NISA are 6th Manipur State League champions!

Manipur's premier outfit NISA have won the title of Manipur State League champions. The sixth edition of the Manipur State League was held from August to October 2011, but this time around with only 10 teams instead of the usual 12 teams participated in the league unlike the first five editions. Also the league was held as a one-leg affair instead of the usual home-and-away format to cut down on costs.

NISA as champions received a sum of Rs 200,000 (2 lakhs) as prize money, while Manipur Police SC as runners-up got Rs 100,000 (1 lakh). Third-placed AIM were awarded the Fair Play Trophy and Rs 50,000.

NISA's L. Nabachandra Singh was named Best Player of the Tournament, while Th. Vandona Singh of NEROCA was the top scorer of the league. Both received Rs 20,000 each for their achievements.

At the other end of the table YWC and YDO were relegated to the Super Division due to finishing in the bottom two of the Manipur State League.


6th Manipur State League - Standings

01. NISA (North Imphal Sporting Association) - pts
02. Manipur Police SC - 15 pts
03. AIM (Anouba Imagi Mangal) - 14 pts
04. NEROCA (North Eastern Reorganisation & Cultural Association) - 13 pts
05. Southern Sporting Union - 13 pts
06. USA (United Sporting Association) - 11 pts
07. TRAU (Tiddim Road Athletic Union) - 11 pts
08. TRUGPU (Tiddim Road Unique Gamy Players Union) - 11 pts
09. YWC (Youth Welfare Club) - 10 pts
10. YDO (Youth Development Organisation) - 02 pts

I-League 2 - Group A: Southern Samity & United Sikkim qualify!

United Sikkim FC and Southern Samity have topped the preliminary Group A in the 2nd Division I-League to qualify for the final round of the league to be played in Shillong.

The Group A matches where played in Guwahati at the Nehru Stadium and SAI Centre ground over the last couple of weeks. It was an interesting and entertaining group with all teams having midway a real chance to qualify for the final rounds, but in the end the two favourites made their way through.

United Sikkim FC and Southern Samity topped the group with both 13 points, but the newly professionalised USFC top the group due to a better goal difference. Langsning FC and NISA were surprising third and fourth ahead of better known sides Golden Threads FC, Simla Youngs FC and Guwahati Town Club.


I-League Division 2 - Table & Results:

Group A - Guwahati (Assam)
#- Team------------------------ P W-D-L GF-GA GDF PTS
1. United Sikkim FC (Sikkim) -- 6 4-1-1 15-07 + 8 13
2. Southern Samity (Kolkata) -- 6 4-1-1 10-05 + 5 13
3. Langsning FC (Meghalaya) --- 6 3-1-2 11-07 + 4 10
4. NISA (Manipur) ------------- 6 3-0-3 09-07 + 2 09
5. Golden Threads FC (Kerala) - 6 1-2-3 05-10 - 5 05
6. Simla Youngs FC (Delhi) ---- 6 1-2-3 03-08 - 5 05
7. Guwahati Town Club (Assam) - 6 1-1-4 04-13 - 9 04

Round I
31/03/11: NISA 3-1 Golden Threads FC
31/03/11: Simla Youngs FC 0-1 Guwahati Town Club
31/03/11: Langsning FC 2-2 United Sikkim FC

Round II
03/04/11: Golden Threads FC 2-1 Langsning FC
03/04/11: Guwahati Town Club 1-3 NISA
03/04/11: Southern Samity 0-0 Simla Youngs FC

Round III
05/04/11: United Sikkim FC 2-0 NISA
05/04/11: Golden Threads FC 1-1 Simla Youngs FC
05/04/11: Guwahati Town Club 1-3 Southern Samity

Round IV
08/04/11: Langsning FC 1-2 Simla Youngs FC
08/04/11: United Sikkim FC 1-3 Southern Samity
08/04/11: Golden Threads FC 0-0 Guwahati Town Club

Round V
10/04/11: Southern Samity 1-0 Golden Threads FC
10/04/11: Simla Youngs FC 0-2 United Sikkim FC
10/04/11: NISA 0-1 Langsning FC

Round VI
12/04/11: Guwahati Town Club 1-4 United Sikkim FC
12/04/11: Southern Samity 1-3 Langsning FC
12/04/11: Simla Youngs FC 0-3 NISA

Round VII
14/04/11: NISA 0-2 Southern Samity
14/04/11: Langsning FC 3-0 Guwahati Town Club
14/04/11: United Sikkim FC 4-1 Golden Threads FC

I-League Division 2: Full of surprises

The 2nd Division I-League's preliminary round is in full swing in Guwahati, Jamshedpur and Madurai with 21 team fighting for six places in the final round. And there have been numerous surprises and upsets as not all in the three groups is going per plans or expectations. There could be surprise entrants to the final round in Shillong with e.g. further teams from Meghalaya maybe making it to the final round besides the already present Shillong Lajong FC and Sporting Clube de Goa.


