Chennaiyin FC B begin 2nd Division League campaign against rivals Bengaluru FC B
Chennai, January 26, 2020: The Chennaiyin FC B team is set to compete in the upcoming Hero 2nd Division League with a home game against Bengaluru FC B at the SSN College here on Monday. Chennaiyin FC B will be one of eight Hero Indian Super League clubs fielding reserve teams (except NorthEast United FC and Odisha FC) in the 17-team 2nd Division League, the second tier of Indian football. And along with BFC B, the CFC B team are pitted against Hyderabad FC B, Bhawanipore FC and Mohammedan Sporting in Group B.
The Second Division League will begin with a preliminary round that involves the 17 teams divided into two groups of six teams each and one group of five teams. Teams will play on a home and away basis against other teams within a group. The winners of each group along with the best second-placed team between Group A and C will 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.
After the opening day clash with BFC B, Chennaiyin play two more home games against Bhawanipore FC (January 31) and Hyderabad FC B (February 6). CFC B then are on the road to face Mohammedan Sporting (February 20) and Bhawanipore FC (February 23) in the reverse fixture, both in Kolkata. The final group game promises to be another feisty affair against BFC B at the Bangalore Football Stadium on March 25.
The 2nd Division League promises to be the perfect platform for the talented Chennaiyin FC B team to gain big-game exposure, with top young talent from Tamil Nadu and around the country. With an average age of 19 years, the CFC B 20-man squad comprises eight players from the state, everyone hoping to stake a claim to the senior team squad through their performances. And guiding them through this challenge will be experienced Head Coach Santosh Kashyap, who has been at the helm of I-League outfits Aizawl FC, Mumbai FC, Salgaocar FC and Royal Wahingdoh among others in the past.
Chennaiyin FC B 20-man squad for Hero 2nd Division League:
Goalkeepers: Joel Aju (Kollam), Revanth B.Y. (Chennai), Vignesh V. (Pudukottai)
Defenders: Ahino Paul (Kaniyakumari), Sahil (Delhi), Kannan M. (Chennai), Melroy Assisi (Mumbai), Mohammed Sarif Khan (Imphal), Charles Britto (Trichy), Pranav Chauhan (Mumbai), Paarvin Raj (Chennai), Ajith Appadurai (Thanjavur)
Midfielders: Shubham Mane (Mumbai), Bibin Boban (Kochi), Zonunmawia (Champhai), Joysana Singh (Imphal), Ajay Alex (Bengaluru)
Forwards: Balkar Singh (Hoshiarpur), Senthamizhi S. (Karaikal), Mukeleshwaran Vanaraja (Dindigul)
Hero 2nd Division League Preliminary Groups:
Group A: Lonestar Kashmir FC, Punjab FC (reserves), Garhwal FC, Rajasthan FC, ATK (reserves), Jamshedpur FC (reserves)
Group B: Mohammedan Sporting, Bhawanipore FC, Hyderabad FC (reserves), Bengaluru FC (reserves), Chennaiyin FC B
Group C: ARA FC, Mumbai City FC (reserves), FC Goa (reserves), FC Bengaluru United, FC Kerala, Kerala Blasters (reserves)
