Vinay Kumar
On Thursday, the oldest football tournament in Asia saw its newest competitors script a memorable win on debut at the Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal.FC Raengdai, the third Manipur club at the 135th edition of the Durand Cup, defeated last year’s quarterfinalists, Indian Navy Football Team, with a solitary goal in their Group D fixture and making a winning start to their campaign.Founded in 2022 by a group of football enthusiasts from Zeliangrongpui community, Raengdei announced their arrival in the historic tournament – in front of fans in the Manipur capital – when super-sub Khaidem Amarjit Singh kicked in the decisive goal in the 58th minute of the game.“Football is as much about belief as it is about ability. Today, the difference was the faith this team had in each other,” Raengdai coach Kshetrimayum Birbal Singh told TOI after the win.“The boys trusted the work they’ve put in, they stayed together through every moment of the game and they never lost belief. That’s why we came away with the result and I’m very proud of every single one of them.While both teams had their chances in the match, it was only in the second half that saw a double substitution from the coach – introducing Laishram Bikramjit Singh and Amarjit — that the debutants got the breakthrough.Novin Gurung, the last man in defence for Indian Navy, was dispossessed by Mridul Doley, who drove into the penalty area. Although the advancing goalkeeper brought Doley down, the loose ball rolled kindly into the path of substitute Amarjit, who completed the simplest of tap-ins into an empty net to seal a 1-0 victory and score Raengdai’s first-ever goal in the Durand Cup.
