MARGAO
After starting a revamped and rejuvenated format of the Hero Santosh Trophy at the end of last year and the second edition of the Hero Futsal Championship set to follow, the AIFF continues to expand football’s frontiers.In the presence of Secretary General Dr Shaji Prabhakaran, the federation announced the groups and fixtures for the inaugural Hero National Beach Soccer Championship at the Football House in New Delhi.
Speaking on the occasion of the draw to decide the groups, Dr Prabhakaran said, “We are thrilled to launch this competition and are thankful to the Gujarat State Football Association (GSFA) for conducting the event. It is commendable that twenty teams will take part in the competition to be held in Surat.”
“Seeing as this is the first time the competition will be held, there are obviously no clear favourites,” Prabhakaran said. “Every team will come with an open mindset hoping to capitalise and become inaugural champions. We look forward to an exciting event.”
The Hero National Beach Soccer Championship will be held at Dumas Beach in Surat, Gujarat, in Arena I and Arena II.
Goa has been clubbed with Dadra & Nagar Haveli And Daman & Diu, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh and Karnataka in Group D.
GOA's GROUP D FIXTURES
January 26: DNH & DD vs Goa, Odisha vs Arunachal Pradesh
January 27: Karnataka vs Arunachal Pradesh, DNH & DD vs Odisha
January 28: Goa vs Odisha, Karnataka vs DNH & DD
January 29: Arunachal Pradesh vs DNH & DD, Goa vs Karnataka.
January 30: Odisha vs Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh vs Goa
