GUWAHATI: Nepal's prestigious football club, Tribhuvan Army Football Club, has arrived in Guwahati to participate in the historic 132nd Durand Cup 2023, becoming the first of two foreign teams to land on Indian shores for the renowned tournament.
The 42-member squad, led by Lt. Col. Basanta Raj Gurung (Retd), received a grand ceremonial welcome at a five-star city hotel upon their arrival. The team will be captained by seasoned international player Nawayug Shrestha, who boasts eight career goals for Nepal in 43 international matches.
The squad was airlifted from their base in Nepal by an Indian Air Force plane and brought to Guwahati. From here, they will head to Kokrajhar for their first game at the newly built SAI stadium, where they will face the newly promoted I-League side Delhi FC on August 9.
Tribhuvan Army FC has been placed in Group E, competing against formidable Indian Super League (ISL) teams, Hyderabad FC and Chennaiyin FC, besides Delhi FC. The winners of each of the six groups, along with the two best second-placed sides, will progress to the last eight stage of the prestigious tournament.
Expressing his thoughts on their arrival, Shrestha said, "It is a great honour for us to participate in this prestigious tournament, and we look forward to giving our best on the field."
The 132nd Durand Cup will commence with the opening ceremony and the first game between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Bangladesh Army Football Team on August 3 at Kolkata's Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. Afterward, the action will shift to Guwahati, where the local ISL team North East United FC will lock horns with Shillong Lajong FC in an exciting North-East Derby, marking the start of the Group D matches.
Following their first game, the Nepal side will return to Guwahati, as most of their subsequent fixtures are scheduled at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, which will also host the majority of Group D and E games.
The Durand Cup holds immense significance in India's football history and culture, being Asia's oldest and the world's third-oldest football tournament. Its inaugural edition took place in Shimla in 1888 when it was known as the Army Cup.