Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa open their campaign against Kerala in the 76th Hero Santosh Trophy National Football Championship on February 10, in Odisha.
Defending champions Kerala were the first team to come out of the pot, placed in Group A, alongside Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa. The winners of Group VI — which will commence in Imphal on January 22 — will also be placed in Group A. The hosts for the final round of the tournament, Odisha, are also placed in Group A.
Group B consists of the previous edition’s runners-up Bengal, Delhi and Meghalaya as well as the two direct entrants, Services and Railways. The runners-up of Group II or Group IV — depending on a better record as per regulations — will make up the final spot in this group.
The draw for the final rounds, part of the revamped format for the prestigious tournament, was conducted in the presence of All India Football Federation (AIFF) Secretary General Dr Shaji Prabhakaran, at AIFF headquarters, the Football House, on Thursday. The final rounds will be played in Odisha from February 10 to 20 while the semi-finals, third-place playoff and the finals will be played in Saudi Arabia.
