The 130th edition of the Durand Cup kickedoff today at the Vivekananda Yubabharati Krirangan in Kolkata. West BengalChief Minister Mamata Banerjee kicked the ball and inaugurated the tournament.State’s Sports Minister Arup Biswas was also present at the event.
Mohammedan Sporting Club started theircampaign in the tournament with an emphatic win against the Indian Air ForceFootball team. The black panthers were leading 3-0 at the halftime and finallywon the match by 4-1 in a Group A clash.
16 teams are playing in this edition of theoldest club football tournament in Asia while two renowned clubs of Kolkata,East Bengal and Mohun Bagan are not participating. The final match will be heldon 3rd October.
What is the Durand Cup?
The Durand Cup is famous for being the oldestfootball tournament in Asia. The very first edition of the contest washeld in 1888. There have been 130 editions of the tournament since, and theonly interruptions in the staging of the Durand Cup have been caused bywars and the COVID-19 pandemic.
East Bengal and Mohun Bagan have been themost successful teams to have competed in the tournament, with both the Kolkatagiants having won it 16 times apiece. The current reigning champions areGokulam Kerala FC, who won the tournament in 2019 after defeating Mohun Bagan2-1 in the final.
What is the tournament format of the DurandCup?
The tournament begins with a group stage,with the 16 teams being divided into four groups of four teams. Group Afeatures the Indian Air Force Football Team, Bengaluru United, CRPF andMohammedan Sporting Club. Group B is made up of Army Green, FC Goa,Jamshedpur FC and Sudeva Delhi FC. Group C is comprised of BengaluruFC, Delhi FC, Indian Navy Football Team and Kerala Blasters FC. Group D will see AssamRifles Football Team, Army Red, Gokulam Kerala FC and Hyderabad FCface off against each other.
The top two teams in each group will progressto the knockouts in the quarter-finals. Top-ranked teams of every group willplay the second ranked-teams of other groups in the quarter-finals, and thewinners will progress to the semi-finals and then the final which will beplayed on 3 October.
Where will the Durand Cup be played?
The tournament will be hosted in West Bengalacross three venues: Kalyani Stadium in Kalyani, Salt Lake Stadium inKolkata and the Mohun Bagan Ground in Kolkata.
Where can you watch the Durand Cup?
The streaming rights of the Durand Cup havebeen acquired by Addatimes, and the games can be watched on the Addatimesapp.
Here’s the complete schedule of the DurandCup:
5September - Indian Air Force vs Mohammedan Sporting Club – 4.15 PM IST
6 September - CRPF vs FC Bengaluru United – 3.00 PM IST, Jamshedpur FC vsSudeva Delhi FC – 3.00 PM IST
7 September - FC Goa vs Army Green – 3.00 PM IST
8 September - Delhi FC vs Indian Navy – 3.00 PM IST
9 September - Indian Air Force vs FC Bengaluru United – 3.00 PM IST, AssamRifles vs Army Red – 3.00 PM IST
10 September - CRPF vs Mohammedan Sporting Club – 3.00 PM IST, Jamshedpur FC vsArmy Green – 3.00 PM IST
11 September - Kerala Blasters FC vs Indian Navy – 3.00 PM IST
12 September - Assam Rifles vs Hyderabad FC – 3.00 PM IST, Gokulam Kerala FC vsArmy Red – 3.00 PM IST
13 September - FC Goa vs Sudeva Delhi FC – 3.00 PM IST
14 September - Mohammedan Sporting Club vs FC Bengaluru United – 3.00 PM IST,CRPF vs Indian Air Force – 3.00 PM IST
15 September - Bengaluru FC vs Kerala Blasters FC – 3.00 PM IST
16 September - Gokulam Kerala FC vs Hyderabad FC – 3.00 PM IST
17 September - Jamshedpur FC vs FC Goa – 3.00 PM IST, Army Green vs SudevaDelhi FC – 3.00 PM IST
18 September - Delhi FC vs Bengaluru FC – 3.00 PM IST
19 September - Army Red vs Hyderabad FC – 3.00 PM IST, Assam Rifles vs GokulamKerala FC – 3.00 PM IST
21 September - Bengaluru FC vs Indian Navy – 3.00 PM IST, Delhi FC vs KeralaBlasters FC – 3.00 PM IST
23 September - Quarter-final 1 – 3.00 PM IST
24 September - Quarter-final 2 – 3.00 PM IST, Quarter-final 3 – 3.00 PM IST
25 September - Quarter-final 4 – 3.00 PM IST
27 September - Semi-final 1
29 September - Semi-final 2
3 October - Final