THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ninth edition of the G V Raja Football Tournament will be held here from January 27. Though official confirmation is yet to come, it is learnt that the Thiruvananthapuram District Football Association (TDFA) has reached a consensus on the date of the kick-off, which would be announced after the executive meeting of the body scheduled for Saturday. The prestigious tournament, which was revived last year after a long gap of 23 years, has been acknowledged as a launching pad for budding talents. The tournament, unlike the previous editions, will have the participation of second-level teams from the country who, according to the organisers, are ‘deprived of chances.’ Second division clubs like SBT, Vasco Goa, Manipur XI, Mohun Bagan Academy, Titanium, KSEB, Josco FC, Malabar United, Punjab Police, Sesa Football Academy and J&K Bank are expected to field their players for the tournament. TDFA secretary S Geevarghese said that the participation of second division clubs has been confirmed. But the teams playing in the elite I-League will not be invited. ”Their I-League schedule is an issue, which comes in our way. Also, we don’t want the champion teams to play here. They have their own dais to perform. This tournament is for the minnows who find it tough to get adequate chances,” he said. But the move to provide a platform for small clubs would not deny spectators their right to witness a spectacular ball game. If the initial talks with the clubs from abroad achieve a breakthrough, Victory Club from Maldives and the Sri Lankan Air Force team will perform here. ”The matches are expected to provide adequate exposure for the upcoming players. The new teams will get a chance to take on the big sharks. Spectators will have a good time. But the competition would be centred around 16 second division clubs. That is our policy,” Geevarghese said.
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