33rd Federation Cup: QF Group stage to kick-off

The 33rd Federation Cup, India's version of the FA Cup, will kick-off tomorrow in Kolkata and Pune with the final slated for September 29. 14 I-League teams and two qualifiers are 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 at the Saltlake Stadium in Kolkata.

All four groups look interesting and guarantee some good encounters, but the Group of Death is surely Group C where defending champions East Bengal Club face former champions Dempo SC, Pune FC and qualifier Mohammedan Sporting Clube, while another group which looks difficult is Group A with record champions Mohun Bagan AC having to take on Churchill Brothers SC, Shillong Lajong FC and qualifiers Royal Wahingdoh FC.

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 Chirag United Kerala taking on each other. The most anticipated encounter in Group D would surely be the match between Prayag United SC and Chirag United Kerala, the former and current clubs sponsored by Chirag Computers.

With none of the clubs having had any national level matches so far, only pre-season friendlies or matches in local leagues, it will be interesting to see which teams gel well and can be challenger for the title.

One will surely have to mention the usual suspects in the defending Fed Cup champions East Bengal Club, record champions Mohun Bagan AC besides the Goan trio of Salgaocar SC, Dempo SC and Churchill Brothers SC. But maybe there is a surprise champion whom we don't even consider as champions before the start of the tournament.

Though the AIFF has been unable to find a title sponsor the Federation 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). A national broadcaster was also not found, so the rights were sold to News Time Bangla & News Time Assam, who guarantee coverage in Bengal and across the Northeast. Not the best of scenarios, but better then no coverage at all.


FIXTURES

Group A - Pune:
Mohun Bagan AC, Churchill Brothers SC, Shillong Lajong FC, Royal Wahingdoh SC (qualifier)

17-Sep-2011: Mohun Bagan AC - Royal Wahingdoh SC (16.00 IST)
17-Sep-2011: Churchill Brothers SC - Shillong Lajong FC (19.00 IST)
19-Sep-2011: Shillong Lajong FC - Mohun Bagan AC (19.00 IST)
19-Sep-2011: Royal Wahingdoh SC - Churchill Brothers SC (16.00 IST)
21-Sep-2011: Mohun Bagan AC - Churchill Brothers SC (19.00 IST)
21-Sep-2011: Shillong Lajong FC - Royal Wahingdoh SC (16.00 IST)


Group B - Pune:
Pailan Arrows, Salgaocar SC, Mumbai FC, HAL

18-Sep-2011: Pailan Arrows - HAL (19.00 IST)
18-Sep-2011: Salgaocar SC - Mumbai FC (16.00 IST)
20-Sep-2011: Mumbai FC - Pailan Arrows (19.00 IST)
20-Sep-2011: HAL - Salgaocar SC (16.00 IST)
22-Sep-2011: Pailan Arrows - Salgaocar SC (16.00 IST)
22-Sep-2011: Mumbai FC - HAL (19.00 IST)


Group C - Kolkata:
East Bengal Club, Dempo SC, Pune FC, Mohammedan Sporting Club (qualifier)

17-Sep-2011: East Bengal Club - Mohammedan Sporting Club (19.00 IST)
17-Sep-2011: Dempo SC - Pune FC (16.00 IST)
19-Sep-2011: Pune FC - East Bengal Club (16.00 IST)
19-Sep-2011: Mohammedan Sporting Club - Dempo SC (19.00 IST)
21-Sep-2011: East Bengal Club - Dempo SC (16.00 IST)
21-Sep-2011: Pune FC - Mohammedan Sporting Club (19.00 IST)


Group D - Kolkata:
Prayag United SC, Sporting Clube de Goa, Air India, Chirag United Kerala

18-Sep-2011: Prayag United SC - Chirag United Kerala (16.00 IST)
18-Sep-2011: Sporting Clube de Goa - Air India (19.00 IST)
20-Sep-2011: Air India - Prayag United SC (16.00 IST)
20-Sep-2011: Chirag United Kerala - Sporting Clube de Goa (19.00 IST)
22-Sep-2011: Prayag United SC - Sporting Clube de Goa (16.00 IST)
22-Sep-2011: Air India - Chirag United Kerala (19.00 IST)

Semifinals - Kolkata
25-Sep-2011: Group A Winner - Group B Winner (18.00 IST)
26-Sep-2011: Group C Winner - Group D Winner (18.00 IST)

Final - Kolkata
29-Sep-2011: Winner SF 1 - Winner SF 2 (18.00 IST)