Durand Cup 2023: Kerala Blasters and Punjab FC Start Fresh with New Coaches
The 133rd edition of the Durand Cup is about to begin, offering clubs a chance to test their squad strength and strategies before the league season. Group C is one of the toughest, featuring Mumbai City FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Punjab FC, and CISF Protectors.
Kerala Blasters FC
Kerala Blasters FC has a new head coach, Mikael Stahre, and new player Noah Sadaoui, who was the joint-highest goalscorer last year. The team has been training hard in Thailand and aims for a strong start.
Punjab FC
Punjab FC, under new head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis, is rebuilding after significant changes. They have re-signed forward Luka Majcen and hope to make an impact this season.
Mumbai City FC
Mumbai City FC will field their reserve team, giving academy players a chance to prove themselves.
CISF Protectors
CISF Protectors aim to cause major upsets and influence the group outcome.
Doubts Revealed
Durand Cup -: The Durand Cup is a football (soccer) tournament in India. It is one of the oldest football competitions in the world, started in 1888.
Kerala Blasters FC -: Kerala Blasters FC is a football club based in Kochi, Kerala. They play in the Indian Super League (ISL), which is a professional football league in India.
Punjab FC -: Punjab FC is a football club based in Punjab, India. They compete in the I-League, which is another professional football league in India.
Mumbai City FC -: Mumbai City FC is a football club based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. They also play in the Indian Super League (ISL).
CISF Protectors -: CISF Protectors is a football team made up of players from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is a paramilitary force in India.
Mikael Stahre -: Mikael Stahre is a football coach from Sweden. He is the new head coach of Kerala Blasters FC.
Noah Sadaoui -: Noah Sadaoui is a football player who recently joined Kerala Blasters FC. He plays as a forward.
Panagiotis Dilmperis -: Panagiotis Dilmperis is a football coach from Greece. He is the new head coach of Punjab FC.
Reserve team -: A reserve team is a secondary team made up of younger or less experienced players. Mumbai City FC will use their reserve team in the Durand Cup.
Academy players -: Academy players are young footballers who are being trained in a club’s academy. They are usually under 18 years old and are being prepared to play for the main team in the future.
