Kolkata : The Imphal derby between Neroca FC (NFC) and TRAU FC (TFC) along with the much awaited Durand Cup debut of Mumbai City FC (MCFC) will steal today’s show in the 131st Durand Cup football tournament. The Imphal derby will also mark the first game of Durand Cup to be played in the state of Manipur.
The Islanders’ Durand debut
The Islanders, Mumbai City FC coached by Des Buckingham will debut in Group B game against an Indian Navy football team. The Indian Navy is settled side with some experienced and talented players, it will be David versus Goliath contest.
The Navy men’s coach VS Abhilash summed it up perfectly when he said, “We are playing against one of the best teams in Asia and one of the Durand cup favourites. We have analysed their last year ISL & AFC matches. According to that we have some plan. Looking for three points nothing less than that.”
Big names in Mumbai City FC are not limited to India regulars like Bipin Singh, Mandar Rao Desai, Rowlin Borges, Vikram Pratap Singh, Lallianzuala Changte and Rahul Bheke, but also the foreign Big Guns like Senegalese Mourtada Fall, Moroccan Ahmed Jahouh, Scotsman Gary Stewart and new recruits from the A-League like Rostyn John Griffiths and Jorge Pereyra-Diaz.
POV: Getting the homework done in time before our season opener tomorrow! 😉⏳#MCFCIN #DurandCup2022 #MumbaiCity #AamchiCity 🔵 pic.twitter.com/H9Nffn3HdO
— Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) August 17, 2022
The sailor men on the other hand will rely on the leadership of Dalraj Singh from deep defence, the wing-play of the likes of P.M. Britto and Pintu Mahata as well as the sharpness of their Kerala centre-forward Sreyas VG upfront, all of whom have been plying their trades in the top Indian leagues for some time.
Mumbai coach, Des Buckingham in his pre-match chat planned of starting well, “I won’t disrespect this tournament and say we’re using it as a preparation for ISL because it is the oldest competition in Asia and it’s our first time competing. So of course, we want to try and do as well as we can.”
The Imphal derby
Neroca FC and Tiddim Road Athletic Union (TRAU) FC is all set to alight as it always does. The Hon. Chief Minister, Shri. Biren Singh himself was a former Durand winner and the passion for the game in the State, is a fantastic competitive game.
Both teams finished at low in the points table in their previous I-League season, with the Neroca finishing seventh while TRAU finished ninth. Nevertheless in a derby game, the two have always fought it out tooth and nail and kept their adoring fans on the edge.
Thokchom James Singh and Tondomba Singh bring the derby experience to the Neroca squad while Manas Pratim Gohain and Bishorjit Singh bring the same for TRAU.
TRAU FC coach L. Nandakumar Singh said before the Imphal Derby, “We are fully prepared. We are hundred percent sure that we will get the 3 points. We promise that we won’t disappoint our fans.”
