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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Durand Cup: How the oldest football league outside British Isles has evolved over time
The 134th edition of the Durand Cup, the oldest extant football tournament outside the British Isles, began in Kolkata on Wednesday. Established in 1888, Durand Cup was the most prestigious tournament in Indian football until the late twentieth century. Here's a brief history. The tournament is named after Sir Mortimer Durand, a British diplomat best known for drawing the contentious international border between British India (now Pakistan) and Afghanistan. Durand instituted the tournament in 1888 as recreation for British troops: the first edition saw the participation of six British and two Scottish regimental teams. Till 1940, the Durand Cup was held each September in Shimla, the summer capital of the Raj. Matches were played with full military pomp and pageantry in the picturesque meadow of Annandale. 'Smartly attired military bands played tuneful marching tunes before the match and during the interval. Pennants of the participating British regimental teams fluttered in the sun. The Viceroy of India would personally hand over the prizes,' Novy Kapadia, the legendary Indian football writer, wrote in Barefoot to Boots: The Many Lives of Indian Football (2017). In 1922, Calcutta-based Mohun Bagan became the first civilian side to take part in the tournament, paving the way for Indian participation. But in these initial years, the mostly barefoot Indian teams could not cope with superior British opposition. 'Realising this, Durand authorities came up with a unique idea in 1937, to have a separate tournament for all teams knocked out in the first round. This competition was known as the Little Durand, or 'Chhota' Durand, and was held concurrently with the main tournament,' Kapadia wrote. Another Calcutta-based club, Mohammedan Sporting, broke the British monopoly on the Durand Cup in 1940, the year the tournament moved to Delhi. In front of a 1,00,000-strong crowd at the Irwin Amphitheatre (now the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium), the team of 11 Muslims beat the Royal Warwickshire Regiment 2-1 in the final. After a break due to World War II, Independence, and Partition, the tournament resumed in 1950. Beginning with Dr Rajendra Prasad, a football enthusiast, the President of India took over the role of the erstwhile Viceroy in the final. 'Six Indian Presidents, from Rajendra Prasad to Neelam Sanjiva Reddy graced the Durand final and watched the complete match. During half-time they would have tea with the captains… [and] chat about football and sports…,' Kapadia wrote. While regimental teams of the Indian Army continued to take part — the Army still plays a central role in organising the Durand Cup — civilian clubs have been more dominant the post-Independence era. Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, with 17 and 16 wins respectively, have been the most successful teams in the tournament's history, followed by the Border Security Force team with seven wins. Punjab-based JCT has won five times. The Hyderabad City Police team was a formidable force in the 1950s and early-1960s, with four wins. 'For about four decades, till the end of the 1980s, the greatness of a player and even clubs was judged by how many Durand finals they had played in and how many Durand titles they had won,' Kapadia wrote. In the 1990s, attendance at the games, held in the Delhi Gate Stadium (later renamed Ambedkar Stadium), began dropping, which coincided with a general decline in interest in Indian football. The reasons, according to commentators, include the exposure on television to vastly superior foreign leagues, and the surge in the interest in cricket. As other leagues emerged — notably the I-League in the 1990s and the Indian Super League in the 2010s — big clubs such as Mohun Bagan and East Bengal gradually lost interest, often sending B-teams to Durand, or not sending sides at all. Since 2019, the tournament has been primarily hosted by Kolkata which remains the bastion of football in India. Although recent editions have managed to attract big sides, Durand nowadays is effectively a glorified pre-season tournament, providing managers an opportunity to fine-tune tactics and players before the domestic season begins.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Durand Cup boosted with ₹3 Crore prize purse & SUVs for top performers
The 134th edition of the Durand Cup, Asia's oldest football tournament, unveiled an impressive threefold increase in its prize money, raising the total pot to ₹3 Crore during the trophy roll-out ceremony in Kolkata Alongside reward for winners and runners-up, both semi-finalists and quarter-finalists will also earn a share. In a unique twist, three individual award winners (Best Goalkeeper, Golden Boot, Golden Ball) will each receive a brand-new SUV Speaking on the occasion Aroop Biswas, said 'With increased media coverage planned for the Durand Cup and the Honourable Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee gracing the grand finale on August 23rd, the atmosphere promises to be electric. Ticket allocations for marquee clubs like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Mohammedan SC, and Diamond Harbour FC have also been finalised to ensure strong fan representation. A ticket quota of 5,000 each has been allocated to Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Mohammedan SC, and Diamond Harbour FC to ensure a vibrant fan presence in the stands. We wish all the teams the very best as they compete in Asia's oldest and most prestigious football tournament. Also speaking on the occasion Lt Gen Mohit Malhotra said, 'I am delighted to announce that this year the tournament has significantly ramped up its prize structure, from under ₹1.2 Cr in the past to over ₹3 Cr now. In addition, three brand-new SUVs for the three individual award winners will also be presented. This reflects our growing commitment to both rewarding excellence and attracting the best talent from across the nation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo With its passionate fans, historic clubs, and unmatched footballing culture, Kolkata remains the spiritual home of the game in India.' Major General Arun Moghe shared his thoughts and added, 'This year, the tournament continues with the League-cum-Knockout format that has served us well. A total of 24 teams, divided into six pools, will compete across five states, with two pools playing their matches right here in Kolkata. Kolkata will be hosting 15 matches including one quarter final, semi-final and the grand finals. We are also proud to provide a platform for four promising grassroots teams in 1-Ladakh FC, South United FC, Bodoland FC, and Rangdajied United FC.' Tournament Overview & Structure Starts July 23, concluding in Kolkata on August 23 with the grand finale attended by CM Mamata Banerjee Matches will span five states (Assam, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Jharkhand, plus a fifth state. Kolkata will host two full pools—15 matches in total—including one quarter-final, semi-final, and the final. Games will occur at Salt Lake Stadium (VYBK) and Kishore Bharati Krirangan (KBKGroup A (matches at VYBK) features East Bengal, South United FC, Emami East Bengal FC, Indian Air Force FT, and debutants Namdhari FC. Group B (at KBK) includes Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Mohammedan SC, BSF FT, and Diamond Harbour FC. A major Kolkata derby is scheduled for July 31 between Mohun Bagan SG and Mohammedan SC This landmark increase in prize money, combined with enhanced visibility, expanded geographic reach, and luxury awards for standout players, marks a pivotal moment for the Durand Cup—balancing tradition with modern ambition.
