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Time of India
6 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Durand Cup to champion North-East football with five-state host plan
Asia's oldest football tournament, the Durand Cup, will be back with its 134 th Edition and for the first time in its storied history, be hosted in as many as five states with Manipur's capital Imphal, making a comeback after a two-year gap. The Durand Cup Organising Committee also announced the dates for this year's tournament to be between July 22- August 23, 2025. Kokrajhar in Assam will extend their status as Durand Cup hosts for the third consecutive year while Jamshedpur in Jharkhand and Shillong in Meghalaya were added as hosts last year. The century-old tournament shifted its home base to Kolkata – the Mecca of Indian Football, and the capital of West Bengal, from Delhi back in 2019, and will also continue to hold that status for a sixth consecutive edition. Since its transition to the East, the Durand Cup has reinstated itself as the country's premiere competition, growing from 16 teams to 24 teams, including participation from all the Indian Super League (ISL) teams. Organised by the Eastern Command of the Indian Army on behalf of the three Services, the tournament is unique in the sense that it pits Services teams against India's best football clubs and over the past couple of editions, has also seen foreign participation with Army teams from neighbouring nations. The Indian Army's stated vision of expanding the reach of the historic tournament throughout the East and North-East is also now fully reflected with the choice of host cities this year. All State Governments and local autonomous bodies have wholeheartedly pledged their support like always for the popular tournament which has captured the imagination of the football loving people of the region. A total of six venues, two in Kolkata (Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan and Kishore Bharti Krirangan) and one each in Imphal (Khuman Lampak stadium), Ranchi (Morhabadi Stadium) or Jamshedpur (JRD Tata Sports Complex), Shillong (Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium) and Kokrajhar (SAI Stadium) have been earmarked for the 134 th IndianOil Durand Cup edition. North East United FC are the defending champions having overcome maximum title-holders Mohun Bagan, in a thrilling final last year to get their historic maiden title.
India Gazette
6 days ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
Asia's oldest football tournament now in five states as Imphal makes a comeback
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], May 25 (ANI): Asia's oldest football tournament, the Durand Cup, will be back with its 134th edition and for the first time in its storied history, be hosted in as many as five states with Manipur's capital Imphal, making a comeback after a two-year gap. The Durand Cup Organising Committee also announced the dates for this year's tournament to be between July 22- August 23, as per a release from Durand Cup Media. Kokrajhar in Assam will extend their status as Durand Cup hosts for the third consecutive year while Jamshedpur in Jharkhand and Shillong in Meghalaya were added as hosts last year. The century-old tournament shifted its home base to Kolkata - the Mecca of Indian Football, and the capital of West Bengal, from Delhi back in 2019, and, will also continue to hold that status for a sixth consecutive edition. Since its transition to the East, the Durand Cup has reinstated itself as the country's premier competition, growing from 16 teams to 24 teams, including participation from all the Indian Super League (ISL) teams. Organised by the Eastern Command of the Indian Army on behalf of the three Services, the tournament is unique in the sense that it pits Services teams against India's best football clubs and over the past couple of editions, has also seen foreign participation with Army teams from neighbouring nations. The Indian Army's stated vision of expanding the reach of the historic tournament throughout the East and North-East is also now fully reflected with the choice of host cities this year. All State Governments and local autonomous bodies have wholeheartedly pledged their support, like always, for the popular tournament which has captured the imagination of the football-loving people of the region. A total of six venues, two in Kolkata (Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan and Kishore Bharti Krirangan) and one each in Imphal (Khuman Lampak stadium), Ranchi (Morhabadi Stadium) or Jamshedpur (JRD Tata Sports Complex), Shillong (Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium) and Kokrajhar (SAI Stadium) have been earmarked for the 134th Durand Cup edition. North East United FC are the defending champions, having overcome maximum title-holders Mohun Bagan, in a thrilling final last year to get their historic maiden title. (ANI)
Hans India
6 days ago
- Sport
