Our Sports Reporter
GUWAHATI: FC Green Valley will face Assam Police in the opening match of the 70th Bordoloi Trophy Football Tournament (Kamrup Metro Leg). The tournament is set to kick off on Wednesday at the SAI Sports Field in Guwahati.
A total of eight teams will participate in the Kamrup Metro Leg and they divided into two groups. Group A consists of FC Green Valley, Assam Police, NRL Football Academy and DBI Sports Club, while Group B includes Gauhati Town Club, SAI Guwahati, ASEBSC and Sonapur Sports Association.
The competition will follow a league-cum-knockout format. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, scheduled for February 10 and 11. The final will take place on February 13.
This year, the Guwahati Sports Association has introduced a new format, extending the tournament across the state and will organize jointly by Different District Sports Association Guwahati Sports Association and Assam Government. In the first phase, all 35 revenue districts of Assam will organize the tournament independently with their own teams. Each district’s initial phase will feature eight teams.
The second phase will consist of a zonal round, where six zones will compete, with two teams from each district qualifying. The final phase, to be hosted in Guwahati, will feature 16 teams: 12 from the zonal round, the champion and runner-up of the Guwahati Premier League, and two invited teams.
Speaking to the media, Guwahati Sports Association Secretary Devajit Saikia shared details of the tournament. He stated, “Except for a few venues, the first phase of the 70th Bordoloi Trophy will begin on January 29 across the state. We have allocated Rs 70-80 lakh for prize money. Cash awards will be given to the diferent winners in all three phases, along with individual honors such as the Golden Boot and Golden Gloves in the final phase.”
He further mentioned that in the final phase, two teams will be invited to participate, with one of them potentially being a team from abroad and the other likely a top team from the country, possibly even a side from the Indian Super League (ISL).
Bordoloi Trophy at a glance:
Total Districts: 35
Total matches: 610
Total players involved: 8400 (Approx)
Prize money: District round- Champion: Rs 75,000. Cluster Round-Champion Rs 1 lakh and runners up Rs 75,000, Final Round: Champion: Rs 10 lakh, runners up: Rs 5 Lakh and two semi finalists: Rs 2.5 lakh each.
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