Federation Cup Football kicks off today
A limited number of spectators will be allowed to witness the matches at the stadium following health guidelines.
The country's domestic football will kick off with the season's curtain-raiser Walton Federation Cup Football 2020 on Tuesday at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Defending champions Bashundhara Kings will play Old Dhaka's Rahmatganj MFS in the day's match at 5:30 pm.
Saif Sporting Club will play Uttar Baridhara Club at 3:15 pm while Arambagh KS will face Brothers Union Club at 5:45 pm on Wednesday.
The trophy of the tournament was unveiled at the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) office in Motijheel on Monday in the presence of the managers, head coaches and captains of the participating teams.
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BFF Senior Vice-President Abdus Salam Murshedy MP, Walton Group Executive Director FM Iqbal Bin Anwar Dawn and BFF General Secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag were also present.
All the 13 Premier Division Football League teams, split into four groups, will compete in the tournament, which will be played on a league basis during December 22-30.
Muktijoddha Sangdad KC, which earlier showed reluctance to participate in the tournament showing financial crisis, finally managed a sponsor to compete in the meet.
Also, Brothers Union Club, which failed to submit the list of their registered players within time, got permission to participate in the competition.
Apart from tournament's title sponsor Walton Group, Premier Bank, and IFIC Bank are the co-sponsor of the meet organised by BFF.
Earlier, drawing of the groups for the tournament was finalised at the BFF office last week through a programme.
Arch-rivals Dhaka Abahani and Dhaka Mohammedan were placed in Group D with Muktijoddha SKC, while league champions Bashundhara Kings were put in Group C along with Chattogram Abahani and Rahmatganj MFS.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the quarterfinals.
The champions will receive Tk5 lakh, and the runners-up will get Tk3 lakh as prize money. Also, all the 13 participating teams will get Tk2 lakh as appearance money.
About the tickets prices of the matches, the BFF said VIP tickets will cost Tk50, and it will take Tk20 to enjoy the matches from the gallery.
A limited number of spectators will be allowed to witness the matches at the stadium following health guidelines. The rates of the tickets Taka 50 for VIP and Taka 20 for the gallery have been estimated.
The quarterfinals stage will begin from January 1, 2021. The quarterfinals will be followed by semifinals on January 6 and 7 and the final is slated for January 10.
Grouping:
Group A – Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Limited, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited and Bangladesh Police Football Club.
Group B – Saif Sporting Club Limited, Arambagh Krira Sangha, Brothers Union Club Limited and Uttar Baridhara Club.
Group C- Bashundhara Kings, Chattogram Abahani Limited and Rahmatganj Muslim and Friends Society.
Group D – Abahani Limited, Dhaka, Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra and Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited.
