With 1,400 teams and over 21,000 male and female footballers, the inaugural CIL Cup is creating a powerful new grassroots pathway for Indian football.

Kolkata, September 12: Coal India is doing something bigger on the ground of Indian football. From being associated with the historic Durand Cup to participating in the legendary Calcutta Football League, Coal India’s involvement in the sport noticeably in football has continued to grow. Now, with the inaugural CIL Cup, that vision has reached the grassroots, bringing together thousands of male and female footballers and several teams from across West Bengal, with a bright vision for the future of Indian football.

Coal India’s association with Indian football is not new. But with the inaugural CIL Cup, its focus appears to be reaching much deeper, towards the grassroots.

The CIL Cup is a major grassroots football initiative supported by Coal India, bringing together 1,400 teams, more than 1,302 matches and over 21,000 male and female footballers across West Bengal. The idea is not just to create another competition, but to give young players the opportunity to play regularly, gain match experience and showcase their potential.

What makes the tournament more significant is its focus on creating a pathway beyond the competition itself. At the end of the CIL Cup, 50–100 promising players will be recommended to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for scholarships, giving them a potential opportunity to continue their football development.

The tournament will eventually move towards the zonal stage, followed by the semi-finals and final in Purulia in the last week of October. With ₹10 lakh in total prize money, the CIL Cup has brought together a large footballing community while also creating a platform for talent identification.

United India Football Club sealed their place in the women’s zonal stage with a convincing 2–0 win over SBSSFA in the South Kolkata leg of the CIL Cup. The eight-team contest saw United India FC come out on top, with the two goals enough to secure their progression to the next stage.

Priyanka Naskar was named Player of the Match for her performance as United India FC completed the victory and continued their journey in the inaugural CIL Cup.

For Coal India, therefore, the CIL Cup represents more than just a tournament. It is an investment in the grassroots, where the next generation of Indian footballers, both men and women, can get the opportunity to compete, be seen and take their first steps towards a bigger footballing future.

The competition now moves towards an important stage, with the zonal phase set to determine the teams that will make it to the semi-finals. Four teams each from the men’s and women’s categories will advance, before the final stages take place in Purulia. With several league matches still remaining across West Bengal, the CIL Cup continues to offer young footballers a platform to compete, gain exposure and take another step forward in their football journey.