Durand Football Tournament
The Durand Football Tournament was on track by Mortimer Durand at Shimla, India, in 1888, preliminary matches were played in Dagshai. In 1940 the spot was reallocated to New Delhi. It is the world’s second oldest tournament after England’s FA Cup.
The 123rd edition of Durand Football Tournament – 2010 will be held in New Delhi from October 17th to November 7th. This was stated by Major General Manvender Singh, GOC Delhi Area, who is the Chairman Standing Working Committee, Durand Football Tournament Society.
The tournament will be carried out in two stages, i.e. qualify Knock-out Rounds and the Quarter Final League, starting from October 27th, he added.
Sixteen teams have been lodged in the qualifying knock out rounds. They are – four teams from the Army, one team each from Indian Navy and Air Force, two teams from paramilitary forces i.e. BSF and Assam Rifles, Uttarakhand Police besides Ahbab Sports Club, J&K Bank, Srinagar, Garhwal Heroes, Tata Football Club, Indian National Football Club, Vasco and Amity United from Haryana. They will be divided into two groups of eight teams each. Winner of each group will be promoted to quarter final league.
Ten teams are directly seeded in the quarter final league. They are – Churchill Brothers, Dempo Sports Club, Sporting Club-de-Goa, East Bengal Club, JCT Phagwara, Air India Mumbai, Salgaocar Sports Club, Pune Football Club, Army Red and Chirag United. Two winner teams from the qualifying knockout rounds will join to make the tally of twelve teams for the Quarter Final round. These teams will be divided into four groups of three teams each. Winner of each group will qualify for semi-finals.
All matches of the Tournament have been thrown unlocked to the public without tickets on first come first serve basis. The Durand Football Tournament has the distinction of being the third oldest Football Tournament of the world and the oldest Football Tournament of Asia.
Tags: Air India Mumbai, Army Red, Chirag United, Churchill Brothers, Dempo Sports Club, Durand Football Tournament, East Bengal Club, Football, India, JCT Phagwara, Pune Football Club, Salgaocar Sports Club, Sporting Club-de-Goa
