VIDEO: Durand Cup "Purani Dilli ki Zubani"

Here the latest feature from Anglian Football about Old Delhi inhabitants who have been watching the Durand Cup since pre-Independence days. They have their interesting stories and instincts. They bet on football and have had fights with knives on referee decisions. The colourful characters that hang out at the Ambedkar Stadium during the Durand Cup are shown.

VIDEO: Footage from 2012 Durand Cup Closing ceremony & Final Highlights

The 125th Durand Cup ended on September 1 with Air India for the first-ever lifting the Durand Cup trophy! In a Mumbai derby Air India beat Dodsal FC in a penalty shootout. Here the footage from the final and closing ceremony by Anglian Football.

VIDEO: Footage from the 2012 Durand Cup 2012 Semifinals

The 125th Durand Cup ended last Saturday with Air India for the first-ever winning the trophy. Here is footage put together by Anglian Holding from the two semifinals Air India vs Sesa Football Academy and Dodsal FC vs Assam Rifles at the Ambedkar Stadium.

125th Durand Cup: Air India new champions!

In an all Mumbai final, Air India got the better of Dodsal FC 3-2 in a the penalty shootout at the floodlit Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi. It is the first Durand Cup for the Airmen from the financial capital of India.

After a goalless regulation and extra-time the third knockout match in a row after the two semifinals entered a penalty shootout which Air India won 3-2. Pradeep Mohanraj, Vijith Shetty and Ramandeep Singh scored for Air India but Harshad Meher and Pratek Chaudhury could not score; while Sunil Kumar and Demba Diakhate scored for Dodsal FC but N.P. Pradeep, Surkumar Singh and Mohammed Rafi miss.

The 125th edition of the Durand Cup, India's oldest football tournament, had been held from August 16 until today without any of the I-League biggies taking part.


RESULTS

Qualifiers
Round 1
16-Aug-2012: Delhi United 2-2,7-6 Indian Navy [penalties]
16-Aug-2012: Army Green 2-0 Jammu&Kashmir Bank
17-Aug-2012: JCT Academy 2-1 Arty Centre
17-Aug-2012: Assam Rifles 4-1 Assam Service Corps
18-Aug-2012: BEG, Kirkee 0-1 Border Security Force
18-Aug-2012: Uttarakhand Police 0-6 CRPF
19-Aug-2012: Indian Air Force 0-0,3-4 Garhwal Heroes [penalties]
19-Aug-2012: Punjab Police 7-1 Subrata Academy

Round 2
20-Aug-2012: Army Green 0-2 Delhi United
20-Aug-2012: CRPF 0-0,5-3 Border Security Force [penalties]
21-Aug-2012: Assam Rifles 3-0 JCT Academy
21-Aug-2012: Garhwal Heroes 1-2 Punjab Police

Quarterfinal League
Group I
25-Aug-2012: Delhi United 2-2 Pailan Arrows
26-Aug-2012: Delhi United 0-3 Air India
28-Aug-2012: Pailan Arrows 1-1 Air India

Group II
24-Aug-2012: Sporting Club de Goa 2-3 Assam Rifles
26-Aug-2012: ONGC, Mumbai 1-1 Assam Rifles
28-Aug-2012: Sporting Club de Goa 3-1 ONGC, Mumbai

Group III
23-Aug-2012: Pune FC 0-0 CRPF
25-Aug-2012: Sesa Football Academy 3-2 CRPF
27-Aug-2012: Sesa Football Academy 1-1 Pune FC

Group IV
23-Aug-2012: Punjab Police 0-1 Army Red
25-Aug-2012: Army Red 0-3 Dodsal FC, Mumbai
27-Aug-2012: Punjab Police 0-6 Dodsal FC, Mumbai

Semifinals
30-Aug-2012: Air India 2-2,7-6 Sesa Football Academy [penalties]
30-Aug-2012: Assam Rifles 1-1,4-5 Dodsal FC, Mumbai [penalties]

Final
01-Sep-2012: Air India 3-2 Dodsal FC, Mumbai [penalties]

125th Durand Cup: Four teams qualify for Semifinals

The 125th edition of the Durand Cup, India's oldest football tournament, is being held from August 16 to September 1 at Delhi's Ambedkar Stadium. Though the top I-League clubs are giving the tournament a miss, it has so far been a chance for smaller sides to test themselves and the Durand Cup has had its surprises so far.

The Quarterfinal League stage ended today with some surprises as Air India, Assam Rifles, Sesa Football Academy and Dodsal FC qualified for the semifinals which both will be played on Thursday, August 30. There were some surprises as Air India would take on Sesa Football Academy, while Assam Rifles take on newcomers Dodsal FC.

We are still in pre-season and the rainy monsoon has left the Ambedkar Stadium pitch in a bad state. Those teams best able to cope with the situation have been the biggest gainers.