News18
3 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Durand Cup: East Bengal Favourites As NorthEast United FC Look To Defend Title
Last Updated: The 134th Durand Cup startswith 24 teams and a Rs 3 crore prize pool. The 134th edition of the Durand Cup kicks off on Wednesday, with East Bengal facing South United FC amid uncertainty surrounding the upcoming domestic football season. The Durand Cup retains its significance as the traditional curtain-raiser for Indian football. The competition continues to draw a full roster of 24 teams, although only six top-tier clubs have confirmed participation this year. Who Can Win Durand Cup 2025? The spotlight will be on East Bengal, one of the busiest clubs in the transfer market. Determined to turn around their fortunes after a forgettable 2024-25 campaign – where they finished ninth in the ISL, made an early Super Cup exit, and bowed out of the AFC Challenge League in the quarterfinals – the Kolkata giants have made significant changes under Spanish coach Oscar Bruzon. Key signings include Brazilian midfielder Miguel Figueira, Argentine defender Kevin Sibille, and Palestinian international Mohammed Rashid. They join full-back Jay Gupta, who completed a multi-year move from FC Goa after a successful stint with the Gaurs. Bruzon has released foreign stars Hijazi Maher, Mahdi Talal, and Messi Bouli in a bid to refresh the squad and end the club's long trophy drought. East Bengal's fans hope the new recruits can help reclaim the Durand Cup, which they last won 21 years ago in 2004. With 16 titles, they remain the second-most successful club in the competition's history, behind arch-rivals Mohun Bagan, who clinched their record 17th crown in 2023 by defeating East Bengal 1-0 in a nail-biting final. Defending champions NorthEast United FC are drawn in Group E and will be boosted by the signing of Spanish winger Jairo Samperio, a Europa League winner. They have also acquired Lalbiakdika Vanlalvunga, Lalrinzuala Lalbiknia, and Chema Nunez for the upcoming season. Having won their first club trophy in the previous edition, Juan Pedro Benali's side will be eager to perform in front of their home fans. What Is At Stake? This year's Durand Cup maintains its 24-team format, split into six groups across five states – West Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam, Meghalaya, and, for the first time, Manipur. Kolkata alone will host two groups, with 15 matches, including a quarter-final, a semi-final, and the grand finale at Salt Lake Stadium on August 23. The competition continues its tradition of welcoming foreign clubs, with teams from Malaysia (Malaysian Armed Forces) and Nepal (Tribhuvan Army FC) adding an international flavour. For Kolkata fans, local giants East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Mohammedan Sporting, and newly promoted I-League outfit Diamond Harbour FC will ensure no shortage of fierce rivalries. Significantly, the prize purse has tripled to Rs 3 crore this year. Standout individual performers will be rewarded with three SUVs alongside team prizes for semi-finalists, quarter-finalists, and best performers. How Can Durand Cup Help Indian Football? Since its post-pandemic revival in 2021, the Durand Cup has provided clubs with a crucial pre-season testing ground, helping managers fine-tune tactics and assess new signings. For youngsters and lesser-known domestic players, it remains one of the best platforms to grab the spotlight before the ISL and I-League seasons. The format will see six group winners and the two best second-placed teams progress to the knockout rounds. ISL teams have dominated the competition since their inclusion, winning every edition since 2021, and will again start as favourites, despite fewer top-tier clubs joining the fray this time. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Cash prize for Durand Cup upto Rs 3 crore
The Durand Cup Organizing Committee (DCOC) announced that the total cash prize money pool of this year's tournament will increase three times to ₹3 Crore. The announcement was made on Thursday during the trophy unveiling ceremony in Kolkata as the City of Joy geared up to host Asia's oldest football tournament. Along with the winners and runners up, teams reaching the semi-finals and quarterfinals along with three individual awards will also receive a share of the prize pool. 'With increased media coverage planned for the Durand Cup and the state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee gracing the grand finale on August 23, the atmosphere promises to be electric," said Aroop Biswas. Ticket allocations for marquee clubs like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Mohammedan SC, and Diamond Harbour FC have also been finalised to ensure strong fan representation. Major General Rajesh Arun Moghe said, 'This year, the tournament continues with the League-cum-Knockout format that has served us well. A total of 24 teams, divided into six pools, will compete across five states, with two pools playing their matches right here in Kolkata. Kolkata will be hosting 15 matches including one quarter final, semi-final and the final. Four teams under the promising grassroots category are selected —Ladakh FC, South United FC, Bodoland FC, and Rangdajied United FC.
