For the football-loving state of Meghalaya, the decision of the Durand Cup Organizing Committee to choose Shillong as one of the venues to host the tournament is indeed historic, putting the capital city on the football map of the country.
For the first time in the history of Shillong and Meghalaya, the prestigious Durand Cup – the oldest existing club football tournament in Asia and the fifth oldest national football competition in the world, will finally be hosted in the capital city at the JN Stadium in Polo from August 2 – which marks the start of the tournament and the unveiling of the renovated JN stadium.
The first match will be played between Shillong Lajong FC and Tribhuvan Army FC (Nepal Army Club) on August 2. The game will start at 4 pm IST. A total of six matches will be played in Shillong.
A little about the Durand Cup:
The Durand Cup is an annual domestic football competition in India that was first held in 1888 in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. The tournament currently serves as the curtain-raiser for every Indian football season. Organised by the Indian Army on behalf of the three Services, the Durand Cup has been the breeding ground for India’s best footballing talent, over the years.
The tournament is named after its founder Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, the foreign secretary of India from 1884 to 1894. The Durand tournament was initially a military affair until football’s popularity took hold and it became the more universal sport it is today.
“Football is the most loved and followed sport in Meghalaya and it is an absolute honour for us to host the prestigious Durand Cup for the first time,” said Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
According to him, the sports department is prepared to host the tournament despite the law and order situation arising out of the work permit inspections by pressure groups.
“This is an opportunity to see the Armed Forces, the government, and the people coming together – showing our love for football and it gives a strong message of integration and love for the nation,” Sangma added.
When asked about security for the teams and clubs scheduled to play in Shillong, the chief minister jokingly said, “You have the Armed Forces,” adding that the state police is geared up to ensure the safety and security of the teams.
Trophy Showcase and Roadshow:
The three Trophies of the 133rd Indian Oil Durand Cup reached Shillong and were displayed at a ceremony at U Soso Tham Auditorium in Shillong today in the presence of Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. The three trophies will tour the city and the surrounding districts.
The three trophies were flagged off on July 10 for a nationwide tour by President Droupadi Murmu from the national capital.
Is JN Stadium ready to host the Durand Cup?
General Officer Commanding of 101 Area Lieutenant General Sanjay Malik referred to Meghalaya, Manipur, and Mizoram as the ultimate football-loving states in the Northeast. “So not having a match in Meghalaya is unacceptable,” he said.
Furthermore, he said they would have hosted the tournament in Shillong last year but since the football federation was not very happy with the stadium, the plan was abandoned.
Stating that since the renovated JN Stadium meets international standards, football federations would want to host the tournament at the stadium thereby boosting the economy and tourism of the state.
Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of the Durand Cup Organising Committee Maj Gen Rajesh A Moghe said the Durand Cup is not just a tournament but a legacy. “It is making its footprint for the first time in Meghalaya and it’s not just because of the passion which is there among the people of the state but the enthusiasm showed by the government,” he said.
JN Stadium will host Group F consisting of local side Shillong Lajong FC, Indian Super League sides FC Goa, Hyderabad FC, and Nepal’s Tribhuvan Army Football Club.
All matches of the IndianOil Durand Cup will be broadcast LIVE on the Sony Sports Network and can also be live-streamed on the SonyLiv OTT platform.
A total of 24 teams, including the three services teams and two Services teams from Nepal and Bangladesh, will be seen in action across 43 matches, which will be played in the four host cities of Kokrajhar, Shillong, Jamshedpur (last two named making their debut as host cities) and Kolkata, which will also host the grand final on August 31st at the hallowed Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK).
