133rd Durand Cup
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 3: The 133rd Durand Cup will now have two teams from Meghalaya – Shillong Lajong FC and Rangdajied United FC – participating in Group F; the fixtures being held in Shillong.
Hyderabad FC, one of the teams in the Group, has dropped out of the event due to unforeseen circumstances. While many capable clubs were available to replace the team in the Group, the Government of Meghalaya suggested the inclusion of Rangdajied United FC (RUFC), which was welcomed by the Durand Cup Organising Committee.
The Government of Meghalaya has been involved in the promotion of local football talent in the State and have supported the decision-making process to include RUFC. The football fraternity of Meghalaya are excited at the prospect of seeing more Meghalaya footballers compete against national level teams.
The first game of Rangdajied United FC will be against FC Goa at 7 pm on Monday. Ticket will be on sale at the Box Office near Golf Links on the day of the match.
Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Shakliar Warjri was pleased to see this inclusion, commenting, “It is a matter of great pride for Meghalaya to have two local teams play in the Durand Cup. This is the first time the event has been hosted in Shillong, and Rangdajied United FC playing in the same group as Shillong Lajong FC provides the ground to showcase better, the footballing talent that Meghalaya has.”
The Durand Cup is always been a tournament providing a platform for new football stars, and it is expected that some superstars will come out of the Meghalaya football ecosystem through these matches.