BHUBANESWAR 13-Aug-2018
FAO First Division League, the top-tier senior men’s inter-club/institution tournament of Football Association of Odisha (FAO), will be conducted in a new format this year at Cuttack from August 17 to September 29. The First Division League will now be conducted in three groups _ Diamond, Gold and Silver.
Top eight clubs/institutions have been placed in the Diamond Group, while Gold Group has been formed with seven teams. The Silver Group has been created with a total 12 teams. But the Silver Group has been further divided into Group A and B with six teams each.
After completion of group league, top four finishers from Diamond Group, top three from Gold Group and top most of Silver Group will qualify for the quarterfinal stage, whch will be known as Super Cup. The top position of the Silver Group will be determined with a match between the top teams of Group A and B.
The bottom-placed team of Silver Group A and B will meet each other in a relegation match and losing side will be relegated to the Second Division League. Super Cup quarterfinals will be played on October 1 and 2, followed by semifinals on October 4 and the final on October 6.
GROUPINGS:
DIAMOND: Radharaman Club, Jay Durga Club, Rising Student Club, East Coast Railway, Sunrise Club, Bidanasi Club, State Sports Hostel and Odisha Police.
GOLD: Rising Star Club, Young Utkal Club, Radha Gobinda Club, Independent Club, Kishore Club, Mangala Club, Rovers Club.
SILVER: Group-A: SAI Training Centre, Yuva Vandhu Cultural Group, Odisha Government Press, Club-n-Club, Chauliaganj Club, Town Club. Group-B: State Bank of India, Chand Club, Lalbag Club, Azad Hind Club, Sunshine Club, Western Mahaveer Club.