Kolkata: The top division League of India, the Hero I-League 2017-18 is all set to start in the next one week, with former champions Mohun Bagan facing Minerva Punjab in an away match at Ludhiana in the opening fixture on November 25, it was revealed on Tuesday.
Kolkata giants East Bengal kick off their campaign against Aizawl FC three days later at the Yuba Krirangan Stadium in Kolkata. Bagan however play their first match at home in a Kolkata derby on December 3 against East Bengal.
Interestingly, all the three Kolkata outfits this season, Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and ATK, in both the I-League and the Indian Super League will use the Salt Lake Stadium as their home stadium. The Kolkata derby, the biggest clash of titans in Indian football will be played at the same stadium, first as a home ground of the Mariners and then the Red and Gold Brigade in the return fixture on January 13.
With Star Sports earning the rights to telecast both the I-League and ISL matches, which will be running simultaneously this season, three timings of 14:00, 17:30 and 20:00 P.M. has been fixed as the kick off starts for the I-League matches.
Meanwhile, Indian Arrows will be the name of the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) team, which will also be participating in the I-League along with the nine other teams. Most of the players from the sports body’s team belong to the U-17 and U-19 category who played in the recently concluded U-17 World Cup and U-19 AFC Championship. India had made a formal bid to host the U-20 World Cup and if approved, the host nation may once again play the World Cup, keeping that mind this team comprising some of the best players from both the groups has been formed.
Indian Arrows play their first two matches at home against Chennai City FC and Minerva Punjab FC. However given the uncertainty ofbut Players’ participation owing to international commitments the venues and dates have not been finalised as yet.
The two new clubs in the league-Gokulam Kerala FC and Neroca FC will use Kozhikode and Imphal as their home cities. While Gokulam kick off it’s campaign against Shillong Lajong FC on November 27, Neroca will have to wait till December 1 to play their first match against Minerva FC in Ludhiana.