Here an overview of the three groups after three to four rounds of matches

Group A - Guwahati:

Group A is a tight affair at this stage with teams having played three to four matches. Nor surprisingly Southern Samity is at the top of the table with seven points from three matches. The Kolkata side were held to an opening round draw by Simla Youngs, but then won against Guwahati Town Club and United Sikkim FC. Surprisingly in second place are Manipur's NISA who won their opening matches against Golden Threads and Guwahati Town Club, but then suffered a loss against United Sikkim FC who happened to score their first win. Close on their heals with five points are Simla Youngs FC and Golden Threads FC, but both already have played four matches; while Guwahati Town Club and United Sikkim FC are on four points with USFC having played a match less. Shillong's Langsning FC looks out of the race with only one point from three matches. But with tight matches and everyone able to beat each other or get a draw anything is still possible in this group with three rounds to go.

Group B - Jamshedpur:

Ar-Hima FC from Shillong are the surprise Group B leaders after three rounds of matches with seven points, while Mohammedan Sporting are second on four points from two games. Next in line are Kenkre FC and Malabar United FC with three points with the Kerala side having played out three draws so far, but Kenkre have played a match less. Sikkim's Denzong Boyz have two points so far; while Sesa Football Academy and Josco FC both have one point from two matches. As in Group A things are very tight and anything is still possible in this group.

Group C - Madurai:

Group C has been one of the most fascinating groups to follow with close contest and loop-sided results, but also a major upset on who is leading after four rounds. The Carlton Chapman coached Royal Wahingdoh SC are top of the group with four wins out of four matches, which in any other group would have meant likely qualification; but in this group there seems to be a three way race on who will qualify for the final round with Techno Aryan Club second on nine points from three matches, while Vasco SC are fourth on six points after their loss in the last round against Royal Wahingdoh. Vasco had opened in emphatic fashion with a 6-0 against Chandni FC and then followed it up by an even bigger 8-0 win against BEML (EM), but then came the surprising loss. Kerala's Eagles FC are third ahead of Vasco with seven points from four matches, but look unlikely to have anything to do with the top two spots, while the other clubs in Chandni FC on a point plus pointless Mumbai's PIFA and BEML (EM) are fighting to not finish last.

I-League Division 2: Group A fixtures revised again

The fixtures of the preliminary Group A in the 2nd Division I-League has been changed and amended once more. Round 2 & 3 matches have been pushed back by a day, while from Round 4 to 7 the matches would be played two days later which does give the teams some time to recover. The group would now finish their matches on April 14.

The original match dates had kept the state elections in Assam on April 4 & 11 in mind, but since the first change the election date in the state capital Guwahati on April 11 has been sandwiched between two match dates.

No official reason was given by the AIFF for the move, but one could be that Southern Samity yesterday played the third place playoff in the IFA Shield and they need time to get from Kolkata to Guwahati.


I-League Division 2 - Groups A fixtures/results

Group A - Guwahati (Assam)
NISA (Manipur), United Sikkim FC (Sikkim), Langsning FC (Meghalaya), Guwahati Town Club (Assam), Southern Samity (West Bengal), Golden Threads FC (Kerala), Simla Youngs FC (Delhi)

Round I
31/03/11: NISA 3-1 Golden Threads FC
31/03/11: Simla Youngs FC 0-1 Guwahati Town Club
31/03/11: Langsning FC 2-2 United Sikkim FC

Round II
03/04/11: Golden Threads FC - Langsning FC
03/04/11: Guwahati Town Club - NISA
03/04/11: Southern Samilty - Simla Youngs FC

Round III
05/04/11: United Sikkim FC - NISA
05/04/11: Golden Threads FC - Simla Youngs FC
05/04/11: Guwahati Town Club - Southern Samity

Round IV
08/04/11: Langsning FC - Simla Youngs FC
08/04/11: United Sikkim FC - Southern Samity
08/04/11: Golden Threads FC - Guwahati Town Club

Round V
10/04/11: NISA - Southern Samity
10/04/11: Langsning FC - Guwahati Town Club
10/04/11: United Sikkim FC - Golden Threads FC

Round VI
12/04/11: Guwahati Town Club - United Sikkim FC
12/04/11: Southern Samity - Langsning FC
12/04/11: Simla Youngs FC - NISA

Round VII
14/04/11: Southern Samity - Golden Threads FC
14/04/11: Simla Youngs FC - United Sikkim FC
14/04/11: NISA - Langsning FC

I-League Division 2: Who will get into the final round?

