New look Durand Cup promises more money and entertainment

New Delhi, Nov 1 (UNI) Local side Shastri FC will play MEG Bangalore in the inaugural match of the 119th Osian's Durand Cup football tournament on November 6 at the Ambedkar stadium here.

AOC Secunderabad and Jammu and Kashmir Bank will clash in the second match on the same day.

After year's of diminishing importance, world's third oldest tournament sports a new look this year after roping in art and auction house Osian's and professional sports management company Infinity Optimal Solutions.

Besides, doubling the prize money, the tournament will be played on a new format. And unlike last year which saw top clubs of the country skipping the tournament because of various reasons, this edition is expected to see top-class football by the spectators of the national capital with all the 10 teams of this year's first division National Football League (NFL) featuring along with twenty other teams in various stages of the tournament.

The tournament begins on November 6 with the 20-team qualifying round which will be played in knockout basis and two teams -- one each from Group A and Group B -- making it to the pre-quarterfinals, scheduled for November 16-18, which also has two groups of three teams.

The top five teams of last year's NFL first division -- Mahindra United, Mohun Bagan, Sporting Club de Goa, East Bengal and Dempo Sports Club -- were directly seeded to the quarter-final stage which is scheduled from November 19 to 24. They are joined by defending champions Army XI and two group winners of pre-quarterfinal league.

NFL second division winners Tata Football Academy, which will play in the NFL this year, made it to the pre-quaterfinals along with NFL sixth to eighth placers -- Mohammedan Sporting, Air India and JCT, (Phagawara). NFL second division runners Churchill Brothers, however, had to satisfied with the qaulifying round.

The semi-finals will be played on November 25 while the final is scheduled on November 27.

In a boost to the players in this tournament, the total prize money has been doubled from last year to Rs 20 lakhs and five new awards have also been announced.

The winner will take home Rs 10 lakhs while the runners-up will pocket Rs 4 lakhs. The two losing semi-finalists will receive Rs 1.5 lakhs each while the four losing quater-finalists will get Rs 40,000 each. This means that all the eight quarter-finalists will receive a prize money.

Besides, the best player of the tournament will get Rs 30,000, the highest goal scorer Rs 20,000, the best goalkeeper and best coach Rs 15,000 each and best player of the final will pocket Rs 10,000. Moreover, five most promising players will receive Rs 10,000 each.

Lt Col Joginder Singh, Secretary Durand Football Tournament Society, said all the top teams have confirmed their participation in the tournament and the capital would witness top class football for more than a forthnight.

He said with the help of new sponsors, the turf at the Ambedkar Stadium has been revamped to the international standard and a carnival-like atmosphere would be created in the stadium during the matches with contests and games adding entertainment value to the spectators.

''We have decided not to charge entry fee to facilitate more spectators. A unique outdoor exhibition of Indian film posters will also decorate much of the stadium to draw more public,'' he said.

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