U-19 I-League: Pune FC face Mumbai Tigers upfront

Pune FC U-19 Team ready for U-19 I-League, face Mumbai Tigers upfront, Picture Courtesy: Pune FC

Two-time defending champions Pune FC will begin their campaign against Mumbai Tigers FC in their Under-19 I-League opener in Pune on Tuesday, 14th January, 2014.

Pune FC goes into the tournament looking for a hat-trick of wins after emerging top in the last two editions of the competition in Kalyani (2012) and Jamshedpur (2013) respectively.

Clubbed in the five-team Maharashtra-zone, Pune FC Under-19s – comprising of the second batch of the Peninsula Pune Football Club Academy (PPFCA) players – will be up against fellow Under-19 teams that include Mumbai FC, Kenkre FC, PIFA Colaba FC and AIFF Navi Mumbai Academy apart from Mumbai Tigers.

Post expansion, the Under-19 I-League will be played in a new format and will have 29 teams contest for top honours in a two-tier run to the title.

The five zones include, Kolkata, Mumbai, Shillong, Goa and Rest of India.

The four city-named zones will engage themselves in a home-away format with the winner advancing to the final leg to be held in Jamshedpur. The Rest of India zone will play a single-leg in Jamshedpur with the Top 2 advancing.

The Final-leg of the Under-19 I-League, which will include 6 teams is scheduled in mid-April in Jamshedpur and will be played on a single-leg.

In winning the last two editions of the competition, Pune FC has set the record of most number of wins. In 2013, they logged seven wins (3 in group stage/4 in final stage) while in 2012 they romped to the title with an all win record (4 in group stage/5 in final stage).

PUNE FC SCHEDULE

14/01/2014 – Pune FC vs. Mumbai Tigers FC @Pune
17/01/2014 – Kenkre FC vs. Pune FC @Mumbai
21/01/2014 – Pune FC vs. Mumbai FC @Pune
11/02/2014 – AIFF Academy vs. Pune FC @Mumbai
14/02/2014 – Pune FC vs. PIFA Colaba FC @Pune
18/02/2014 – Mumbai Tigers FC vs. Pune FC @Mumbai
21/02/2014 – Pune FC vs. Kenkre FC @Pune
24/02/2014 – Mumbai FC vs. Pune FC @Mumbai
28/02/2014 – Pune FC vs. AIFF Academy @Pune
07/03/2014 – PIFA Colaba FC vs. Pune FC @Mumbai

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About Debraj Banerjee

Hi, I am Debraj Banerjee from Adra, West Bengal. A keen follower of Indian football and always an optimist that the game will get the recognition it truely deserves. What we ask from you is your support and one day the dream might turn true. Fingers crossed for Indian football. Cheers!

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