NAGPUR footballers’ talent is being recognised in the country. If Asheer Akhtar has been retained by NorthEast United for another year and will be playing the Durand Cup, two other footballers from the Orange City, in all probability, will be seen playing India’s oldest and prestigious football tournament, this season. Apart from Asheer, who will be donning NorthEast United jersey, Vasu Kanojiya and Rashid Ansari, will be representing Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) football team in this edition’s Durand Cup starting July 27. “The CISF team has been invited for Asia’s oldest tournament this season. We have been pitted against Kerala Blasters FC, Mumbai City FC and Punjab FC in Group C and will be playing our league matches in Kolkata,” said Vasu Kanojiya from Delhi. Asheer’s NorthEast United are placed in Group E and will play their matches against Odisha FC, Bodoland FC and BSF at Kokrajhar. “Last year, we lost the semis but this season we are determined to move a step further,” Asheer confidently told ‘The Hitavada’ from Guwahati where the team is preparing for the 133rd edition of the tournament. Vasu Kanojiya is a former Rahul Sankrutyayan Club’s midfielder and has joined CISF in 2022.

 

Twice he has represented Maharashtra in the Santosh Trophy National Championship. “We are ready to take part in the most prestigious tournament of Asia,” said head constable Vasu, who has also led Nagpur University football team in the past. Rashid, an assistant subinspector in CISF, is a senior player and has joined CISF way back in 2015. He played for Nagpur Football Club (NFC) in the NDFA Elite Division leagues. The midfielder has helped NFC win the NDFA league twice in 2010 and 2011. Durand Cup will feature a total of 43 matches with Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s taking on Downtown Heroes FC in the opening encounter at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.