Katwa/Kolkata, September 13, 2026: Coal India’s CIL Cup saw Mejia FC Football and Habiba Club emerge as the men’s and women’s qualifiers for the zonal stage from Katwa. Mejia FC Football edged past Ramalpur Football Team 1-0 in the men’s category, while Habiba Club secured a 1-0 win against Gobindadham Goya & Sports in the women’s category. Sourav Chaudhary and Sonamoni Saren were adjudged Players of the Match, respectively, with 16 teams competing in the men’s category and eight in the women’s category at Katwa. The Katwa results underline the competitive nature of the league phase, as teams across West Bengal continue their pursuit of a place in the next stage of the competition. With opportunities to play competitive football and demonstrate their ability, the CIL Cup is also helping widen the pool of players being assessed for potential at the grassroots level.
The focus will now shift towards the zonal stage, which will bring together teams that have progressed from the league phase. Four teams from the men’s category and four teams from the women’s category will qualify from the zonal phase for the semi-finals. The semi-finals and final will subsequently be held in Purulia, providing the successful teams with an opportunity to take another step forward in the competition.
The CIL Cup also aims to create opportunities for players beyond the tournament itself. Following the completion of the competition, 50–100 players will be recommended to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for scholarships, potentially providing promising footballers with further avenues to develop their careers.
As the league phase progresses across West Bengal, more teams will look to secure their passage through the zonal stage and towards the semi-finals and final. By supporting the CIL Cup, Coal India is helping establish a wider platform for grassroots football, allowing emerging players to gain competitive experience while creating avenues for talent identification.
CIL Cup: Mejia FC Football, Habiba Club book zonal stage berths in Katwa
Katwa/Kolkata, September 13, 2026: Coal India’s CIL Cup saw Mejia FC Football and Habiba Club emerge as the men’s and women’s qualifiers for the zonal stage from Katwa. Mejia FC Football edged past Ramalpur Football Team 1-0 in the men’s category, while Habiba Club secured a 1-0 win against Gobindadham Goya & Sports in the women’s category. Sourav Chaudhary and Sonamoni Saren were adjudged Players of the Match, respectively, with 16 teams competing in the men’s category and eight in the women’s category at Katwa.
The Katwa results underline the competitive nature of the league phase, as teams across West Bengal continue their pursuit of a place in the next stage of the competition. With opportunities to play competitive football and demonstrate their ability, the CIL Cup is also helping widen the pool of players being assessed for potential at the grassroots level.
The focus will now shift towards the zonal stage, which will bring together teams that have progressed from the league phase. Four teams from the men’s category and four teams from the women’s category will qualify from the zonal phase for these semi-finals. The semi-finals and final will subsequently be held in Purulia, providing the successful teams with an opportunity to take another step forward in the competition.
The CIL Cup also aims to create opportunities for players beyond the tournament itself. Following the completion of the competition, 50–100 players will be recommended to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for scholarships, potentially providing promising footballers with further avenues to develop their careers.
As the league phase progresses across West Bengal, more teams will look to secure their passage through the zonal stage and towards the semi-finals and final. By supporting the CIL Cup, Coal India is helping establish a wider platform for grassroots football, allowing emerging players to gain competitive experience while creating avenues for talent identification.
About CIL Cup
The CIL Cup is a grassroots football initiative supported by Coal India, aimed at promoting football at the grassroots level and creating opportunities for talent identification and development. The league phase features 1,400 teams, more than 1,302 matches, and over 21,000 men and women players, providing a wide platform for emerging footballers to compete and showcase their potential. The Grand Finale will be held in the last week of October in Purulia, with total prizes worth INR 10 lakh. Through the CIL Cup, Coal India continues to champion grassroots football and support the identification and development of the next generation of talent.
