All set for new I-League season

NEW DELHI: The 13th edition of I-League, which is set to begin on November 30, was officially launched in the National Capital on Thursday.

The league will feature 11 teams this season, with the induction of TRAU FC, winner of the Second Division last term. In the opener, former champions Mohun Bagan FC and Aizawl FC will square off at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Aizawl next Saturday.

Holder Chennai City FC, managed by Singaporean Akbar Nawas, will begin its title defence at home with a clash against TRAU on December 1. In a first, fans from across the country will witness two local derbies in I-League 2019-20 - the Kolkata derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, and the Imphal derby featuring NEROCA FC and TRAU.

“We are very happy to welcome TRAU to I-League. The competition has played a critical role in spreading the game to all corners of the country. And, the pan India presence has been the unique feature of the league in the last few editions,” AIFF President Praful Patel said in a statement.

“Over the years, I-League has been scouting and providing a platform for future stars of Indian football. This time, we have teams from eight states and one Union Territory fighting for the top honours. I wish luck to all the participating sides,” said AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das. The upcoming edition will be broadcast live on DSport.

Participating teams:

Chennai City FC (Tamil Nadu), Punjab FC (Punjab), Aizawl FC (Mizoram), NEROCA FC (Manipur), TRAU FC (Manipur), Mohun Bagan & Quess East Bengal (West Bengal), Gokulam Kerala FC (Kerala), Churchill Brothers FC Goa (Goa), Indian Arrows (Goa) and Real Kashmir FC (Kashmir).

PRIZE MONEY: Winner – Rs 1 Cr; Runner-up – Rs 60 lakh; Third place – Rs 40 lakh; Fourth place – Rs 25 lakh.