Mohamed Bilal: Thiruvananthapuram to East Bengal; The Journey, The Goal, The Struggle & Bino George

The roads leading up to Perumathura, a northern suburb of Thiruvananthapuram, are quite beautiful and scenic.

Perumathura is a coastal locality in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, known for its scenic surroundings, fishing communities and proximity to the Arabian Sea.

Although the alleys are narrow, Mohamed Bilal's dreams were big. And that has propelled his journey to East Bengal, where he announced himself on the biggest stage, in a derby against Mohun Bagan.

Bilal produced one of the standout moments of the Kolkata Derby as East Bengal's young side held a strong Mohun Bagan outfit to a 1-1 draw in the 2026 Calcutta Football League. Trailing after Manvir Singh's first-half goal, East Bengal fought back after the break. Introduced as a substitute, Bilal rose highest from a corner in the 64th minute and powered a header past the Mohun Bagan goalkeeper to restore parity.

After the match, the player was visibly happy, yet concerned as well. Just two days before, Bilal's father was hospitalised in Thiruvananthapuram.

"My father was hospitalised a couple of days ago. I want to score more goals and win more matches," he said after the derby win.

The steel in Bilal's face depicts his determination, as his father's health issues have been a big concern for the family. Back home, the five-member family has had financial struggles, but Bilal is taking giant strides to alleviate them, with his elder brother taking care of the family.

"I am playing in the CFL for the first time. The coach has given me chances, and I want to score more. In any competition I play, I want to score," he added.

When asked about talks with fellow Malayalis who have played for East Bengal, Bilal says Jesin TK and Emil Benny have been helpful.

"Sometimes Jesin TK calls me and motivates me. Today he called me as well. Emil Benny also tells me to give more effort. And I put in more effort and score goals.

Mohamed Bilal and Bino George Connection

Bilal's introduction to East Bengal came through the hands of a fellow Keralite, Bino George. The head coach of the East Bengal reserves team has been instrumental in his Kolkata arrival. During his days at Gokulam Kerala, Bino knew Bilal, and he brought him to East Bengal as the reserves team needed a striker.

The player also wanted to come to Kolkata. He was conquering Kerala with goals and also netted the winner in the Kerala Premier League. It was all about taking the next step, and he was ready to play for a bigger name. Opportunity came through Bino, whose previous knowledge of the player did the trick.

"Bilal wanted to move to East Bengal badly. He told me that he wanted to come and play. His Gokulam Kerala contract was terminated, and I brought him to East Bengal. He comes from a needy background, but has the ability to score goals. We needed a striker, and that's why I brought him," says Bino George to MyKhel in an exclusive chat.

Bilal, so far, has repaid the faith. In the Calcutta Football League, he has netted 5 goals, and none bigger than the one against the Mariners.

There's a long way to go. But Bilal has so far taken the right steps. No one has seen the future, but the early signs are promising.