of Merlin Rise amid great enthusiasm and sporting spirit. The Calcutta Sports Journalists’ Club (CSJC), in collaboration with Merlin Group, is organising the tournament, reaffirming their shared commitment to promoting sportsmanship, camaraderie and fitness among the media fraternity. The inaugural ceremony was attended by renowned former footballers Shri Dipendu Biswas and Shri Sandip Nandy, who interacted with and encouraged the participating footballers from the media fraternity. A total of 17 teams took to the field on the opening day of the two-day tournament.
Scorecard
Print Media
• Match 1: Jugasankha beat Dainik Jagaran 4-2.
• Match 2: Ei Samay beat Photographers’ Team via tie-breaker.
• Match 3: The Echo of India beat Press Club 3-2.
• Match 4: CSJC beat Jugasankha via tie-breaker.
• Match 5: Sangbad Pratidin beat Aajkaal via tie-breaker.
• Match 6: Ei Samay beat Uttarbanga Sambad 4-0.
• Match 7: Jago Bangla beat The Echo of India 7-0.
Electronic & Digital Media
• Match 1: RevSportz beat Anandabazar.com via tie-breaker.
• Match 2: YouTube Bullets beat Spirit of Moydan 8-0.
The winning teams from today’s matches will compete tomorrow for places in the finals.
Shri Saket Mohta, Managing Director, Merlin Group, said:
“We are delighted that the first day of the Merlin CSJC Football Tournament 2026 concluded successfully. It is heartening to see members of the sports media fraternity enjoying competitive football at the state-of-the-art astro turf facility at Merlin Rise and experiencing our hospitality.
Merlin Rise is home to world-class sporting infrastructure, including the Ronaldinho R10 Football Academy, the Yuvraj Singh Centre of Excellence, premium football grounds and cricket facilities. Through these academies, we hope to nurture young sporting talent and contribute meaningfully to the development of sports in Bengal by helping aspiring athletes reach the state and national levels.”
Archisman Bhaduri, President, Calcutta Sports Journalists’ Club, said:
“The Merlin CSJC Football Tournament has become one of the most anticipated sporting events for the media fraternity. Beyond competition, it strengthens friendships and reinforces the spirit of sportsmanship among journalists. We sincerely thank Merlin Group for their continued support in making this tournament bigger and better every year.”
The tournament was formally announced earlier at the Calcutta Sports Journalists’ Club, where the official lottery for the participating teams was conducted in the presence of renowned former Indian footballers Dipendu Biswas and Alvito D’Cunha. The football legends interacted with the participants and drew the lots to determine the fixtures for this year’s championship.
This year’s edition features 23 teams competing in the two-day five-a-side football championship at Merlin Rise – The Sports Republic, Kolkata’s premier sports-themed township. The participating teams represent leading print, electronic and digital media organisations, reflecting the tournament’s growing popularity among the city’s sports journalists.
The participating teams are:
Print Media: Ei Samay, Sangbad Pratidin, Aajkaal, Jago Bangla, Jugasankha, CSJC, Uttarbanga Sambad, East Bengal Samachar, Dainik Jagaran, Photographers’ Team, Press Club and The Echo of India.
Electronic & Digital Media: TV9 Bangla, Anandabazar.com, Biswabangla Sambad, YouTube Bullets, Spirit of Moydan, Let’s Football, IFA TV, RevSportz, Tara News, Aajkaal.in and YouTube Fighters. As in previous editions, the tournament is being played in two categories—Print Media and Electronic & Digital Media—with champions being crowned in each division.

About Calcutta Sports Journalists’ Club
Established in 1956, the Calcutta Sports Journalists’ Club (CSJC) is the only organisation in Eastern India exclusively run by sports journalists. For seven decades, it has served as a vital bridge between sportspersons, sporting bodies and the media while playing a significant role in promoting sporting culture across the region.
About Merlin Rise – The Sports Republic
Spread across a sprawling township in Rajarhat, Merlin Rise – The Sports Republic is India’s first sports-themed residential township, offering world-class sporting infrastructure alongside modern urban living. The township is home to the Ronaldinho R10 Football Academy, the Yuvraj Singh Centre of Excellence (YSCE), the Michael Phelps Swimming Academy, and the MMA Matrix Training Centre by Tiger Shroff, making it one of the country’s most comprehensive destinations for professional sports training and fitness.