Group C saw the biggest surprise as Sesa Football Academy won the group ahead of I-League side Pune FC with PFC taking the lead in their game against the Goans in injury time, but Sesa Football Academy equalising thereafter to edge past PFC with CRPF finishing last in the group.

Air India topped Group A with four points ahead of Pailan Arrows and Delhi United, in Group B Assam Rifles got the better of I-League sides Sporting Clube de Goa and ONGC, while in Group D new boys Dodsal FC impressed with two clears wins against Army Red and Punjab Police.


FIXTURES & RESULTS

Qualifiers
Round 1
16-Aug-2012: Delhi United 2-2,7-6 Indian Navy [penalties]
16-Aug-2012: Army Green 2-0 Jammu&Kashmir Bank
17-Aug-2012: JCT Academy 2-1 Arty Centre
17-Aug-2012: Assam Rifles 4-1 Assam Service Corps
18-Aug-2012: BEG, Kirkee 0-1 Border Security Force
18-Aug-2012: Uttarakhand Police 0-6 CRPF
19-Aug-2012: Indian Air Force 0-0,3-4 Garhwal Heroes [penalties]
19-Aug-2012: Punjab Police 7-1 Subrata Academy

Round 2
20-Aug-2012: Army Green 0-2 Delhi United
20-Aug-2012: CRPF 0-0,5-3 Border Security Force [penalties]
21-Aug-2012: Assam Rifles 3-0 JCT Academy
21-Aug-2012: Garhwal Heroes 1-2 Punjab Police

Quarterfinal League
Group I
25-Aug-2012: Delhi United 2-2 Pailan Arrows
26-Aug-2012: Delhi United 0-3 Air India
28-Aug-2012: Pailan Arrows 1-1 Air India

Group II
24-Aug-2012: Sporting Club de Goa 2-3 Assam Rifles
26-Aug-2012: ONGC, Mumbai 1-1 Assam Rifles
28-Aug-2012: Sporting Club de Goa 3-1 ONGC, Mumbai

Group III
23-Aug-2012: Pune FC 0-0 CRPF
25-Aug-2012: Sesa Football Academy 3-2 CRPF
27-Aug-2012: Sesa Football Academy 1-1 Pune FC

Group IV
23-Aug-2012: Punjab Police 0-1 Army Red
25-Aug-2012: Army Red 0-3 Dodsal FC, Mumbai
27-Aug-2012: Punjab Police 0-6 Dodsal FC, Mumbai

Semifinals
30-Aug-2012: Air India - Sesa Football Academy
30-Aug-2012: Assam Rifles - Dodsal FC, Mumbai

Final
01-Sep-2012: Winner SF1 - Winner SF2

125th Durand Cup: Four teams qualify for Quarterfinals!

The 125th edition of the Durand Cup, India's oldest football tournament, started-off with the qualifiers on August 16 with 16 teams trying to make it into the group stage with four teams making it into the quarterfinal league. These were Delhi United, CRPF, Assam Rifles and Punjab Police.

Originally only two teams were supposed to make it from the qualifiers into the tournament proper, but with Churchill Brothers SC pulling out as the organisers did not offer air travel, which is now standard for I-League teams and Bangalore's HAL SC not having enough players to field a team, the organisers had no option but to include two more teams from the qualifiers in the 12 team quarterfinal league stage.


FIXTURES & REXULTS

Qualifiers
Round 1
16-Aug-2012: Delhi United 2-2,7-6 Indian Navy [penalties]
16-Aug-2012: Army Green 2-0 Jammu&Kashmir Bank
17-Aug-2012: JCT Academy 2-1 Arty Centre
17-Aug-2012: Assam Rifles 4-1 Assam Service Corps
18-Aug-2012: BEG, Kirkee 0-1 Border Security Force
18-Aug-2012: Uttarakhand Police 0-6 CRPF
19-Aug-2012: Indian Air Force 0-0,3-4 Garhwal Heroes [penalties]
19-Aug-2012: Punjab Police 7-1 Subrata Academy

Round 2
20-Aug-2012: Army Green 0-2 Delhi United
20-Aug-2012: CRPF 0-0,5-3 Border Security Force [penalties]
21-Aug-2012: Assam Rifles 3-0 JCT Academy
21-Aug-2012: Garhwal Heroes 1-2 Punjab Police

Quarterfinal League
Group I
24-Aug-2012: Delhi United - Pailan Arrows
26-Aug-2012: Delhi United - Air India
28-Aug-2012: Pailan Arrows - Air India

Group II
24-Aug-2012: Sporting Club de Goa - Assam Rifles
26-Aug-2012: ONGC, Mumbai - Assam Rifles
28-Aug-2012: Sporting Club de Goa - ONGC, Mumbai

