Salgaocar, JCT kick off NFL

NEW DELHI, DEC 8: The fourth National Football League NFL begins on Thursday with last season's champion club Salgaocar taking on Jagatj...

NEW DELHI, DEC 8: The fourth National Football League NFL begins on Thursday with last season8217;s champion club Salgaocar taking on Jagatjit Cotton Textile JCT Mills of Phagwara at the Ambedkar Stadium. The league will feature 132 matches at eight venues among the 12 teams and on a home-and-away basis.

Propped up by Coca-Cola8217;s sponsorship of Rs 1.8 crore and a few other co-sponsors, the NFL, which continues to be semi-professional in nature, offers Rs 40 lakh as the winners8217; prize. The runners-up get Rs 22 lakh while the third placed finisher earns Rs 16 lakh. There are monetary gains for the next three places as well, apart from the Rs 1 lakh appearance money which has been promised to each team. Winners of every match will get Rs 20,000 while Rs 2.5 lakh goes along with the Fairplay award.

Salgaocar have been preparing quite earnestly to retain the title. Runners-up in the Goan League and winners of the Rovers Cup, Durand Cup and the Super Cup, they are among the favourites. They have a good recordin NFL, third in the second edition and winners of the third.

JCT were the winners of the inaugural edition. Of course, they then had a very good team with IM Vijayan, Bhaichung Bhutia, Jo Paul Ancheri and Carlton Chapman in their side. This time, they have to depend on local talent. However, JCT will be perked up by the presence of Hardip Sangha and Deepak Mondal. Both missed the Durand Cup as they were with the Indian team playing the Asia Cup Group III qualifiers.

Salgaocar, too, will have their main stars. The good news for them is that Alvito D8217;Cunha is back in the side after an injury lay-off and is showing a lot of confidence. He scored the golden goal against Mohun Bagan in Super Cup on Monday. Bruno Coutinho, who met with a scooter accident, is a doubtful for Thursday8217;s game while S Venkatesh might require a bit more time to regain his confidence.

Salgaocar have their dependable defence together again. With Roberto Fernades reclaiming his place as a stopper-back, the back-four is ready todefend the Salgaocar citadel. Franky Baretto, Francis Coelho and Roque Pereira along with Fernandes, have done a fairly good job for the side and although Baretto migrated to Calcutta for a season, the Salgaocar defence have always been their main force. Covan Lawrence is there as a back-up for injury. Nigerian midfielder Habib Adekunle is nursing a minor injury.

The NFL will allow five foreigners to be registered by each side although only four will be able to play in a match. Salgaocar have another foreigner, Shariff, waiting to join Habib, Gbenga Lawal and Joao Santos. JCT do not have foreigners in their side. The League committee will permit 27 players to be registered, 20 for the first round and seven can be added later.

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The NFL Second Division, with 18 teams, will be conducted before the completion of the main division. The group matches, in February, will be held in West Bengal, a venue in North-East and Kerala.