The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The qualifying round of the CITYCELL Federation Cup Football will begin on Saturday (July 26) at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) with Jatrabari KC taking on Rajshahi Diganto Prosari in the day's lone group A opening match at 4 pm.

BFF senior vice president Abdus Salam Murshedi is expected to open the meet, organized by Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF).

On the following day (Sunday), BKSP will face Bangladesh Police in the second group A match at the Banani Army Stadium (4pm), while Sunrise Sporting Club meets Bangladesh Army in the group C opening match at Gazipur Stadium on July 28 (Monday). Both the matches will kick off at 4pm.

Eleven teams, split into three groups, will take part in the qualifying round of the nine-day meet. Later, five top teams -- two each from group A and B, and one from group C -- will play in the final round along with 11 teams of the B. League.

The date for the 16-team final round was due to be finalized Wednesday night, tournament committee chairman Fazlur Rahman Babul told the reporters at the BFF Bhaban on Wednesday afternoon.

All the participating teams except Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force, Bangladesh Police and BKSP will receive Tk 25,000 as participation money, while the clubs from outside the capital will get financial assistance for food, accommodation and transport.

Participating teams:

Group A - Jatrabari KC, BKSP, Bangladesh Police and Rajshahi Diganto Prosari;

Group B - Victoria SC, Bangladesh Navy, Dhaka Wanderers Club and Bangladesh Air Force.

Group C - Sunrise SC, Bangladesh Customs Krira Parisad and Bangladesh Army.

Partial fixture:

July 28 - Bangladesh Navy vs Dhaka Wanderers (Army Stadium 4pm);

July 29 - Victoria SC vs Bangladesh Air Force (Army Stadium 4pm);

July 29: BKSP vs Rajshahi Diganto Prosari (Gazipur Stadium 4pm);

July 30: Jatrabari KC vs Bangladesh Police (Gazipur Stadium 4pm);

July 30: Bangladesh Army vs Bangladesh Customs KP (Army Stadium 4pm);

July 31: Bangladesh Navy vs Bangladesh Air Force (Army Stadium 4pm);

July 31: Victoria SC vs Dhaka Wanderers Club (Gazipur Stadium 4pm).