Durand Cup 2024 kickstarted

Lalnghinglova Hmar, Mizoram’s Minister of State for Sports & Youth Services, inaugurated the Kokrajhar Chapter of Durand Cup 2024 at SAI Stadium, Kokrajhar in Assam on Tuesday. The opening match featured a contest between Bodoland FC and ISL Club NorthEast United FC. In his inaugural speech, Hmar said he inaugurated the event not as a politician but as a sports and football enthusiast. He expressed his gratitude to the government of Bodoland Territorial Region, the Indian Army, Assam Football Association, and the Government of Assam for their support in hosting the Durand Cup.  He remarked, “Organising this tournament in what was once a hotbed of violence shows the power of sports.” He also commended the efforts of Bodoland’s leaders and people in promoting football development. Hmar, who is also the president of the North East Football Development Council, pointed out that despite Mizoram’s small size and population, the state consistently produces talented players for the ISL and I-League. He noted that four out of the 22 players in the Indian squad for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers are Mizos. He emphasised that Bodoland too has the potential to reach the highest levels of Indian football, and that Mizoram is ready to collaborate with Bodoland and Assam to advance football in the region.

Pramod Boro, Chief Executive Member of the Bodoland Territorial Region, also spoke at the Durand Cup Kokrajhar chapter inauguration today. The event witnessed items showcasing Assam and Bodoland’s cultures, music and other eye-catching shows. The Durand Cup, a key event in the Indian football calendar, has been held annually since 1888, making this its 133rd edition. It is the oldest football tournament in Asia and ranks alongside the English FA Cup and the Scottish FA Cup among the world’s oldest football tournaments. The 2024 Durand Cup features 24 teams, including those from the Indian Super League, I-League, Indian Services, and Central Armed Police Forces, as well as ten foreign teams.

Matches will be held in Kolkata, Shillong, Jamshedpur, and Kokrajhar. The final is scheduled for August 31, 2024, at the 68,000-capacity Vivekananda Yuba BharatiKrirangan in Kolkata. The first match of the 2024 Durand Cup was played on July 27, 2024, at Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata, between the reigning champions Mohun Bagan SG and Downtown Heroes FC. Kokrajhar will host Group E matches and one quarter-final match. Group E includes ISL clubs Odisha FC and NorthEast United FC, along with the BSF Football Team and Bodoland FC, competing for a spot in the quarter-finals.