In the presence of Shri Aroop Biswas, the Hon’ble Minister for Sports & Youth Affairs, the Lt. General Kamal Repswal, Chief of Staff, HQ Eastern Command, issued a remark to the media at Fort William during the ceremonial launch of the famous Durand Cup trophy.

On the other hand, General Repswal declared Kolkata as the Durand Cup’s venue till 2025.

Ms. Mamata Banerjee, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal, would be in attendance for the inauguration and opening match of the 130th Durand Cup on September 5th at Vivekananda YubabharatiKrirangan, according to General Repswal (VYBK).

The first-ever Durand Cup was held in 1888, making it the world’s oldest-running club football event and the oldest-running football tournament in Asia (beginning in 1871 and 1874, respectively).

Gokulam Kerala won the previous 129th edition, which was staged for the first time in the city, defeating Mohun Bagan 2-1 in front of a sold-out stadium to claim their first silverware in the club history. They’ve returned to defend their crown.

A Long History

Traditionally organized by the Indian Army on behalf of our Armed Forces, the government of West Bengal will participate as joint-hosts this year and has been in the forefront in all facets of the tournament’s organization, led by Shri. Biswas.

Before the Durand Cup was moved to New Delhi in 1940, Shimla hosted the competition in its early years. After a three-year hiatus, the event returned in 2019, but this time to Kolkata, its newest home.

This year marks the 130th anniversary of Khel Now. For more information, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Telegram. The iconic event will begin with a new edition, which will run for the next five years. The city of Kolkata, with its rich footballing history and unbridled passion for the game among the people of the state, is an appropriate host for a tournament as historic as the Durand Cup.

Teams Participating in the Tournament

The 130th Durand Cup Champions title is being contested by 16 teams, with ISL club Kerala Blasters being the second team from the southernmost state noted for its football devotion.

FC Goa, Jamshedpur FC, Bengaluru FC, and Hyderabad FC are among the ISL teams that have joined the Blasters. The local challenge will be led by Mohammedan Sporting, the tournament’s first Indian victor, as well as fellow I-League clubs Sudeva FC of Delhi and, of course, Gokulam.

The second tier is challenged by a second club from Delhi and Bengaluru, Delhi FC, and Bengaluru United, while the Army has two teams, Army Green and Army Red.

The other four teams in the competition, which will take place from September 5 to October 3, 2021, are the Indian Indian Navy, Assam Rifles, Air Force, and CRPF.

Venues for the Cup

The Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) and the Mohun Bagan Club Ground in Kolkata, as well as the Kalyani Municipal Stadium Ground, which has been routinely holding national-level football matches over the past few years, have been chosen as the locations for the 130th Durand Cup.

About the Durand Cup

The Durand Cup, Asia’s and the world’s third oldest football tournament, is contested at all levels by 16 premier Indian football clubs and is a symbol of India’s football history and culture. Over the years, the Durand Cup, organized by the Indian Armed Forces, has been given as a breeding site for India’s best football players.

The first edition took place in Shimla in 1888, and it began as an Army Cup, open only to British Indian Army men in India, but it was quickly expanded to include civilian teams. The historic competition, named after its founder, Sir Mortimer Durand, British India’s Foreign Secretary from 1884 to 1894, celebrated its 130th season in 2021. The most successful teams have been Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, who have won the competition 16 times apiece.