South Kolkata, September 13, 2026: Coal India’s CIL Cup witnessed a closely contested encounter in South Kolkata as Sarkar Boys secured their place in the zonal stage with a 3-2 victory over Behala Airport Cultural Association. Arpan Roy was named Player of the Match. Sarkar Boys emerged as the qualifier from a field of 16 teams competing at the South Kolkata location.
The five-goal contest saw Sarkar Boys hold their nerve to come away with the win, while Behala Airport Cultural Association finished as runners-up. The result also marks an important step for Sarkar Boys as they move forward in the competition and continue their pursuit of the title. With the league phase being played across West Bengal, the CIL Cup is giving teams from different parts of the state the opportunity to compete in organised football and put their players under the spotlight. The competition is also creating a broader base for identifying players with the potential to progress at the grassroots level.
The zonal stage will bring together the teams that have successfully negotiated 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. The tournament also offers a potential pathway for promising players beyond the competition. At the conclusion of the CIL Cup, 50–100 players will be recommended to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for scholarships, opening up further opportunities for development. As more locations complete their league fixtures, the race for places in the zonal stage will continue across West Bengal. Coal India’s support for the CIL Cup is helping bring competitive football to a wider pool of players while strengthening opportunities for grassroots talent identification.
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 Rs. 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.
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.