Group III
23-Aug-2012: Pune FC - CRPF
25-Aug-2012: Sesa Football Academy - CRPF
27-Aug-2012: Sesa Football Academy - Pune FC

Group IV
23-Aug-2012: Punjab Police - Army Red
25-Aug-2012: Army Red - Dodsal FC, Mumbai
27-Aug-2012: Punjab Police - Dodsal FC, Mumbai

Semifinals
30-Aug-2012: Winner Group I - Winner Group III
30-Aug-2012: Winner Group II - Winner Group IV

Final
01-Sep-2012: Winner SF1 - Winner SF2

Anglian Holdings comes forward to support 125th Durand Cup

There is finally good news for India's oldest football tournament, the 125th Durand Cup as Anglian Holdings, an NRI-owned multi-national corporation with diverse global investments, today announced that the company has joined hands with the Indian defence forces to support the 125th edition of the Durand Cup.

This news comes after a key sponsor in mobile cellular company Micromax pulled out due to their overspending on India's cricket tour of Sri Lanka.

Anglian Holdings would associate as a sponsor to aid one of the most prestigious and historical annual sporting events in India. The Durand Cup, first held in 1888 in Shimla, and currently being organized under the aegis of the Indian defence forces in Delhi, is Asia's oldest and the world's third oldest football tournament.

Anglian Holdings is a young and dynamic company with interests in various exciting sectors including sports. The company, which has a vision of working towards the upliftment of Indian football and taking the sport in India to the next level, has club football investments in Shillong Lajong FC & Danish football club FC Vestsjælland through its subsidiary, Anglian Football, to provide new avenues for Indian talent and create an Indo-European pipeline for bi-directional exchange of talent, knowledge and expertise.

Anglian Holdings and the Durand Football Tournament Society also announced that while the company is associating itself as one of the sponsors of this year's edition of the Durand Cup, it is in talks with the society for a long-term association to jointly work with the strategic intent of enhancing the standard of the tournament via a marketing and promotional deal as well.

Commenting on Anglian Holding's association with the 125th Durand Cup, the Chairman of the Durand Football Tournament Society Lt. General V K Pillai, AVSM, SM said, "We welcome Anglian Holdings into the folds of the Durand Cup as a co-sponsor and appreciate their gesture of coming forward to promote the prestigious tournament and look forward to a long association for promoting football in the country."

On joining hands with the Durand Cup, Uday Narang, Chairman at Anglian Holdings said, "At Anglian, we want to make a definite and positive contribution towards the improvement of Indian football, and following our twin investments in Shillong Lajong FC and FC Vestsjælland, we see this association with the Durand Cup as another step in that direction. We are extremely proud to partner a prestigious and historically significant tournament like the Durand Cup, and are thankful to the Indian defence forces for giving us the opportunity."

125th Durand Cup: Fixtures of the tournament proper are out!

The 125th edition of the Durand Cup kicked-off with the qualifiers a few days ago on August 16 with 16 teams trying to make it into the quarterfinal league in which 12 teams will try and win the trophy. The tournament proper will be held from August 23 with the final slated for September 1. All matches are being played at the Ambedkar Stadium.

As reported earlier ( 125th Durand Cup: Problems at the start of India's oldest tournament ) the tournament has been sidelined this season and faced numerous problems which has resulted in no Kolkata club and neither the top Goan sides in former champions Dempo SC, Churchill Brother SC and Salgaocar SC taking part.

Even though a weakened competition this time around there are still I-League sides involved in Air India, Pailan Arrows, Pune FC, ONGC and Sporting Clube de Goa besides Division 2 sides HAL - Bangalore and Sesa Football Academy plus newcomers Dodsal FC from Mumbai.

The organisers also faced problems with a key sponsor, who pulled out at the last moment and therefore the organisers have also cut down on the prize money from Rs 4 Million (40 lakhs) to Rs 2 Million (20 lakhs). The champions would now received Rs 1 Million (10 lakhs), the runners-up Rs 500,000 (5 lakhs) and the beaten semifinalists Rs 250,000 (2,5 lakhs).


