The midfield maestro who is making the Bagan faithful dream of a second I-League title...
Joseba Beitia is not someone who is unfamiliar with the atmosphere of a derby. During his stint with Real Sociedad B, he has played in the much-acclaimed Basque derby against Athletic Bilbao. But the Spanish midfielder, who has also witnessed the El Clasico, has no qualms in accepting that only a very few other rivalries in the world can match the spectacle of a Kolkata derby.
On September 2, when Beitia walked on to the pitch of the Salt Lake Stadium against East Bengal he was greeted by a deafening cheer that he believes will continue to echo in his ears for a very long time.