Durand Cup Returns to Kokrajhar: Exciting Football Matches Ahead
The 133rd edition of the Durand Cup tournament has returned to Kokrajhar, Assam. The prestigious Durand Cup trophies were displayed at the Bodofa Cultural Complex, Chandamari, in the presence of notable figures such as Pramod Boro, Chief Executive Member of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), and Nandita Gorlosa, Minister for Power, Sports and Youth Welfare, Cooperation, and Indigenous Tribal Faith & Culture (Archaeology) Department, Government of Assam. Lieutenant General RC Srikanth, VSM, Chief of Staff, HQ Eastern Command, and Chairman of the Durand Cup Organizing Committee, was also present.
Kokrajhar, which hosted six group matches in the previous edition, will now host seven matches, including a quarter-final knockout game. Pramod Boro expressed his gratitude to the Indian Army for adding an extra game and emphasized the positive impact on civil-military relations in the Bodoland region. Nandita Gorlosa highlighted the efforts of the local leadership in making Kokrajhar a significant location on India’s football map.
Lieutenant General RC Srikanth praised the unifying power of football and the Indian Army’s commitment to expanding the Durand Cup’s reach. This year, Jamshedpur and Shillong have been added as host cities. Group E, featuring teams like North-East United FC, Odisha FC, Border Security Force, and Bodoland FC, will be based in Kokrajhar. The first match, an all Assam derby between Bodoland FC and North East United FC, will take place on July 30, 2024, at the SAI Stadium.
A total of 24 teams, including two services teams from Nepal and Bangladesh, will compete in 43 matches across four cities: Kokrajhar, Shillong, Jamshedpur, and Kolkata. The grand final will be held on August 31 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata.
