131st edition of Durand CupThe oldest football tournament in Asia and the third oldest in the world, India promises to bring something new to the beautiful sport.
New teams and new venues add to the glamor and prestige of this heritage competition as it claims to be a major part of the Indian football calendar. In fact, the Durand Cup 2022 will be the second qualifying tournament for the AFC Cup, the first for the centuries-old tournament.
Hold your breath and seal your hearts as we come to your city with the spirit that unites us all…. brings to you the official teaser of the theme song which depicts the love and enthusiasm for the oldest football competition pic.twitter.com/k0xWjlT8qM
— Durand Cup (@thedurandcup) 12 August 2022
The upcoming edition of Durand Cup not only provides an opportunity for teams to win silverware before the start of the regular season but also helps in increasing the number of games for the players, which has been demanding by players, coaches and coaches. The fans have been alike for a long time.
The Asian Football Confederation determined that the Durand Cup, in the pre-season, and the Super Cup, in the postseason, are the two competitions that conform to their entry manual guidelines, which makes it mandatory for clubs to play a minimum of 27 matches in eight months. ,
This time the Durand Cup will be played at five venues in three states – West Bengal, Assam and Manipur. The 20 teams – all 11 Indian Super League teams, five teams from the I-League and four teams from the Indian Armed Forces are divided into four groups of five with six teams enjoying a home advantage in the group stage – Mohammedan SC, East Bengal FC and ATK Mohun Bagan in Kolkata, TRAI and Neroca in Imphal and NorthEast United in Guwahati. Group A and B matches will be played in Kolkata with Group C in Manipur and Group D in Guwahati.
Here are the groups and matches-
Along with Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Kreerangan, which will host the inaugural and final on September 18, and Kishore Bharati Kreerangan in Kolkata, the Durand Cup will also be played at Indira Gandhi, Guwahati, Naihati Stadium in North 24-Parganas district of West Bengal. Gandhi Athletic Stadium and Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal.
“We are very happy that 27 out of 47 matches of the Durand Cup will be played in Kolkata. Also, by at least 2025, the tournament, which is now the number one football tournament in India, will be held in West Bengal,” said Arup Biswas, the minister. Play and Youth Affairs West Bengal government at the press conference to launch the tournament in Kolkata on Friday.
“Finally, I would like to say that I am aware of some statistics that the Durand Cup has been won by Mohun Bagan and East Bengal 16 times which is the most by any team till date. I hope we will be able to see the 17th victory.
Lt Gen KK Repswal, SM CSM, Chief of Staff Eastern Command and Chairman of the Tournament Organizing Committee said that 24 to 28 teams could be included in the tournament in the near future.
“The Durand Cup is now the second qualifying cup recognized by the Confederation of Asian Football. This will ensure compulsory participation of all 11 ISL teams which in turn will also raise the level of football and Durand Cup. Lt Gen KK Repswal said.
Thanking the host states and their chief ministers, General Repswal said that: “I believe the Durand Cup has room to expand to 24 or 28 team tournaments in the future.”
Another innovation is that all the matches including the group and elimination stages will be telecast exclusively on Sports18 and will be live streamed on Voot.
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