 Asia's oldest cup competition is back, back after a hiatus of three years, that being the Durant Cup. The 129th edition of the Durant Cup will be taking place in Bengal. The first time in its history, where Kolkata, Kalyani and in all likelihood the third venue will be Haura and not Siliguri, which will host a total of 16 teams, 6 from the I-League, 6 from the ISL. Thanks so much for joining us on a brand new episode of 420 Grams. I'm joined in studio by Vaibhav Raghunandan and joining us from Manipur is former India captain, Venedi Singh and alongside him is Siddhant Ani, who's generally seen on this side whenever we're talking to Venedi, but has now been in Manipur for the last couple of days. Venedi, before we get talking Durant and all, have you handed Siddhant a contract or not? Has he impressed you with the skills? First I have to say, it's just been a week now, so I have to see two more weeks of how we perform. According to them, we'll be offering a contract. Brother, it's been 20 years since we've been giving a trial. That's right. But of course, you know, it's about new players. When you talk about new players, these old competitions, the Durant, the Rovers and so on, that used to take place all over India, they used to hold such an integral part for any player, any club. More so, Venedi, if we focus on this edition, that this is happening before the Leagues, and the Super Cup which was scheduled to take place as well before the Leagues is now happening post the Leagues. So the importance of this tournament from a club's point of views all the more, you're getting competition time before your Leagues begin. Yeah, but then if you see now, the sad thing is for Durant Cup officials, they would want to have the best first team from all the clubs. But then most of the clubs in India hasn't started having a preseason. Yeah. So, yes, the second team, they hardly have like the reserve team, they hardly have any matches to play. But with this Durant Cup, they will be able to get a chance. But I'm sure the Durant Cup officials are not too happy to see the reserve team and they are many others. Venedi Bhai, the fact that this is, if you are running a club, you are the head coach, you've been given a Durant Cup, you're getting four 90-minute competition games. Now, and now that the Super Cup is not happening, you will put your best teams out there. Yeah, but look at all the teams, like I said, they haven't started preseason. Maybe after two and a half, three weeks, this will be Durant Cup after three, it will be the best time to get all the best teams. As a coach, of course, yes, before the league starts, one week before, I want to have my team to get 90-minute match. Yeah. But now before the season starts, I don't want to play my men team because they are not ready, they are just coming back from the holiday. So for me, this is a wrong time. Maybe after three weeks, Durant Cup will get the best of Indian levels. Yeah, but Venedi Bhai, that was also done keeping in mind that the Super Cup was taking place at that time. Now, of course, the Super Cup has been shifted, has been postponed to after the ISL and I-League. And the reason that has happened is because Igor's team match has told the AFL that, look, we need players to be competition ready because post the ISL I-League, which is in March, April, is when your World Cup qualifiers are also taking place. So that makes sense, in a way, that you know you are keeping the boys' competition ready. I totally agree with Igor Simak, you know, because he needs the Indian team, you know, after the league plays, they don't stay in the same form. But with that Cup, the Super Cup players will be still in that competition where they will be fit enough to play, to give their best in the Indian team match. And that's totally alright. But the timing of this Durant Cup now as Super Cup has gone back, this is not the right time for me. Yes, for the reserve team, this is the best time, this is the best platform. But Durant Cup being the most important tournament in our time, and the officials, like I said, would want to have the best team of India, which they won't be able to. So now we have to take it, take positive. If we have to take positive out from here, the reserve teams are getting a chance. I'm happy that the reserve teams will get a platform to play. You know, Siddhant, you and I were having this conversation over the last three, four weeks as well, man, that number of games for Indian players has slowly, slowly been on the decline in the last couple of years. Now, I think you're touching about 18-20. But my scene is that even if your league structure remains the same for the next three years, and you can think of adding a Rovers Cup, think of adding a Durant Cup, think of adding a local league, then you meet everyone, then your games goes up to 35-40, which is great for an Indian player. Yeah, like it used to be, I guess, for these guys back in the day, because they were playing all these different competitions. I think for the ISL teams, it will still remain a bit of a problem, because I'm not sure if ISL teams