Durand Cup Returns to Kokrajhar for the Second Consecutive Year

(L-R) – Shri Pramod Boro, Hon’ble Chief Executive Member, Bodoland Territorial Council; Smt. Nandita Gorlosa, Hon’ble Minister of Power, Sports and Youth Affairs, Cooperation, Indigenous and Tribal Faith and Culture, Govt. of Assam; Lt.Gen. R. C. Srikanth, VSM, Chief of Staff, HQ Eastern Command, and Rwngwra Narzary, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha with the Durand Cup trophies.

Khel Today Bureau

Kokrajhar: The return of Durand Cup tournament, now in its 133rd edition, is a very prestigious event for Kokrajhar. The three coveted Durand Cup trophies were displayed today at the Bodofa Cultural Complex, Chandamari, in the august presence of Shri Pramod Boro, Hon’ble Chief Executive Member, Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) and Smt Nandita Gorlosa, Hon’ble Minister for Power, Sports & Youth Welfare, Cooperation and Indigenous Tribal Faith & Culture (Archaeology) Dept Government of Assam. Also present on the occasion were Lt General RC Srikanth, VSM, Chief of Staff, HQ Eastern Command, Chairman Durand Cup Organising Committee (DCOC).

Kokrajhar hosted six group matches in the previous 132nd IndianOil Durand Cup edition, when it became only the second city in Assam to host the prestigious tournament. The tremendous response received has ensured that Kokrajhar not only continues as hosts this year, but also hosts an additional match and that too a knockout game.

Clearly enthused on the occasion, Shri Boro while welcoming all dignitaries and guests said, “I am very happy that the Indian Army has favourably responded to our request of holding an additional game this year in Kokrajhar and have kept their promise to us. As a result a seventh game, that too a quarter-final knockout of the Durand Cup will be held here for the very first time. We are very grateful and such magnanimity will only do wonders to the already cordial civil-military relationship, existing in the Bodoland region.

Like everyone here, I too will be rooting for our favourite Bodoland FC boys, however we look forward to competitive and exciting football matches in the coming days and wish all visiting teams and guests a wonderful time at Kokrajhar.”

Smt Nandita Gorlosa also addressed the audience saying, “We have seen last year how a tournament like the Durand Cup brought the entire Kokrajhar together and this year, thanks to the leadership of our Hon. Chief Minister and the Hon Chief Executive Member, it promises to be bigger and better here. Shri Boro has done a tremendous job with the infrastructure here and Kokrajhar is now firmly established on the footballing map of India, thanks to his tireless efforts. I wish the football loving youth and fans of Kokrajhar a wonderful time supporting your local heroes, while also appreciating good football from all quarters.”

Lt General RC Srikanth, VSM, Chief of Staff, HQ Eastern Command and Chairman, Durand Cup Organizing Committee, said, “There is no better example of the unifying power of football than the Durand Cup being played in Kokrajhar. The Indian Army is proud to host this prestigious tournament for a second successive year in the Bodoland region as we continue with our commitment to spread the reach of the Durand Cup further into the East and North-Eastern parts of the country. In that spirit, we have added Jamshedpur and Shillong as host cities this year. We hope that the football crazy youth of Kokrajhar, take this opportunity of watching their heroes in live action, as an inspiration for a bright future ahead, for themselves. On behalf of Lt Gen Ram Chander Tiwari, Army Commander Eastern Command, I also wish the organising committee, the players and everyone involved in this year’s tournament all the very best, for a memorable Durand Cup and thank the Government of Assam and sponsors for the conduct of the tournament.”

Of the six groups, Group E, comprising of ISL sides North-East United FC (NEUFC) and Odisha FC along with BSF, besides the local Bodoland FC team, will be based in Kokrajhar.

The first match is scheduled to kick off at the SAI Stadium between the popular Bodoland FC and NEUFC, in what can be dubbed as an all Assam derby, on July 30th, 2024. The game starts at 3.00 pm IST.

All matches of the IndianOil Durand Cup will be broadcast LIVE on the Sony Sports Network and can also be livestreamed on the SonyLiv OTT platform.

A total of 24 teams, including two Services teams from Nepal and Bangladesh, will be seen in action across 43 matches, which will be played in the four host cities of Kokrajhar, Shillong, Jamshedpur (last two named making their debut as host cities) and Kolkata. The last named will also host the grand final on August 31st at the hallowed Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK).

ABOUT DURAND CUP

A symbol of India’s football history and culture, the Durand Cup is Asia’s oldest and the world’s third oldest football tournament. Organised by the Indian Army on behalf of the three Services, the Durand Cup has been the breeding ground for India’s best footballing talent, over the years.

The inaugural edition happened in Shimla in 1888 and then the tournament moved to New Delhi in 1940, where it was held till 2016. In 2019, the tournament came under the aegis of the Eastern Command and moved to the eastern part of the country, with Kolkata, the Mecca of Indian football and the Eastern Command Headquarters, being the home base. What makes the Durand Cup even more unique is that the winners get three trophies, two rotating (Durand Cup and Shimla Trophy) and one for permanent keep (President’s Cup).

As we embark on this exciting journey over the coming weeks, let us celebrate the beautiful game of football, honour the traditions of the Durand Cup, and look forward to witnessing moments of brilliance that will be etched in our memories forever.