logo
Durand Cup: Mohun Bagan Super Giant eye strong start against Mohammedan SC

Durand Cup: Mohun Bagan Super Giant eye strong start against Mohammedan SC

Kolkata, July 30 (UNI) The Durand Cup 2025 stage is set for a fiery Kolkata Derby as Indian Super League (ISL) side Mohun Bagan Super Giant kick off their campaign against city rivals Mohammedan Sporting Club at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan here tomorrow.
While this will be MBSG's first appearance in the 2025 edition, Mohammedan SC come into the clash under pressure after a 2-1 defeat to Diamond Harbour FC in their opener.
Mohammedan SC had taken the lead but suffered a heartbreaking loss after conceding in the death. Another loss could all but end their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage, a fate they suffered last season.
The Mariners, meanwhile, will be keen to build on their runner-up finish in the 2024 edition. Last year, they were agonisingly close to lifting the trophy, having led 2-0 in the final before NorthEast United FC mounted a dramatic comeback and triumphed on penalties.
The Mariners, who did the double in the ISL 2024-25 season, enter the tournament brimming with confidence. They also defeated Mohammedan SC twice in the ISL last season. With a deep squad and strong momentum, MBSG will be eyeing another deep run in the Durand Cup.
However, for head coach Mehrajuddin Wadoo and Mohammedan SC, this is a must-win. The club, which reached the Durand Cup final in 2021 and the semi-finals a year later, is desperate to avoid another early exit. But they'll have to defy the odds against a far more experienced MBSG side.
UNI BM
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

NEUFC eye winning start to their Durand campaign
NEUFC eye winning start to their Durand campaign

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

NEUFC eye winning start to their Durand campaign

The last edition earned them their first silverware. And the 134th edition of Durand Cup will see them take their first step towards title defence when NorthEast United FC face off against Malaysian Armed Forces FT to kick off their season at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Saturday. While the Malaysian Armed Forces will be their first opponents, NEUFC will also be facing their other Group E rivals in two Shillong clubs in Shillong Lajong FC and Rangdajied United FC in their next matches. After an unbeaten run in the previous edition, Juan Pedro Benali's men will be eager to replicate that feat, starting with a win against the visitors, who were thrashed 6-0 by Shillong Lajong in their opener. "The team has been working diligently over the past three weeks, and we hope we're well-prepared and focused for our opening match against the Malaysian Armed Forces," Benali said at the pre-match press conference in Shillong on Friday. "It's the first final we have to play if we want to defend our title." Alaaeddine Ajaraie, last season's ISL Golden Boot and Golden Ball winner, will once again be crucial to NEUFC's fortunes, along with last season's Durand Cup Player of the Tournament, Jithin MS. The trio of new Spanish recruits — Jairo Samperio, Chema Nunez and Andy Rodriguez — will add to Benali's options in attack and midfield. Golden Glove winner last time, Gurmeet Singh, will hope to start with a cleansheet aided by a defence led by captain Michel Zabaco and the likes of Asheer Akhtar, Tondonba Singh, Buanthanglun Samte, Robin Yadav, Dinesh Singh, Redeem Tlang and Bekey Oram adding to the depth in the backline. The rest will depend on Spaniard Benali's tactical acumen as NEUFC will look to script an even better season for the Highlanders' fans.

Jamshedpur wait to know Jamil's future
Jamshedpur wait to know Jamil's future

Time of India

time6 hours ago

  • Time of India

Jamshedpur wait to know Jamil's future

Khalid Jamil is contracted with Jamshedpur FC till June 2026 Panaji: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is keen to hand Khalid Jamil a full-time contract as national team coach but will have to secure his release from Jamshedpur FC . Jamil is contracted with Jamshedpur till June 2026 and has currently guided the team to the quarterfinals of the Durand Cup, Asia's oldest football tournament. 'We are happy that Khalid is the AIFF's choice for the national team job, but we are still working on the details,' Jamshedpur CEO Mukul Choudhari told TOI. 'We have had initial talks with AIFF, but nothing has been decided yet (on the release).' Last year, AIFF allowed Manolo Marquez to continue with FC Goa, with whom he was contracted, till the end of the season, before taking up the job on full-time basis. 'Khalid is a very good coach and it's never easy to lose someone like him. We have to see what he has in mind before taking a call that suits all parties,' said Choudhari, whose association with the coach goes back to his days with Mumbai FC. This will be Jamil's first international appointment of any kind, with the former India midfielder having only managed in domestic club football. Jamil's first assignment will be later this month in the CAFA Nations Cup where India have been drawn to play giants Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan. The big test though will be the AFC Asian Cup final round qualifiers where India have crucial games against Singapore and Bangladesh later this year. WHAT NEXT FOR INDIA CAFA Nations Cup Aug 29: Tajikistan vs India Sept 1: India vs Iran Sept 4: Afghanistan vs India AFC Asian Cup qualifiers Oct 9: Singapore vs India Oct 14: India vs Singapore Nov 18: Bangladesh vs India

Odisha suspend all player, staff contracts
Odisha suspend all player, staff contracts

Time of India

time6 hours ago

  • Time of India

Odisha suspend all player, staff contracts

Kolkata: On a day that Khalid Jamil was announced the head coach of India men's national team, the uncertainty surrounding the Indian football's top-flight league hit hard with Odisha FC suspending all player and staff contracts from August 5. As speculation grew over the club's overall future, the India Super League (ISL) side's owner Rohan Sharma clarified things through his social media account later in the evening. "We haven't shut down the club despite the headlines. Key staff members are retained, our women's team will be operational. However, it becomes harder to justify to my stakeholders to sink Crs (crores) upon Crs with nothing to show for it, and no end in sight," club owner Rohan Sharma wrote on 'X'. "We have - No Clarity when the League will Start - Nowhere to practice/play/work in Odisha - No way to get sponsorship since there's no season - No way to engage investors with an expiring participation agreement. We hoped something would give, but sadly it hasn't," added Sharma. Hoping for a better resolution of the current situation, he wrote further, "We didn't go into this offseason planning to take this step. In fact we had made 5 signings until it became clear things are delayed. We desperately hope the above issues get resolved; maybe doing this will prompt people to fast-track solutions so we can get back to work." Earlier in the day, Delhi Soccer Private Limited (DSPL), the parent company of the Bhubaneswar-based side, issued a letter confirming the implementation of a 'Force Majeure' in the wake of an uncertain future of ISL. A letter signed by Ajit Panda, head of finance, DSPL, stated, "As you may be aware, the commencement of the Indian Super League 2025-26 season has been indefinitely suspended due to the inability of Football Sports Development Limited and the All India Football Federation to reach an agreement on the renewal of the Master Rights Agreement." "This unfortunate development has placed Odisha FC in an extremely challenging position, arising from circumstances that are entirely beyond the Club's control and unforeseeable in nature — akin to a force majeure event," the letter added. "After careful and thorough consideration, and in alignment with the evolving situation, the Club has arrived at a difficult decision and is proposing to place your engagement with the Club under suspension with effect from 5th August, 2025. Please be assured that this decision has not been taken lightly and is being made on a bona fide basis, in the best interest of the Club and its stakeholders," the club added in the letter. Odisha FC also stated that they would not restrict any player willing to explore other professional opportunities which could be available during this time and would facilitate any mutual termination of contract if it is a preferred solution.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store