The tenth edition of the National Football League, with a prize-money tag of Rs 11 million (1.1 crore), will kick-off in Kolkata with a match between East Bengal and Mahindra United on January 10.
The same day, holders Dempo will take on Sporting Clube de Goa in another league match in Panaji, Goa.
The 10-team competition, to be called ONGC Cup National Football League, will be played in Kolkata, Goa, Mumbai, Delhi and Ludhiana.
The participating teams are: Dempo, Sporting Clube de Goa, East Bengal, Mohammedan Sporting, Mohun Bagan, Mahindra United, Fransa Pax Club, JCT Mills, Air India and Salgaocar.
The league has been divided into two phases. Forty matches will be played in first phase, to be held from January 10 to February 9. The second phase, in which 50 matches are slated, is scheduled from March 12 to May 14.
The winner of ONGC Cup NFL will take home Rs 4 million (40 lakh) while the runners-up will receive Rs 2.2 million (22 lakh).
Third place will earn Rs 1.5m (16 lakh), followed by Rs 900,000 (4th place), Rs 500,000 (5th place) and Rs 300,000 lakh.
The winner of round-robin league matches will get Rs 30,000 while the top scorer of the tournament is assured of Rs 50,000. The team winning the Fair Play trophy will receive Rs 100,000.
Addressing a media conference in Delhi on Thursday afternoon, All India Football Federation president Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi said the league had to be divided into two phases.
''We have to accommodate FIFA and AFC calendars also," he added.
He said for the first time the AIFF has kept three places -- Delhi, Bangalore and Calicut -- as alternative venues. This has been done so that if a match cannot be held at a scheduled venue due to unavoidable reasons, it can shifted to any of these places, so that the schedule is not disturbed and sponsors are not affected.
The AIFF chief said that there is a possibility of some matches being played at Barbourne stadium in Mumbai.
''I have talked to Raj Singh Dungarpur, who is president of that club, and he has agreed to allow football matches being played at that stadium,'' he informed.
He said the AIFF's request to clubs to ascertain the antecedents of foreign players before hiring them has started bearing fruits.
''Soon you (media) will know the ranking and status of these foreign players,'' he said.
Dasmunshi, who is also the Information and Broadcasting Minister, said though Zee TV has exclusive rights to telecast the ONGC Cup NFL, he would like to see Doodarshan also show few matches.
''I am confident Zee TV will cooperate because it will help football earn more exposure and more people will watch it on television,'' he added.
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