133rd Durand Cup Begins with Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs Downtown Heroes
The 133rd edition of the Durand Cup is set to start at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharti Krirangan (VYBK) on Saturday. Defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant will face Downtown Heroes of Srinagar in a Group A match.
About Downtown Heroes
Downtown Heroes FC, a club in its fourth year, focuses on nurturing young, homegrown talent. They debuted in the Durand Cup last season and participated in the 2022-23 I-League Division 2.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Mohun Bagan SG, the reigning champions, recently won the ISL Shield. Under head coach Jose Francisco Molina, they have strengthened their squad with international players like Jamie Maclaren, Greg Stewart, Alberto Rodriguez, and Tom Aldred.
Captain’s Statement
Basit Ahmed, captain of Downtown Heroes, expressed confidence and pride, saying, “We are ready to make all the Kashmiri people and also all the clubs in Kashmir proud as we are participating in this year’s Durand Cup. We are very happy and proud to participate in this prestigious tournament and we are working very hard to perform and give our best.”
Tournament Details
The Durand Cup is being played in four states for the first time, with Shillong and Jamshedpur joining Kokrajhar and Kolkata as host cities. The 24 teams are divided into six groups, with Group A, B, and C matches in Kolkata, and Group D, E, and F matches in Jamshedpur, Kokrajhar, and Shillong. Group winners and the two best second-placed teams will advance to the quarterfinals in Kokrajhar, Jamshedpur, and Kolkata.
Doubts Revealed
Mohun Bagan Super Giant -: Mohun Bagan Super Giant is a famous football club from Kolkata, India. They have a long history and are one of the oldest football clubs in Asia.
Downtown Heroes -: Downtown Heroes is a football club from Srinagar, a city in the northern part of India. They are a newer team compared to Mohun Bagan.
133rd Durand Cup -: The Durand Cup is a very old football tournament in India, and this is the 133rd time it is being held. It started in 1888, making it one of the oldest football competitions in the world.
Vivekananda Yuba Bharti Krirangan -: This is a big stadium in Kolkata, also known as Salt Lake Stadium. It is one of the largest football stadiums in India.
Jose Francisco Molina -: Jose Francisco Molina is the coach of Mohun Bagan Super Giant. He is from Spain and has a lot of experience in football.
four states -: The tournament is being played in four different states of India. States are like big areas in a country, and each has its own government.
24 teams -: There are 24 football teams playing in the Durand Cup this year. They are divided into six groups, and the best teams will move on to the next round.
quarterfinals -: The quarterfinals are the matches that come after the group stage. Only the best teams from the groups get to play in the quarterfinals.
