16 teams vie for glory from Feb 23
BENGALURU: The Stafford Challenge Cup, part of Indian football's history since 1938, will return to enthral fans after three decades with the Karnataka State Football Association (KSFA) on Tuesday announcing the revival of the prestigious tournament last held in 1993.
In 1990, the Iraq Olympic team won the title but never returned the silver rolling trophy, donated by the St affordshire Regiment, to the organizers. Two more editions of the tournament were held with Mohd Sporting, Kolkata (1991) and ITI Sports Club (1993) lifting the new Cup before the tournament was shelved.
"Since we lost the original trophy, we are planning to make a new silver rolling trophy to be presented in the coming years. This year's winner will get a new trophy and a prize money of Rs 2. 5 lakh," KSFA president NA Haris told reporters here.
CUP LOST AFTER GULF WAR
Veteran sports administrator and former national referee MR Ranganath said the previous committees of KSFA tried their best to bring the trophy back but didn't succeed. "The Iraqi team took the tr ophy away promising they will return it, but never did. The KSFA tried their best to get it with the help of the Indian embassy in Baghdad but nothing worked. The efforts proved futile following the Gulf war," Ranganath told TOI.
The new edition of the tournament will kick off at the Bangalore Football Stadium on February 23 with the final slated on March 4.
"Sixteen teams, in cluding local teams, 2nd division I-league teams and reserve sides of ISL and I-league will be in action. The winners of the four groups will advance to the semifinals," KSFA general secretary M Satyanarayan said.
