The eighth edition of India’s top football competition - Indian Football League - will begin on November 19 in Goa. Three-time winners Kolkata lock horns against Kerala in the season opener. Reigning champions Mumbai will meet Goa, who finished second last season, in their first match of the new campaign. Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jamshedpur, North East, E. Bengal, and Odisha are the other teams who will feature in the four-month long league.
The Kolkata derby, Bengaluru-Kerala rivalry, the Mumbai-Goa clash, etc., are some of the most mouthwatering fixtures in the Indian Football League. The top four sides progress to the playoffs and will play two-legged semi-finals. Meanwhile, the team that picks up the most points in the league stage will grab a place in the group stage of the AFC’s biggest club competition - Champions League.
Mumbai lifted the Indian Football League title last season, and the City Football Group-owned club also topped the points table. Kolkata ended up runners-up, while North East, and Goa finished third, and fourth, respectively. Roy Krishna, who scored 14 goals and grabbed eight assists, won the player of the league award. Igor Angulo took home the golden boot award with 14 goals from 21 appearances.
Squads
Mumbai
Goalkeepers: Mohammad Nawaz, Phurba Lachenpa, Vikram Singh
Defenders: Mourtada Fall, Mandar Rao Dessai, Rahul Bheke, Vignesh Dakshinamurthy, Valpuia Himngthanmawia, Amey Ranawade, Mohamad Rakip, Mehtab Singh, Huidrom Singh
Midfielders: Ahmed Jahouh, Raynier Fernandes, Rowllin Borges, Cassio Gabriel, Bradden Inman, Lalengmawia Ralte, Tondomba Singh, Chanso Horam, Asif Khan
Forwards: Igor Angulo, Bipin Singh, Vikram Singh, Ygor Catatau, Pranjal Bhumij, Gurkirat Singh
Kolkata
Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Avilash Paul, Arsh Anwer Shaikh
Defenders: Subhasish Bose, Tiri, Pritam Kotal, Prabir Das, Ashutosh Mehta, Deepak Tangri, Sumit Rathi, Ravi Rana, Ricky Shabong, Gursimrat Singh Gill
Midfielders: Hugo Boumous, Joni Kauko, Carl McHugh, Lenny Rodrigues, Michael Soosairaj, Sekh Sahil, Bidyananda Ningthoujam, Engson Ningombam, Abhishek Suryavanshi
Forwards: Roy Krishna, David Williams, Manvir Singh, Liston Colaco, Kiyan Giri
Goa
Goalkeepers: Dheeraj Singh, Naveen Kumar, Hrithik Tiwari
Defenders: Seriton Fernandes, Ivan Gonzalez, Leander D’Cunha, Saviour Gama, Sanson Pereira, Dylan Fox, Lalmangaihsanga, Aibanbha Dohling, Mohamed Ali
Midfielders: Edu Bedia, Alberto Noguera, Brandon Fernandes, Glan Martins, Princeton Rebello, Alexander Jesuraj, Redeem Tlang, Nongdamba Naorem, Makan Chote, Christy Davis, Muhammed Nemil, Danstan Fernandes, Flan Gomes
Forwards: Jorge Ortiz, Devendra Murgaonkar, Airam Cabrera
North East
Goalkeepers: Subhasish Roy, Mirshad Michu, Sanjiban Ghosh, Nikhil Deka
Defenders: Gurjinder Kumar, Provat Lakra, Mohamed Irshad, Mashoor Shereef, Patrick Flottman, Tondonba Singh, Jestin George, Nabin Rabha
Midfielders: Federico Gallego, Khassa Camara, Hernan Santana, Sehnaj Singh, Imran Khan, Joe Zoherliana, Pragyan Gogoi, Emanuel Lalchhanchhuaha, Gani Nigam, Pragyan Medhi
Forwards: Deshorn Brown, Suhair V P, Mathias Coureur, Rochharzela, William Lalnunfela, Laldanmawia Ralte, Lalkhawpuimawia, Manvir Singh
Hyderabad
Goalkeepers: Gurmeet Singh, Laxmikant Kattimani, Lalbiakhlua Jongte
Defenders: Akash Mishra, Asish Rai, Chinglensana Singh, Juanan Gonzalez, Pritam Soraisam, Nikhil Prabhu, Nim Dorjee Tamang
Midfielders: Joao Victor, Mohammad Yasir, Edu Garcia, Souvik Chakrabarti, Hitesh Sharma, Sahil Tavora, Nikhil Poojary, Mark Zothanpuia, Halicharan Nazary, Abdul Rabeeh
Forwards: Bartholomew Ogbeche, Joel Chianese, Javi Siverio, Rohit Danu, Aniket Jadhav, Aaren D’Silva
Jamshedpur
Goalkeepers: T P Rehenesh, Pawan Kumar, Vishal Yadav
Defenders: Peter Hartley, Eli Sabia, Anas Edathodika, Narender Gahlot, Ricky Lallawmawma, Laldinliana Renthlei, Boris Singh, Karan Amin, P C Laldinpuia, Sandip Mandi
Midfielders: Alex Lima, Greg Stewart, Pronay Halder, Seiminlen Doungel, Farukh Choudhary Mobashir Rahman, Komal Thatal, Jitendra Singh
Forwards: Nerijus Valskis, Jordan Murray, Ishan Pandita
Bengaluru
Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Lara Sharma, Sharon Padattil
Defenders: Pratik Chaudhari, Yrondu Musavu-King, Wungngayam Muirang, Sarthak Golui, Ajith Kumar, Parag Shrivas, Alan Costa
Midfielders: Ashique Kuruniyan, Suresh Wangjam, Bruno Ramires, Iman Basafa, Jayesh Rane, Ajay Chhetri, Rohit Kumar, Namgyal Bhutia, Naorem Roshan Singh, Biswa Darjee, Damaitphang Lyngdoh, Akashdeep Singh, Danish Farooq
Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Cleiton Silva, Udanta Singh, Prince Ibara, Edmund Lalrindika, Leon Augustine, Sivasakthi Narayanan, Harmanpreet Singh, Bidyashagar Singh
Chennai
Goalkeepers: Vishal Kaith, Debjit Majumder, Devansh Dabas, Samik Mitra
