The revived Bandodkar Memorial Trophy is set to be played in a revamped new format in 2024. This will be the 23rd edition of the trophy, hosted by the Goa Football Association, featuring eight clubs including Indian teams and international invitees. Chennaiyin FC, Odisha FC and FC Goa are the ISL sides competing in the tournament joined by Churchill Brothers and Dempo SC from the I-League, a representative from the Goa Professional League and two foreign clubs in Brisbane Roar from the A-League Men and Defensa y Justicia from the Argentine Primera División. Despite the competition being treated as a pre-season, all teams will field their full-strength squad.
The teams are divided into two groups with the matches starting from 24 August 2024. Group A consists of defending champions FC Goa, record winners Dempo SC, the qualified team from the state league and three-time A-League champions Brisbane Roar. Meanwhile, two more ISL sides Chennaiyin FC and Odisha FC will join the Argentinian side Defensa y Justicia and Churchill Brothers in Group B. The group winners and runners-up will qualify for the semifinal stage on 3rd September 2024. The final of the 2024 Bandodkar Trophy will be held three days later on September 6, 2024. All the matches will be played at the Farorda Stadium.
History
The Bandodkar Trophy, currently known as the Bhausaheb Bandodkar Memorial Trophy and previously known as the Bandodkar Gold Trophy, is the first major cup competition hosted by Goa under then Chief Minister Dayanand Bandodkar. Top clubs from Goa participate in the competition along with teams from other Indian states and abroad. The inaugural edition held in 1970 was won by the Leaders Club from Jalandhar, defeating Salgaocar in the final. Dempo SC are the record winners with eight titles while Salgaocar was the last winner in 1992 before the tournament took a long pause. It was restarted in 2016 and again in 2023 with teams playing their reserve squads. The reserve side of FC Goa won the last edition defeating Kerala Blasters reserve side on penalties in the final.
Teams
Dempo (I-League, India)
The most successful side of the Bandodkar Trophy is Dempo SC with eight titles to their name. The Golden Eagles won the first trophy in 1976 after failing in their previous attempts of 1973 and 1975. They are the only side to have won the trophy four in a row from 1982 to 1986 making them undisputed kings. A familiar name in Indian football, Dempo’s last honor in the competition came in 1991. After a gap of nine years, the team has managed to climb back to the I-League and reflecting their royalty in the Bandodkar Trophy will be an ideal way to mark their return.
FC Goa (ISL, India)
FC Goa are the team carrying the flag of Goan football with several successes since the franchise was founded in 2014. The Gaurs became the first team to win the ISL League Shield in 2018 before winning the Super Cup the next year and adding the historical Durand Cup in 2021. The team also came close to winning the Shield for the second time last season. Manolo Marquez’s side are the defending champions of the Bandodkar Trophy 2024 albeit with a reserve squad. A successful defence of the title with elite clubs competing this time will send a statement ahead of the new season.
Chennaiyin FC (ISL, India)
One of the three ISL sides participating in the tournament, Chennaiyin FC will hope to make their mark having struggled in previous seasons. The two-time ISL Cup winners have not been influential since reaching the league final in 2019–20. However, the team managed to qualify for the playoffs after a three-year absence with the return of their much-loved head coach Owen Coyle last season. Chennaiyin FC will wish to build on that to make a promising display in the Bandodkar Trophy and for the competitive season starting next month.
Brisbane Roar (A-League, Australia)
The most eye-catching name of this edition is the foreign invitee Brisbane Roar from A-League who are bringing their first team to Goa for their pre-season. The Lions are three-time winners of the Australian League Men's Championship and two-time holders of the Premiership dominating an era from 2010-2014. Managed by former player Ruben Anton Zadkovich, the team certainly are the favourites to win this trophy with the squad having a lot of A-League experience and talents with international exposure.
Defensa y Justicia (Primera División, Argentina)
The second team from abroad invited to the Bandodkar Trophy is Defensa y Justicia. The club competes in the top-tier league of Argentina, the Primera División. Nicknamed El Halcón, the team is the oldest member in the competition founded in 1935 almost 89 years ago. The side gained its promotion to the top flight of Argentinian football for the first time in 2014 and has not been relegated since. Defensa y Justicia won their first international title in the form of Copa Sudamericana in 2021 and are bringing vast amounts of experience with them to Goa.
Churchill Brothers (I-League, India)
One of the four Goan clubs in the mix, Churchill Brothers will aim to win the Bandodkar Trophy for the first time. The Red Machines carry a rich legacy with them having won the Indian top-tier league five times, the Durand Cup three times, eight times the state leagues and twice the IFA Shield. Their last major silverware was the Federation Cup in 2013-14. The team wishes for an impactful pre-season to prepare for an intense upcoming I-League season.
Odisha FC (ISL, India)
The 2023 Indian Super Cup winners Odisha FC will hope to have a dream run under Sergio Lobera once again. The Juggernauts had a revolutionary campaign last time, finishing in the top four of the ISL and reaching consecutive finals in the Super Cup. Additionally, the team reached the knockout stage of the AFC Cup in their debut season. With the core of their squad intact, Odisha FC are confident to make the new season a memorable one starting with this trophy.
Sporting Club de Goa (GPL, India)
Sporting Club de Goa qualified for the Bandodkar Trophy 2024 coming through the playoffs. The Flaming Orange beat Clube de Salgaocar in the last game of the final qualifier to achieve qualification. Another prominent name in the Goan football circuit, Sporting Club de Goa won the state league seven times including last season. They also ended as runners-up in the 2004-05 I-League season. Sporting Club de Goa will hope to add more than just numbers here after a fruitful qualifying campaign.
Groups & Fixtures
Group A
FC Goa
Brisbane Roar
Dempo
Sporting Club de Goa
Fixtures
24 August 2024
FC Goa vs SC Goa (16:00)
Dempo SC vs Brisbane Roar (19:00)
27 August 2024
SC Goa vs Dempo (16:00)
Brisbane Roar vs FC Goa (19:00)
30 August 2024
Brisbane Roar vs SC Goa (16:00)
Dempo SC vs FC Goa (19:00)
Group B
Odisha FC
Chennaiyin FC
Defensa y Justicia
Churchill Brothers
Fixtures
25 August 2024
Churchill Brothers vs Chennaiyin FC (16:00)
Odisha FC vs Defensa y Justicia (19:00)
28 August 2024
Defensa y Justicia vs Churchill Brothers (16:00)
Odisha FC vs Chennaiyin FC (19:00)
31 August 2024
Churchill Brothers vs Odisha FC (16:00)
Chennaiyin FC vs Defensa y Justicia (19:00)
Knockout Stage
Semi-finals
3 September 2024
Semi-final 1: Winners Group A vs Runners-up Group B
Semi-final 2: Winners Group B vs Runners-up Group A
Final
6 September 2024
Winner SF 1 vs Winner SF 2