FIXTURES

Quarterfinal League

Group I
23-Aug-2012: Qualifier A1 or HAL, Bangalore - Qualifier B1
25-Aug-2012: Qualifier A1 or HAL, Bangalore - Dodsal FC, Mumbai
27-Aug-2012: Dodsal FC, Mumbai - Qualifier B1

Group II
23-Aug-2012: Pune FC - Army Red
25-Aug-2012: Army Red - Sesa Football Academy
27-Aug-2012: Sesa Football Academy - Pune FC

Group III
24-Aug-2012: Qualifier A2 - Pailan Arrows
26-Aug-2012: Qualifier A2 - Air India
28-Aug-2012: Pailan Arrows - Air India

Group IV
24-Aug-2012: Qualifier B2 - Sporting Club de Goa
26-Aug-2012: Qualifier B2 - ONGC, Mumbai
28-Aug-2012: ONGC, Mumbai - Sporting Club de Goa

Semifinals
30-Aug-2012: Winner Group I - Winner Group III
30-Aug-2012: Winner Group II - Winner Group IV

Final
01-Sep-2012: Winner SF1 - Winner SF2

125th Durand Cup: Problems at the start of India's oldest tournament

The 125th edition of the Durand Cup will kick-off tomorrow with the qualifiers and the final is slated for September 1, but India's oldest football tournament seems to have lost its former standing within Indian football if one looks at the scheduling and state of the Ambedkar Stadium.

The 125th Durand Cup, qualifiers and tournament proper, are being held from August 16 to September 1 in the capital while the 2012 Nehru Cup on the occasion of the All India Football Federations 75th anniversary will be held from August 22 to September 2 at the bigger Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. This means that the Durand Cup proper is being held parallel to India's only international level football tournament.

One has to question the planning of the AIFF in its seasonal calendar having two tournaments at international and club level at the same time, in the same city with no top level football in the capital for the rest of the season except if the 2nd Division is played there.

Then the Indian Football Association (West Bengal) is starting its local Calcutta Premier Division tomorrow as well meaning that no club from Kolkata will participate in this edition.

And then there is the Ambedkar Stadium ground which got a battering yesterday with the Delhi Police using the venue as a temporary prison for the protesting Baba Ramdev and his supporters, who weren't just on the stands but rather used the football turf to take a rest, even cook and for other things. This has left the pitch in a very bad state, but the organisers have no options then to play the tournament now on this ground.

124th Durand Cup: Churchill Bros regain trophy

Goan giants Churchill Brothers SC have regained the Durand Cup trophy with a 5-4 penalty shootout victory against defending champions Prayag United SC from Kolkata. The 124th edition of the Durand Cup, India's oldest football tournament, was held from September 24 to October 15 at Delhi's Ambedkar Stadium with two stages - the qualifiers and the tournament proper.

With top teams like East Bengal Club, Mohun Bagan AC and Dempo SC giving the tournament a miss and others dropping out days before they were supposed to play that has taken away some shine from the tournament, but for those I-League sides who took part it was part of their preparations for the I-League which is set to kick-off next week.


TOURNAMENT RESULTS

Qualifiers

Round 1
26-Sep-2011: Assam Green 0-0,1-3 Bhowanipore Club, Kolkata
26-Sep-2011: Border Security Force 1-1,5-3 Jammu&Kashmir Bank

Round 2
24-Sep-2011: Delhi United 2-0 MEG, Bangalore
24-Sep-2011: Assam Rifles 5-1 State Bank of India, Hyderabad
25-Sep-2011: Shahdara Club 0-0,3-4 Indian Air Force
25-Sep-2011: Assam Regimental Centre, Shillong 2-1 State Bank of Travancore
27-Sep-2011: Army Juniors 1-2 CRPF
27-Sep-2011: Punjab Police 0-1 Indian Navy
28-Sep-2011: Bhowanipore Club, Kolkata 2-4 Border Security Force

Semifinals
28-Sep-2011: Delhi United 1-2 Assam Rifles
29-Sep-2011: Indian Air Force 2-1 Assam Regimental Centre, Shillong
29-Sep-2011: CRPF 2-1 Indian Navy
30-Sep-2011: Tata Football Academy 0-2 Border Security Force

Final
01-Oct-2011: Indian Air Force 1-0 CRPF
03-Oct-2011: Assam Rifles 3-4 Border Security Force [penalties]

Quarterfinal League

Group 1
Prayag United SC, Salgaocar SC, Border Security Force (Qualifier A)

04-Oct-2011: Prayag United SC 2-0 Border Security Force
07-Oct-2011: Salgaocar SC 1-0 Border Security Force
09-Oct-2011: Prayag United SC 2-0 Salgaocar SC

Group 2
Shillong Lajong FC, Sikkim United FC, Indian Air Force (Qualifier B)

04-Oct-2011: Shillong Lajong FC 2-1 Indian Air Force
07-Oct-2011: Sikkim United FC 3-0 Indian Air Force
09-Oct-2011: Shillong Lajong FC 3-1 Sikkim United FC

Group 3
Pune FC, Air India, ONGC

05-Oct-2011: Pune FC 1-1 ONGC
08-Oct-2011: ONGC 0-3 Air India
10-Oct-2011: Pune FC 2-1 Air India

