33rd Federation fixtures are out, prize money increased

The 33rd Federation Cup, India's version of the FA Cup, will be held from September 17 to 29 in Kolkata and Pune with the 14 I-League teams and two qualifiers taking part in the quarterfinal league group stage. While two groups will each be played in Kolkata and Pune, the semifinals and final will be played in Kolkata.



All four groups look interesting and guarantee some good encounters, but the toughest group is surely Group C where defending champions East Bengal Club face former champions Dempo SC and Pune FC besides a qualifier, while Group A also looks interesting with Mohun Bagan AC having to take on Churchill Brothers SC, Shillong Lajong FC and a qualifier.



I-League champions Salgaocar SC seem to have an easier group as they face Pailan Arrows, Mumbai FC and HAL; while Group D looks the weakest of all groups with Prayag United SC, Sporting Clube de Goa, Air India and Viva Kerala taking on each other. The most anticipated encounter would be the match between Prayag United SC and Viva Kerala, the former and current clubs sponsored by Chirag Computers.



The AIFF has decided to hike the prize money for the champions from Rs 1,2 Million (12 lakhs) to 2,5 Million (25 lakhs), while the runners-up would now get Rs 1,5 Million (15 lakhs) instead of Rs 700,000 (7 lakhs).





FIXTURES



Group A - Pune:

Mohun Bagan AC, Churchill Brothers SC, Shillong Lajong FC, Qualifier B



17-Sep-2011: Mohun Bagan AC - Qualifier B

17-Sep-2011: Churchill Brothers SC - Shillong Lajong FC

19-Sep-2011: Shillong Lajong FC - Mohun Bagan AC

19-Sep-2011: Qualifier B - Churchill Brothers SC

21-Sep-2011: Mohun Bagan AC - Churchill Brothers SC

21-Sep-2011: Shillong Lajong FC - Qualifier B





Group B - Pune:

Pailan Arrows, Salgaocar SC, Mumbai FC, HAL



18-Sep-2011: Pailan Arrows - HAL

18-Sep-2011: Salgaocar SC - Mumbai FC

20-Sep-2011: Mumbai FC - Pailan Arrows

20-Sep-2011: HAL - Salgaocar SC

22-Sep-2011: Pailan Arrows - Salgaocar SC

22-Sep-2011: Mumbai FC - HAL





Group C - Kolkata:

East Bengal Club, Dempo SC, Pune FC, Qualifier A



17-Sep-2011: East Bengal Club - Qualifier A

17-Sep-2011: Dempo SC - Pune FC

19-Sep-2011: Pune FC - East Bengal Club

19-Sep-2011: Qualifier A - Dempo SC

21-Sep-2011: East Bengal Club - Dempo SC

21-Sep-2011: Pune FC - Qualifier A





Group D - Kolkata:

Prayag United SC, Sporting Clube de Goa, Air India, Viva Kerala



18-Sep-2011: Prayag United SC - Viva Kerala

18-Sep-2011: Sporting Clube de Goa - Air India

20-Sep-2011: Air India - Prayag United SC

20-Sep-2011: Viva Kerala - Sporting Clube de Goa

22-Sep-2011: Prayag United SC - Sporting Clube de Goa

22-Sep-2011: Air India - Viva Kerala



Semifinals - Kolkata



25-Sep-2011: Group A Winner - Group B Winner

26-Sep-2011: Group C Winner - Group D Winner



Final



29-Sep-2011: Winner SF 1 - Winner SF 2