JOIN USAccording to the original fixture, Dempo were scheduled to play Hindustan Aeronautics Sports Limited (HASC) on May 23 — a day before their round-of-16 AFC Cup away match against Iraqi club Duhok on May 24 — and take on Pune FC three days later before facing Air India in the final round on May 29.
But the tweaked schedule will see Dempo take on HASC on June 1, the last day of the league, and before that, they will meet Pune FC on May 27 and Air India three days later.
Because of the rescheduled Dempo matches, seven final round games involving other teams have also been changed as under rules they are to be played on the same day.
The decision has been taken in consultation with all the clubs in a meeting at the Football House here on Monday.
“I think our club had no other option. We have to play the AFC Cup match in Iraq on May 24,” said Dempo manager Toni Almeida.
Revised schedule:
May 19:Mumbai FC vs Dempo (Kolhapur); Salgaocar vs East Bengal (Goa).
May 22: Mohun Bagan vs JCT (Kolkata); Churchill Brothers vs East Bengal (Goa).
May 27:Pune FC vs Dempo (Pune).
May 28:HASC vs East Bengal (Bangalore).
May 29:Chirag United vs Viva Kerala (Kolkata); Indian Arrows vs Mohun Bagan (Gurgaon).
May 30:Churchill Brothers vs Pune FC (Goa); ONGC vs Mumbai FC (Kolhapur); Dempo vs Air India (Goa); JCT vs Salgaocar (Ludhiana).
June 1:Dempo vs HASC (Goa); East Bengal vs Chirag United (Kolkata).