With All India Football Federation (AIFF) announcing fixtures and teams for this season’s second division I-League, Real Kashmir FC and Lone Star Kashmir FC find themselves in the same group and seem all set to revive their rivalry.
The two I-League level clubs of Kashmir would be playing alongside some of the top clubs of Country in revived Second Division League.
AIFF recently changed the format and number of teams for the league. Eighteen teams comprising of seven Indian Super League (ISL) clubs, reserve teams (Except ATK, Northeast United FC, Mumbai City FC) who will compete in the preliminary round have been divided into three groups. The Preliminary round will kick-off on March 16, 2018 and will continue until May 15, 2018. Teams will play on a home and away basis within the group.
It will be for the first time that ISL reserve teams would be competing in the league. Two Kashmir based clubs have been kept in Group A which includes, Real Kashmir FC, Lonestar Kashmir FC, Delhi Dynamos FC (reserves), Hindustan FC, Delhi United, FC Pune City (reserves).
Though it is going to be extra tough this year for both teams to compete against quality oppositions but for the Kashmir football fans it is the rivalry between Real Kashmir and Lone Star that would be most watched.
Lone Star can be credited of starting the I-League culture in State but in recent past it is Real Kashmir FC that has taken initiative forward.
Despite suffering financial drawback and Real Kashmir defeating them in both their derby clashes, Lone Star last season were able to qualify for main round. Real Kashmir despite defeating Lone Star in both home matches fell short. It was the Lone Star’s away performance against Delhi based sides that earned it qualification into main round.
This season Real Kashmir FC looks far stronger than Lone Star with the inclusion of foreign players as well as foreign support staff.
“We have been training and preparing for this league whole season. Though we did play in local events but our main focus was always I-League. This season league is tougher and it is going to be interesting how teams fair,” said Real Kashmir FC official.
About rivalry with Lone Star, “The matches between two home sides in any league are known as derby’s and they are always full of rivalry. It helps in the development of the game as both sides try to outdo each other and in the process they take various initiatives for betterment. They looked weak last season as well and still qualified and that sums up story. In football you can’t take anything for granted. We are focused on our game”.
Meanwhile, Lone Star official said that they are also preparing for the tournament and with fixture announced final structure of team would be revealed in soon.
There are three groups in first round, the winners of each group plus the best second-placed team would qualify for the final round. However, if reserve teams of ISL clubs finish as winners or runners-up in any group, the position will be passed on to the next non-ISL team.
Four teams will play at the central venue on a ‘single-leg’ league system which will run from May 21, 2018 to May 27, 2018 at the end which the winners would be promoted to the next tier of Indian Football