The second Division of the I-League is set to kick-off tomorrow Thursday, March 31 with matches in Group A and C, while Group B would kick-off on Saturday, April 2. 21 teams will be seen in action in the preliminary stage with two teams from each group making it to the final round where Sporting Clube de Goa and Shillong Lajong FC will be waiting to find the two sides who will get promoted to the I-League proper.

It has been difficult over the last few days to gather information on all participating sides, but still lets have a look at the three groups and the seven teams set to face each other.


Group A - Guwahati (Assam)
NISA (Manipur), United Sikkim FC (Sikkim), Langsning FC (Meghalaya), Guwahati Town Club (Assam), Southern Samity (West Bengal), Golden Threads FC (Kerala), Simla Youngs FC (Delhi)

Group A matches will be played at the Nehru Stadium and SAI ground in the Assamese capital Guwahati which looks even though Kolkata's Southern Samity and Baichung Bhutia's side United Sikkim FC being my favourites to go through with teams like Simla Youngs, Golden Threads and Guwahati Town Club potential threats but Langsning and NISA are there just to make up numbers.

I recently saw the Kolkata side in action. Southern Samity have seasoned foreigners in Edmilson, Majek Bolaji and Michael Tayo besides other players like Chandan Das, P.T. Somy, Gurpreet Singh, Amit Singha Roy who all have I-League experience besides talented youngsters like Francis Xavier. They look a settled sides under Brazilian coach Carlos Pereira da Silva and have shown in the Calcutta Premier League as well as the ongoing IFA Shield that they are a team with potential.

I have been following United Sikkim's training for weeks and see the team slowly settle down after the new professional USFC was started in early-February. Baichung has used his links to bring in seasoned players like Manju, M. Suresh, Kalia Kulothungan and Bijen Singh besides making his friend Renedy Singh the captain, but he will miss the qualifiers due to an injury. The team also has good foreigners in Mituski Ichihara and John D. Menyongar with Baichung even maybe playing if he has regained a basic level of fitness.

The other five teams are difficult to judge with little infos available on them. Guwahati Town Club could use the home advantage to their favour, while Simla Youngs FC where a late entrant into the league due to a late clearance.


Group B - Jamshedpur (Jharkhand)
Mohammedan Sporting Club (West Bengal), Denzong Boyz (Sikkim), Josco FC (Kerala), Kenkre FC (Maharashtra), Sesa Football Academy (Goa), Malabar United FC (Kerala), Ar-Hima FC (Meghalaya)

There was a late venue change from the state capital Ranchi to the industrial city of Jamshedpur with the JRD Tata Sports complex now hosting the Group B qualifiers. On paper this is the strongest of all groups with Mohammedan Sporting, Sesa Football Academy and Malabar United all having played in last years 2nd Division. Mohammedan Sporting are my top favourites after I have seen them play under their new coach Tope Fuja, who has won three trophies with the team and installed confidence in the boys. Besides Sesa Football Academy and Malabar United, Mumbai's Kenkre FC could be a top two candidate but the lack of experience at this level might be a problem with Josco FC rather unknown and the Northeastern sides of Ar-Hima FC and Denzong Boyz unlikely to play a role in this group.


Group C - Madurai (Tamil Nadu)
Techno Aryan Club (West Bengal), Vasco SC (Goa), Chandni FC (Kerala), Royal Wahingdoh SC (Meghalaya), Eagles FC (Kerala), PIFA Colaba FC (Maharashtra), BEML (EM) (Karnataka)

Group C could be the most unpredictable if Aryan Club and Vasco SC aren't able to stamp their authority on the Group C which will be played in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Vasco will try to get back into the I-league while Aryan's are a club with big history, but it is their first attempt in the second Division. Vasco have been having problems for the last few years, but the people's club from the port town in Goa remain a team with a lot of potential, but their best years seem behind them.

