Former Mohun Bagan midfielder Cameron Watson compares ISL with Indonesian League, speaks on Kolkata football fan culture
ISL 2026-27 season likely to start on 10th October.
The name of Cameron Watson will probably be fondly remembered by fans of Mohun Bagan as well as Bengaluru FC, after the Australian midfielder spent some memorable years with the two Indian Super League (ISL) sides during his time in Indian football.
Watson was actually brought to Indian football by Bengaluru FC in the 2016-17 season and he made quite the immediate impact for them as well.
The robust midfielder came with quite a bit of experience behind him, having played for renowned Australian sides like Adelaide United as well as Newcastle Jets before joining them in 2016.
Cameron helped them reach the 2016 AFC Cup final, playing a key role in their continental success in the 2016-17 season and also winning the Federation Cup with them in that campaign.
After a very short stint with Madura United in Indonesia in 2017, he returned to India with Mohun Bagan and played for them in the 2017-18 season – in the campaign they finished third in the I-League and reached the Federation Cup semifinals.
Catch Every Update, Anytime, Anywhere
Cameron Watson compares ISL with Indonesian Super League
The Australian midfielder got a decent experience of Indian football before he moved back to Australia, playing at a more local level in the country with Victorian Premier League side Moreland Zebras FC.
Watson recently spoke about his time playing in both Indonesia and India in his playing career during the latter years of his playing career.
When asked about what he felt about playing in India and Indonesia, as well as the differences in quality between the top Indian division and the Indonesian Super League, he stated: “At that, Indonesia was tough. Indonesia is better than India, in terms of the quality of play. Maybe not so much if you are talking about the Indian league in the last two or three years because a lot of good players have gone there. But then, I’d still say now, (Indonesian League) is definitely a lot stronger.”
“The crowds are nuts. In India, (crowds are) great. In Indonesia, it’s mental as well. They’re just like when they don’t like something, they’ll you right away directly.”
Cameron Watson on experience with Mohun Bagan fans
Watson also spoke about his time interacting with the fans of Mohun Bagan during his time with the Kolkata heavyweights, adding.
“The Mohun Bagan fans are mental. When it comes to against East Bengal, which is their city rivals. There would be like 50,000 fans. The stadium’s nuts, so when we beat East Bengal that day in my first derby.”
“Then when you leave, your fans don’t let you leave. They’re just like, when you’re trying to get out of the stadium and there are like 2000-3000 fans outside the stadium just like chanting and you can’t get out. Anyone who are playing there will say the same. Their intentions are good, but it can be a little overwhelming man!”
When it comes to Watson’s comparison between the ISL and the Indonesian Super League, he actually never played in the ISL during his time with Bengaluru FC or Mohun Bagan.
However, when it comes to the current (2025-26) AFC Club Competitions Ranking, the Indonesian League is actually ranked higher (20th place) as compared to Indian Super League – which is ranked in the 26th place.
Watson made around 10 appearances for Mohun Bagan in his time with them in the 2017-18 season, and he ended up winning both the Kolkata derby matches against East Bengal as well.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.
Uttiyo is a sports journalist who has been covering football since 2016. He is an avid football enthusiast who spends hours either watching the beautiful game or writing about it. He has covered various tournaments for Khel Now, such as the FIFA U17 World Cup, ISL, I-League & AFC Champions League.