Indian Express
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Sangita Basfore: India's midfield rock who also blasts goals
Before their game against Thailand, India's final match of the AFC Women's Asia Cup Qualifiers last week at the 700th Anniversary of Chiang Mai Stadium, they scribbled a message on a board in the dressing room. 'Yes! You can do it'. Ninety minutes later, midfield spearhead Sangita Basfore says, they felt it needed some tweaking, maybe to make it read: 'Yes, we did it'. Ranked 70th and largely obscure, they had stunned 46th-placed Thailand to win the qualification group and book a spot in the 2026 AFC Women's Asia Cup in Australia. Though the country has participated twice in the event—invited for the 2003 edition and were hosts in 2022, even though they withdrew due to Covid-19 outbreak in the camp–this is the first time they have progressed via the qualification system. At the heart of the triumph was Sangita scoring a worldie to put her side in front in the 29th minute and add a scruffy second to restore India's lead, which they then fiercely safeguarded. When the final whistle blew, coach Crispin Chhetri sank to the ground, something he says he rarely does. As did Sangita, uncontrollably shedding tears of joy. 'All the hard work, all the heartbreaks, all the previous matches we couldn't win, flashbacks of everything came all together. Finally we achieved it and we could come back home happy,' Sangita tells The Indian Express. 'I am a defensive midfielder,' the 28-year-old asserts. She loves that position as well, even though depositing the ball into the back of the net was the piece of action that drew her into the game, when she was a little girl at the academy run by her uncle and former Mohun Bagan player Bijay Basfore. It's a universal theme—most kids start playing football for the joy of scoring goals. 'At the time I loved shooting the ball. Shooting practice was my favourite pastime and I would just play barefoot with boys during their practice. I would hide their ball sometimes and play with it. This should be around 2007,' she remembers. Bijay's seasoned eyes saw a spark in her, a gift for the game. Convincing her mother was difficult. But they coaxed her, and the mother gave her Rs 250 to buy boots and such stuff. She proudly says it was the last time she took money from her parents to play football. 'Football gave me a lot and because of this sport, I managed to give my family financial stability,' says Sangita. This perspective kept her glued to the game during the tough years. In 2021, Sangita sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. A nightmare of an injury for most footballers, especially for box-to-box midfielders, who bust their lungs and cover an incredible part of the real estate. She underwent surgery in October that year and started the arduous task of rehabilitation. She couldn't touch a football for the next nine months. Worse, she had to foot the bill for the rehabilitation herself, from the salary she received from her job at the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). But the cruellest blow of all came shortly after she returned from surgery. 'My father passed away shortly after I got back home after my surgery,' says Sangita. 'At the time I just couldn't understand how to handle myself. My mother was alone at home. Even today to a certain extent I worry about her when she is alone at home because parents tend not to tell their kids what is in their mind,' she adds. But she drew the energy to fight back from the game. 'A lot was happening at the time but I stayed strong, stayed focussed that I needed to play again and so my mother would be fine. It is because of this sport that we were able to find financial stability at home, I have been able to give my mother, my sister and her kids a good life. So at no point did I ever consider quitting,' she says. Sangita had made her international debut in 2015 but says she could never really fit into the forward line. Maymol Rocky, the then national coach, told her that she has the capability to play further back. Sangita started browsing the videos of Toni Kroos and Casemiro, defensive midfield virtuosos of the time. 'So I watched videos of how the likes of Casemiro and Toni Kroos would go about their job in that position. Even today I try to learn from them,' she says. She seamlessly shifted to the new role and impressed coach Chhetri, who had little hesitation in installing her as the side's beating heart in the qualifiers, along with her midfield partner Ratanbala Nongmaithem. 'Sangita is the kind of player who makes others around her look better. Because she takes that much load. Players like Sangita and Ratan deserve those two goals because they sacrifice everything. The things Sangita has gone through, recovered through all that pain, got back in the national team, in the starting eleven. She deserved to score those two important goals,' said Chhetri. And take India and herself into a dreamland.
