Shimla-the birthplace of the Durand Cup and the Indian Air Force ...

Taking Durand
to new heights
Maj Gen Manvender Singh, AVSM, VSM, GOC Delhi Area and Chairman Durand Football
Tournament Society in an exclusive interview with Atul Bhardwaj and Col (Retd) RS Ratra, spoke
at length about rejuvenating Durand to its past glory and his plans to take it to a much higher level
and give the sport its due, that will no doubt enthuse football fans in India
Last year the Durand Cup faced some problems, how did you
manage to save it from becoming extinct?
There was no trouble in conducting the tournament, barring
the fact that the financial outlay was not readily available.
Being a part of the uniformed community it is difficult for us
to chase sponsors to raise money. It’s not easy for us to go out
and ask for money. Yet we made an effort, but there were not
many sponsors forthcoming to support this national sporting
event. We tried our level best to generate funds through various
government agencies, also through corporate bodies, armed
forces, and para military forces. We did get some assistance but
that support was not adequate. No help came from the corporate
sector. So to that extent we did encounter a little problem last
year. We ran the tournament on a shoe string budget, cutting
down the frills, and the entire money was raised by the Indian
Army.
What are the challenges of organizing a sports event at a national
level?
The cost of running the tournament of such magnitude is very
high. Our main aim is promote football and a sports culture in
the country. The Durand football is free for people to watch and
enjoy, and hence we do not generate any revenues through
gate money. Booking the stadium is not costly and the Delhi
government has been supportive in giving us the dates that
we want. But electricity tariff bills with respect to flood lights
are very high. The matches have to be played in the evening to
ensure that maximum crowds get an opportunity to watch them
after their office hours. This year we are better prepared, and
8 July 2011 purple beret
from this year onwards we intend to take the tournament to a
much higher level.
What help are you seeking from government agencies?
We are getting all the support from government agencies. Soon
I will be meeting the sports minister Mr Ajay Maken too. But we
are not banking on government support alone.
What is the scale at which the Durand Cup is being organized
this year?
After the experience of last year, I sat with my team and analyzed
the entire system. Although complete support is extended by
the All India Football Federation (AIFF) I felt that there was a
need to change the method in which Durand football was being
conducted for the last 61 years. We also understood that any
good sporting activity if not backed by solid financial resources
loses its appeal not only to those watching it but more so to
those who are playing in it. Therefore the first change was
the decision to approach the issue of raising money in a more
professional manner.
Secondly, it was thought that the tournament cannot continue
to be run on a low scale. We needed to scale up the appeal of the
tournament or else its impact would be lost. Over the past two
decades the tournament has been successively losing its sheen.
Clubs had been coming to participate in the tournament paying
for their expenses themselves and players too were not getting
anything from us for their effort.