After Super Cup flops, Federation Cup set to replace Durand at start of next season
The Super Cup replaced the Federation Cup in 2018
Panaji:
Concerned with the poor response for its season-ending
Super Cup
despite offering a continental spot for the winners, the All India Football Federation (
AIFF
) has now decided to slot the tournament at the start of the season.
The AIFF is also likely to revive the
Federation Cup
, Indian football's premier cup competition started in 1977, until it was set aside to make way for the newly-launched Super Cup in 2018.
The latest edition of the Super Cup concluded in Bhubaneswar on Saturday with FC Goa edging past Jamshedpur FC 3-0. Only two of the 12 I-League teams took part while Churchill Brothers pulled out in protest, leaving just 15 teams to compete in a knockout format.
While discussing matters related to the AIFF competition calendar last month, the AIFF executive committee unanimously decided to interchange the scheduling of the Federation Cup/Super Cup and the Durand Cup. While the federation's own tournament will be held at the start of the season, likely in Sept, the Durand Cup has now been allotted a slot at the end of the season.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Unlock your potential through diverse online programs,
Degree Online | Search Ads
Learn More
Undo
The League committee which met last week has approved the Federation Cup to be played before the
Indian Super League
(
ISL
) and I-League kicks off.
'Whenever held at the end of the season, the Super Cup has received poor response,' said a senior AIFF official. 'In Kerala (2023), most teams were not at full strength and did not take the tournament seriously. Even now in Bhubaneswar, two teams sent their reserve sides and three didn't have more than a couple of foreign players. This tournament is prestigious, with the champions getting the chance to play in Asia. If held at the start of the season, the response will be much better.'
The Super Cup involves participation of all teams from the top-tier ISL and qualifiers from the I-League.
Meanwhile, India coach
Manolo Marquez
has suggested that there should be at least one club competition exclusively for domestic players.
'In Spain, the Cup tournament, in seventies and eighties was being played without foreigners, only with Spanish players. I would like one competition only with Indian players. I think that would be good. I spoke about this, but they (AIFF) did completely the opposite, allowing clubs to field their full quota of (six) foreign players,' Manolo said after guiding FC Goa to a Super Cup triumph on Saturday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Sunil Gavaskar slams uncapped IPL crorepatis, wants BCCI to reward Ranji players better
Sunil Gavaskar has slammed IPL 2025's uncapped crorepatis who only turn up to play league cricket. He urged the BCCI to introduce slab-based Ranji Trophy payments and incentives to stop players from skipping domestic cricket before IPL. read more Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has shared his strong opinions about how some uncapped players in the Indian Premier League (IPL) are getting crores of rupees without proving themselves at the international stage. In his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar said that it is not always talent that helps these players earn big IPL contracts, adding that it's mostly just luck. Gavaskar slams uncapped IPL crorepatis Sunil Gavaskar did not mention any player by name but some of the young, uncapped crorepatis in IPL 2025 were Priyansh Arya (PBKS), Vaibhav Suryavanshi (RR), Nehal Wadhera (PBKS), Rasikh Dar (RCB), Naman Dhir (MI), Abdul Samad (LSG), Ashutosh Sharma (DC), Anshul Kamboj (CSK), Abhinav Manohar (SRH), Mahipal Lomror (GT), Arshad Khan (GT), Gurnoor Singh Brar (GT), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (KKR), Vaibhav Arora (KKR), Vijaykumar Vyshak (PBKS), Yash Thakur (PBKS), Harpreet Brar (PBKS), Shivam Dubey (RR). 'The argument that it is market forces is not really valid, for more often than not, it is sheer good fortune as some franchises want to take a punt with young talent. Have a look at the uncapped crorepatis throughout the IPL, and you will find that very few have gone on to do big things for India. It's their good luck that has made them the crores that they actually don't deserve,' Gavaskar wrote. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Gavaskar also talked about how some domestic players avoid playing Ranji Trophy matches before the IPL, just to avoid getting injured. According to Gavaskar, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) must work to fix this issue by introducing a better payment system. 'The BCCI has increased match fees, which is good. But if they add a slab system where players who play more matches earn more, it will encourage them to play more Ranji games instead of skipping them,' Gavaskar said. Gavaskar also suggested that the BCCI should introduce better incentives for teams that make the knockout stage of the Ranji Trophy. According to Gavaskar, it will motivate players to play the crucial matches before the IPL. 'If BCCI increases match fees for teams that reach the knockout stages, that will be another great incentive. Players won't withdraw from the tournament fearing injury before the IPL. Money is not a problem for BCCI or its units, so I hope these ideas are considered before the next domestic season,' he added.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Trent Frederic could be the missing piece to the New York Rangers' Stanley Cup Run
Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images There's always that one move that doesn't make headlines but ends up being the one everyone talks about in April and May. For the New York Rangers, that move could be signing Trent Frederic. Not a superstar. Not a scorer who'll put up 90 points. But a guy who plays with bite. A guy who shows up when the games get ugly. And after last season's early exit, the Rangers should know by now—they need more of that. Trent Frederic has the grit, goals, and playoff bite the New York Rangers were missing The Rangers had the talent. Artemi Panarin had a career year. Mika Zibanejad did his thing. Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin were as steady as ever. But when the postseason came, they got pushed around. The games slowed down, the hits got heavier, and they didn't have enough guys willing—or able—to fight through that. Trent Frederic lives for that kind of hockey. He's not a guy you bring in to score on the power play. He's the one who wins a puck battle in the corner, wears down a defense over 60 minutes, and stands tall when the other team tries to take liberties. He hits with purpose, plays smart in his own zone, and chips in enough offense—15, maybe 20 goals a season—to keep defenders honest. Look at what he did with the Oilers during their Cup run. That Game 6 goal to eliminate the Kings wasn't pretty, but it was pure Frederic—relentless forecheck, pressure at the net, and just enough finish. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Milana, 38, Shows Her Huge Size In New Photos. Paperela Undo That's what wins playoff games. At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, he brings a level of physicality the Rangers don't have much of right now. Think of him as a younger, slightly more skilled version of Barclay Goodrow. He can slide into the bottom six, play center or wing, and give Mike Sullivan a trusted option when things get tight. And at a projected $2.5 to $3.25 million per year, he won't mess with the cap. He fits Chris Drury's "win now and later" mindset perfectly. At 27, Frederic still has runway. He's not a stopgap—he's a playoff piece. The Rangers don't need more flash. They need fire. Frederic gives them that—without breaking the bank or the structure. He's not the kind of signing that makes waves on July 1, but come spring? He's the kind of guy who makes all the difference. Also Read: Vegas Golden Knights announce 2025 road trip with free Hockey clinics for kids
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
'Let's play smart': Oilers stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have changed their game to chase the Cup
Oilers stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have changed their game to chase the Cup (Image via Getty) A new change has been made for the Edmonton Oilers during the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. Two of their top players, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, started playing with a new mindset. It's not just about scoring goals anymore. They've embraced defense and team play. That shift is helping the Oilers in big ways this playoff season. Oilers stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are leading with smart hockey not just skill On Friday, June 6, 2025, before Game 2 against the Florida Panthers, head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed during morning skate in Edmonton that Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl would stay on separate lines. This plan was tested in Game 1 at Rogers Place and it worked well. The Oilers won with a balanced team effort. Knoblauch said keeping the stars apart helps every player feel important. 'They've got a role,' Knoblauch told reporters in Edmonton after practice. 'We're not just relying on one line to do all the work.' This decision was made after both McDavid and Draisaitl showed they were ready to do more than just score. They were defending hard and making smart plays all over the ice. The coaching staff saw they could trust them to lead in new ways. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Also Read: Edmonton Oilers Mix Hometown Ice Into Rogers Place Rink For Stanley Cup Final Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl's silent glance in Game 1 showed they understood the bigger picture During Game 1 of the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars on May 25, 2025, there was a key moment. McDavid and Draisaitl looked at each other on the bench. It wasn't a loud signal. Just a glance. But it showed they both knew the team needed them—offensively and defensively. E arlier in their careers, that look might've meant 'Let's go score.' Now, it means, 'Let's play smart and shut things down.' Coach Knoblauch shared how proud he was of that moment. 'They know when the time is right. They can switch gears and take over,' he said. Even when apart, McDavid and Draisaitl are helping other teammates step up. Players like Kasperi Kapanen and Corey Perry have been more effective. That's possible because the top stars are drawing attention and freeing up others. Knoblauch said on June 5, 'It spreads out our scoring and keeps everyone involved.' And when the Oilers need to go all in? McDavid and Draisaitl can still team up—and be unstoppable.
