FCB Allstars: The Kolkata trip's day one

The FC Bayern Munich Allstars spend about 50 hours in Kolkata last week and we had a jam packed schedule and program. It was a memorable trip, the fourth trip by a team from FCB to Kolkata in the last five years.

We had an interesting first day with the FC Bayern Munich Allstars in the "City of Joy". We flew in about 20 minutes late arriving around 1.15 am on Tuesday morning at Dum Dum airport and a committee had gathered to welcome us with garlands and shawls, while a bus in Bayern colours was waiting to take us to our team hotel, the ITC Sonar. It was around 2.30 am by when we all had gone into our rooms, some to directly sleep, others freshened-up for a late drink, while some like me got onto the web to check mails.

We had an early breakfast and internally discussed the press conference, which was moved from indoors to outdoor due to bad light in the area where the press conference was supposed to be held. And this meant we would have to sit in the glaring sun and then it was also delayed by 30 minutes. The press conference saw Paul Breitner, Andreas Brehme, Paulo Sergio, Martin Haegele and myself from FCB sitting at the table besides the local organisers plus East Bengal secretary Kalyan Majumdar and former international Surajit Sengupta. More then 100 journalists attended with over 20 cameras pointed at us. It took us close to an hour, but thereafter started the one-on-one interview marathon and realising that Paul Breitner was the man capable of speaking English, Paul was the man everyone in Kolkata wanted a one-on-one interview. And a big credit to Paule who gave everyone an interview with the session lasting over 90 minutes.

A quick, non-existent lunch and we where off to Alipur to Bodyguard Lines, the home of Kolkata Police for the finale of the Friendship Cup. In May 2008 FCB had opened the tournament, this time around we were there for the closing ceremony but as we left late for Alipur and had to be on time for the next appointment our stay was really short. There I met P.K. Banerjee, who isn't the best of health, and it was sad to see him in such a bad state.

Next stop the Calcutta Cricket & Football Club for a kids clinic, something which we had done in 2008 to scout for six kids, who would come to Munich. This time 96 kids took part and in over two hours the FC Bayern Allstar players scouted for the six best players, who would have the chance to come to Munich for a two week training camp. The Allstars took their job of scouting so seriously that a final was organised for the best 12 kids, so the six best could be chosen. After the clinic at CCFC it was back to base to our hotel.

A short break once more, a quick freshen-up and we were ready for the official dinner. It was supposed to be attended by important people of all walks of life from Kolkata, but that wasn't to be and it was mainly footballers from both teams and the media enjoying an evening with food and drinks. I had the task of introducing the FCB Allstars to the gathering and did it in a rather informal manner, while the boys had fun on stage. It ended early for many, some stayed at the open air round tables while some did go to a private lounge party. This was day one of our Kolkata trip.

More to come from day two...