- Hans India
Imphal makes a comeback as Durand Cup 2025 to be held in record five states
Asia's oldest football tournament, Durand Cup, will be back with its 134th Edition and for the first time in its storied history, be hosted in as many as five states with Manipur's capital Imphal, making a comeback after a two-year gap. The Durand Cup Organising Committee also announced the dates for this year's tournament to be between July 22- August 23, 2025. Kokrajhar in Assam will extend their status as Durand Cup hosts for the third consecutive year while Jamshedpur in Jharkhand and Shillong in Meghalaya were added as hosts last year. The century-old tournament shifted its home base to Kolkata, and the capital of West Bengal, from Delhi back in 2019, and, will also continue to hold that status for a sixth consecutive edition. Since its transition to the East, the Durand Cup has reinstated itself as the country's premiere competition, growing from 16 teams to 24 teams, including participation from all the Indian Super League (ISL) teams. Organised by the Eastern Command of the Indian Army on behalf of the three Services, the tournament is unique in the sense that it pits Services teams against India's best football clubs and over the past couple of editions, has also seen foreign participation with Army teams from neighbouring nations. The Indian Army's stated vision of expanding the reach of the historic tournament throughout the East and North-East is also now fully reflected with the choice of host cities this year. All State Governments and local autonomous bodies have wholeheartedly pledged their support like always for the popular tournament which has captured the imagination of the football loving people of the region. A total of six venues, two in Kolkata (Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan and Kishore Bharti Krirangan) and one each in Imphal (Khuman Lampak stadium), Ranchi (Morhabadi Stadium) or Jamshedpur (JRD Tata Sports Complex), Shillong (Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium) and Kokrajhar (SAI Stadium) have been earmarked for the 134th Durand Cup edition. North East United FC are the defending champions having overcome maximum title-holders Mohun Bagan, in a thrilling final last year to get their historic maiden title.
Mint
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Mint
From bruises to glory: Khelo India Youth Games 2025 adds another chapter to Barauni's footballing fairytale
Football ke rang, Begusarai ke sangh. It's more than just a tagline pasted on the pillars of an under-construction flyover leading into this town. It's a quiet revolution that began with broken legs and bruised pride in a forgotten corner of Bihar. Tucked away from the din of Patna's bustle, in a humble locality of Barauni in Begusarai district, football did not just arrive, it fought its way in. This ground, a patch of land that carries the legacy of a freedom fighter Yamuna Bhagat, became football's unlikely home nearly 80 years ago. But the spark that truly lit its modern-day fire came in 1990, when a hastily assembled team of local girls, untrained and unsure, were battered by a seasoned Muzaffarpur team in an exhibition match, meant to mark the ground's 50th anniversary. Some hobbled away, some were stretchered and all had wounds that cut deeper than skin. But instead of shame, it birthed a movement. 'We were humiliated. But we turned that pain into purpose,' recalls Chandra Shekhar, a retired schoolteacher and former footballer, whose words carry the weight of generations. 'The story of the ground dates back to pre-Independence era, when freedom fighter Yamuna Bhagat started with a library to educate youngsters from the oppressed communities upon his released from jail. The real transformation took place in 1990 when we planned to celebrate 50 years of the ground,' narrated Chandra while reflecting on the struggles and sacrifices, the village made to turn it into a nursery for young female footballers. 'We had invited two teams for an exhibition match, and only one of the two reached here. As organisers, we were left red-faced, and all of a sudden we decided to form a team with young girls who had never played the sport,' he recalled. 'Unfortunately, some of our girls fractured their legs, and most of them ended up with some wound during the loss. That loss somewhere hurt us from within. The whole village united and decided to form a team, we hired a few coaches, with whatever funds we could gather to pay them,' Chandra Shekhar said. A year later, armed with courage and fuelled by community spirit, Begusarai's girls returned to the field, not to survive, but to compete. They beat Ara 1-0, a side that had former India striker Poonam in its ranks, in what would be remembered not for the result, but for the resolve. That one goal was a clarion call: We belong here. Over the next three decades, Barauni turned into a cradle of footballing dreams, led by unsung heroes like Chandra Shekhar, and former Mohun Bagan goalkeeper-turned-mentor Sanjeev Kumar Singh, who chose turf over a steady Army career, love for the game over comfort. Together, they nurtured talent, mentored generations and preserved a ground that once broke them and later, built them. Sanjeev candidly admitted that his dedication for football has come at the cost of ignoring the interests and needs of his family but pointed out that someone had to shoulder the responsibility. 