Group 4
Mohammedan Sporting Club, Churchill Brothers SC, Army Red

05-Oct-2011: Mohammedan Sporting Club 1-0 Army Red
08-Oct-2011: Churchill Brothers SC 5-0 Army Red
10-Oct-2011: Mohammedan Sporting Club 0-2 Churchill Brothers SC

Semifinals
12-Oct-2011: Prayag United SC 2-0 Pune FC
13-Oct-2011: Shillong Lajong FC 1-4 Churchill Brothers SC

Final
15-Oct-2011: Prayag United SC 0-0,4-5 Churchill Brothers SC [penalties]

124th Durand Cup: Pune FC & Churchill Bros reach semifinals

The last couple of teams have qualified for the semifinals of the 124th edition of the Durand Cup, India's oldest football tournament. They are Pune FC and former champions Churchill Brothers SC who have won their respective Groups 3 and 4.

Pune FC qualified for their first-ever Durand Cup semifinal from Group 3 after a 2-1 win against state rivals Air India from Mumbai. Former PFC striker Sandesh Gadkare gave the Airmen a first half lead, but goals from Paresh Shivalkar and Rollingson Hungyo turned things around as Pune FC needed the three points to leap-frog past Air India; then in their opening match a second string PFC had only drawn ONGC 1-1, while Air India had won 3-0 against the Oilmen.

In Group 4 former champions Churchill Brothers maintained their 100% record with a 2-0 win against another former champion in Mohammedan Sporting Club. Though the Goans took an early lead through a Roberto Mendes Silva penalty, it was Mohammedan Sporting who worked hard to get onto the scoresheet; but in the end it was junior international Lalrindika Ralte who sealed the game for Churchill Brothers. In earlier matches Mohammedan Sporting had won 1-0 against Army Red, while Churchill Brothers trashed them 5-0.

Yesterday Prayag United SC and Shillong Lajong FC had qualified for the semifinals. There Prayag United SC take on Pune FC on October 12, while on October 13 Shillong Lajong FC face Churchill Brothers SC.


STATS from GROUPS 1 & 2

Quarterfinal League

Group 3
Pune FC, Air India, ONGC

05-Oct-2011: Pune FC 1-1 ONGC
08-Oct-2011: ONGC 0-3 Air India
10-Oct-2011: Pune FC 2-1 Air India

Group 4
Mohammedan Sporting Club, Churchill Brothers SC, Army Red

05-Oct-2011: Mohammedan Sporting Club 1-0 Army Red
08-Oct-2011: Churchill Brothers SC 5-0 Army Red
10-Oct-2011: Mohammedan Sporting Club 0-2 Churchill Brothers SC

124th Durand Cup: Lajong & Prayag Utd reach semifinals

The first couple of teams have qualified for the semifinals of the 124th edition of the Durand Cup, India's oldest football tournament. They are defending champions Prayag United SC and Shillong Lajong FC who have won their respective Groups 1 and 2.

In their final Group match Prayag United SC overcame I-League champions and Federation Cup winners Salgaocar SC 2-0 through goals from their Ghanian striker Yakubu Yusif and winger Gouranga Biswas. Within a short span of time in the second session the Kolkata side sealed the game in their favour. Prayag United needed only a draw to progress as their had beaten qualifiers Border Security Force 2-0, while the Goans had only beaten BSF by a lone goal; but with six points from two matches they convincingly won their group.

In Group 2 a new derby saw the day of light as I-League promoted Shillong Lajong FC took on 2nd Division side United Sikkim FC, the first Northeastern derby between the to sides. United Sikkim only needed a draw to advance from the group as they had beaten Indian Air Force 3-0, while Lajong had only won 2-1. But it was the side from Shillong which would go on to win the group with a 3-1 victory. Lajong would go into the break with a 2-1 lead through first half goals from Iyikwobe Christopher Chizoba and James Giblee for Lajong with Sushil Kumar Singh reducing the deficit for USFC, but Iyikwobe Christopher Chizoba's second goal of the day sealed the game in Lajong's favour. Both sides ended the game with 10 men as early on USFC keeper Basanta Singh was send off for a foul outside the box and SLFC midfielder Lalramluaha met the same fate late in the game.

Both sides now await their opponents in the semifinals to the played on October 12 and 13.


STATS from GROUPS 1 & 2

Quarterfinal League

Group 1
Prayag United SC, Salgaocar SC, Border Security Force (Qualifier A)

04-Oct-2011: Prayag United SC 2-0 Border Security Force
07-Oct-2011: Salgaocar SC 1-0 Border Security Force
09-Oct-2011: Prayag United SC 2-0 Salgaocar SC

Group 2
Shillong Lajong FC, Sikkim United FC, Indian Air Force (Qualifier B)

04-Oct-2011: Shillong Lajong FC 2-1 Indian Air Force
07-Oct-2011: Sikkim United FC 3-0 Indian Air Force
09-Oct-2011: Shillong Lajong FC 3-1 Sikkim United FC

United Sikkim name Durand Cup squad

United Sikkim FC have named their 20 player squad for the 124th edition of the Durand Cup which includes the names of the likes of long-time internationals Baichung Bhutia and Renedy Singh.