will want to play local leagues. So that will remain a bit of an issue in terms of getting the top players, those kind of matches. But other than that, I think for the ISL, and it's a very happy to hear that they've shifted the Super Cup from September 15th to... because if the Super Cup was happening on September 15th, then the Durant would have absolutely no meaning. And it makes complete sense in that case for people to feel deserved. Not really, man. Before a tournament, you're telling me, if you're giving me two tournaments before a league, where I'm getting to play a total of 8-90-minute games, an entity as a coach, isn't that perfect preparation for a big league, which is not that big, honestly, which is not an 8-90-minute league. You need some time to prepare also, Nayan. First, when we have a pre-season, first it's all about taking care of the players after coming back. You know, the coach has got their own ideas about training, and after training for 2-3 weeks, they will be ready to play a 45-minute match, a 60-minute match, and then 90 minutes. So the timing is what I say. Maybe after 3 weeks, when the players are all ready to give that 45 minutes after having a good pre-season, and that's the time. And timing for me is the main factor here. It's a good thing. Like you said, it's great to see this competition happening because young players will get a chance to get those games. Yeah, Chinnai City is building an all-India team. All-Indian 11. Chinnai City. Yeah. So that's the positive side. If we talk about the best 11, there are 3-4 or 5 foreign players who will be playing. So if we take on a positive note, there are so many young Indian players who will be playing in this Durant Cup. And that's the best thing. Like when we were in TFA, we played final. We lost in Tiberka against East Bengal. So you know, those days a lot. And that's how we got a chance to sign after BD Mohan Baga after BD Mohan Baga losing in the final in Tiberka. That's how we got a chance. TFA. So under 15, they lost badly. But they're still getting a platform to play against the good players. It's a good thing for the young players. It's also great for our fans of Indian football because we get to see from the second round of players, the guys who are coming through the system, get a chance to familiarize ourselves with what's happening with the next lot of guys who are potential players pushing for first team places. But that's for people like us who are working with an understanding of Indian football. That's actually the flip side of this fielding young players thing that there's a lot of apprehension among, there's a lot of apprehension online about how teams not fielding their first teams, how does it impact the popularity of this tournament? Do the fans come and watch? Big names are not going to be there. I mean, the Cal clubs, if they field second team, those are the kind of questions that people are asking. Of course, I agree with that. Calculator clubs, I think for them, it makes no sense to, I don't know how they'll end up sort of setting up. Foreigners will be a key issue because that's where most of the money goes, I guess. So clubs try to delay bringing in foreigners as much as possible because the later you bring them in, the later you start paying them obviously. But apart from the foreign players, I think Calculator clubs now realize that they have very little chance of winning any other competition. So for them, winning a trophy is an important thing. So they will be in it. I think Monbarani-Sbinghal would be in it too. Definitely. I think the Calculator league is also happening at the same time, by the way. Yeah. If I'm not mistaken. Yeah. Yes, Calculator league is, and that's a big challenge for a coach, East Bengal coach who had just arrived three days back or three or four days back. So he will not want, if you have just arrived three, four days back, he would not want to feel the best 11. So he's going to feel under 19. That's what I heard. But Mohan Bagan, I heard they are feeling the main 11. Vendee Bhai, there's still speculation on that because Abhi a report says that most probably he's going to be feeling the strongest 11. That being East Bengal. But my point being this, the fact that Durand has come back to Calcutta A, it was never played in Calcutta A, there's a really smart move that they're playing it in Calcutta. And B, you can have any club competition at whatever time. If there is an I-league and an ISL club in that, then that in itself, the intensity will add to it any day because you're always proving a point to the other. Yes, if we look at the fans, this Durand club, except Mohan Bagan is Bengal, not many fans are going to come and watch. You think so? Not even in stadiums. What about Kalyani and Howrah and all? Yeah, but when Mohan Bagan plays, you will see a lot of fans. But other teams, I don't think they will get many fans. But for the development of Indian football, forget the fans. But for the development of Indian football, you see how many young kids are going to get chance in this competitive level of football. And probably