With ten games scheduled in the five host cities of Kolkata, Jamshedpur, Shillong, Kokrajhar, and Imphal, the 134th Durand Cup, which kicks off on July 23, is sure to be an exciting first week of football action, especially with well-liked home favorites hoping to get off to a fast start.
With at least three local derbies featuring other top local contenders like Mohammedan Sporting (former champions), Shillong Lajong FC, and Neroca FC (former finalists), leading Indian Super League (ISL) teams East Bengal FC (16-time former winners) and Jamshedpur FC (former ISL League Winners Shield winners) kick off one after the other on the first two match days. These derbies are expected to attract a lot of local interest.
Early three points will provide the early starters hoping to secure knockout berths a boost, especially with teams like ISL champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant, defending champions NorthEast United FC, and ISL side Punjab FC starting in week two.
The tournament’s first game, a difficult Group A opener at home at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata, pits Bengaluru League top division team South United FC against giants East Bengal in the two games played in the plains before heading up to the stunning hills of the Northeast.
The following day, Jamshedpur will play the Tribhuvan Army of Nepal at their home field, the JDR Tata Sports Complex in the Steel City. Nothing less than two victories will please the Red Miners’ expanding fan base as they meet the Malaysian Army team in their second Group C match of the first week.
Similarly, supporters of the Red & Gold brigade will expect nothing less than a resounding victory in their first game now that they have a new roster of international recruits in their camp.
This year’s 134th Indian Oil Durand Cup opener is a unique Kolkata rivalry, as century-old Mohammedan Sporting faces off against I-League 2 champions Diamond Harbour FC (DHFC), who are opponents in the Calcutta Premier Division League. With DHFC won one of their first two meetings, Mohammedan is seeking their first victory over the recently established and rapidly improving team.
With both teams aiming to reclaim lost glory, the second matchup will pit the perennially popular Shillong Lajong FC against Rangdaijed United, another Shillong team. Group E’s first game, the Shillong derby, will take place at the JLN stadium.
As the Durand Cup returns to the city of Manipur, the legendary Imphal derby between longtime rivals Neroca FC and TRAU FC will take place in the final derby of week one. Seeing the charming Khuman Lampak crowded with football fans once more would undoubtedly be a joy.
Additionally, some exciting talent from Durand Cup debutants will showcase their knowledge and abilities on the national platform for the first time during the first week. In addition to the aforementioned South United and DHFC, other teams hoping to make an impression include Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and their first Group D opponents and fellow debutants Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC at Kokrajhar’s SAI stadium on July 27.
In the last match of the first week, on July 30, Punjab’s Namdhari FC will make its Durand debut when they play South United FC. This will be the latter’s final and the Punjab team’s first Group A match.
The Sony Ten2 channel and the SonyLIV over-the-top platform will broadcast live coverage of all 43, 134th Durand Cup matches.