For the Snow Lions it will be the first participation in India's oldest football tournament and they will want to showcase their talent on the national stage after failing to make the grade from the Federation Cup qualifiers last month.

United Sikkim FC have been clubbed in Group 2 along with Shillong Lajong FC and qualifier Indian Air Force. USFC open their campaign on October 7 against the Indian Air Force, while on October 9 they take on Northeastern rivals Shillong Lajong FC.


UNITED SIKKIM FC

Goalkeepers
Arnab Das Sharma, Sanasam Basant Singh, Prantosh Roy

Defenders
Harish Sharma, Govin Moirangthem Singh, Karan Atwal, Syed Farid, Nganingmi Shimran, K. Romen Singh

Midfielders
Quinton Norman Jacobs, Baldeep Singh, Potsangbam Renedy Singh, Khangembam Thoi Singh, Mumtaz Akhtar, Ayeni Bidemi Daniel, Mayosing Khongreiwo

Forwards
Babatunde John Oladele, Baichung Bhutia, Sushil Kumar Singh, Tenzing Tesphel

Officials
Stanley Rozario (Chief Coach), Jose A Taveres (Assistant Coach), Arjun Rai (Senior Manager), Arunava Bhattacharya (Manager), Kruti Marolia (Physio), Saurabh Rai (Media Manager)

124th Durand Cup: IAF & BSF qualify for Group Stage

The quarterfinal group stage of the 124th edition of the Durand Cup is set to kick-off later today with defending champions Prayag United SC taking on qualifiers Border Security Force in Group A, while later in the day in Group B Shillong Lajong FC take on Indian Air Force.

Indian Air Force and Border Security Force came through the qualifiers, but especially for BSF it will be tough as they only played their final qualifier yesterday, a 4-3 win against Assam Rifles after penalties. IAF had earlier beaten CRPF on Saturday to qualify.

The qualifiers were shortened after Mumbai FC and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC pulled out with Mumbai FC replaced by Shillong Lajong in Group B, while HAL were replaced by Mohammedan Sporting Club in Group D. Earlier another I-League side in Sporting Clube de Goa pulled out of the qualifiers, which resulted in a shortened version of the qualification process.


SCHEDULE/RESULTS

Qualifiers

Round 1
26-Sep-2011: Assam Green 0-0,1-3 Bhowanipore Club, Kolkata
26-Sep-2011: Border Security Force 1-1,5-3 Jammu&Kashmir Bank

Round 2
24-Sep-2011: Delhi United 2-0 MEG, Bangalore
24-Sep-2011: Assam Rifles 5-1 State Bank of India, Hyderabad
25-Sep-2011: Shahdara Club 0-0,3-4 Indian Air Force
25-Sep-2011: Assam Regimental Centre, Shillong 2-1 State Bank of Travancore
27-Sep-2011: Army Juniors 1-2 CRPF
27-Sep-2011: Punjab Police 0-1 Indian Navy
28-Sep-2011: Bhowanipore Club, Kolkata 2-4 Border Security Force

Semifinals
28-Sep-2011: Delhi United 1-2 Assam Rifles
29-Sep-2011: Indian Air Force 2-1 Assam Regimental Centre, Shillong
29-Sep-2011: CRPF 2-1 Indian Navy
30-Sep-2011: Tata Football Academy 0-2 Border Security Force

Final
01-Oct-2011: Indian Air Force 1-0 CRPF
03-Oct-2011: Assam Rifles 3-4 Border Security Force [penalties]

Quarterfinal League

Group 1
Prayag United SC, Salgaocar SC, Border Security Force (Qualifier A)

Group 2
Shillong Lajong FC, Sikkim United FC, Indian Air Force (Qualifier B)

Group 3
Pune FC, Air India, ONGC

Group 4
Mohammedan Sporting Club, Churchill Brothers SC, Army Red

Prayag United name squad for Durand Cup

Defending champions Prayag United SC have named their final 21 player squad for the 124th edition of the Durand Cup. Prayag United have been drawn in a tricky Group A alongside I-League champions and Federation Cup winners Salgaocar SC besides qualifiers Indian Air Force. The club is sending a mixture of youth and experience to Delhi.

Last year under the old name of Chirag United SC the club had won their first-ever Durand Cup title with a victory in the final against former champions JCT. This year the Kolkata side hope to repeat last years success ahead of the I-League.


