-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Wishing all Goanetters | | a Prosperous | | and | | Happy New Year - 2006 | | Goanet - http://www.goanet.org | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rs 11 million prize money NFL to start from January 10 05 Jan 2006 - UNI
New Delhi: The 10th edition of the National Football League with a prize money tag of Rs 11 million will kick off at Kolkata with a match between East Bengal and Mahindra United on January 10. Same day, holders Dempo will take on Sporting Clube De Goa in another league match at Panaji. The 10-team competition, to be called ONGC Cup National Football League, will be played in Kolkata, Goa, Mumbai, Delhi and Ludhiana. The team taking part in the league are Dempo, Sporting Clube De Goa, East Bengal, Mohammedan Sporting, Mohun Bagan, Mahindra United, Fransa-Pax Club, JCT Mills (Phagwara), Air India and Salgaocar. The league has been divided into two phases. Forty matches will be played in first phase to be held from January 10 to February 9 and the second phase, in which 50 matches are slated, is scheduled from March 12 to May 14. The winner of ONGC Cup NFL will take home Rs 40 lakhs while the runners up will receive Rs 22 lakhs. The third placer will earn Rs 16 lakh, followed by Rs nine lakh (4th placer), Rs 5 lakh (5th placer) and Rs 3 lakhs (6th placer). Winner of round robin league match will get Rs 30,000 while the highest scorer of the tournament is assured of Rs 50,000 and Team getting the Fair Play trophy will receive Rs one lakh. Addressing a media conference here this afternoon, All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said the league had to be divided into two phases as "We have to accommodate FIFA and AFC calendars also". He said for the first time, the AIFF has kept three places- Delhi, Bangalore and Calicut- as alternate venues. This has been done so that if a match can not be held on a scheduled venue due to unavoidable reason, it be shifted to any of these places so that the schedule is not disturbed and the sponsors are not affected. The AIFF chief said that there was a possibility of some matches being played at Barbourne Stadium in Mumbai. "I have talked to Raj Singh Dungarpur, who is president of that club and he has agreed to allow football matches being played at that stadium," he informed. He said the AIFF's request to the clubs to ascertain the antecedents of the foreign players before taking them in has started bearing fruits. "Soon you (media) will know the ranking and the status of these foreign players," he said. Mr Dasmunsi, who is also the Information and Broadcasting Minister, said though Zee TV has the exclusive rights to telecast the ONGC Cup NFL, he will like to see Doodarshan also show few matches. "I am confident Zee TV will cooperate because it will help football earn more exposure and more people will watch it on television," he added. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Goa - 2005 Santosh Trophy Champions | | | | Support Soccer Activities at the grassroots in our villages | | Vacationing in Goa this year-end - Carry and distribute Soccer Balls | --------------------------------------------------------------------------
