BDFA Super, 'A' Division Leagues to kick off today

The 2012-13 edition of the Bangalore Distrist Football Association’s (BDFA) Super Division and ‘A’ Division leagues will commence at the Bangalore Football Stadium from Sunday.

The usual suspects -- newly crowned champions KGF Academy (formerly BEML), runners-up Hindustan Aeronautics Sports Club, Madras Engineer Group and Karnataka State Police --  will battle it out for the top prize in the Super Division that has been expanded to 11 teams.

It has been done so to hand City’s latest private professional club South United Football Club, who came into force just this August, a debut and with some key players having joined the team they are expected to be no pushovers.

“A couple of years ago, the Karnataka State Football Association (KSFA) had made a conscious decision to limit the number of teams in either Super or ‘A’ decision to just 10,” said BDFA secretary ST Bhoopal while unveiling the fixtures at a press conference here on Saturday.

“It was done so that most matches are competitive and don’t produce one-sided results. However, we need to provide opportunities to people with an intention of developing football. But, next year the Super Division and ‘A’ Division will feature 10 teams with the bottom three from either being relegated.”

The league this summer left a bitter taste in the mouth after Bangalore Mars’ player D Venkatesh collapsed and died on the pitch that brought to fore the poor medical facilities at the venue. With KSFA having already roped in an ambulance, Bhoopal promised better medical care this time around.

Meanwhile, Deccan Herald photographer Srikanta Sharma R won the ‘Best Photo’ award for Super Division and a cash prize of Rs 5,000. Times of India’s Syed Asif grabbed the second prize (Rs 3,000) and Kannada Prabha’s K Ravi took home the third prize (Rs 2,000).

Everyday, the ‘A’ Division matches will be played at 1.00 pm and Super Division at 3.00 pm.

Teams: Super Division: KGF Sports Academy, HASC, ADE, MEG, KSP, ASC, Postal, Student Union, DYSS, RWF, South United FC.

‘A’ Division: CIL, BEL, AGORC, Bangalore Mars, ISRO, SAI, LRDE, BUFC, Jawahar Union, Bangalore Kickers.