PRAYAG UNITED SC

Goalkeepers
Abhijit Mondal, Somnath Khara, Jagroop Singh

Defenders
Arnab Mondal, Justine Stephen, Sukhen Dey, Bello Razaq, Chinta Chandrashekar Rao, Deepak Kumar Mondal

Midfielders
Denson Devadas, Mohammed Rafique, Crispin Chetri, Shylo Malswam Tulunga, Lukram James Singh, Gouranga Biswas, Snehashish Dutta

Forwards
Kayne Vincent, Yakubu Yusif, Josimar da Silva Martins, Shankar Oraon, Soumik Chakraborty

Officials
Sanjay Sen (Coach)

124th Durand Cup: Substantial Prize Money hike!

The 124th edition of the Durand Cup, India's oldest and the world's third oldest football tournament, kicked-off on Saturday with the qualifiers while the tournament proper will be held from October 4 to 15. The biggest change this year is the increase in prize money and top clubs missing the tournament.

"We have increased the prize money and the overall budget of the tournament," said Maj Gen Manvinder Singh, GOC Delhi area and chairman of Standing Working Committee of Durand Football Tournament Society who assured that the next edition will be bigger and better than this one with the preliminary rounds to be held outside Delhi.

The champions would receive Rs 2 Million (20 lakhs), the runners-up Rs 1 Million (10 lakhs) and third place team Rs 500,000 (5 lakh). Last years winners had received only Rs. 500,000. Meanwhile the overall budget of the tournament has increased from Rs 4,3 Million (43 lakhs) to Rs 15,4 Million (1,54 crore) and next year the organising committee wants to organise an even bigger and better tournament on the 125th anniversary.

In the ongoing qualifiers 20 clubs are playing for the two qualifying spots. Amongst them are four Regimental Teams from the Army, one team each from the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, two Delhi sides (Delhi United, Shahdara FC), five Paramilitary sides (Border Security Force, CRPF, Assam Rifles, Punjab Police, Uttarakhand Police), two PSU teams (State Bank of India, Hyderabad; State Bank of Travancore), I-League sides (Sporting Clube de Goa, Shillong Lajong FC) and 2nd Division I-League clubs (Mohamedan Sporting Club), Kolkata side (Bhowanipore Club) and the Tata Football Academy.

But missing from the quarterfinal league stage will be record champions Mohun Bagan AC and East Bengal Club along with Goan giants Dempo SC. The trio had different reasons for opting out of the Durand Cup this year. In the quarterfinal league stage the teams will be spread into four groups of three teams each with two teams making it from the qualifiers. The winners qualify for the semifinals to be played on October 12, while the final will be played on October 15.

From the quarterfinal league onwards DD Sports will be showing the matches live which will be played at the Ambedkar Stadium under floodlights.


GROUPS

Group 1 Prayag United SC, Salgaocar SC, Qualifier A

Group 2 Mumbai FC, Sikkim United FC, Qualifier B

Group 3 Pune FC, Air India, ONGC

Group 4 Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC, Churchill Brothers SC, Army Red

124th Durand Cup in October

The 124th edition of the Durand Cup, will be played from October 1 to 15 at the Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi. The Durand Cup is India's oldest football tournament, which also happens to be the worlds third oldest tournament after the English & Scottish FA Cup's.

"It is intimated that AIFF has allotted the date for 124th edition of Durand Football Tournament 2011 with effect from 01 Oct - 15 Oct 2011," Mahesh Gill, Honorary Secretary General of the Durand Football Tournament Society said in a press release.

The Durand Football Tournament was started by Sir Mortimer Durand in 1888 at Shimla with the venue shifted to New Delhi in 1940. Since Independence East Bengal Club and Mohun Bagan AC have won 16 titles each and are joint record champions.

Last years tournament had been won for the first time by Kolkata side Chirag United, a 1-0 win against five time winners JCT from Punjab.

Chirag United win Durand Cup title!

Chirag United SC won the Durand Cup title with a 1-0 win against five time former champions JCT at the floodlit Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi. The 123rd edition of the Durand Cup, the third oldest football tournament in the world, has a new name added to the trophy in Kolkata's Chirag United SC. The new champions received Rs 500,000 (5 lakhs) as prize money, while runners-up received Rs 300,000 (3 lakhs) and the losing semifinalists take home Rs 100,000 (1 lakh).

Once more the hero for the Kolkata side was young 20 year old striker Mohammed Rafique, who like in the semifinals against East Bengal Club, scored the lone goal winner for the men in violett. For Rafique it is turning out to be a sensational first season with Chirag United whom he joined from Tollygunge Agragami in the summer.

