Kokrajhar preparing to host Durand Cup

KOKRAJHAR: Hectic preparations are going on in full swing at SAI Stadium in Kokrajhar to host the 132nd Durand Cup, the largest and oldest football tournament of Asia from August 6. The mega tournament is going to be hosted jointly by the combined of army, navy and air force and the government of BTR. Kokrajhar is one of the newest venues for holding the Asia’s oldest football tournament.

Since the tournament is just one month left in Kokrajhar, massive works of construction of iron gallery, widening of approaching roads to SAI Stadium from JD Road, renovation of existing gallery, rooms, reinforcement of RCC works in northern, southern and eastern sides of the fields, skirting of marbles in the existing gallery, painting etc. are going on in war footing manner. Over 200 labourers are being engaged in the constructions and renovation works. As Kokrajhar is hot spot of football fans, the new iron galleries are being built around the field to facilitate maximum accommodation as the organizers have experience of hosting 1st Inter Sixth Schedule Premier League (ISPL) and 76th National Hero Sontash Trophy at SAI Stadium where organizers failed to provide sufficient accommodation for overcrowded football fans.

The control room for the Durand Cup trophy was already inaugurated by the EM of Sports and Youth Welfare, BTC Daobaisa Boro at the hostel of CHD, Sports and Youth Welfare department at Titaguri recently in the presence in the presence of high level officials from the army and department of Sports, BTC.

Meanwhile, the CEM of BTR Pramod Boro has been personally monitoring and overseeing the preparation works and constructions in SAI stadium. He had so far visited several times in the SAI stadium to assess the preparations. He hoped that the Durand Cup will take the name of Bodoland to the country and the world as a whole. He said football is very popular sports in Bodoland region but it lacks infrastructures. The council has allocated 150 bighas of land for the constructions of a football stadium in Kokrajhar at a cost of Rs. 150 crore, he said adding that the government of BTR has decided to mini build stadium in every assembly constituency to tab the talents in grassroots.

It may be mentioned that the Durand Cup, 2023 would be held in four venues-Kolkata in West Bengal, Guwahati in Assam, Shillong in Meghalaya and Kokrajhar in BTR. Of the total 24 teams, 4 football team comprising-BTC Football Club, Bhutan Army, Odisha Football Club and Rajasthan Football Club will play in Kokrajhar and the quarter final match will also be held in Kokrajhar. The league in Kokrajhar will be held on August 6,9,12,14,18,21 and 26 respectively as per official sources.

The champion team will receive Rs. 50 lakhs with trophy, the runners up will receive Rs. 30 lakhs and trophy while the golden boot, golden glove and golden goal will carry Rs. 3 lakh each and trophy.

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