34th Federation Cup: Jamshedpur replaces Ranchi, to host Groups A & D!

Though the All India Football Federation has not officially confirmed the move of shifting the Group A and D matches from Ranchi to Jamshedpur, the step is a forgone conclusion after venues in Ranchi were found unsuitable for the tournament and time is running out for the federation.

The eight clubs of Group A and D besides marketing and broadcasting partners IMG-Reliance have been intimidated by the AIFF about the move to shift matches from Ranchi to Jamshedpur with no other workable option left to the federation.

Now the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur will not only host the qualifiers, which kick-off later today but also the quarterfinal league matches for the Group A (Dempo SC, Pailan Arrows, Mumbai FC, Shillong Lajong FC) and Group D (Salgaocar SC, Prayag United SC, Pune FC, United Sikkim FC) along with the first semifinal.

Also with Jamshedpur's JRD Tata Sports Complex and other venues in the city not having any floodlighting this means that matches would have to be played in the afternoon, maybe even mid-day kick-offs with two matches a day set to be played for six days though there are said to be plans to play at two venues.

34th Federation Cup: Could Jamshedpur replace Ranchi?

As I reported a couple of days back (
34th Federation Cup: Ground problems in Ranchi? ) this years Federation Cup is facing problems at one of its venues, Ranchi and it seems that these problems cannot be solved over the next week and the All India Football Federation is forced to scout for alternative venue for India's premier league-cum-knockout tournament.

Sources within the AIFF say that the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur could be the saviour in such a difficult situation, but the steel city has a major drawback and that is the lack of a floodlighting system at the multi-purpose venue.

This would mean two afternoon matches for the Groups A (Dempo SC, Pailan Arrows, Mumbai FC, Shillong Lajong FC) and D (Salgaocar SC, Prayag United SC, Pune FC, United Sikkim FC) instead of at least some evening kick-offs for some of the matches.

But there is also an advantage which is the fact that the Federation Cup qualifiers are being held in Jamshedpur and therefore the ground and other facilities will be ready for use, but for participating teams it would mean changing travel plans to reach Jamshedpur instead of Ranchi.

Another alternative venue to host eight teams and 13 matches over seven match days seems unlikely to be found at such short notice, which raises questions if the national body was unaware of the ground situation in Ranchi and only woke-up to the problems at the last moment.

34th Federation Cup: Ground problems in Ranchi?

The 34th edition of the Federation Cup, India's version of the FA Cup, is set to be played from September 19 to 30 simultaneously in Ranchi and Siliguri; but while Siliguri is gearing-up to host the matches at the Kanchenjunga Stadium, Ranchi is facing numerous kind of problems.

Normally the Morabadi football stadium is used as a football venue in Ranchi, but it was deemed unfit by the All India Football Federation officials to host matches of the Federation and therefore the Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium in Hotwar was chosen as the venue for the Quarterfinal League Groups A and D as well as one of the semifinals.

The Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium is a multipurpose venue build for the 2011 National Games, but like many such stadia across India it has not been maintained properly.

Now the football pitch ahead of the Federation Cup is facing major problems with termites, which have damaged vast patches of the ground. Workers are now working overtime to repair the damage, but another inspection by the AIFF in the coming days will determine if the venue is deemed fit for one of India's premier tournaments.

34th Federation Cup: Complete Fixtures out!

The All India Football Federation has released the fixtures for the 34th Federation Cup, which will be held from September 19 to 30 simultaneously in Siliguri (West Bengal) and Ranchi (Jharkhand).

The 16 team league-cum-knockout competition would see India's top 14 I-League clubs plus two qualifiers in action. The group stage would be played from September 19 to 25 with Group A and D in Ranchi, while Group B and C would be played in Siliguri. The semifinals are slated for September 26 and 27, while the final will be played on September 30.

The groups and dates for the qualifiers would be released in the coming days.


