They have been drawn in Group A alongside Mohammedan Sporting, Central Reserve Police Force Football Club and Indian Air Force.
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One of India’s oldest and most prestigious football cup competitions, the Durand Cup, will see a new team in action this season. FC Bengaluru United have been invited to play in the competition that will be held in the Mecca of Indian football, Kolkata, from September 5 to October 3. The competition was cancelled last year due to the raging coronavirus pandemic but it will make its long-awaited comeback to the Indian sports calendar in a few weeks’ time. This edition of the Durand Cup will be the 130th, making it the oldest football competition in the whole of Asia. Thus for a club like Bengaluru United, participation will be a very significant part of their history.
The club is a nascent one that was founded just three years ago in 2018. It really is an incredible feat for the club to be taking part in the 2021 Durand Cup despite being such a young outfit. The club fully deserves it as well as they have played exceptional football over the last three years and quickly risen through the ranks. They are one of the sixteen sides that have been invited to compete in Asia’s oldest football competition. They will not have an easy competition, however. The club has been drawn in Group A alongside the likes of legendary football club Mohammedan Sporting, Central Reserve Police Force Football Club and Indian Air Force.
Gaurav Manchanda, the owner of Bengaluru United said that it was a great honor for him and for the club to be participating in what he termed a ‘marquee event’. “It’s a great honour for FC Bengaluru United to be invited to participate in the Durand Cup and we couldn’t be more delighted,” he said. “The Durand Cup is a marquee event in the Indian footballing calendar, and we are proud to be part of it. It is also a testimony to the growing potential of FC Bengaluru United. We have been on the ascendancy over the last three years and being part of such a prestigious tournament can only help propel us forward on our growth journey,” Manchanda added.
The club is one that plays in the second division of the I-League. They displayed incredible form and showcased brilliant attacking football earlier this year which saw them being crowned BDFA Super Division Champions. They will look to carry this rich vein of form to Kolkata for the Durand Cup. A good performance in the competition will certainly be helpful for them to make a significant impact on the national stage.
“It is a matter of immense prestige to be invited for the 130th edition of the Durand Cup and we are prepared to bring through strong performances to merit our inclusion,” said Richard Hood, Head Coach, FC Bengaluru United. “As professionals, we constantly seek opportunities to compete at the highest levels possible and in the short history of our club this presents a big platform to everyone involved, especially the players out on the pitch to fulfill the ambitions of United.”
The sixteen teams in the 2021 Durand Cup include five clubs from the ISL, six clubs from the Indian Armed Forces, three clubs from the I-League, and two clubs from the I-League 2nd Division.
