PANAJI
Goa have been drawn in Group A of the final rounds of the National Football Championship for the 76th Santosh Trophy alongside defending champions Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and hosts Odisha. The winners of Group VI ” which will commence in Imphal on January 22 ” will join the group.
Goa will open their campaign against Kerala on February 10 before taking on hosts Odisha (Feb 12), Karnataka (Feb 14), Winner Group VI (Feb 17) and Maharashtra (Feb 19). The final rounds will be played in Odisha from February 10-20. The semifinals, third-place playoff and the final of the tournament will be played in Saudi Arabia.
Group B consists of the previous edition’s runners-up Bengal, Delhi and Meghalaya as well as the two direct entrants, Services and Railways. The runners-up of Group II or Group IV ” depending on a better record as per regulations ” will make up the final spot in the group.
THE GROUPS: Group A - Kerala, Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Odisha, Group VI Winner; Group B - Bengal, Meghalaya, Delhi, Services, Railways, Group II/VI Runners-up; Goa's matches: Feb 10: vs Kerala, Feb 12: vs Odisha, Feb 14: vs Karnataka, Feb 17: vs Winner Group VI, Feb 19: vs Maharashtra.