FIXTURES

Quarterfinal League

Group A (Ranchi)
Dempo SC, Mumbai FC, Pailan Arrows, Shillong Lajong FC

22-Sep-2012:
19-Sep-2012: Dempo SC - Pailan Arrows
19-Sep-2012: Mumbai FC - Shillong Lajong FC
21-Sep-2012: Pailan Arrows - Mumbai FC
21-Sep-2012: Shillong Lajong FC - Dempo SC
23-Sep-2012: Pailan Arrows - Shillong Lajong FC
23-Sep-2012: Mumbai FC - Dempo SC


Group B (Siliguri)
Churchill Brothers SC, Air India, Mohun Bagan AC, Qualifier 1

20-Sep-2012: Churchill Brothers SC - Mohun Bagan AC
20-Sep-2012: Air India - Qualifier 1
22-Sep-2012: Mohun Bagan AC - Air India
22-Sep-2012: Qualifier 1 - Churchill Brothers SC
24-Sep-2012: Mohun Bagan AC - Qualifier 1
24-Sep-2012: Air India - Churchill Brothers SC


Group C (Siliguri)
Sporting Clube de Goa, ONGC, East Bengal Club, Qualifier 2

21-Sep-2012: Sporting Clube de Goa - East Bengal Club
21-Sep-2012: ONGC - Qualifier 2
23-Sep-2012: East Bengal Club - ONGC
23-Sep-2012: Qualifier 2 - Sporting Clube de Goa
25-Sep-2012: East Bengal Club - Qualifier 2
25-Sep-2012: ONGC - Sporting Clube de Goa


Group D (Ranchi)
Salgaocar SC, Pune FC, Prayag United SC, United Sikkim FC

20-Sep-2012: Salgaocar SC - Prayag United SC
20-Sep-2012: Pune FC - United Sikkim FC
22-Sep-2012: Prayag United SC - Pune FC
22-Sep-2012: United Sikkim FC - Salgaocar SC
24-Sep-2012: Prayag United SC - United Sikkim FC
24-Sep-2012: Pune FC - Salgaocar SC

Semifinals
26-Sep-2012: Winner Group A - Winner Group D
27-Sep-2012: Winner Group B - Winner Group C

Final
30-Sep-2012: Winner SF1 - Winner SF2

34th Federation Cup to be in Siliguri & Ranchi

The 34th edition of the Federation Cup will be held from September 19 to 30 simultaneously in Siliguri (West Bengal) and Ranchi (Jharkhand). The 16 team league-cum-knockout competition would see India's top 14 I-League clubs plus two qualifiers in action.

The group stage would be played from September 19 to 25 with Group A and D in Ranchi, while Group B and C would be played in Siliguri. The semifinals are slated for September 26 and 27, while the final will be played on September 30.

All four groups look interesting this time around and they hopefully will see some good football action with the toughest group surely being Group D where defending champions Salgaocar SC face Pune FC, big spenders Prayag United SC and I-League newcomers United Sikkim FC.

The three other Groups look balanced, be it Group A with I-League champions Dempo SC, Mumbai FC, Pailan Arrows and Shillong Lajong FC; or Group B with Churchill Brothers SC, Air India, Mohun Bagan AC and Qualifier 1; or Group C with Sporting Clube de Goa, ONGC, East Bengal Club and Qualifier 2.

Two teams would make it from the seven team qualifiers in which the two I-League relegated Chirag United Kerala and HAL SC will play alongside five teams from last years 2nd Division I-League in Mohammedan Sporting Club, Royal Wahingdoh FC, Vasco SC, Kalighat Milan Sangha and Aizawl FC. These seven clubs would be divided into two groups with the two winners making it into the tournament proper.


GROUPS of the QUARTERFINAL LEAGUE

Group A (Ranchi)
Dempo SC, Mumbai FC, Pailan Arrows, Shillong Lajong FC

Group B (Siliguri)
Churchill Brothers SC, Air India, Mohun Bagan AC, Qualifier 1

Group C (Siliguri)
Sporting Clube de Goa, ONGC, East Bengal Club, Qualifier 2

Group D (Ranchi)
Salgaocar SC, Pune FC, Prayag United SC, United Sikkim FC