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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, Dec 5: The second edition of the Philips National Football league will be a three-month long affair starting on December 13 with more money, more matches and more teams. A total prize money of Rs one crore and seven lakhs will be on offer in the 90-match tournament involving 10 of the country’s best clubs.
The Rs 15 lakh-hike in prize money means the winner will now get Rs 40 lakh, the runners-up Rs 25 lakh, the third place finisher Rs 18 lakh and Rs 12 lakh and Rs 7.5 lakh for the fourth and fifth place holders, respectively. Besides, the fair play trophy winner gets Rs 2.5 lakh, a hike of Rs one lakh from last year.
According to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, the league may have a second division by next year. The top two teams from the second division will move up to the top division while last two finishers in the main division will be relegated. He added that the two-year experimental stage to turn the league fully professional has been extended till 1998-99.
As per the draw which was released here today, defending champions JCT, runners-up Churchill Brothers and debutantes FC Kochin take the field on the opening day. While FC Kochin kick off against East Bengal at the Nehru Stadium in Kochi, Churchill Brothers take on JCT in their away match in Delhi. Incidentally, FC Kochin, the only professional club in the league, will play all their home matches in Kochi.
According to the AIFF Chief, JCT’s home matches will be staged in Delhi, though the club officials wanted Ludhiana to be their home venue. "We have to maintain certain standards and in the absence of any proper infrastructure we have decided to hold all the home matches of JCT in Delhi,” he said.
According to NFL committee chairman Albert Colaco the clubs will be allowed to register 27 players this time as against last year’s 25. Each club has to register a minimum of 18 players before their first match and can add nine more as the league progresses.
Each club will also be allowed to have five foreign recruits though only four can take the field in a match. The club can register four foreign players in the first lot of 18 players and can add one more in the next lot of nine.
