Hosts and six-time winners will also face Nepal and Sri Lanka in group stage
New Delhi: Six-time winners India will face Pakistan on the opening day of the 2015 South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship.
The ninth edition of the tournament will be held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, from December 23 to January 3.
The tournament draw, held here on Wednesday, clubbed India with Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka in Group A, while Afghanistan, Bhutan, the Maldives and Bangladesh will constitute Group B.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals to be held on December 31, followed by the final on January 3 next year.
All India Football Federation (AIFF) secretary Kushal Das said he was hopeful that India, the most successful team in the regional tournament, will produce a creditable display.
India lost to Afghanistan in the final of the 2013 edition. The defending champions will make their final appearance in the tournament after deciding to be part of another regional football organisation — the Central Asia Football Association — from next year.
He also hoped that the current diplomatic logjam between India and Pakistan, a major obstacle in conducting sporting and cultural ties between the two nations, will not prove to be a hindrance to hosting the neighbouring country.
I-League: Ashutosh Mehta set to sign for Mohun Bagan on
loan from Mumbai City FC
The former Mumbai FC player has finally signed for a club after snapping his ties with Bharat FC...
Mumbai City FC defender Ashutosh Mehta is all set to join Mohun Bagan on loan from Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Mumbai City FC ahead of the I-League, Goal can confirm.
Mehta, who can play both as a full-back and a winger, had signed for newbies Bharat FC before the club decided to release all its players recently. He was courted by the likes of Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Bengaluru FC and Salgaocar last summer, but had decided to extend his stay at Mumbai FC to take part in the inaugural season of the Indian Super League (ISL).
After a terrific 2013-14, the last season didn't go as expected for the 24-year-old player but still a number of I-League teams were interested to bring him on board. At least three of the top five teams of last season's I-League were keen on his services before he penned a deal with Bharat, with a couple of them including Mohun Bagan chasing for his prized signature even after his release.
Now with the opportunity of playing in the AFC Champions League play-off for the very first time, Mehta will hope to regain his best form this season. Mehta is currently taking part in the Mumbai City FC's pre-season camp in Mumbai while the Mohun Bagan officials hope to close the deal this evening.
On the other hand, Mohun Bagan coach Sanjoy Sen has openly critized the junior players of the team after their disastrous Calcutta Football League (CFL) campaign and has stressed upon the need to strengthen the side before the start of the I-League.
Pakistan football team set to play in India in December
(Photo: AFP)
India and Pakistan have been clubbed in the same group for the SAFF Suzuki Cup 2015
New Delhi: Amid a cloud of uncertainty over the resumption of India-Pakistan cricket ties, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Wednesday expressed confidence of getting government clearance and hosting the neighbouring country in the SAFF Cup later this year.
Six-time winners India and Pakistan have been clubbed in the same group for the SAFF Suzuki Cup 2015, for which the draw was held in the capital. Pakistan football team has never ever skipped any edition of the South Asian championship since its inception.
"We had Pakistan before in 2011 and played a couple of friendlies in Bangalore last year. The necessary permission has to be taken from the government but I don't see any problem," AIFF general secretary Kushal Das said after the launch of the tournament.
Asked if they would have a Plan B in place should they fail to get a go-ahead from the government, Das said, "We will have to face it when it comes. We don't foresee any problems. It is important to follow the process, may be in other cases the process was not correctly followed."
Besides India the other teams in Group A include Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, who will lock horns with the hosts on the opening day of the competition on December 23.
Defending champions Afghanistan were clubbed with Maldives, Bhutan and Bangladesh in Group B. The ninth edition of SAFF Cup will take place in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala from December 23 to January 3, 2016. The top two finishing teams from each group will progress into the semifinal stage of the competition.
"The SAFF Championship is always one of the most important events in the South Asian Football calendar. The championship has become more competitive as the years have progressed. And I hope that this year's championship which is being held in one of the football hubs of India, Trivandrum, turns out to be engrossing and interesting," Das said.
SAFF president and Bangladesh football supremo Kazi Md Salahuddin said, "Today, football in South Asia is developing rapidly and we are proud that the SAFF Championship is South Asia's top football event. This year we welcome Suzuki as our title sponsor. We look forward to Suzuki's support in building the profile of SAFF Suzuki Cup and elevating its stature across Asia.”
AIFF president Praful Patel said, "It is a great pleasure to host the SAFF Championship in India once again. This time it will be held at the newly launched The Sports Hub, Thiruvananthapuram, which is a world class complex."
Kinji Saito, managing officer, Suzuki Motor Corporation said, "With SAFF sponsorship, we hope to contribute to the growing popularity of football in South Asia. Also, we would appreciate if more people get to know about our brand through this opportunity."
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