The euphoria of India’s first ever title triumph in the Nehru cup is yet to die down and the country’s top footballers will look to carry forward that confidence as they don their club colours in the 29th Federation Cup starting here on Tuesday.
India’s win in the five-nation tournament just a week back has given rise to a rare feel-good factor about Indian football and the players will get another chance to register themselves in the public mindspace in the 16-team tournament.
Hosts JCT, featuring striker Sunil Chhetri and midfielder Renedy Singh, will take on Goa’s Vasco Sports Club at the Guru Nanak Stadium in the inaugural match.
Kolkata rivals East Bengal, having Surkumar Singh and keeper Subrata Pal in their ranks, and Kolkata rivals Mohammedan Sporting will take centre-stage under the floodlights on Tuesday evening.
The star-studded team of defending champions Mohun Bagan, led by national captain Bhaichung Bhutia and having mercurial Brazilian Jose Ramirez Barreto and ever dependable NS Manju in the defence, will start their campaign against ONGC on Thursday.
National Football League champions Dempo Sports Club, who have Climax Lawrence, Mahesh Gawli and Clifford Miranda, begin with a clash against Kolkata’s Chirag United on Friday.
The tournament carries a total prize money of Rs 24.30 lakh with the winners taking away Rs 12 lakh and the runners-up getting richer by Rs seven lakh.
Schedule: Sept 4: JCT v Vasco (A) 15:30; Mohammedan Sporting vs East Bengal (B) 18:30; Sept 5: Army XI v Sporting Club de Goa (C ) 15:30; Mahindra United v HASC ( D) 18:30; Sept 6: Air India v Viva Kerala (E) 15:30; ONGC v Mohun Bagan ( F) 18:30; Sept 7: Dempo v Chirag United ( G) 15:30; Salgoacar v Churchill Brothers (H) 18:30.
Quarterfinals: Sept 8: Winner of Group ‘C’ vs Winner of Group ‘D’ 18:30; Sept 9: Winner of Group ‘A’ vs Winner of Group ‘B’ 15:30; Winner of Group ‘E’ vs Winner of Group ‘F’ 18:30; Sept 10: Winner of Group ‘G’ vs Winner of Group ‘H’ 18:30;
Semifinals: Sept 11: Winner of QF I vs Winner of QF II 18:30; Sept 12: Winner of QF III vs Winner of QF IV 18:30. Final: Sept 15: At 18:30. (The matches will be telecast live on Zee Sports).