After the convincing campaign in the Calcutta Premier League in which they remained unbeaten and defeated all the cities top sides they have developed as a squad under seasoned coach Raghu Nandy. It is mainly a young team with good foreigners and some players who have played for the big Kolkata sides.

I-League Division 2: Group A fixtures revised

The AIFF has released the revised fixtures of the preliminary Group A. The Group A matches were supposed to be played from March 27 to April 9 in Guwahati, but they have now been changed to March 31 to April 12.

The original match dates had kept the state elections in Assam on April 4 & 11 in mind, but with elections in the state capital Guwahati only on April 11 the qualifiers where supposed to be finished before that day. Now the dates have been changed with the elections sandwiched between two match days. One of the reasons could be the chance of Southern Samity to make it to the semifinals and final of the IFA Shield which will be played on March 28 and 31.


I-League Division 2 - Groups A fixtures

Group A - Guwahati (Assam)
NISA (Manipur), United Sikkim FC (Sikkim), Langsning FC (Meghalaya), Guwahati Town Club (Assam), Southern Samity (West Bengal), Golden Threads FC (Kerala), Simla Youngs FC (Delhi)

Round I
31/03/11: NISA - Golden Threads FC
31/03/11: Simla Youngs FC - Guwahati Town Club
31/03/11: Langsning FC - United Sikkim FC

Round II
02/04/11: Golden Threads FC - Langsning FC
02/04/11: Guwahati Town Club - NISA
02/04/11: Southern Samilty - Simla Youngs FC

Round III
04/04/11: United Sikkim FC - NISA
04/04/11: Golden Threads FC - Simla Youngs FC
04/04/11: Guwahati Town Club - Southern Samity

Round IV
06/04/11: Langsning FC - Simla Youngs FC
06/04/11: United Sikkim FC - Southern Samity
06/04/11: Golden Threads FC - Guwahati Town Club

Round V
08/04/11: NISA - Southern Samity
08/04/11: Langsning FC - Guwahati Town Club
08/04/11: United Sikkim FC - Golden Threads FC

Round VI
10/04/11: Guwahati Town Club - United Sikkim FC
10/04/11: Southern Samity - Langsning FC
10/04/11: Simla Youngs FC - NISA

Round VII
12/04/11: Southern Samity - Golden Threads FC
12/04/11: Simla Youngs FC - United Sikkim FC
12/04/11: NISA - Langsning FC

I-League Division 2: Fixtures released

The AIFF has released the fixtures of the three preliminary groups of the I-League Division 2. 21 teams will be seen in action, if BEML (EM) from Bangalore are cleared to take part.

The Group A matches will be played from March 27 to April 9 in Guwahati, while Group B games will be held from April 2 to April 18 in Ranchi, and Group C matches will be played from March 31 to April 17 in Madurai.


I-League Division 2 - Groups/Fixtures

Group A - Guwahati (Assam)
NISA (Manipur), United Sikkim FC (Sikkim), Langsning FC (Meghalaya), Guwahati Town Club (Assam), Southern Samity (West Bengal), Golden Threads FC (Kerala), Simla Youngs FC (Delhi)

Round I
27/3/11: NISA - Golden Threads FC
27/3/11: Simla Youngs FC - Guwahati Town Club
27/3/11: Langsning FC - United Sikkim FC

Round II
29/3/11: Golden Threads FC - Langsning FC
29/3/11: Guwahati Town Club - NISA
29/3/11: Southern Samilty - Simla Youngs FC

Round III
31/3/11: United Sikkim FC - NISA
31/3/11: Golden Threads FC - Simla Youngs FC
31/3/11: Guwahati Town Club - Southern Samity

Round IV
02/04/11: Langsning FC - Simla Youngs FC
02/04/11: United Sikkim FC - Southern Samity
02/04/11: Golden Threads FC - Guwahati Town Club

Round V
04/04/11: NISA - Southern Samity
04/04/11: Langsning FC - Guwahati Town Club
04/04/11: United Sikkim FC - Golden Threads FC

Round VI
06/04/11: Guwahati Town Club - United Sikkim FC
06/04/11: Southern Samity - Langsning FC
06/04/11: Simla Youngs FC - NISA

Round VII
09/04/11: Southern Samity - Golden Threads FC
09/04/11: Simla Youngs FC - United Sikkim FC
09/04/11: NISA - Langsning FC


Group B - Ranchi (Jharkhand)
Mohammedan Sporting Club (West Bengal), Denzong Boyz (Sikkim), Josco FC (Kerala), Kenkre FC (Maharashtra), Sesa Football Academy (Goa), Malabar United FC (Kerala), Ar-Hima FC (Meghalaya)

