Pune Football Club will rewrite a
new chapter in the history books of city football as it will become the first ever team from the city to participate in the Indian Football Association (IFA) Shield which will be held in Kolkatta from August 30 to September 12 .
Having earned the distinction of becoming the first ever team from the city and Western Maharashtra to qualify for the 1st division of the I league
"It's an honour for PFC to play a tournament that is the one the 4th oldest football tournament in the world and we are looking forward to have a successful tournament, "said Chirag Tanna, Head Operations PFC.
Adds Tanna, "It will be a tough task to get into the semifinal round of the IFA Cup, but then the tournament provides the perfect ground to test our
strength as a team.”
Pune FC has been placed in Group D along with AS Douanes of Senegal, and Air India.
Twelve teams will be divided in four groups will play in a league-cum-knock out basis and top four teams from each group will make the semi-finals. Winners will get prize money of Rs 7.5 lakh while the runners-up will take home Rs 5 lakh.
Following is the PFC Squad :
Goal Keepers -: Subrata Paul, Narsimhan Balaji,
Defenders -: Othallo Tabia, Caitano Costa, Sunil Kumar, K. Rahul, Chika Wali, Selwyn Fernandes,
Midfielders -: Asim Hassan, Shanmugam Venkatesh, J. Prasad, G. Vignesh, Kutty Anees, S. Kuttymani, Arata Izumi, Godwin Diego Franco, Djidjia Douhou Pierre (Ivory Cost), Sergey Tokov (Uzbekistan),
Strikers -: Jeje Lalpekhlua, Manoj T.M
Following are the GROUPINGS:
Group A: East Bengal, Chirag United SC, Winners of Pradyut Dutta Memorial Tournament.
Group B: Mohammedan Sporting, Churchill Brothers, Shillong Lajong FC .
Group C: Mohun Bagan, George Telegraph, Mahindra United
Group D: A S Douanes of Senegal, Air India and Pune FC.
Following is the programme
Aug. 30: Mohammedan Sporting - Shillong Lajong FC; Air India - Pune FC.
Sept. 1: Chirag United SC - TFA; George Telegraph - Mahindra United.
Sept. 2: Mohammedan Sporting - Churchill; AS Douanes - Air India.
Sept. 3: East Bengal - TFA; Mohun Bagan - George Telegraph.
Sept. 4: Churchill - Shillong Lajong FC.
Sept. 5: AS Douanes - Pune FC .
Sept. 6: East Bengal - Chirag United SC; Mohun Bagan - Mahindra United.
Sept. 8: 1st semi-final.
Sept. 9: 2nd semi-final.
Sept. 12: Final