Defenders: Slavko Damjanovic, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Reagan Singh, Narayan Das, Deepak Devrani, Edwin Vanspaul, Davinder Singh, Salam Ranjan Singh, Balaji Ganesan
Midfielders: Rafael Crivellaro, Anirudh Thapa, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Ariel Borysiuk, Germanpreet Singh, Ninthoinganba Meetei, Subhadip Majhi, Aman Chetri, Melroy Assisi
Forwards: Rahim Ali, Jobby Justin, Lukasz Gikiewicz, Vladimir Koman, Mirlan Murzaev, Mohamed Liyaakath, Johnson Matthews, Suhail Pasha
E. Bengal
Goalkeepers: Arindam Bhattacharya, Sankar Roy, Suvam Sen
Defenders: Tomislav Mrcela, Franjo Prce, Raju Gaikwad, Adil Khan, Sarineo Fernandes, Akashdeep Singh, Joyner Lourenco, Daniel Gomes, Goutam Singh, Hira Mondal, Ankit Mukherjee
Midfielders: Amir Dervisevic, Darren Sidoel, Amarjit Singh Kiyam, Mohammad Rafique, Jackichand Singh, Bikash Jairu, Romeo Fernandes, Songpu Singsit, Loken Metei, Sourav Das, Angousana Wahengbam, Lalrinliana Hnamte
Forwards: Daniel Chima Chukwu, Antonio Perosevic, Balwant Singh, Thongkhosiem Haokip, Naorem Mahesh, Subha Ghosh, Siddhant Shirodkar
Kerala
Goalkeepers: Albino Gomes, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Muheet Shabir, Sachin Suresh
Defenders: Nishu Kumar, Jessel Carneiro, Enes Sipovic, Marko Leskovic, Sandeep Singh, Abdul Hakku, Denechandra Meitei, Sanjeev Stalin, Hormipam Ruivah, Bijoy V
Midfielders: Harmanjot Khabra, Jeakson Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad, Adrian Luna, Rahul K P, Seityasen Singh, Ayush Adhikari, Givson Singh, Lalthathanga Khawlhring, Prashant K, Vincy Barretto
Forwards: Jorge Pereyra Diaz, Alvaro Vazquez,Chencho Gyeltshen
Odisha
Goalkeepers: Arshdeep Singh, Kamaljit Singh, Ravi Kumar
Defenders: Victor Mongil, Hector Rodas, Gaurav Bora, Lalruathara, Sahil Panwar, Hendry Antonay, Lalhrezuala Sailung, Sebastian Thangmuansang, Deven Sawhney
Midfielders: Liridon Krasniqi, Javi Hernandez, Vinit Rai, Isak Vanlalruatfela, Paul Ramfangzauva, Isaac Vanmalsawma, Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Nandhakumar Sekar,Thoiba Singh Moirangthem, Nikhil Raj, CVL Remtluanga
Forwards: Aridai Cabrera, Jonathas Cristian De Jesus, Daniel Lalhlimpuia, Akshunna Tyagi
Schedule
Date
|
Match
|
Timing
|
Nov 19
|
Kolkata vs Kerala
|
7:30 PM
|
Nov 20
|
Bengaluru vs North East
|
7:30 PM
|
Nov 21
|
E. Bengal vs Jamshedpur
|
7:30 PM
|
Nov 22
|
Mumbai vs Goa
|
7:30 PM
|
Nov 23
|
Hyderabad vs Chennai
|
7:30 PM
|
Nov 24
|
Odisha vs Bengaluru
|
7:30 PM
|
Nov 25
|
North East vs Kerala
|
7:30 PM
|
Nov 26
|
Goa vs Jamshedpur
|
7:30 PM
|
Nov 27
|
E. Bengal vs Kolkata
|
7:30 PM
|
Nov 27
|
Mumbai vs Hyderabad
|
9:30 PM
|
Nov 28
|
Bengaluru vs Kerala
|
7:30 PM
|
Nov 29
|
North East vs Chennai
|
7:30 PM
|
Nov 30
|
Odisha vs E. Bengal
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 1
|
Kolkata vs Mumbai
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 2
|
Jamshedpur vs Hyderabad
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 3
|
Chennai vs E. Bengal
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 4
|
North East vs Goa
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 4
|
Bengaluru vs Mumbai
|
9:30 PM
|
Dec 5
|
Kerala vs Odisha
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 6
|
Jamshedpur vs Kolkata
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 7
|
E. Bengal vs Goa
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 8
|
Hyderabad vs Bengaluru
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 9
|
Mumbai vs Jamshedpur
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 10
|
Odisha vs North East
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 11
|
Kolkata vs Chennai
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 11
|
Goa vs Bengaluru
|
9:30 PM
|
Dec 12
|
E. Bengal vs Kerala
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 13
|
Hyderabad vs North East
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 14
|
Odisha vs Jamshedpur
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 15
|
Mumbai vs Chennai
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 16
|
Bengaluru vs Kolkata
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 17
|
North East vs E. Bengal
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 18
|
Chennai vs Odisha
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 18
|
Goa vs Hyderabad
|
9:30 PM
|
Dec 19
|
Mumbai vs Kerala
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 20
|
Jamshedpur vs Bengaluru
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 21
|
North East vs Kolkata
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 22
|
Chennai vs Kerala
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 23
|
Hyderabad vs E. Bengal
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 24
|
Odisha vs Goa
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 26
|
Kerala vs Jamshedpur
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 27
|
North East vs Mumbai
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 28
