Super-League football tourney kicks off

Srinagar, June 17: The much awaited annual super-league football tournament organised by J&K Football Association (JKFA) kicked off at Polo ground here on Sunday.
 The football extravaganza of state was inaugurated by J&K Bank Executive President and Chairman Sports Board, Taffazul Hussain.
 The event commenced with ceremonial kick by the chief guest.
 In the event, 14 teams from all over State that include departmental teams are competing against each other. Unlike normal leagues, the league by JKFA is quite different in which 14-teams have been separated into two groups of seven each.
 To decide who goes into which group, JKFA held draw of lots recently in which teams were assigned their groups. The Group-A has got JK Police-A as the only heavyweight among the departmental teams. The other six teams in group include, Maharaja Sports, Food and Supplies, Safallo-A, Arafat Sports, Rahim Greens Solina Club ‘A’ and Jehlum Sports.
 The Group-B is filled with top teams of the State and it includes JK Bank, JK Forest, JK SRTC, JKPDC-A, Iqbal Sports, Young Maharaja and Kashmir Mughals.
 Speaking on the occasion, Taffazul Hussain said, “Football is the most popular game in the State and in Valley its popularity is matchless. None, even cricket can’t match its popularity and enthusiasm among fans and players here in our part of the world”. “JK Bank is sponsoring the event and we are always ready to help JKFA in promotion of the game in whatever manner we can do,” he said.
 Giving details about the activity of JK Bank in football arena he said, “We have got top side of football in State and we have now formed football academies in both provinces of State. We will be organising national level also this year in Valley in which some of the top sides of Country would be participating”.
 Among others present on the occasion were, JKFA President Zamir Ahmad Thakur, resident secretary Prof BA Shah, resident treasurer, Fayaz Ahmad Sofi, former international footballer M Shafi Nari and others.
 Looking at the teams in Group-A it should be catwalk for the JK Police to qualify the group while as other teams like Maharaja, Food & Supplies and Safallo-A will have equal chances of qualifying. From each group only two teams will qualify for the knockout stage.
 The group-B can be rightly called as group of death and it all happened due draw of lots. Otherwise organisers would have never kept so many heavyweights in same group. JK Bank, Forest, SRTC, PDC and Iqbal will all have their share of chances to qualify. Though on the basis of current form JK Forest looks clear favourite among these heavyweights but nothing can be said about other teams in the group as all have got their class and reputation intact.
 JK Forest in recent years has emerged as top highflying side of State. Riding on the young talented players it has won numerous titles in recent years. On the other hand, JK Bank is known as powerhouse of JK Football and includes some of the well known experienced players of the State. Yesteryears golden team JKSRTC is being revived and it can thro many surprises. JKPDC formed  under the watchful eyes of former Indian football team captain Abdul Majeed Kakroo will  be a team to beat in the event. The group of death also include top private club of State Iqbal Sports which is known for producing new players. One can never sideline this club keeping their track record in big events in mind.
 Keeping all this in mind it will be a treat for football fans and moreover their will be some of the memorable clashes to offer.
 The inaugural match was played between JK Police-A and Food and Supplies. In the match, Food and Supplies stunned JK Police-A by 1-0.
 Earlier the A-Division league also kicked off with the match played between Novelty Blue and Royal Sports that turned out as goalless draw.
 In the there are two groups, The Group-A include Majid Sports, YMCA, Young Lal Chowk, Novelty Blue, JK Bank-B , R&B and Royal Sports.
 Group-B include JKP-B, Court Road, Syed Taj-ud-Din, Young Iqbal, PDC-B, Jehangir Sports and Shaheen Sports.