Six I-League teams to test mettle in Durand Cup

By OUR CORRESPONDENT

New Delhi

With Kolkata clubs missing from action in the 121st Durand Cup football, the six I-League teams are up in arms for a place in the last four as the quarterfinal round of the oldest football tournament in the country begins here from Thursday.

For defending champions Churchill Brothers and runners-up Mahindra United, it will be an ideal platform to prepare for next month’s second edition of the I-League. Other four teams who will fight it out in the I-League are Air India, JCT, Sporting Clube de Goa and Mumbai FC.

Tata Football Academy and Army XI were the last two teams to make it to the quarterfinals and complete the line-up.

JCT and Air India are worst hit in the transfer market. JCT lost star striker Sunil Chhetri and Renedy Singh while Air India saw talented defender Nirmal Chhetri and winger Sanju Pradhan depart.

But in Sukhwinder Singh and Bimal Ghosh, JCT and Air India have two experienced campaigners and the will to see through difficult times. "We have got adequate replacements to deal with those who left," said Ghosh.

For Mahindra United though, a lot hinges on the availability of India players Steven Dias and N.P. Pradeep. Both are contracted to the Mumbai club till next season but have already entered into agreements with East Bengal.