KSFA to revive Stafford Cup after 3 decades
The Stafford Challenge Cup, which is an important part of Indian football history since 1938, is all set to return after 30 long years as the Karnataka State Football Association (KSFA) announced its relaunch.
The new edition of the tournament is scheduled to be held from February 23 to March 4, with all matches set to be played at the Bangalore Football Stadium.
16 clubs are slated to take part in the knockout tournament and the teams will be divided into four groups. The winners of the four groups will advance to the semifinals.
The last two editions before the tournament was discontinued were played in 1993 and 1991 where Mohammedan Sporting Club and ITI Sports Club were crowned as the champions.
The Iraq Olympic Team who won the tournament in 1990, never returned the silver rolling trophy, donated by the Staffordshire regiment, to the organizers. It is said that the Iraqi team promised to return the trophy while taking it away, but never did. Efforts to retrieve the trophy through the Indian Embassy in Iraq went in vain due to the Gulf war. Hence, this forced the KSFA to make a new trophy to be awarded in the next two editions. It is also reported that the KSFA is planning to make a new silver rolling trophy to be presented in the coming years.
16 teams participating in the tournament divided into four groups
Group A
- FC Bengaluru United
- MEG and Centre FC
- Dempo FC
- International FC Punjab
Group B
- Roots FC
- Mohammedam Sports Club
- Gokulam Kerala FC
- PIFA Sports FC
Group C
- Bengaluru FC
- Kenkre FC
- Sreenidhi Deccan FC
- Delhi FC
Group D
- Kickstart FC
- Chennayin FC
- ARA FC
- Kerala United
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