'For my family, I'm useless, but I can't help it. I try to support them but football remains my first love. Everyone is busy with their jobs, so someone had to take responsibility. It's a sacrifice born of love, not obligation. A choice that helped this venue host Santosh Trophy matches in 2018, and now, India's flagship youth sporting event,' said an emotional Sanjeev. Today, Begusarai has emerged 12-time state champion, supplies 70 per cent of Bihar's squad, and a football culture rooted deep in community pride, Barauni finally finds itself on the national map, hosting the Khelo India Youth Games 2025. It's the applause for three decades of quiet toil, village-wide sacrifice, and football played with heart, not boots. The scouts from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) are in town, identifying prospects and predictably, many have roots in this very village. For many, KIYG is a platform. For Barauni, it's validation, a celebration of a village that turned heartbreak into heritage.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Winning trophies, delighting fans a priority, says Mohun Bagan dev team coach Deggie Cardozo
Mohun Bagan dev team coach Deggie Cardozo along with Leewan Castanha (left) and Sahil Inamdar (right) PANAJI: Mohun Bagan Super Giant are proving to be in a league of their own and have shown it in good measure, particularly this season when the senior side won a double in the Indian Super League (ISL). The Kolkata giants not just retained their league Shield but also topped it with the trophy. The future is in safe hands too. Their developmental side, headed by coach Deggie Cardozo from Goa, won the Reliance Football Development League (RFDL), a first for the club. 'It was a really challenging season, especially being new to the club and the environment,' said Deggie. 'In Kolkata, the pressure was immense, from the fans to the club management and players.' The 37-year-old, who earlier coached ATK, returned to Kolkata after a three-year stint with FC Goa at the beginning of the season. They had a tough start to the season, struggling in the Calcutta Football League as the coach had to integrate new players and understand their mindsets. It took time to finalise the team he wanted, and when he did, things started to click. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like It's Hard To Believe But Every Guy Had A Crush On Her In The 90s Boite A Scoop Undo 'At Mohun Bagan, we pride ourselves on developing talented players and fostering a strong winning mentality. That's the mindset I've installed in our team. I'm pleased to say the players have responded exceptionally well,' said Deggie. Mohun Bagan were scheduled to take part in the Premier League Next Gen Cup in Mumbai from Monday, but the tournament has been put on hold for this year amid tensions between India and Pakistan. Bagan were clubbed in group B alongside English youth teams Ipswich Town, Nottingham Forest and FC Goa. The other group comprised AFC Bournemouth, Kaizer Chief FC, Muthoot FA and Jamshedpur FC. The sixth edition of the tournament with teams from the Premier League, India and South Africa taking part would have been a good opportunity for Deggie and his team. Not just Deggie, it would have been helpful for two of the Goan players too with Leewan Castanha and Sahil Inamdar eager to prove themselves on the bigger stage. 'Training under coach Deggie at Mohun Bagan has been an incredible experience,' said Leewan. 'His knowledge of the game, attention to detail, and ability to bring out the best in each player has helped me grow tremendously.' The defender was previously with FC Goa's reserve side and never came close to winning the RFDL in three attempts. His dream finally came true, and as soon as he won the title, he called his family. 'Seeing their (families) joy when I showed them the medal and the trophy made the victory even more meaningful. It's a memory I'll cherish for the rest of my life,' said Leewan. Meanwhile, centre-back Sahil, who played an instrumental role for Geno FC in the Goa Professional League, proved his worth and is now looking to break into the first team. 'I'm excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. With Mohun Bagan's rich history and coach Deggie's guidance, I'm confident that I'll continue to grow as a player.' Deggie's key goal for next season will be to develop players for the first team. 'Of course, winning trophies for the club and delighting our passionate fans remains a top priority,' said Deggie.