the coach and all, I'm pretty sure the new coach and his support staff will be keeping a close eye on this competition. Isn't it sad for the reserve team, if you go anywhere in Europe, reserve team get a chance to play every weekend. But our reserve team in whole year, how many matches do they get a chance to play? But with this tournament and thanks to Durand club coming to Calcutta in three venues, and they are going to get a chance of reserve teams. So we have to develop the reserve team as well. You know Calcutta very well. Calcutta, Kalyani, Howrah. What sort of crowds can we expect where? And where will the big teams be getting their biggest crowds in these? Howrah is a Mohan Bagan area. So you are going to see a lot of Mohan Bagan. So their matches will be there only, I'm pretty sure. Yeah, yeah. So now when East Bengal was, I was there for 6-6 years, for 12 years East Bengal and Mohan Bagan. So wherever you go in Bengal or anywhere, you see if you play in Siliguri or in Mohan Bagan, Mohan Bagan, they have many fans for those. Mohan Bagan, East Bengal, Mohan Bagan. You go anywhere, they will bring fans. And that's the best thing about Calcutta. But I also think when you have a Bengaluru playing and you have a Sunil Chaitri who has come back to Calcutta, I think that in itself will be a draw that people will want to see this team. What is this team? Yeah, but not like East Bengal, Mohan Bagan and Mohan Bagan though. Of course, in the century, coming there, there will be many fans who would love to watch. And Bangalore being the best team of India, they will bring. But not that kind of followers for East Bengal, Mohan Bagan and Mohan Bagan. That's a different feeling. Right. Just moving on to another part now. A, we've spoken about it happening in Calcutta. The second point being that tickets are available on Book My Show. Tickets are being priced from rupees 2200 bucks, being the highest, which is great, man, because now anyone and everyone can think just get a ticket online and make sure you get into the stadium to watch the guys play. Right. And it's fairly easy to book. I've booked a couple. Oh, you have? Which games have you booked for? I've booked for Ramadan versus East Bengal. Or there'll be a Sunil. No, Ramadan against Mohan Bagan. Mohan Bagan. Mohan Bagan. That's the opening game of the tournament. I've booked a 20-buck ticket. So I'll probably be on the pitch. Yeah. And in all probability, this will be playing out on the day of the match. So basically, Weber will not be here. He would have gone inception mode into that stadium. But that's a smart move, right, Renédy? Ani, just tell us a bit about how this tournament has organised, man, as far as the army is concerned. And why in these three years did we not see the Durant Cup being taken place? I think so the traditional base of the tournament, as we know, of course, for us, having grown up in Delhi, has been, Delhi and the Ambedkar Stadium was home to the tournament for a long time. And it was the only chance that Delhi got to sort of see these big clubs from all over the country come and play in front of their audiences. And it's how sort of we got a chance to familiarise ourselves or like first hand in the flesh meet guys like Renédy, Joe Paul, I.M. Sumatai Shaisa, Baijum Gujia, all of these guys. When we first saw them in the flesh, it was in the Durant Cup. But unfortunately, over the years, what happened was that the tournament lost its sort of importance. The prize money didn't go up because it's done by trust. It was actually under the charge of the Air Force, where it actually has written a couple of really good pieces on the history of the tournament and stuff like that, which hopefully we can also put out to the website at some point. So it was a trust, essentially the army also or the armed forces took a little while to understand that football is a commercial property. You need to create some sort of buzz, create some sort of hype, bring in sponsors, increase the prize money in order to attract the best clubs and bring them into Delhi. Give them some nicer places to stay. You know Neetu, like if you... I remember when you were in the river. Yes, when you were in the river, you were standing in a barracks. It doesn't work that way. Nowadays, especially, it has become a professional environment. So then they took a break, of course, and now the charge is shifted to the Eastern command of the Indian army, which is based in Fort William in Calcutta. So they are sort of running the show now. And it seems like with all these partnerships with Bookmai Show and all of that, they seem to have put that sort of foundation in, done some of the work. They're creating the hype. I think already we were in Calcutta a few days ago. Already there's some sort of buzz being created about the tournament. And at least people who are into football know that it's happening in town. I think Celebrity Crowd will be a little bit disappointed because we were also driving through Celebrity on the way to Gangtok. And I remember I was talking to a few people, they were pretty excited that competition football