The stands at football stadiums across India have seen a remarkable change — more and more women are coming out to support their teams passionately.

Among them is Mohun Bagan Super Giant fan Sumita Nayak, from Salt Lake, Kolkata, whose emotional celebration during the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 Cup final went viral and captured hearts among the Mariners.

Nayak's journey from shy beginnings to becoming a regular presence at every home game shows how female fans are breaking stereotypes and making their mark in Indian football culture.

The Beginning

She was always fond of sports, but her introduction to real sporting culture — and to her favourite game and club — came during the 2016–17 season, when she saw her favourite team play live for the first time, in a match against Churchill Brothers.

"I’ve loved sports since school – I used to enjoy playing in school events, and football, in particular, was always special to me," Nayak said in an interview with indiansuperleague.com.

"Since I live in Salt Lake, I would often see fans heading to the stadium on my way to school. This was during the 2016–17 season — I saw fans wearing the Green and Maroon jersey, travelling towards the stadium, and I first felt a pull toward the club’s colours. It was like love at first sight."

During the 2018-19 season, she attended her first Kolkata Derby against arch-rivals East Bengal FC. The match ended in a 2-2 draw, but for her, the experience meant far more than the final score.

She told us how she made it to that game by bunking her coaching classes to attend with friends.

"In 2018, during the Kolkata Derby, I skipped my coaching classes because I just felt like going to the stadium instead. Somehow, I managed to get a ticket from a friend and entered the stadium — it was my first derby experience, and it was amazing," she recalled.

Breaking Barriers

At first, my family was anxious about me going to the stadium alone, but I gradually eased their worries and earned their trust.

Since then, her bond with the club has only grown stronger. She has now become a regular at the stadium and can’t imagine missing a game.

From attending matches at home to travelling for away games in Bhubaneswar and Jamshedpur, her dedication has only grown stronger.

"Since 2022, I’ve been going to the stadium regularly. Now, I even go for away matches — although there’s still pressure from home sometimes, I love experiencing these moments. I went to Jamshedpur for both the regular season and the semi-final last season, and I also travelled to Bhubaneswar for the Odisha FC match.

“Mohun Bagan Super Giant means everything to me. I’ve skipped important work just to watch our matches — I don’t care what comes up, I have to be there for my club. I just can’t miss a game anymore,” she stated.

She is now a proud member of Mariners De Xtreme, one of the most passionate and vocal supporter groups of Mohun Bagan Super Giant. To honour that bond, she even has a tattoo dedicated to the group — a symbol of her deep-rooted connection. With Mariners De Xtreme, she joins in the chants, cheers, and tireless efforts to lift the team with their unwavering support.

For Nayak, every journey, every match, every chant is part of something greater: her identity as a Mariner.

And for those watching her video or reading her story, her message is simple: the stands belong to everyone — and football is better when shared.

“Earlier, there weren’t many female fans in the stands. But now, things have changed. More women are coming — they understand football, they understand what Mohun Bagan Super Giant is all about.

I want more girls to take that first step, just like I did. Once they do, it’ll become a habit, and they’ll fall in love with the game too.”

Nayak also spoke about the growing sense of mutual respect and camaraderie among Kolkata fans, regardless of rivalry. She shared how the atmosphere around matchdays has become more inclusive and safer for female supporters.

“These days, you’ll see many vehicles — cars, tempos — filled with fans heading to and from the stadium. Even if a match ends late at night and a female Mohun Bagan Super Giant supporter asks someone to drop her off, even an East Bengal FC fan will gladly help. And if an East Bengal FC fan asks the same of an MBSG supporter, they’ll also make sure they reach safely, simply out of human decency,” she said.

A pure fan moment

She went viral after her emotional celebration when Jason Cummings scored the equalising goal in the ISL Cup final against Bengaluru FC. Her reaction wasn’t something she had planned — it was pure instinct, captured in the heat of the moment. What followed was something she never expected.

Since then, she has received a wave of love and encouragement from fellow fans — especially from elderly supporters of the club, who have cherished her passion and inspired her to take her journey as a fan even further.

“I saw the video of myself the next day — I had no idea I was being recorded! That was raw emotion; I wasn’t even aware of myself in that moment. My social media account was flooded with friend requests, and I couldn’t believe it.”

A few days later, during our 'Bar Puja' celebration at the club ground, many fans came up to me and showed their support. I got messages from elderly supporters of the club as well. It was overwhelming. But it shows how strong our community is — the love and passion we all share for the club.

Supporters like her are redefining what it means to be a football fan. Her journey stands as a reminder that passion knows no boundaries — and that one person’s love for the game can inspire many others to find their voice in the stands.

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Mohun Bagan Super Giant2024-2025