7 months ago
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At a clip erstwhile Indian shot is seeking a extremist overhaul, the Super Cup, starting successful Fatroda from Saturday (October 25, 2025), could enactment arsenic a catalyst for clubs to physique their teams, hole their players, get invaluable lucifer time, and support their hopes of continental qualifications alive.
Traditionally held astatine the extremity of the play successful Bhubaneswar, the Super Cup has been moved to Goa this clip arsenic a play opener to supply ISL clubs with competitory enactment amid the uncertainty implicit home calendar owed to unresolved issues betwixt the All India Football Federation and its commercialized partners.
The tourney kicks disconnected with Kolkata's 2 heavyweights successful enactment successful Group A.
East Bengal unfastened their run against Dempo SC astatine the GMC Stadium, Bambolim, portion aboriginal successful the evening astatine the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, Mohun Bagan, caller from winning the IFA Shield, look Chennaiyin FC.
Across the tournament, 16 teams (12 from the ISL but Odisha FC and 4 from the I-League) are divided into 4 groups, with the radical winners advancing to the semifinals. The last is scheduled connected November 22.
The Super Cup champions volition gain a spot successful the preliminary signifier of the AFC Champions League Two, making aboriginal wins captious for Indian clubs aft a descent successful AFC rankings.
The tourney is happening successful the backdrop of the men's nationalist team's aboriginal elimination from some the Asian Cup and World Cup qualifiers.
In specified a scenario, the AIFF would anticipation that the tourney revitalises the calendar.
Mohammedan Sporting's struggles
All eyes would beryllium connected Mohammedan Sporting, a 134-year-old Kolkata club, arsenic they participate the tourney with their reserve squad.
Burdened with debts of astir Rs 17 crore, a three-window FIFA transportation ban, and dwindling capitalist interest, the club's endurance is shrouded successful doubt.
Despite the crisis, president Amiruddin Bobby remains cautiously optimistic.
"We are trying our champion to assistance the ban. The fees would beryllium astir Rs 10–11 crore. The remainder has to spell towards paying vendors and pending salaries," Bobby told PTI.
"Bunkerhill volition stay connected board, but caller stock arrangements are being worked out. We are besides successful talks with caller investors, and hopefully, it volition beryllium finalised by October 28." "The squad has already left; we've made each the edifice bookings and afloat signifier arrangements. Payment entries are astir finalised, and by the 31st, we anticipation to wide the dues." "Since we are incapable to motion caller players, we are going up with the developmental squad. Zero se hullo leader banta hai. You don't play ISL oregon the apical league from time 1 -- each large players travel done the grassroots only," helium added.
The prohibition and fiscal strain mean Mohammedan Sporting volition trust connected a young, inexperienced squad that has played lone successful the Calcutta League and Durand Cup, adding intrigue to their Super Cup campaign.
They volition look Bengaluru FC successful their opening Group C crippled connected October 30 astatine the Nehru Stadium.
Chhetri last hurray
Another cardinal storyline is the imaginable swansong of Sunil Chhetri, India's grounds goalscorer.
The 41-year-old Bengaluru FC forward, who returned from planetary status successful March, has yet to people successful competitory matches this year.
With nary clarity connected the ISL season, the Super Cup whitethorn service arsenic his last tourney arsenic helium would look to bow retired connected a high.
Defending champions FC Goa, nether Manolo Marquez, volition purpose to capitalise connected location advantage, portion Sporting Club Delhi (formerly Hyderabad FC) would question a beardown commencement nether manager Tomasz Tchórz.
The tourney besides features yet different Kolkata derby this season. Bitter foes Mohun Bagan and East Bengal volition conscionable for a 4th clip erstwhile they clash swords connected October 31.
In their past meeting, their 3rd this season, Mohun Bagan downed East Bengal connected penalties to triumph the IFA Shield crown past Saturday.
East Bengal FC volition measurement onto the tract aft participating successful 2 pre-season tournaments, having reached the semi-finals of the Durand Cup and the finals of the IFA Shield.
They volition look an all-Indian Dempo SC.
"I judge that our players are up to the situation and amusement that we tin this twelvemonth vie with the champion Indian clubs," caput manager Óscar Bruzon said.
I-League broadside Dempo SC were drafted into the Super Cup successful spot of Real Kashmir FC, who pulled retired owed to the deficiency of visas for their overseas players.
While that gave them a abbreviated span of clip to hole their team, caput manager Samir Naik seemed acceptable to instrumentality connected the challenges that prevarication up for his side.
"It is decidedly a situation to hole the squad successful a abbreviated span of time, but the boys person done rather well. We person worked connected definite things, and we are ready," said Naik.
Having withdrawn from ACL-2 for 2 consecutive seasons, Mohun Bagan faced the fans' ire, which was somewhat eased by their IFA Shield triumph.
Head manager Jose Molina volition present beryllium aiming for different rubric to further appease the supporters.
Chennaiyin FC, connected the different hand, person brought an all-Indian broadside to the competition.
"They whitethorn not beryllium foreigners, but they volition beryllium beardown and we request to beryllium astatine our champion to bushed them," said Molina.
Groupings Group A: Mohun Bagan SG, Chennaiyin FC, East Bengal FC, Real Kashmir FC Group B: FC Goa, Jamshedpur FC, NorthEast United FC, Inter Kashi Group C: Bengaluru FC, Mohammedan Sporting Club, Punjab FC, Gokulam Kerala FC Group D: Mumbai City FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Hyderabad FC, Rajasthan United FC.
