Dempo, Md Sporting pull out

After the top clubs from Kolkata - East Bengal and Mohun Bagan had earlier backed out of the 121st Osian’s Durand...

After the top clubs from Kolkata – East Bengal and Mohun Bagan had earlier backed out of the 121st Osian’s Durand Cup, the tournament received another jolt as I-League champions Dempo and Mohammedan Sporting have also decided not to participate.

Dempo withdrew as they are participating in the AFC Cup which kicks off next month and Md Sporting will not make their presence felt as they have their local league commitments.

The absence of the top clubs from the oldest tournament of the country for second consecutive year is certainly taking away the sheen from the event. The Durand Cup, which is usually held in the month of November, had to be forwarded as the professional I-League kicks off from mid September.

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“We’ve to advance the tournament to August because of AIFF directives. As it clashes with the schedule of their local league (which started last month and ends early next month) Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Md Sporting will not take part in the tournament,” Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS) secretary general Joginder Singh said.

The advancement of the tournament has also resulted in top Fijian outfit Ba Football Club, failing to make it up this time.

The main round begins on Thursday with ONGC playing Tata Football Academy in the first Group B round-robin pre-quarterfinal league match while BSF take on Salgaocar in the second encounter of the day.

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