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Indian Super League side Hyderabad FC will kick off their campaign in the 130th edition of the prestigious Durand Cup with a clash against Assam Rifles Football Team on September 12 at the Mohun Bagan Ground in Kolkata.
Hyderabad FC who will be making their debut in the historic competition will also be up against 2019 winners and defending champions Gokulam Kerala FC and then Army Red in Group D.
Back in Kolkata after a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the 2021 edition of the Durand Cup which kicks off on September 5, is the world’s third oldest and Asia’s oldest existing football tournament. This year it will be played across three venues in Kolkata – Mohun Bagan Ground, Saltlake Stadium and Kalyani Stadium.
The Hyderabad FC squad that will participate in the tournament will consist of a mixture of first-team players along with youngsters from Hyderabad FC’s reserve side. First Team assistant coach and technical director (Youth) Thangboi Singto alongside Reserve Team head coach Shameel Chembakath will lead the team during the competition in Kolkata. The players have already been in training under the duo’s supervision for the past one week in preparation of the competition ahead.
Hyderabad FC will be one of five ISL clubs alongside FC Goa, Bengaluru FC, Kerala Blasters and Jamshedpur FC, which will participate in this year’s competition. Joining them are three I-League clubs, two Second Division League sides and six teams that represent the Indian Services. The 16 teams are divided into four groups with the top two teams qualifying for the knockout stages of the competition.
After their opener against Assam Rifles (Sep 12), Hyderabad FC will take on Gokulam Kerala (Sep 16) at Kalyani before facing Army Red (Sep 19) at the Saltlake Stadium.
Group D – Fixtures
Match 1 – 12/09/2021: Assam Rifles vs. Hyderabad FC – Mohun Bagan Ground
Match 2 – 16/09/2021: Gokulam Kerala FC vs. Hyderabad FC – Kalyani Stadium
Match 3 – 19/09/2021: Army Red vs. Hyderabad FC – Saltlake Stadium
All games will kick off at 3pm IST
