Indian Super League: Will the Islanders rule?

Fan chants in Mumbai have long been synonymous with the spirited chorus that emerges from the famous North Stand at Wankhede Stadium every season This weekend however a new chant will echo not from the stadium but from homes pubs and screenings of the upcoming Indian Super League ISL finalsFans set off blue smoke to welcome the Mumbai team in Goa in AprilldquoOh Amcha junoonhellip We are the Islanders and we bleed bluerdquo goes the official chant of the Mumbai City FC MCFC who will take on East Coast rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant MBSG in a battle of the table toppers tomorrowLive or nothingAkshay Dutia 31 chartered accountantIrsquoll be travelling to Kolkata with 15 fans from the West Coast Brigade this weekend We plan to welcome the team bus at the venue with our personalised chants to boost their morale pregame This has been our matchday ritual at every game we attend MBSG are a tough team to analyse and crack Scottish forward Jason Cummings paired with Anirudh Thapa can be a lethal combination Hopefully our head coach Petr Kratky has a plan to tackle that Prediction Mumbai City FC 2ndash0 Mohun Bagan Super GiantItrsquos coming homeSunetra Mukherjee 20 biotechnology studentThis fixture is a personal one because it brings out a rivalry between me and my dad He is an MBSG fan and Irsquom a loyal MCFC supporter Itrsquos an official vada pav vs rasgulla night for us On a serious note this season has been a rollercoaster From early transfers involving rival teams to managerial hitches along the way we have somehow managed to come out strongMoments from the semifinal against FC GoaMy eyes are on Lallianzuala Chhangte AKA Mizo Flash and his chemistry with striker Jorge Pereyra Diacuteaz On the other end Irsquom praying for a disciplined display of defence like our previous game with FC Goa in the semifinalsPrediction Mumbai City FC 2ndash1 Mohun Bagan Super GiantThe midfield battleJayesh Solanki 19 studentWe have a strong record against our rivals but MBSG are the table toppers for a reason Itrsquos going to be a showdown of individual encounters MCFCrsquos Vikram Pratap Singh against the Indian football veteran Shubhasish Bose will be exciting The deciding factor might be the midfield encounters of Lalengmawia AKA Apuia Ralte against the likes of Joni Kauko and Deepak Tangri Itrsquos going to be a nailbiter For neutral spectators itrsquos 90 minutes of pure entertainmentPrediction Mumbai City FC 2ndash1 Mohun Bagan Super GiantA threat down underShannon Nogueira 27 teacher and core member West Coast Brigade official supportersrsquo clubWith our former head coach Des Buckingham leaving midseason we still managed to make it to the finals As a trueblue Mumbai fan thatrsquos a massive achievement in itself As for the finals Irsquom confident the title is ours based on our previous encounters with MBSG where we have emerged victorious almost on every occasion barring the recent shield loss Their Aussie powerhouse Dimitri Petratos can pose a threat but I place my faith in our defenders to tackle it well I usually travel to witness such matches live but due to personal commitments I will be heading to a local screening withother supportersPrediction Mumbai City FC 2ndash1 Mohun Bagan Super GiantChemistry is keyArundhati Mane 30 trade analystThe rivalry between the coasts isnrsquot recent Winning the trophy by trouncing MBSG in their own backyard is something every Mumbai fan is secretly looking forward to especially after losing the shield by a fine margin to them at the same venue earlier this year The chemistry between defender Rahul Bheke midfielder Jayesh Rane and forward Chhangte will pave the way to the 18yard box and hopefully to the title as well Irsquom heading to a screening with my fingers crossed and my lucky matchday scarfPrediction Mumbai City FC 2ndash0 Mohun Bagan Super GiantCatch the grand finale live heregtgt TAP RestobarAT Juhu Bandra and AndheriCALL 42631000gtgt The Studs Sports Bar and GrillAT Unit 2 Centrum IT Park Wagle Industrial Estate Thane WestCALL 9602299696gtgt Poco Loco TownAT Kapoor Mansion 9 NS Patkar Marg GamdeviCALL 9321598326gtgt Irish HouseAT Lower Parel Bandra Andheri Malad ThaneCALL 7045695002Get matchreadygtgt Wear the badgeFlaunt your love for the Islanders with customised phone covers keychains and pin badgesLOG ON TO macmerisecomgtgt Sing alongFind all the latest chants in this handy digital guidebook to get performanceready for the weekendLOG ON TO westcoastbrigade for detailsgtgt Dress for the dayWear your loyalty on your sleeve with a wide range of official Mumbai City FC apparel including sweatshirts tshirts and hoodiesLOG ON TO fancodecom