KSFA to revive Stafford Cup after 3 decades

by Ayan Abdulla February 4, 2023

The Stafford Challenge Cup, which is an important part of Indian football history since 1938, is all set to return after 30 long years as the Karnataka State Football Association (KSFA) announced its relaunch.

The new edition of the tournament is scheduled to be held from February 23 to March 4, with all matches set to be played at the Bangalore Football Stadium.

16 clubs are slated to take part in the knockout tournament and the teams will be divided into four groups. The winners of the four groups will advance to the semifinals.

The last two editions before the tournament was discontinued were played in 1993 and 1991 where Mohammedan Sporting Club and ITI Sports Club were crowned as the champions.

The Iraq Olympic Team who won the tournament in 1990, never returned the silver rolling trophy, donated by the Staffordshire regiment, to the organizers. It is said that the Iraqi team promised to return the trophy while taking it away, but never did. Efforts to retrieve the trophy through the Indian Embassy in Iraq went in vain due to the Gulf war. Hence, this forced the KSFA to make a new trophy to be awarded in the next two editions. It is also reported that the KSFA is planning to make a new silver rolling trophy to be presented in the coming years.

16 teams participating in the tournament divided into four groups

Group A

FC Bengaluru United
MEG and Centre FC
Dempo FC
International FC Punjab

Group B

Roots FC
Mohammedam Sports Club
Gokulam Kerala FC
PIFA Sports FC

Group C

Bengaluru FC
Kenkre FC
Sreenidhi Deccan FC
Delhi FC

Group D

Kickstart FC
Chennayin FC
ARA FC
Kerala United

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