Durand Cup – Durand Cup: Season starts with battle for glory
ATK Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, who were absent last year, will play to give the tournament a much-needed boost
Mohammedan Sporting coach Andrey Chernyshov gives instructions to the players during a training session at the National Center of Excellence.
Santosh Ghosh
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Calcutta
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Published on 08/15/22 04:04
The Durand Cup was catapulted to ‘major tournament’ status after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) made it compulsory for Indian clubs to play two cup competitions alongside the ISL. This ensured that teams played at least 27 games per season.
The extended calendar has thus made the Durand Cup the season-opening tournament where top teams will compete for honour. ATK Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, who were absent last year, will play to give the tournament a much-needed boost. The organizers had planned the derby as the opening game but after a fixture overhaul, holders FC Goa meet runners-up Mohammedan Sporting on Tuesday. Mohammedan Sporting have kept their core with Marcus Joseph, the Trinidadian marksman, leading the lines.
Players like Milan Singh and Abhishek Ambekar bring the experience of players like ex-Lokomotiv Moscow and Tajik international Nuriddin Davronov adding the X-factor. Mohammedan Sporting also have Senegalese defender Ousmane N’Diaye in their ranks.
Ahead of the tournament, Andrey Chernyshov’s side played two training games, losing to ATK Mohun Bagan and beating Chennaiyin FC. Dipendu Biswas, the team manager, said he was hoping for a good show.
“We have a balanced team and should make it difficult for our rivals,” he said. The tournament sees the return of Bengaluru FC captain Sunil Chhetri. For someone who has won the most trophies in Indian football, Durand is absent from his cabinet. “It’s an additional motivation,” he said on Sunday. Bengaluru also strengthened their defense by roping in Sandesh Jhingan.
Game on Tuesday: Mohammedan Sporting vs Goa FC (Salt Lake Stadium, 7pm, live on Sports 18 1)
CM brother in the IFA idea
Indian Football Association (IFA) chairman Subrata Dutta and Meghalaya Football Association’s Larsing Ming Sawyan on Sunday challenged the decision of All India Football Federation (AIFF) Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha to disqualify their names from the electoral college.
The duo were deemed “disqualified under the terms of the draft constitution.” If Dutta “loses the contest”, President Ajit Banerjee, older brother of Bengal Prime Minister Mamata Banerjee, will be the IFA’s nominee for Electoral College.
Meanwhile, 36 outstanding footballers including Manoranjan Bhattacharya, Prasun Banerjee, Bhaichung Bhutia, IM Vijayan and Bembem Devi have found their names in the electoral college. Bhutia said he has not decided to contest elections.