was coming to their city. So they'll be disappointed if it moves to Haura or whatever. But that's just how it is. So that's pretty much it in terms of the organization. And because of this we'll also see, I guess what happened in the last few years when we did see the tournament happening was that more and more amateur teams started coming into the fray. So you had a few Delhi clubs that would make it into the main draw. They had to qualify for the other Delhi teams. Hardly ever was there a time when, I mean maybe only Hindustan or Indian Hero, there were a couple of these clubs. They would hardly make the final round. They would lose on the final round of qualifying only. I think there used to be a second Durand also. Which was basically for teams that never qualified for the main one. So that was the qualification round. So but because clubs started not participating, all of these teams got into the main draw and as a result again it becomes a downward spiral. So they're trying to sort of pick it up again. And the other interesting thing will be that the armed forces are also starting to take football a little more seriously. So those quota jobs, quota recruitment that happens for sports people into the armed forces directly. It is now being extended to football also. So I know like the Navy has a pretty strong team. The Army will be filling two teams. I think a red team and a green team. So you'll see a bunch of these young, raw talented players who may not be so sort of tactically aware or tactically included in but they'll be extremely fit. And also looking to some of these boys if they do get spotted by clubs, they do have the opportunity to migrate out of the forces into a professional club environment. So they're also out to prove a point. And so that plus, I mean for what it's worth they are promotion incentives and all of that. So a tough competition. Why has played against some of these armed forces teams? You can tell us a bit. They are quite a tough team. So Renédy, Sadan touched upon it when you were playing against these Army teams and those Army players, is that the right way that they're not tactically there? But in terms of ji jaan lagaadenge, you know, bhaagenge, and they'll fight for the next full 90 minutes. Yeah, I totally agree with that because they may be not technically very sound or tactically strong side but then physically they are always the best one and they always give a tough fight to all the teams in Durandkab. And honestly when we're in East Bengal and Mon Baghan, we want to avoid them because we know that they will run 90 minutes. And make your life hell. And they've always done well. So yes, Army team, this is like a walk up for them. So they prepare for this tournament for months and months. Can you recall a player from the Army who for you could have been an India level player and did not go there because of course, you know. I don't know, as a team they play. I don't remember as a single player but as a team, you know, like when you are physically, if you are technically sound, then you can single out the player or this is the player. But when you have that physically is so good then as a whole team they run. So as a team they are good but then as an individual, of course, some of them they were in Indian camp, they were called for Indian camps for one or two months but they couldn't make it to the final 18 or 23. But as a team, they did quite well but not as a single player. Right, but also there's going to delve into the... Sorry, I remember one kid called Arjun to do, I think, who scored a crack over like a 35 yarder the last time that he run was happening and actually he got a call up to, like you will say, he got a call up to the national camp. Of course, the step up is massive and like Andy is saying they are more based on playing as a cohesive unit and making it problematic for the other teams rather than individual brilliance or talent as such. And coaching in the armed forces as far as football is concerned I think has still a long time to go because professional coaches are not really getting into that scene. So the coaches also come out of their own system their own ecosystem. So that's where I guess the gap is but they'll eventually, I guess, get there. Okay guys, then finally because this is such an old tournament there's so much history to it you got some facts for us man as far as... What I would recommend is like everyone who's watching this should definitely go and read Mr. Novi Kapadia's book called From Barefoot to Boots in which there's a long big chapter on the Durand Cup and all the teams that I've ever played it. I think we can also like use this as an opportunity to do some memories like I remember like the first time I'm not from Delhi so the first time I saw the Durand Cup live in Ambedkar stadium was in 2013 which is when Mohameddin had won the title and it was the first time they won the title since 1940 and when they won it in 1940 they were the first civilian team to Indian team to win the Durand Cup. So it's a... I mean it was like a big thing that they'd done it after ages and