Kolkata, Goa teams in Day I ties

The tenth edition of the National Football League (NFL) is set for kick-off, with two matches scheduled for the inaugural day — one each at Kolkata (East Bengal vs Mohammedan Sporting) and Goa (Dempo vs Sporting Clube), starting simultaneously under floodlights on January 10.

There was hardly any surprise in either the title sponsors — ONGC, as in the previous year — or the prize money on offer (totalling Rs 1.1 crore) with the first six finishers raking in the money. The only change, for this edition, is the nomenclature: the event will be called the ONCG Cup NFL.

AIFF chief Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said that keeping in mind the problems of the past, the federation has identified three ’neutral/ alternative’ venues for matches. They include the Ambedkar Stadium (Delhi), Football Stadium (Bangalore) and Corporation Stadium (Kozhikode). Dasmunsi also advised clubs not to go on a buying-spree of nondescript foreign players.