Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC to debut in Durand Cup, begins campaign on July 27

DIPHU/IMPHAL — Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC (KAMSFC), a professional club from Karbi Anglong that has earned promotion to the I-League 2 for the 2025–2026 season, is in Kokrajhar to compete in the 134th edition of the Durand Cup, Asia’s oldest football tournament.

The tournament, held at various venues including Kolkata, Shillong, Jamshedpur, Kokrajhar, and Imphal, commenced on July 23. KAMSFC is the second club from Assam, after Bodoland FC, to participate in the prestigious tournament.

The Durand Cup 2025 features 24 teams from the Indian Super League (ISL), I-League, and Armed Forces. The 24 teams have been divided into six groups of four teams each. Every team will face the others in their group in a single round-robin match during the pool stage.

Also read: Durand Cup 2025: East Bengal score five to ease past South United FC in opener

KAMSFC is placed in Group D alongside ISL team Punjab FC, Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force Football Team (ITBP FT), and Bodoland FC. All Group D league matches will be played at the SAI Stadium, Kokrajhar.

The club will start their group league campaign on July 27 against ITBP FT. Then, on July 30, they will face the host team, Bodoland FC, and on August 3, they will play against ISL team Punjab FC.

Ahead of the tournament, the KAMSFC boys had a practice session at Waisong Stadium of the Dongkamukam Sports Association (DSA), Dongkamukam. Before leaving for Kokrajhar, they played a friendly match against the boys of DSA on the evening of July 23 at DSA Waisong Stadium.

During the friendly match played against the DSA team, KAMSFC manager Waisong Bey, speaking in front of the crowd, narrated the formation of the club, its successes, and preparation for the Durand Cup.

He said the club was born on November 8, 2008, with a humble beginning playing in local tournaments. The club’s founders were Mukul Kathar (founding president), George Rongpi (general secretary), Miji Kro (chief administrator), and many more members, sowing the seeds of what is now one of Assam’s most promising football outfits. It started winning trophies in Greater Diphu Sports Association (GDSA) club leagues, then KASA club leagues, and the CEM Gold Cup. The club won the Assam State Premier League (ASPL) in the 2015 and 2023–2024 seasons.

Having won the ASPL twice, KAMSFC qualified through the AIFF to play in the I-League 3 in the 2023–2024 season. The club is now qualified to play in the I-League 2 for the 2025–2026 season. It will be the first club from Assam to play in the AIFF official tournament I-League, Bey said.

Bey emphasised the importance of developing professional football, explaining that it means living and breathing the sport. He stated that this should be the ambition of every professional football player. He highlighted the need to produce players capable of playing anywhere, whether domestically or abroad.

According to him, professional footballers earn their living through football. He also mentioned that the club has four foreign players who have travelled from abroad solely to play football.

Bey expressed that winning and losing are parts of every game that cannot be denied. He said they had a good practice session at the DSA ground and are confident of performing well in the Durand Cup.

Players such as Harbamon Timung, Komolson Rongphar—the club’s own academy-produced defender—Mukesh Timung, Malongkiri Tisso as striker, and Gojen Timung, Sumon Teron, and Gojen Hanse, the ASPL best goalkeeper winner, will be seen playing for the club.

After the friendly match, the club’s home and away jerseys were also released by Dongkamukam Town Municipal Board Chairman Telisram Ronghang, club chief administrator Miji Kro, general secretary Bikram Teron, manager Waisong Bey, and others.

Imphal leg from July 30

Meanwhile, the Imphal leg will feature Group F, comprising four teams: TRAU FC, NEROCA FC, Indian Navy Football Team, and Real Kashmir FC. The group stage will commence on July 30 with a derby between local heavyweights TRAU FC and NEROCA FC.

The Durand Cup returns to Manipur after a two-year gap at the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal. The tournament’s return holds added significance as the region was severely affected by floods last year.

Khuman Lampak Stadium has been fully restored. From the pitch to facilities and logistics, all aspects have been meticulously prepared to ensure a world-class experience for players and spectators alike.

It may be noted that the 134th Durand Cup trophy tour had already arrived in Imphal on July 10.