Manipur and Meghalaya to start campaign on Feb 11

NEW DELHI: The final round of the 76th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy will begin on Friday in Bhubaneswar. The opening day of action will feature three games from Group A.

Defending champions Kerala will take on Goa in the opening match at the Capital Football Arena at 9 AM IST. Later, Odisha, hosting the tournament for the first time since May 2012, will play Maharashtra, while eight-time champions Punjab battle it out against Karnataka at the 7th Battalion Ground; both matches set to kick off at 3 PM IST.

Group B, beginning the next day, features six teams as well, including direct final round entrants Railways and Services. They take on Manipur and Meghalaya, respectively, in their first matches.

FIXTURES:

(Meghalaya and Manipur)

February 11: Manipur vs Railways, 3 pm IST, OFA 7th Battalion. February 11: Meghalaya vs Services, 3 pm IST, Capital Football Arena. February 13: Meghalaya vs Manipur, 3 pm IST, Capital Football Arena. February 15: Railways vs Meghalaya, 3 pm IST, OFA 7th Battalion. February 15: West Bengal vs Manipur, 7.30 pm IST, Kalinga Stadium. February 18: Manipur vs Services, 9 am IST, OFA 7th Battalion. February 18: Meghalaya vs Delhi, 3 pm IST, Capital Football Arena. February 20: Delhi vs Manipur, Time & Venue TBD. February 20: West Bengal vs Meghalaya, Time & Venue TBD.

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