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Stage set for State Premier League

By Sports reporter - 15 Sep 2010 12:00 AM GMT

GUWAHATI, Feb 3: The second Airtel Assam State Premier League Football Championship is all set to kick start at Sivasagar and Tezpur simultaneously on February 10.

The Bharti Airtel-sponsored championship will witness 10 teams to compete in two groups. At Sivasagar OIL FC, Assam Police Blues of Guwahati, FCI SC of Guwahati, PHE Silchar, Gauhati Town Club will contest each other while at Tezpur Assam Rifles, ASEB of Guwahati, 9th AP Bn of Nagaon, Salbagan Sports Club and Green Valley SC of Guwahati will meet each other in league phase.

After the preliminary rounds top two teams will qualify for the knock-out semifinals. The semifinals and the final will be played here. The semifinals will be played on February 22 and 23 while the final has been slated for February 25.

At Sivasagar FCI will take on PHE Silchar in the opening match while at Tezpur ASEB will lock horns with 9th AP Bn in the inaugural encounter.

Giving details about the championship in a press conference here today, the Assam Football Association (AFA) secretary Ankur Dutta said while eight teams have qualified from their respective associations, Gauhati Town Club and Green Valley have been included as sponsor teams. He also thanked Bharti Airtel for sponsoring the championship. Although the amount was not disclosed Dutta hoped the sponsor will provide adequate financial support. Both AFA and Airtel have signed an MoU today on the championship. Airtel chief operating officer Sudipto Choudhury, while addressing the media said their organisation is promoting sports in all over the country. In the entire NE region, particularly in Assam they are providing financial assistance for promoting sporting activities.

Bijit Saikia, president of the Tezpur District Sports Association and Anjan Dutta president of the Sivasagar D SA were also present in the press meet and intimated about the preparation. Other AFA officials Nripendra Narayan Singh and Dhansing Rongpi were also present in the meeting.