The 132nd 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. General Manoj Pande, PVSM AVSM VSM ADC, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Aroop Biswas, Minister in Charge for Youth Services and Sports, Government of West Bengal and Lieutenant General 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 11am-6pm and on subsequent days.
5.00pm- Cultural programme and Opening Ceremony, 5.45pm-Kick-Off
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 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.
Source: Army Authorities
