After Subroto, it's time for Durand action

NEW DELHI, October 18: After the just concluded Subroto Cup, it's time for another coveted domestic tournament - the Osian's Durand Cup to kick-off at the refurbished Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi. With the introduction of floodlights providing the night match experience for the first time in the history of the Cup, the latest edition of the prestigious Durand Cup promises to be a spectacular event this time around.
International matches lined-up for the Indian football team and a busy domestic football scene has prompted the tournament organisers to go for a shorter knock-out format this year.The preliminary Durand competition is slated to kick start from October 18 to October 28, and the quarter-finals will begin from October 30 to November 8. The semi-finals are slated to be held on November 6, while the final will be played on November 8.
"We decided to reduce the length of the tournament and make it knock-out to minimise the strain on the teams as the season is long and strenuous," said Lieutenant Colonel Joginder Singh, Honorary Secretary General of the Durand Football Tournament Society.
With the Indian football team busy with the World Cup qualifier against Lebanon in Chennai on October 28, Delhites wouldn't really get the chance, as they got one during the ONGC Nehru Cup in August this year, to see some of the top players in the upcoming tournament.
While most of the major clubs in the country will be seen in action at the new-look stadium, a few from Bengal would be missed. The three leading football clubs of Kolkata - East Bengal, Mohammedan Sporting and Mohun Bagan will not be featuring.
Meanwhile, the total prize money for the tournament being given out by the organizers is a fat purse of Rs 20 lakh, with the winners taking home eight lakh and the runners-up six lakh. And the Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS) are content with the kind of sponsorships that the event is getting.
"We are thankful to our sponsors, that is IOS and title sponsor that is Osians. Without their support, it wouldn't have been possible to give the required facilities to the players, coaches, officials; and it has a good prize value," said Singh.
"This year 20 lakh will be distributed as prize money to the teams only. The money won't be spent on other things. We try our level best to give the maximum money to the teams," added Singh.
As for the involvement of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in the prestigious event, Singh said, "We will talk to AIFF and ask them to give Durand Cup a permanent spot in its annual calendar."
"Durand Cup is a tournament which is being conducted by the defence forces and I think it will survive. Under any circumstances we are capable of organizing it. Even if there is shortage of money, the forces have their own way and their own infrastructure. There is no clash of the Durand Football Tournament Society with any other organization. It's teamwork and everybody is helping us. We are grateful to everyone," he added.
So while Delhi is set for another big domestic tournament to kick-off in style, here is food for thought for one and all - Domestic tournaments are definitely beneficial in promoting football at the grassroots level in India. But as national coach Bob Houghton suggests, Aren't such busy domestic football schedules hampering the development of a strong national team with the country's top players participating in such events?