It was an open game between the two sides, but Chirag United were the better side on display with Josimar and Rafique causing problems for the JCT defence. The match was mainly contained to midfield action as both sides really failed to use their flanks effectively. Chirag United was hampered due to injuries to defenders Justine Stephen and Chika Wali in the first half itself, but they held on to remain without conceding a goal in the entire tournament. And it was the individual brilliance of Josimar which enabled Rafique to seal the game in the 75th minute with a nice strike. Chirag United held on to the lead to win the match and the trophy.

Chirag United's Brazilian striker Josimar da Silva Martins was named as "Man of the Match" and also "Man of the Tournament" for his stellar performances over the four matches for his team. And the clubs sponsors have announced a cash reward of Rs 1 Million (10 lakhs) to the players for winning their first major title.


MATCH STATS

JCT 0-1 Chirag United SC - Goal: 0-1 Mohammad Rafique (75')

Chirag United: Abhijit Mondal; Subhasis Roy Chowdhury, Justine Stephen (32' Arnab Mondal), Chika Wali (44' Sukhen Dey), Narugopal Hait; Subhas Chakraborty (89' Nascimento Silvira), Denson Devadas, K. Asif, Gouranga Biswas; Mohammad Rafique, Josimar da Silva Martins

JCT: Pawan Kumar; Daljit Singh, Rahul Kumar, Omolaja Kareem, Lalchhuanmawia; Amandeep Singh, Parveen Kumar, Randeep Singh, Maninder Singh (78' Jaswinder Singh); Ayeni Bidemi Daniel (80' Ajay Singh), Badru Keke Ibrahim

Referee: Bikramjit Purkayastha (Delhi)
Assistant Referees: Santosh Kumar, Deepak Singh
Fourth Official: Rabichandra Singh

Durand Cup final: New boys test former champions

In a match-up of I-League sides five time former champions JCT will be tested by first time finalists Chirag United SC in the final of the 123rd Durand Cup tomorrow night at Delhi's Ambedkar Stadium. The last Bengal vs Punjab final was played in 1993 when East Bengal Club beat Punjab State Electricity Board 1-0 in a close final then.

For the coaches JCT's Parminder Singh and Subrata Bhattacharya of Chirag United a Durand Cup is nothing new, but for most of their players it will be the first experience of a big cup tournament final.

Phagwara's JCT have won their five titles in 1976 (jointly with Border Security Force), 1983, 1987, 1992 and 1996; while being losing finalists on six occasions. The last time they played the final was in 2006 against Dempo SC, which the Goans won 1-0 through a goal from Ranty Martins Soleye in the 74th minute. But over the summer JCT lost a number of their regular players who have left for Goa and Kolkata, so the Punjabis have been forced to rebuild their side with young talents and bringing some of their former players back to the team from across India.

For Chirag United Sports Club a win tomorrow night would give the Kolkata side their biggest trophy ever. The former EverReady Sports Association have come a long long way in the last few years since playing their first big final the 2005 IFA Shield which they lost against Bayern Munich II. Now they are an established I-league club with proper backing by the Chirag Group, still they lack a fan base as in Kolkata nothing else then the big three of Mohun Bagan, East Bengal or Mohammedan Sporting really counts.

But coach Subrata Bhattacharya has been able to mould a team over the last few years, often taking on big club rejects who have been able to resurrect their career at Chirag United or the club has been the first big opening for young talents like Mohammed Rafique this season plus foreign talent like Brazilian striker Josimar.

It looks to be an even final on the cards tomorrow with JCT beating strong contenders Churchill Brothers SC, who were the defending champions, in the semifinals; while Chirag United beat high flying Kolkata rivals East Bengal Club.

East Bengal: End of a winning streak

In the end some people were not even following the results, but only the number of wins East Bengal Club had gathered since the start of the 2010/11 season. And after 18 wins in a row in the Calcutta Premier League (11 wins), Federation Cup (5 wins) and the Durand Cup (2 wins); the series ended in the semifinals of the 123rd Durand Cup's second semifinal against Kolkata rivals Chirag United SC on Thursday night at Delhi's Ambedkar Stadium.

The players, coaching staff and club management were disappointed after the first loss, a new feeling for them this season, and that too in a semifinal; but the season is still young, they have the Federation Cup title to their name, but the Calcutta Premier League title is not under their belt yet and the I-League will only start later this month. And that will be the real test, if East Bengal have really developed or not as a team. On paper surely they have a much stronger squad then in the last few years and the red-and.gold faithful will surely hope the club can bring the I-League for the first time to Kolkata after having won the old National Football League title thrice.

Newly brought in English coach Trevor Morgan has done exceedingly well with his newly put together squad. 18 wins at the start of a season is no mean feat and especially for a club like East Bengal who except in the Federation Cup have struggled and not done too well in the last three seasons.

It will be interesting to see how the team reacts to this first loss. Are they stronger then the earlier teams on character or will the team fall back into old habits of mixed results with ups and downs...