Real Kashmir Football Club is heartfelt and strong performances keep it afloat, but it's a missed opportunity to tell a wholesome tale, notes Norma Godinho.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) tweeted, "Real Kashmir FC have withdrawn from AIFF Super Cup 2025-26, as VISAS for their foreign players could not be secured. They will be replaced by Dempo SC."
Real Kashmir produced a clinical display to defeat NEROCA FC 3-1 in a Group F match of the 134th Durand Cup football tournament
A stunning long-range strike from midfielder Rohen Singh proved to be the difference as Real Kashmir FC edged a spirited TRAU FC 2-1 in a Group F contest of the Durand Cup in Imphal on Monday.
The I-League, the country's second-tier football competition, will be restructured and rechristened as Indian Football League (IFL).
Diamond Harbour FC continued their winning run in the 134th Durand Cup with a commanding 8-1 victory over BSF Football Club in a Group B clash in Imphal on Friday.
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Inter Kashi slipped to third after a goalless draw with SC Bengaluru later in the day. The Kashmir-Namdhari result also ensured Churchill Brothers, who are at 28 points, will remain top of the table until the end of Round 15, at least.
While Namdhari earned their second consecutive win and have seven points after round five, Real Kashmir have eight.
The win helped Real Kashmir climb to the sixth spot in the standings.
The win enabled SC Bengaluru leapfrog Aizawl FC into 10th place with 20 points from 19 matches, and pushed them out of the relegation zone. Real Kashmir, meanwhile, stay third with 32 points from as many games.
Despite playing with a man less for virtually the entire match, Real Kashmir's defence stood resilient, managing to hold off Sreenidi Deccan's late surges to ensure the points were shared.
At a time when Indian football is seeking a radical overhaul, the Super Cup, starting in Goa from Saturday, could act as a catalyst for clubs to build their teams, prepare their players, get valuable match time, and keep their hopes of continental qualifications alive.
Derby in Super Cup group stage as Mohun Bagan, East Bengal drawn together
Speaking further, the 1983 World Cup winning star reflected on Virat Kohli's mindset ahead of the challenging Australian tour, underlining the mental demands the series will bring.
The season-opening Super Cup will kick off from October 25 in Goa, an official of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said on Tuesday.
In another match, Inter Kashi drew 1-1 with Real Kashmir to remain on top of the table due to better goal difference +5 compared to Snow Leopards (+3). Both teams have eight points.
Inter Kashi become I-League champions after CAS rejects AIFF Appeal Committee decision
Late strikes by Pintu Mahata and Sreyas V G ensured Indian Navy FT bounce back from a one-goal deficit to overcome local side TRAU FC 2-1 and book their spot in the quarterfinals of the 134th Durand Cup in Imphal on Tuesday.
Churchill Brothers finished above Inter Kashi FC, who are second with 39 points, but the the latter could still win the title on April 28, depending on outcome of AIFF appeal.
Inter Kashi filed an appeal at the Switzerland-based CAS on April 24 against the decision of the AIFF appeals committee and the world's apex sports tribunal ruled in favour of the club on Tuesday.
Churchill Brothers took a crucial step towards winning their third I-League title with a dramatic 2-2 draw against Inter Kashi, whose title hopes were dashed by a stoppage-time equaliser.
Both Churchill Brothers and Inter Kashi celebrated after their respective matches on Sunday.
In their first I-League clash in over a decade, Churchill Brothers defeated their Goan rivals Dempo Sports Club 2-0 at the Raia Stadium on Wednesday.
Now AIFF's move to hand the trophy to Churchill Brother, just hours after the CAS order staying the federation's decision to declare the club as champions, could provoke international scrutiny, including from FIFA.
East Bengal edge past NEUFC 1-0 to register first win of ISL season
Churchill Brothers have withdrawn from the Super Cup tournament starting April 20 in Bhubaneswar, protesting against the All India Football Federation's decision to not officially declare them as 2024-25 I-League champions
FC Goa on Wednesday secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Hyderabad FC in their Indian Super League (ISL) match
Bengaluru FC offer to play friendly in Srinagar, Real Kashmir invite them in March
Real Kashmir FC proudly represents a region whose scars are getting a chance to be healed by the beautiful game.
The documentary narrates the journey of former Rangers ace David Robertson as the coach of Real Kashmir FC
Real Kashmir FC's rise as a top side in the I-League has been "nothing short of a fairytale", feels its Scottish coach David Robertson, who is happy to have refused more lucrative assignments in other countries considering the "pure passion" for the beautiful game in the Kashmir Valley.
Robertson received a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to the local community.
Chennai City FC, whom Real Kashmir had beaten twice this season, are leading the table with 30 points from 14 matches.
The draw, Goa's sixth on the trot, helped the Gaurs climb to the third spot on the table.
Stranded in Srinagar for more than a month due to the coronavirus-forced national lockdown, Real Kashmir FC head coach David Robertson and his family will finally return to Scotland on Thursday, ending an anxious wait to attend to his sick mother. Robertson, his wife Kim, son Mason, who plays for the club, and three support staff reached Jammu on Wednesday by an official bus of RKFC which left Srinagar early in the morning. They will fly back home in a British Airways flight from Amritsar on Thursday afternoon.
'Things changed for us and all the children in the valley when we won the Second Division' 'When we played our I-League home matches it was always a full house. Rain, snow, sunshine, our fans came to cheer for us'
Real Kashmir FC overcame the mental turmoil arising out of uncertain situations back home as they beat Chennai City FC 1-0 through a last minute goal in the 129th Durand Cup fixture, in Kalyani, on Wednesday.
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