GUWAHATI: In a historic first, Assam’s Kokrajhar will proudly host Asia’s oldest club football tournament, the revered Durand Cup, this year.
After being one of the venues for its 132nd edition last year, Kokrajhar, along with Kolkata, has been chosen to host the tourney this year and the first match is schedule to kick off at the SAI Stadium on July 30.
As a vibrant prelude to the tournament, the iconic Durand Trophies are set to grace Kokrajhar for the second consecutive year as part of their Trophy Tour.
Scheduled for unveiling at the Bodofa Auditorium on July 14, the event will be attended by esteemed guests including state Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Nandita Gorlosa, and Pramod Boro, CEM, Bodo Territorial Council, alongside Lieutenant General Manish Erry, GOC-in-C, Gajraj Corps, and other luminaries from Assam’s footballing and sports fraternity.
Following the ceremony, the Durand Trophies will embark on a four-day tour across various regions of Bodoland Territorial Region, offering football enthusiasts and the public a chance to witness their historic glory up-close.
The event marks a significant milestone for football in Assam, reflecting the sport’s growing popularity amidst recent successes of the Indian team.
Kokrajhar’s addition as a Durand venue alongside other new cities – Jamshedpur and Shillong – underscores the tournament’s commitment to expanding its reach across the Northeast.
On Wednesday, President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the Durand Cup trophies at a grand ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhawan Cultural Centre, launching the Trophy Tour for the tournament’s 133rd edition.
Organised by the Indian Army on behalf of the Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS), the tournament, which began in 1888, continues its legacy of promoting football and fostering sporting spirit across the country.
With 43 matches slated in a round-robin league-cum-knockout format, culminating in the finals at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK), this year’s Durand Cup promises to be an exhilarating journey for players, fans, and football enthusiasts alike.
