GUWAHATI, Oct 29 � Defending champions and host Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) made a flying start in the 71st All India Railway Football Championship.
In the inaugural match played at the NF Railway Stadium Maligaon today, NFR defeated West Central Railway (WCR) 4-1.
Sibra Narzary, Sashanka Chanda (two) and Bappa Biswas were the goal scorers for the host team while Abinash Thapa reduced the margin. General manager, NF Railway RS Virdi was chief guest of the opening ceremony.
The participating teams are divided into four groups. The NF Railway will host Group A and C while the matches of Group B and D will be hosted by Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala, Punjab.
Teams in Group �A� are- Northeast Frontier Railway, Metro Railway, North Central Railway, South Western Railway, West Central Railway and Research Design and Standard Organisation (RDSO). Teams in Group �C� are-Central Railway, East Coast Railway, Northern Railway, East Central Railway, South Central Railway and South Eastern Railway. After the league phase the knock out stage of the championship will be held at Kharagpur, West Bengal from November 17 to 22.
