NEW DELHI: East Bengal will open its campaign against Chiragh United Sports Club in the inaugural match of the second ONGC I-League football championship at the Barasat Stadium, Kolkata, on September 26. Chuni Goswami will inaugurate the competition at 6.30 p.m.
In Goa, Vasco Sports Club and Sporting Clube de Goa will face off at 4 p.m. on the same day.
The second edition of the I-League carrying a prize purse of Rs. 1.25 crore, with the champion team set to receive Rs.50 lakh, will be played in Goa, Mumbai, Ludhiana and Kolkata. About 40 per cent of the matches, mainly in Kolkata, are scheduled to be telecast live by Zee Sports.
Commending the substantial support of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and Zee Sports, the president of the All India Football Federation, Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, said he expected much more in future.
In fact, ONGC had reduced its support from Rs. seven crore to Rs. six crore, but the Chairman of the ONGC, R.S. Sharma, assured that his organisation would continue to support the growth of Indian football.
Grounds wanted
Dasmunsi said that the shortcomings of the past were addressed to a great extent, though the non-availability of grounds was a major concern especially in Maharashtra.
“The Cooperage Stadium is not in good shape. We are looking at the option of Kolhapur. We are looking for better infrastructure in Maharashtra,” said Dasmunsi, even as he added that neutral venues at Gurgaon and Delhi would be utilised if necessary.
The AIFF president said that a fourth place prize of Rs.10 lakh was introduced from this edition. The second and third placed teams will receive Rs.28 and Rs.20 lakh respectively.
He assured that there would be a sizeable increase in the allowance for the teams playing their matches in Mumbai, Goa and Kolkata. He sought corporate support for the clubs.
On the request of the chief coach Bob Houghton, the AIFF has been focusing on spotting strong and well-built players from north India.
It was mentioned that the target was the 2011 Asian Cup, and that all efforts would be made to have more international training and competition for the Indian team abroad.
The idea of focussing more on school football was mooted, but the AIFF president was quick to say that it was the responsibility of the School Games Federation and the government, and that his federation did not have the required funds to address the issue.
There will be a fair play award for Rs. one lakh, while the best striker of the league will get Rs.50,000. The best players in different positions apart from an overall ‘best player’ will get Rs.25,000 each. Man-of-the-Match award winner in every game will get Rs. 5,000.
News Courtsey:Hindu.com
In Goa, Vasco Sports Club and Sporting Clube de Goa will face off at 4 p.m. on the same day.
The second edition of the I-League carrying a prize purse of Rs. 1.25 crore, with the champion team set to receive Rs.50 lakh, will be played in Goa, Mumbai, Ludhiana and Kolkata. About 40 per cent of the matches, mainly in Kolkata, are scheduled to be telecast live by Zee Sports.
Commending the substantial support of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and Zee Sports, the president of the All India Football Federation, Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, said he expected much more in future.
In fact, ONGC had reduced its support from Rs. seven crore to Rs. six crore, but the Chairman of the ONGC, R.S. Sharma, assured that his organisation would continue to support the growth of Indian football.
Grounds wanted
Dasmunsi said that the shortcomings of the past were addressed to a great extent, though the non-availability of grounds was a major concern especially in Maharashtra.
“The Cooperage Stadium is not in good shape. We are looking at the option of Kolhapur. We are looking for better infrastructure in Maharashtra,” said Dasmunsi, even as he added that neutral venues at Gurgaon and Delhi would be utilised if necessary.
The AIFF president said that a fourth place prize of Rs.10 lakh was introduced from this edition. The second and third placed teams will receive Rs.28 and Rs.20 lakh respectively.
He assured that there would be a sizeable increase in the allowance for the teams playing their matches in Mumbai, Goa and Kolkata. He sought corporate support for the clubs.
On the request of the chief coach Bob Houghton, the AIFF has been focusing on spotting strong and well-built players from north India.
It was mentioned that the target was the 2011 Asian Cup, and that all efforts would be made to have more international training and competition for the Indian team abroad.
The idea of focussing more on school football was mooted, but the AIFF president was quick to say that it was the responsibility of the School Games Federation and the government, and that his federation did not have the required funds to address the issue.
There will be a fair play award for Rs. one lakh, while the best striker of the league will get Rs.50,000. The best players in different positions apart from an overall ‘best player’ will get Rs.25,000 each. Man-of-the-Match award winner in every game will get Rs. 5,000.
News Courtsey:Hindu.com
