*J&K to take on Uttarakhand in inaugural tie
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 8: 73rd National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy 2018-19 North Zone Qualifying Round will begin from February 11, 2019 at picturesque Stadium, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDB), Katra. Jammu and Kashmir will lock horns with Uttarakhand in the inaugural match on the same day.
This was stated by Secretary Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council Naseem Javaid Choudhary while addressing media persons, here today.
He was accompanied by Ashok Kumar, Director Sports SMVDSB; Zamir Thakur, President Jammu and Kashmir Foootball Association (JKFA); Sheikh Mehmood, President District Football Association (DFA) Jammu and Surinder Singh Bunty, Treasurer JKFA.
Mr Chaudhary said that before the start of the first National Club Football League in 1996, the Santosh Trophy was considered the top domestic Championship in the Country, adding the tournament is held every year with 31 teams which are divided into zones/groups to go through the preliminary round.
He said the 73rd edition of NFC for Santosh Trophy North Zone Qualifiers is to be held at Katra Sports Complex from February 11 to 16, 2019.
“Eight States from North India are competing in the Championship which includes Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Chandigarh and host Jammu & Kashmir”, the organisers said.
“As per the fixture issued by AIFF, a total of 12 league matches will be played on single leg format. Participating eight teams are divided into two groups and the top team from each group will qualify for Final Round,” said Mr Chaudhary.
He said the North Zone Qualifying Rounds are being organised by J&K Football Association, in collaboration with J&K State Sports Council, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and J&K Bank Ltd.
“This is the fourth time that J&K Football Association is given the responsibility by AIFF for hosting of this Championship earlier in 1978 (Srinagar), 2008 (Jammu/Srinagar), 2016 (Jammu) & now in 2018-19 (Katra),” said Zamir Thakur.
Meanwhile, on the occasion J&K Football Association entered into MoU with leading sports manufacturers Vector X, a Jalandhar based Company. Vector X will sponsor playing apparels and official footballs to J&K State teams which are participating in national events. The agreement between JKFA & Vector X will be for a period of three years.
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