Last Updated: February 20, 2024, 20:31 IST
Santosh Tophy (AIFF Image)
A complete of 12 groups will compete within the remaining rounds of the Santosh Trophy, which is being held in Arunachal Pradesh for the primary time.
The remaining rounds of 77th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2023-24 will start with a match between Meghalaya and Services right here on Wednesday.
A complete of 12 groups will compete within the remaining rounds of the Santosh Trophy, which is being held in Arunachal Pradesh for the primary time.
While hosts Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Goa, Assam, Services and Kerala are clubbed in Group A, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi, Manipur, Mizoram and Railways are positioned in Group B.
The event will happen in Yupia, Itanagar from February 21 until March 9.
The remaining 4 stage of the nation’s premier state event final yr was held in Saudi Arabia the place Karnataka gained the title after 54 years.
A complete of 37 matches will likely be performed because of the enlargement of the knockout stage. The high 4 groups from every group will progress to the quarter-finals.
The ongoing I-League 2 season has taken a break to permit gamers to symbolize their states within the Santosh Trophy.
In different matches on the opening day, Assam will tackle Kerala whereas Goa will play hosts Arunachal Pradesh.
“The importance of the Santosh Trophy cannot be stressed enough as it gives young players the chance to shine. Clubs can identify and unearth talent. It’s great to see the tournament spread to new places, and I can’t wait to come to Arunachal Pradesh and witness the excitement,” AIFF Technical Committee chairperson IM Vijayan mentioned.
While head coach Khlain Pyrkhat Syiemlieh will miss a number of key names who’re a part of Shillong Lajong squad within the I-League, Meghalaya nonetheless have a bunch of gamers from final yr’s workforce like Sheen Stevenson Sohktung, Dawanchwa Carlos Challam, Damonlang Pathaw and Brolington Warlarpih.
The group additionally comprises robust sides like Goa and Kerala. Goa have one of the crucial skilled squads within the remaining spherical, with most of their gamers coming from I-League 2 sides Sporting Clube de Goa and Dempo SC.
Services and Assam will even hope to make it to the knockouts.
Karnataka, like Meghalaya, even have misplaced some vital names from final yr like Robin Yadav, Bekey Oram and M Sunil Kumar.
Maharashtra, who led the goal-scoring charts within the group stage with a whopping 24 objectives in 5 matches, are one of many favourites in Group B.
Manipur have been one other free-scoring aspect, netting 21 objectives within the first spherical.
Delhi, however, are a aspect that made it into the ultimate spherical on the premise of a rock-solid defence, eking out three 1-0 wins. The workforce from the nationwide capital gained their solely Santosh Trophy title in 1945.
Mizoram and Railways, each of whom certified as one of the best runners-up sides, spherical up Group B.
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated news company feed – PTI)
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