Team Herald
PANJIM: Indian Super League (ISL) semifinalists FC Pune City will be the big attraction for Goan football lovers at the second edition of the AWES Cup, organised by Association for the Wellbeing of Elder Sportspersons (AWES) in collaboration with the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) and Dempo Sports Club (Juniors), at Tilak Maidan, Vasco.
The tournament kicks off on Tuesday, August 28 with a high-octane clash between defending champions Dempo Sports Club and FC Goa. All matches will kick off at 4pm while the final on September 15 will be played under lights.
Besides Dempo and FC Goa, the other Goan teams who will be seen in action include Goa Pro League champions Sporting Clube de Goa, Salgaocar FC and Sesa Football Academy.
Gokulam FC from Kerala and Mumbai District FA (MDFA) League winners ONGC are returning for the second edition, while unlike the first season when Pune City sent their reserve squad, they will be here with their first team which will include foreign stars like the Marcelinho, Uruguayan forward Emiliano Alfaro and ISL’s highest goal scorer Iain Hume. Local lads Adil Khan, Keenan Almeida and Gabriel Fernandes will add to the Goan connect.
The teams have been divided into two groups. Group A includes Dempo SC, FC Goa, FC Pune City and Salgaocar FC. Teams like Gokulam FC, ONGC, Sporting Clube de Goa and Sesa Football Academy complete group B.
