24-Jun-2009 118
Orissa Football Association (OFA) has announced to conduct its First Division League at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack from June 28 to August 9.
Known as the biggest football league of the state, it will, as usual, be confined to teams of Cuttack city.
According to OFA secretary (in-charge) M A Alam, 24 teams, including defending champions State Sports Hostel, will play a total of 64 matches in this year’s First Division League.
Matches include 24 each in preliminary and super league, two semifinals, one final, 12 in relegation league and one relegation knock-out.
Teams would to play preliminary league after being divided into eight groups and top two teams from each group would advance to the super league. Eight super league teams to be divided into four groups and group toppers would qualify for semifinals.
Eight teams, who fail to qualify for Super League, will play the Relegation League after being divided into two groups. Teams finishing at the bottom of each group of the Relegation League will face each other and the looser will be relegated to next year’s Second Division League.
Anchalika Sports Association has been promoted from last year’s Second Division to this year’s First Division League. Two teams of last year’s First Division League _ Telecom and Independent Club _ have been relegated to this year’s Second Division League.
GROUPINGS:
Group-A: Sports Authority of India (SAI), Radhagovinda Club, Morning Club.
Group-B: Jai Durga Club, Orissa Police, Orissa Government Press.
Group-C: Radharaman Club, Mangala Club, Western Mahavir Club.
Group-D: Rising Students Club, State Sports Hostel, Young Utkal Club.
Group-E: State Bank of India, Orissa Fisheries, Sunrise Club.
Group-F: Jobra Durga Club, Sunshine Club, Azad Hind Club.
Group-G: East Coast Railway, Anchalik Sports Association, Bidanasi Club.
Group-H: Rising Star Club, Chand Club, Chauliaganj Club.
PRELIMINARY LEAGUE FIXTURE:
June 28: SAI Training Centre vs Radhagovinda
June 29: Orissa Police vs Orissa Govt Press
June 30: Radharaman vs Western Mahavir
July 1: State Sports Hostel vs Young Utkal
July 2: SAI Training Centre vs Morning Club
July 3: Orissa Govt Press vs Jai Durga
July 4: Mangala vs Western Mahavir
July 5: Rising Students vs Young Utkal
July 6: Radhagovinda vs Morning and Jai Durga vs Orissa Police
July 7: Radharaman vs Mangala and Rising Students vs State Sports Hostel
July 8: State Bank of India vs Orissa Fisheries and Jobra Durga vs Sunshine
July 9: East Coast Railway vs Anchalika SA and Chand Club vs Chauliaganj
July 10: Orissa Fisheries vs Sunrise and Sunshine vs Azad Hind
July 11: Anchalika vs Bidanasi and Rising Star vs Chauliaganj
July 12: State Bank of India vs Sunrise and Jobra Durga vs Azad Hind
July 13: East Coast Railway vs Bidanasi and Rising Star vs Chand Club
SUPER LEAGUE: July 16 to August 3, 2009
SEMIFINALS: August 6 and 7
FINAL: August 9