|
Hyderabad vs Odisha
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 29
|
Kolkata vs Goa
|
7:30 PM
|
Dec 30
|
Chennai vs Bengaluru
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 2
|
Kerala vs Goa
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 2
|
Jamshedpur vs Chennai
|
9:30 PM
|
Jan 3
|
Odisha vs Mumbai
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 4
|
Bengaluru vs E. Bengal
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 5
|
Kolkata vs Hyderabad
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 6
|
Jamshedpur vs North East
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 7
|
E. Bengal vs Mumbai
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 8
|
Kolkata vs Odisha
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 8
|
Goa vs Chennai
|
9:30 PM
|
Jan 9
|
Kerala vs Hyderabad
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 10
|
Mumbai vs Bengaluru
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 11
|
Jamshedpur vs E. Bengal
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 12
|
Odisha vs Kerala
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 13
|
Chennai vs Hyderabad
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 14
|
Goa vs North East
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 15
|
Kolkata vs Bengaluru
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 16
|
Kerala vs Mumbai
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 17
|
Hyderabad vs Jamshedpur
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 18
|
North East vs Odisha
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 19
|
Goa vs E. Bengal
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 20
|
Kerala vs Kolkata
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 21
|
Jamshedpur vs Mumbai
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 22
|
Chennai vs North East
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 23
|
Bengaluru vs Goa
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 24
|
E. Bengal vs Hyderabad
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 25
|
Mumbai vs North East
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 26
|
Bengaluru vs Chennai
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 27
|
Odisha vs Hyderabad
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 28
|
Jamshedpur vs Goa
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 29
|
Kolkata vs E. Bengal
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 30
|
Kerala vs Bengaluru
|
7:30 PM
|
Jan 31
|
North East vs Hyderabad
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 1
|
Goa vs Odisha
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 2
|
E. Bengal vs Chennai
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 3
|
Mumbai vs Kolkata
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 4
|
Kerala vs North East
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 5
|
Bengaluru vs Jamshedpur
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 6
|
Chennai vs Mumbai
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 7
|
E. Bengal vs Odisha
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 8
|
Hyderabad vs Kolkata
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 9
|
North East vs Bengaluru
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 10
|
Chennai vs Goa
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 11
|
Jamshedpur vs Kerala
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 12
|
Mumbai vs E. Bengal
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 13
|
Odisha vs Kolkata
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 14
|
Hyderabad vs Goa
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 15
|
Kerala vs Chennai
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 16
|
Kolkata vs Jamshedpur
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 17
|
Bengaluru vs Odisha
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 18
|
E. Bengal vs North East
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 19
|
Hyderabad vs Kerala
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 20
|
Goa vs Mumbai
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 21
|
Chennai vs Kolkata
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 22
|
Jamshedpur vs Odisha
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 23
|
E. Bengal vs Bengaluru
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 24
|
Hyderabad vs Mumbai
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 25
|
Goa vs Kolkata
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 26
|
Odisha vs Chennai
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 27
|
North East vs Jamshedpur
|
7:30 PM
|
Feb 28
|
Kerala vs E. Bengal
|
7:30 PM
|
Mar 1
|
Bengaluru vs Hyderabad
|
7:30 PM
|
Mar 2
|
Mumbai vs Odisha
|
7:30 PM
|
Mar 3
|
Chennai vs Jamshedpur
|
7:30 PM
|
Mar 4
|
Kolkata vs North East
|
7:30 PM
|
Mar 5
|
Goa vs Kerala
|
7:30 PM
|