132nd Durand Cup set for grand kick-off at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan

The 132nd IndianOil Durand Cup Football Tournament 2023, is all set for a grand kick-off at Kolkata’s hallowed Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK), on Thursday, August 03, 2023, with the first Group A game scheduled on the day between the Bangladesh Army Football Team (BAFT) and home favourites and reigning Indian Super League (ISL) champions, Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG).

The Hon. Chief Minister of West Bengal, Smt. Mamata Banerjee has kindly consented to grace the occasion as the Chief Guest. Gen. Manoj Pande, PVSM AVSM VSM ADC, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Shri. Aroop Biswas, Hon. Minister in Charge for Youth Services and Sports, Housing and Power, Government of West Bengal and Lt. Gen. Rana Pratap Kalita, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM , General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, will be among the other dignitaries present.

The Local Organising Committee has also decided to distribute free tickets for the opening game and the same will be available at the Mohun Bagan club tent from Monday, July 31st, 2023, between 11 AM-6 PM and on subsequent days.

5.00 PM - Cultural programme and Opening Ceremony

5.45 PM - Kick-Off

*Gates will open at 3 PM

Also Read: Durand Cup 2023: All the champions of Asia's oldest football tournament

The Opening Ceremony

As part of the opening ceremony, a short under half an hour cultural programme, high on skill and entertainment and performed by various units of the Indian Army, has been organized by the Durand Committee leading up to kick-off. Among the highlights would be displays of indigenous sports like Kerala’s Kalaripayattu by the Madras regiment and Punjab’s Gatka by the Sikh and Punjab regiments.

Thereafter post the conclusion of the cultural programme, the Hon Chief Minister, along with other dignitaries will be introduced to the two team line-ups.

The First Game

The Bangladesh Army Football Team, one of two foreign teams competing in this edition, then take on Mohun Bagan Super Giant, the reigning ISL champions, in the first encounter of the 132nd IndianOil Durand Cup. This will be a Group A game and the first of 43-games which will culminate in the final at the VYBK in Kolkata on September 03, 2023. This year’s edition has 24 teams divided into six groups and includes all 12 ISL teams as well as two foreign teams, a first for the Durand in 27 years.

Also Read: Durand Cup: Army veterans' 'heart-pounding' leap from 65 floors will leave you stunned

Three of the groups A, B and C are to be played across four venues of Kolkata, while a majority of the Group D and E matches will be hosted by Guwahati’s Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium. Kokrajhar, the newest Durand Cup host city, will be hosting all matches of Group F along with a Group D and E game each. Guwahati and Kokrajhar will also host one quarter-final game each. The rest of the knockouts will be held in Kolkata.

Bengaluru FC are the defending champions, having defeated Mumbai City FC 2-1 in the final of the 131st Edition last year at the VYBK.

You can watch the LIVE coverage of the 132nd Durand Cup 2023 on the Sony Sports Ten 2 channels as well as livestream on SonyLIV. The scheduled kick-off is at 5.45 PM Indian Standard Time (IST).