Durand Cup 2023: What to expect from Group C

Durand Cup's group C comprises defending champions Bengaluru FC.

The 2023-24 football season is almost upon us and India is ready to kick off a fresh season with the 2023 Durand Cup acting as the season opener for all the teams. Asia’s oldest football tournament is all set to return for its 132nd edition come August 3.

This year the tourney has a new host city in Assam’s Kokrajhar alongside last season’s hosts Guwahati and Kolkata. The tournament will consist of six groups of four teams each, including two foreign teams this year. The 2023-24 football season is expected to be one of the most competitive seasons ever in the history of Indian Football.

On that note, we take a look at what to expect from Group C of the 2023 Durand Cup.

Group C consists of defending champions Bengaluru FC, I-League giants Gokulam Kerala FC, Indian Air Force and three time ISL runners-up Kerala Blasters.

Strengths

Bengaluru FC are undoubtedly the strongest team in Group C given the quality and quantity of talent that they house. The Blues have made a lot of significant changes in their team which can prove to be very effective. They let go of Roy Krishna, Sandesh Jhingan, Prabir Das, Udanta Singh and a few more players.

And to replace the departures, the club has announced the arrivals of Slavko Damjanovic, Curtis Main, Halicharan Narzary, Jessel Carneiro and Rohit Danu among others. Fans should expect them to go all out to defend their crown with their main strength being their new signings who have a proven track record.

Gokulam Kerala on the other hand, will be keen to begin a new chapter on a good note under their new manager Domingo Oramas. Gokulam’s strength will purely be their frontline who were at the top of their game  last season.

And now with the addition of former Bengaluru FC man Nili Perdomo, the Malabarians look even more stronger. Moreover, they have retained their core which will surely prove to be an advantage for them moving forward.

Kerala Blasters are no less either. The Blasters do look a bit inferior on paper because of a lot of key departures but they are a very good side on the pitch. They have strengthened their backline with the signings of Pritam Kotal and Prabir Das. They have faced tough circumstances before as well but their ability to fight back stronger is what stands out the most. 

Weaknesses

Bengaluru FC have let go of their defensive stalwart in Sandesh Jhingan who was their leader at the back last season. The club has brought in a good replacement in Slavko Damjanovic to fill in Jhingan’s absence but can he settle in well from get go will be a matter of concern for the Blues.

Gokulam Kerala’s biggest test right now would be how well and quickly can they adapt to their manager’s system. Domingo Oramas is the only head coach in the group who will make his debut in Indian Football. So, it would be a big challenge for him as well to live up to everyone’s expectations, especially after the club had a trophyless 2022-23 season.

But the club that are expected to face the most number of consequences in Group C are Kerala Blasters. They have let go of a lot of key players who formed their core, including their poster boy Sahal Abdul Samad. 

The Blasters have also let go of their Golden Glove winner Prabhsukhan Gill alongside Harmanjot Khabra and Victor Mongil. Moreover, a long-term injury to their star striker Jaushua Sotirio has made things worse. There’s too much to handle for the Kochi-based outfit.

Favourites to qualify

Bengaluru FC are undoubtedly the front-runners to qualify to the knockouts from this group because they have what it takes to go beyond the group stage. The Blues are the defending champions and have an added motivation to go the distance yet again.

Moreover, their new reinforcements and head coach Simon Grayson’s highly motivating track record in the Durand Cup will surely have a big role to play.