Round I
02/04/11: Mohammedan Sporting Club - Sesa Football Academy
02/04/11: Denzong Boyz - Josco FC
03/04/11: Ar-Hima FC - Malabar United FC

Round II
04/04/11: Kenkre FC - Josco FC
05/04/11: Mohammedan Sporting Club - Malabar United FC
05/04/11: Denzong Boyz - Ar-Hima FC

Round III
07/04/11: Sesa Football Academy - Malabar United FC
07/04/11: Kenkre FC - Ar-Hima FC
08/04/11: Mohammedan Sporting Club - Denzong Boyz

Round IV
09/04/11: Josco FC - Ar-Hima FC
10/04/11: Sesa Football Academy - Denzong Boyz
10/04/11: Kenkre FC - Mohammedan Sporting Club

Round V
12/04/11: Malabar United FC - Denzong Boyz
12/04/11: Josco FC - Mohammedan Sporting Club
13/04/11: Sesa Football Academy - Kenkre FC

Round VI
14/04/11: Ar-Hima FC - Mohammedan Sporting Club
15/04/11: Malabar United FC - Kenkre FC
15/04/11: Josco FC - Sesa Football Academy

Round VII
17/04/11: Denzong Boyz - Kenkre FC
17/04/11: Ar-Hima FC - Sesa Football Academy
18/04/11: Malabar United FC - Josco FC


Group C - Madurai (Tamil Nadu)
Techno Aryan Club (West Bengal), Vasco SC (Goa), Chandni FC (Kerala), Royal Wahingdoh SC (Meghalaya), Eagles FC (Kerala), PIFA Colaba Youngstars (Maharashtra), BEML (EM) (Karnataka) *subject to clearance

Round I
31/03/11: Eagles FC - Techno Aryan Club
31/03/11: Chandni FC - Vasco SC
01/04/11: Royal Wahingdoh SC - PIFA

Round II
02/04/11: BEML - Vasco SC
03/04/11: Eagles FC - PIFA
03/04/11: Chandni FC - Royal Wahingdoh SC

Round III
05/04/11: Techno Aryan Club - PIFA
05/04/11: BEML - Royal Wahingdoh SC
06/04/11: Eagles FC - Chandni FC

Round IV
07/04/11: Vasco SC - Royal Wahingdoh SC
08/04/11: Techno Aryan Club - Chandni FC
08/04/11: BEML - Eagles FC

Round V
10/04/11: PIFA - Chandni FC
11/04/11: Vasco SC - Eagles FC
11/04/11: Techno Aryan Club - BEML

Round VI
14/04/11: Royal Wahingdoh SC - Eagles FC
14/04/11: PIFA - BEML
15/04/11: Vasco SC - Techno Aryan Club

Round VII
16/04/11: Chandni FC - BEML
17/04/11: Royal Wahingdoh SC - Techno Aryan Club
17/04/11: PIFA - Vasco SC

I-League Division 2: Groups announced

The I-League Division 2 will be finally played with 23 teams taking part. 21 teams will feature in the preliminary round, while last years relegated I-League sides Sporting Clube de Goa and Shillong Lajong FC will join the action only in the eight team final round to be played in Shillong.

The three groups will be played in Madurai (Tamil Nadu), Ranchi (Jharkhand) and Guwahati (Assam) after an inspection team had had a look at venues across India and had found these the best. Two teams from each of the seven team group will qualify for the final leg and the groups have been divided in such a way to give it a national look. Delih's Simla Youngs FC and BEML from Bangalore were late additions to the Division 2.

The Guwahati leg is set to kick-off earlier on March 27 due to elections in Assam, while the two other groups are likely to start on April 2/3.

To name favourites this year is difficult with eight to 10 teams capable of gaining promotion to the I-League proper. And maybe more then two teams will go up if the AFC Club Criteria isn't met by top tier clubs.

The fixtures will be announced in the coming days.


