The three magnificent trophies of the 133rd IndianOil Durand Cup have arrived in Shillong, marking the first time the prestigious football tournament will be hosted in the Meghalaya capital. A grand ceremony held at the U Soso Tham Auditorium in Secretariat Hills saw the trophies proudly displayed in the presence of the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Shri Conrad K. Sangma.
Chief Minister Sangma praised the efforts of the Durand Cup Organizing Committee for bringing this historic moment to the state, highlighting how it would place Shillong firmly on the football map of India. The event also saw the presence of Air Marshal SP Dharkar, Air Officer Commanding in Chief Eastern Air Command; Lieutenant General Sanjay Malik, General Officer Commanding 101 Area; Maj Gen Rajesh A Moghe, VSM, Vice Chairman of the Durand Cup Organizing Committee, and several other senior military and civil officials.
The three trophies were flagged off on July 10th for a nationwide tour by the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, from the national capital. They will now tour the city and surrounding districts, starting from the venue in Shillong.
Maj Gen Rajesh A Moghe, VSM, extended his gratitude to the Chief Minister, state government officials, military officers, sponsors, organizers, and media personnel. He also announced the match schedule and wished the participating teams good luck on behalf of Lt Gen Ram Chander Tiwari, GOC-in-C Eastern Command and Patron of the Durand Cup Organizing Committee.
In his address, Chief Minister Sangma expressed immense pride, noting that football is the most loved and followed sport in Meghalaya. “It is an absolute honour for us to host the prestigious Durand Cup for the first time,” he said. Sangma encouraged the people of Meghalaya to come out and enjoy the matches, expressing confidence that they would be entertained by high-quality football. He specifically mentioned his support for local favourites Shillong Lajong, while also looking forward to competitive and exciting matches.
Lieutenant General Sanjay Malik also spoke at the event, emphasizing the Indian Army's pride in hosting the tournament in Shillong. He highlighted the Army's commitment to spreading the reach of the Durand Cup into the region, inspiring local youth by bringing live football action to Meghalaya.
The ceremony concluded with an interactive session between Maj Gen Rajesh A Moghe, VSM, the Secretary of Sports and Youth Affairs, Meghalaya, and the media.
Shillong's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will host Group F, featuring local side Shillong Lajong FC, Indian Super League teams FC Goa and Hyderabad FC, and Nepal’s Tribhuvan Army Football Club. The first match, between Shillong Lajong FC and Tribhuvan Army FC, is scheduled for August 2nd at 4 PM IST. All matches will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network and streamed on the SonyLiv OTT platform.
A total of 24 teams, including three services teams and two from Nepal and Bangladesh, will compete in 43 matches across four host cities: Kokrajhar, Shillong, Jamshedpur, and Kolkata. The grand final will be held on August 31st at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata.
About the Durand Cup
The Durand Cup, Asia’s oldest and the world’s third-oldest football tournament symbolizes India’s rich football history and culture. Organized by the Indian Army on behalf of the three services, the Durand Cup has been a breeding ground for India’s best football talent over the years.
The inaugural edition was held in Shimla in 1888, moving to New Delhi in 1940, where it remained until 2016. In 2019, the tournament came under the aegis of the Eastern Command and moved to the eastern part of the country, with Kolkata becoming its new home. Unique to the Durand Cup is its three trophies: two rotating (the Durand Cup and the Shimla Trophy) and one for permanent keep (the President’s Cup).
As the Durand Cup unfolds over the coming weeks, football enthusiasts are invited to celebrate the sport, honour its traditions, and look forward to moments of brilliance that will be remembered for years to come.