Football, also called soccer, is a game involving two teams of 11 players who try to intrigue the ball into the other team’s goal without using their hands or arms. Only the goalkeeper is permitted to handle the ball. The team that wins is the team which scores more goals.
Football is the world’s most popular ball game in numbers of participants and spectators.
Let’s now talk about India’s football history –
The game was introduced to the Calcuttans by the British soldiers in the nineteenth century. Father of Indian Football – Nagendra Prasad Sarbadhakari, first introduced this game in India by forcing his classmates to play with him in the school compound. India, the first football game was organized between ‘Calcutta Club of Civilians’ and the ‘Gentlemen of Barrackpore’, in 1854.
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Durand Cup- one of the oldest club football tournament in the world. As being the oldest existing club football tournament in Asia and the 3rd oldest club football tournament in the world. The annual domestic football tournament which was first held in 1888 (Shimla). Being organised by Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS) and All India Football Federation (AIFF).
This year: 131st edition of Durand Cup-
Indian Oil Durand Cup best known by Durand Cup across the World. It is one of the oldest football tournament in Asia. Whenever it comes down for the discussion about football in India, people do talk about Durand Cup. Tournament hosted by the Durand Football Tournament Society in cooperation with Indian Armed Forces and the Government of West Bengal. Also supported by Government of Assam and Government of Manipur.
The inauguration of the 131st edition of the Durand Cup 2022, was held in Fort Williams, Headquarters, in Kolkata on August 11. The kick off start of 2022’s Durand Cup was done on August 16 with match between FC Goa Vs Mohammedan SC.
This years fixtures-
There are 20 teams in total. Counting in 11 clubs of top division Indian Super League clubs, 5 I- League clubs and traditional 4 teams representing Indian Armed Forces (IAF). ISL clubs including ATK Mohun Bagan, Bengaluru, East Bengal, Chennaiyin, Goa, Hyderabad, Jamshedpur, Kerala Blasters, Mumbai city, North east united and Odisha. I- League clubs, Mohammedan, Neroca, Rajasthan United, Sudeva Delhi and TRAU. 4 Indian Armed Forces teams Army Green, Army Red, IAF and Indian Navy. This year Gokulam Kerala, refused to participate citing problems regarding improper schedule. The following team have been replaced by Sudeva Delhi.
Goa is the defending Champion defeating Mohammedan SC in 2021 final.
A new theme song has been released naming “Durand…..Durand” sung and performed by Papon, Shaan and Rewben Mashangva. The tournament is still going on and will end on 18 of September, the champion is yet to be decided.