also it's really unique I think I don't know how many other cup competitions do this but if you win the Durand you get three trophies you don't get one. There used to be a lot of big clubs playing in Durand, also Durand and the same IFAs federation for us as an academic kid. Yeah, as an academic kid. You know this tournament, 5-6 tournament was one of the most important tournaments and then to go to Delhi to perform against these big guns like when Tima Okeri was there all these big players only two foreigners were allowed to play in those days. But when we got into the final in the Durand Cup against East Bengal you should see that those fans and that was in 1995. If 5-96-97 when I went from East Bengal and won against Mahindra I remember the year 1997-98 that the fans were big and the supporters they used to come of course for Indian team we always had the best support in Delhi but whenever the club sides play now we don't get much but in those days when like my work said when Mohammedan's play you will see full crowd Mohan Bagan, East Bengal and any team for us that was the biggest thing ever. Tima Okeri also reminds me that I think he had a super performance in the Durand Cup that basically elevated him into the and gave him a... So Sunil's story is also the same he was playing qualifiers for city football club Tima Okeri saw him journey started there spoken to Mohan Bagan and from there we all know what his trajectory has been like. I need you got a memory bro from watching in the stands when was the first time I watched was Stephen Stephen of JCT a very tall Stephen he was a great player yeah there must be 1997-98 1996-98 I think when he was in JCT I was in East Bengal and he was one of the best player they used to have a like a square cardboard ticket which lasts really long and I still have that ticket I remember where I got Jopal and I am to sign and nobody saw it so as kids you could go on to the pitch meet the players shake hands even for a couple of push passes feel really excited about yourself I remember asking Soso after one final which he was with Churchill at the time I think he lost to Mahindra if I am not wrong and then he chucked me his jersey over that you know there is a green sort of metal fence that surrounds the bank the stadium keeps the crowd away from the pitch so lots of memories the old tournaments old teams old rivalries being reignited these are good things these are things that promote the culture of the sport and help young people connect with what has been happening in Indian football over now what is this 130 years almost so I am really happy to have this tournament back it is the oldest cup competition in Asia and the third oldest in the world anyone who says that India doesn't have a control now let's talk about revival and it is always good to see that but now if they want to compete with the best leagues they have to be way more organized you guys were talking about what was the facilities when we played during the cup where we used to stay and all look at all the ISL team and where they are staying now so to compete with this we are talking about 25 years back and now the players are so comfortable they have to worry about their performance but in those days we have to take care of everything ourselves so now the office the organizers have to be way more organized than what it was all due respect they were one of the best tournament ever for us but now they have to compete with the best one since we are talking about Durant memories the first memory from Durant when we were young kids we went to Ambedkar stadium to watch the match, East Bengal is playing and I fell in love with Joe Paul and Cherry with the way he was playing and after the match I went into the field like Cezanne said there was no barricade or anything and I said Joe Bhai hi I play in Delhi, I am also a young guy looking to play football and all can I have your jersey please because we have seen European football and here there are jersey and exchange didn't you get any jersey? one jersey we used to get when Joe Paul was giving you that jersey poor guy had nothing to wear so now but gone are those days players are getting 10-15 jerseys but see now there is one jersey and you put it and next they put it difficult things but those were the days so even after the match match is happening in the room that's the extra time extra time cool down cool down that was a good time man much respect and love to all of you that you became football players despite all of that with all of those things happening and none of those diva type behaviors now take my clothes iron it it was you and you yourself responsible for everything but you need to learn a lot also and you have seen the worst days and you have seen the good days no complain that was one of the best days honesty thank you so much as we were looking back at the Durand Cup it was a pleasure talking to you as well we were reminiscing about the good times that the Durand has given to all of us reminiscing about the good times given to each and every Indian football fan thank you so much for watching goodbye