I-League Division 2 - Groups

Group A - Madurai (Tamil Nadu)
Techno Aryan Club (West Bengal), Vasco SC (Goa), Chandni FC (Kerala), Royal Wahingdoh SC (Meghalaya), Eagles FC (Kerala), PIFA Colaba Youngstars (Maharashtra), BEML (EM) (Karnataka)

Group B - Ranchi (Jharkhand)
Mohammedan Sporting Club (West Bengal), Denzong Boyz (Sikkim), Josco FC (Kerala), Kenkre FC (Maharashtra), Sesa Football Academy (Goa), Malabar United FC (Kerala), Ar-Hima FC (Meghalaya)

Group C - Guwahati (Assam)
NISA (Manipur), United Sikkim FC (Sikkim), Langsning FC (Meghalaya), Guwahati Town Club (Assam), Southern Samity (West Bengal), Golden Threads FC (Kerala), Simla Youngs FC (Delhi)

I-League 2: 21 teams to take part

In total 21 teams will this year take part in the 2.Division of the I-League which is set to kick-off across the country in the middle of next month. The 21 teams will be split into three groups of seven in the preliminary stage with the venues still to be decided. The final round of the 2.Division I-League would be held in the Meghalaya capital Shillong with the hope that some local teams besides Lajong FC make it.

There are five clubs from Kerala, four clubs from Meghalaya, three each from Kolkata and Goa, two each from Mumbai and Sikkim plus one each from Manipur and Assam. But it is surprising that clubs who have been regulars in the 2.Division over the last few years like Amity United FC, New Delhi Heroes, Oil India Limited and others are not part of the league.

The North goes totally unrepresented and one has to question if all these small Northeastern clubs can all match Lajong FC and Baichung Bhutia's United Sikkim in fulfilling the AFC Club Licencing criteria. It would be great to have Northeastern representation in the I-League, but like with the rest of the country the clubs need to be professional on all aspects.

How many clubs will go up is unknown at the moment as it depends on how many clubs get through the AFC Club Licencing and what size league the AIFF and IMG-Reliance will want next season as the I-League is supposed to go fully professional


The participating clubs

Royal Wahingdoh SC, Shillong (Meghalaya); Langsning Sports Club, Shillong (Meghalaya); Ar-Hima Football Club, Shillong (Meghalaya); Shillong Lajong FC (Meghalaya); PIFA, Mumbai (Maharashtra); Kenkre Football Academy, Mumbai (Maharashtra); Southern Samity, Kolkata (West Bengal); Techno Aryan Club, Kolkata (West Bengal); Mohammedan Sporting Club, Kolkata (West Bengal); Guwahati Town Club (Assam); Vasco Sports Club (Goa); Sporting Clube de Goa (Goa); Sesa Football Academy (Goa); Josco FC, Cochin (Kerala); Chandni FC, Kozhikode (Kerala); Eagles FC, Cochin (Kerala); Golden Threads, Cochin (Kerala); Malabar United FC, Kozhikode (Kerala); United Sikkim FC, Gangtok (Sikkim); Denzong Boys, Gangtok (Sikkim); NISA, Imphal (Manipur)

Federation Cup: Qualifier fixtures out

The 32nd Federation Cup, India's version of the FA Cup, will begin on the 14th of this month with eight teams taking part in the qualifiers for the Federation Cup proper. The eight teams are the two I-League relegated Sporting Clube de Goa and Shillong Lajong FC plus six teams from the 2nd Division I-League. The eight teams have been divided into two groups of four teams each and only the winners will move on into the next round. The venue for Group A will be Silchar in Assam, while the Group B matches will be played at the Duler Ground in Mapusa, Goa.

But the qualifying format will not see all four teams playing each other, but the qualifiers will be a direct knockout contest with two semifinals and then a final game which will decide which side will qualify from Group A and B.

The winner from each group will qualify for the quarterfinal round which is also set to be played under a new format with the four groups of four teams set to be played across four venues rather then a 16 team one venue event. The quarterfinal round is scheduled to kick-off on September 21. The likely venues are Ludhiana, Silchar, Goa and Cuttack. Only the group toppers will qualify for the semifinals and one of the above venues will then also host the semifinals and the big final. The AIFF is at the moment said to be preferring Cuttack as the hosts of the big final.


The Qualifiers

Group A
Venue: Satindra Mohan Dev Stadium, Silchar (Assam)
15-Sep-10: Oil India Limited - Mohammedan Sporting Club (Match 1)
16-Sep-10: NISA, Manipur - Shillong Lajong FC (Match 2)
18-Sep-10: Winner Match 1 - Winner Match 2

Group B
Venue: Duler Ground, Mapusa (Goa)
14-Sep-10: Vasco SC - Sesa Football Academy (Match 1)
15-Sep-10: Sporting Clube de Goa - Malabar United FC (Match 2)
17-Sep-10: Winner Match 1 - Winner Match 2