‘Jamshedpur is not just an industrial city, it’s a football city’

Jamshedpur, July 21: As the Durand Cup returns, JSA veterans reflect on how the historic tournament shines a national spotlight on local football culture.

Jamshedpur’s football legacy is taking centre stage once again, as the iconic Durand Cup returns to the JRD Tata Sports Complex for the second time. For a city that has lived and breathed football for over eight decades, this is more than just a tournament, it’s recognition of a community’s deep-rooted love for the game.

Victor Somaya, Chairman of the Selection and Technical Committee at JSA, sees the Durand Cup as a timely tribute. “It’s a matter of great pride, especially as JSA marks its 80th year,” he said. “The entire football community in India can now see that Jamshedpur isn’t just about steel. It’s a sports city with top-class facilities and the country’s first residential football academy.”

Since 1945, the Jamshedpur Sporting Association has been the beating heart of local football. Long before the ISL came calling, and before Tata Football Academy (TFA) became a national model for youth development, JSA clubs were playing matches in packed maidans and nurturing talent that would one day shine across India.

That journey has only grown stronger since Jamshedpur FC’s arrival in the Indian Super League. “Jamshedpur FC has transformed the city’s footballing landscape,” said Surendra Bahadur Singh, Chairman of JSA’s Referee Committee. “With its own stadium, world-class facilities, and professional setup, the club has taken the legacy forward. But this foundation was laid long before by TFA and JSA.”

The connection between past and present is clear. TFA alumni like Noel Wilson, Clifford Miranda, and players like Udanta Singh, Nikhil Barla and Aniket Jadhav now hold key roles in Indian football, and carry Jamshedpur’s legacy with them.

Hosting the Durand Cup, Singh believes, will energize the next wave of local talent. “It’s a meeting of two legacies, the Durand Cup and the JSA. Tournaments like this give local kids real inspiration and a clear path to professional football.”

For the clubs playing in the JSA League, the message is simple, that football here isn’t just a sport, it’s part of the identity.

The Durand Cup will see Jamshedpur FC play all their group stage matches at home, with the first game scheduled for 24 July against Tribhuvan Army FT, then Indian Army FT on 29 July, and 1Ladakh FC on 8 August. The entry for matches are free and fans can collect it from the Box Office setup at the JRD Tata Sports Complex.