Goa Pro League promises plenty of action and Good times!

UB Groups 'Kingfisher' announced their continued association of Goa's Professional Football League on Friday, ensuring the Good Times will continue for the world's most popular sport in Goa. Kingfisher also announced their support for the Goa State football team and the promotion of a Beach Football Tournament.

The 'Kingisher' Goa Pro League in the last three years saw some scintillating football action, coupled with exciting initiatives, this is the fourth consecutive year that Kingfisher has come forward to support pro football in Goa.

The 4th edition of the Kingfisher Goa Professional League was announced at a press conference in Panjim on Friday by Samar Singh Sheikhawat, Senior Vice President (Marketing), United Breweries in the presence of Shrinivas Dempo, Goa Football Association president, Dilip Jayaram, Procam International CEO, managers and coaches of the participating clubs as well as some of the leading players who would be seen in action.

Kingfisher will also continue to sponsor the Senior Goa State team that participates in the Santosh Trophy. The Kingfisher Beach Football Challenge too has proved to be a big hit among the teams and it received a tremendous response in the first year, with 16 teams participating in a festive atmosphere. A record turnout is expected once again for these championships in the current season, the dates for which will be announced later.

The Kingfisher Goa Pro League, which kicked-off on Tuesday, October 2; continues to be promoted by Procam International, one of the country's foremost Sports and Leisure Management Company.

Speaking on the occasion, Samar Singh Sheikawat, Senior Vice-President (Marketing), United Breweries said, "Kingfisher Premium is a young, trendy, sporty brand with youth appeal. The brand has always been closely associated with various sporting activities which includes its sponsorship of Force India, Cricket and football. We recognize the passion which the Goans share for Football and Kingfisher and therefore it gives us immense pleasure to provide them with a platform which brings the 2 together."

Commenting on the continued promotion of the Kingfisher Goa Professional League, Dilip Jayaram, CEO, Procam International had this to say, "Procam International, along with Kingfisher are committed in their vision to promote the game of football in Goa on a massive scale. The Kingfisher Goa Pro League has enjoyed tremendous response and support from the sports loving populace of Goa and we hope to make it bigger and better this year."

Shrinivas Dempo, GFA President, assured the gathering that the Association would leave no stone unturned to ensure that the league was a grand success. "The GFA is committed towards promoting the game of football and all efforts will be made to deliver the most professionally organsied league in the country," said the President.

Welcoming the sponsors and partners on board, Mr. Dempo said, "Goan football is making grand progress over the last few years. The Goa Professional League, also known as the Kingfisher Pro League and being the GFA's Flagship event, will once again be the focus of all attention."

The 4th edition of the Kingfisher Goa Pro League will feature ten teams - Dempo SC, Churchill Brothers SC, Salgaocar FC, Sporting Clube de Goa, Vasco SC, Sesa Football Academy, Goa Velha SC, Margao SC, Wilred Leisure SC and Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim. As per the format, the Goa Pro League 2012/13 will be played in two phases.

The 1st Phase: The ten Teams will play in a round robin league (each team to play the other teams once). There will be nine rounds of five matches each, i.e. a total of 45 matches. The first Phase is scheduled to be concluded by the end of November 2012.

2nd Phase: The top five teams from the first phase will play in the Kingfisher Goa Super League, while the bottom five teams will play in the relegation league. There will be ten matches in each of these leagues i.e. Super League and Relegation league, making it a total of 20 matches. The Super League and the Relegation League will be played in the two-month period between December 2012 and January 2013. The Super League will culminate in the Kingfisher Super Cup, a knock-out based format between the top four teams in the league to decide the eventual winners of the Kingfisher Goa Pro League. All the Super Cup matches will be played under floodlights.

The matches will be played at the following venues: Duler Stadium, Mapusa (North Goa); Poriat Ground, Calangute (North Goa); Tilak Maidan, Vasco da Gama; PJN Stadium (South Goa); and Raia Panchayat Ground (South Goa).