It’s that time of the year again when another Indian football season kicks off with the prestigious Indian Oil Durand Cup 2024, set to commence on July 27. The defending champions, Mohun Bagan SG, who clinched the most coveted trophy in Asian football, will face formidable resistance as many teams aim to assert their presence in Indian football. East Bengal FC, Northeast United FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Mohammedan SC, and Bengaluru FC will all prove to be forces to reckon with for MBSG.
The teams are grouped into six groups of four, with the group winners and the two best second-placed teams advancing to the quarterfinals. The tournament will be hosted in four cities: Kolkata, Kokrajhar, Shillong, and Jamshedpur.
Group C matches will be played at Kishore Bharati Krirangan and Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, as well as Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong and JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur.
Group C is composed of Kerala Blasters FC, who will be trying to soar to triumph and make their mark in the distinguished Durand Cup campaign. They will be joined by Mumbai City FC, aiming to start the season with a bang. Another team in the group is Punjab FC, former I-League champions striving for a successful start under their new coach. The fourth and final team in Group C is CISF Protectors FC, representing the army.
Kerala Blasters FC
The team from Kochi is rallying their forces to find a rhythm and mark the beginning of a new era under their newly appointed Swedish tactician, Mikael Stahre. After a disappointing campaign in the previous Durand Cup, where they were eliminated in the group stage, and a loss to Odisha FC in the ISL playoff knockout, a new chapter is unfolding. Stahre, an experienced campaigner, aims to resurrect the club and find glory for the first time through this tournament.
The team started their preseason preparations in Thailand, where they played three friendlies to test the squad’s capabilities. The Blasters will be fielding their main team for the tournament as the new head coach needs to understand and adapt to the Indian conditions. They have signed proven ISL winger Noah Sadaoui on a multi-year deal and extended their playmaker Adrian Luna’s contract long-term, making them strong candidates in the tournament. Additionally, they have secured versatile French player Alexandre Coeff as a replacement for Leskovic.
Likmabam Rakesh, Nora Fernandes, R Lalthanmawia, Som Kumar, and Naocha Singh are the new Indian signings KBFC have made to strengthen their core. However, KBFC has yet to find a replacement for their Golden Boot winner, Dimitrios Diamantakos, who has joined their rivals, East Bengal FC. Additionally, one of their longest-serving players, Jeakson Singh, has also moved to the Red and Gold Brigade.
Despite these changes, Kerala Blasters currently stand tall as the strongest team in the group and are favorites to secure one of the top spots, thanks to their experience and squad depth compared to the other teams.
Mumbai City FC
Mumbai City FC is set to make a strong impression at the Durand Cup with their reserve team, captained by 19-year-old defender Nikhil Shinde. Indian coach Mohan Dass will lead the team in this year’s campaign, bringing fresh talent to the prestigious tournament. Last season, they were knocked out in the quarterfinals by the eventual champions, Mohun Bagan SG.
Mumbai City FC narrowly missed out on the ISL shield race to Mohun Bagan SG last season but ultimately defeated them to become the Indian Super League champions. For their preseason preparations, the main team will camp in Thailand, as they did the previous season. However, they will field their reserve team for the esteemed Durand Cup this year.
They have brought in some serious talents ahead of the season, including Noufal P N, Sahil Panwar, and Hitesh Sharma on loan, as well as experienced players like T P Rehenesh, Brandon Fernandes, and Jayesh Rane. Additionally, they have signed notable international players, including former Arsenal player Jon Toral, Greek striker Nikolaos Karelis, and ISL-experienced French midfielder Jeremy Manzorro.
With their high-potential reserve team, Mumbai City FC will surely aim to progress far in the Durand Cup. However, they will face serious contenders in Kerala Blasters and Punjab FC.
Punjab FC
The Shers made a great comeback in the second half of the ISL last season, finishing just two spots away from the playoff position. However, they must start from scratch again this season due to significant changes, including the departure of their previous head coach, Staikos Vergetis. Panagiotis Dilmperis has now taken on the head coach role, and the team is currently in a rebuilding phase. They have re-signed forward Luka Majcen, who will once again be the main focal point of their attack, given the departure of Madih Talal and Wilmar Jordan Gil.
This season will be a new journey for Punjab FC under Panagiotis Dilmperis. They have made significant changes to their squad with over 10 departures, including one of their highest-scoring players, Wilmar Jordan, the league’s top assist provider, Madih Talal, and their defensive leader, Dimitrios Chatziisaias.
It remains to be seen how impactful these departures will be, but they have lured in some quality additions, including Croatian midfielder Filip Mrzljak, Vinit Rai, Ninthoi Meetei, Muheet Shabir, and Nihal Sudheesh on loan.
Punjab FC’s reserve team is currently in the UK for the Next Generation tournament. The Durand Cup presents an ideal opportunity for the Shers to test their defense against tough competitors in this legacy-filled tournament. They have the potential to ignite their fire and make an outstanding performance in the tournament, despite the tight competition in the group.
CISF Protectors FC
CISF, abbreviated as Central Industrial Security Force, is a Central Armed Police Force-based football team that regularly participates in the Delhi Premier League. They have a reputation for being a strong group, with players characterized by their competitiveness and physicality both on and off the field. With a history of knocking out top teams from the elite division, this team is an evident underdog in the group, possessing the capacity to upset top teams.
Read More: https://iftwc.com/group-b-durand-cup-preview/
IFTWC Prediction
The group is a mix of high-potential, energetic squads and quality-filled, experienced teams battling to advance to the next round. On paper, Kerala Blasters from Kochi seem to have the upper hand and are likely to top the table. However, the heightened determination and competitiveness of teams like Punjab FC and Mumbai City FC could make the path to victory more challenging for the Blasters.
Punjab FC, in particular, is poised to challenge for the top spot and could potentially finish in second place. However, football is inherently unpredictable, and any additional drama or surprises could alter the outcome as the tournament unfolds.
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