I-League 2nd division: CFC B begins campaign against Kerala Blasters Reserves

CFC B is pitted against Ozone FC, South United FC and Fateh Hyderabad AFC apart from Kerala Blasters Reserves in Group B.

The Chennaiyin FC B team comprises talent from Tamil Nadu and around the country, including a number of CFC U-18 boys.

Chennaiyin FC B will kick off its I-League 2nd division campaign against southern rival Kerala Blasters FC Reserves on January 14 at the Panampilly Ground in Kochi.

CFC B, which is making its second consecutive appearance in the second tier of Indian football, is pitted against Ozone FC, South United FC and Fateh Hyderabad AFC apart from Kerala Blasters Reserves in Group B. The ties will be played on a home-away basis with CFC contesting its home games at the SSN College ground in Chennai.

READ | I-League 2nd Division to kick off on January 12

Under the tutelage of Sameer Shaikh, a former youth development coach at DSK Shivajians, CFC ‘B’ players have been training in Goa over the last three weeks. The team also played Goa Pro League outfits Vasco SC and Sporting Clube de Goa as well as FC Goa reserves and Guardian Angel Sports Club in practice games.

The CFC B squad comprises talent from Tamil Nadu and around the country, including a number of CFC U-18 boys who qualified for the final round of the 2018-19 Hero Elite League recently, after winning the Chennai zone with an unbeaten record.

CFC B is one of six Indian Super League clubs fielding reserve teams in the preliminary round of the 16-team second Division League. The group winners from Group A and Group B and the top two teams from Group C will progress to the final round. However, if an ISL reserve team finishes in the qualifying positions, the slot will go to the next non-ISL team.

CFC B – 2nd Division League Group B Fixtures: 14 January – KBFC (R) vs CFC B – Panampilly Ground, Kochi – 3:30 PM 19 January – CFC B vs South United – SSN College Ground, Chennai – 3:30 PM 22 January – CFC B vs Ozone – SSN College Ground, Chennai – 3:30 PM 22 February – Fateh Hyderabad vs CFC B – FSV Arena, Bengaluru – 3 PM 26 February – South United vs CFC B – Bangalore Football Stadium, Bengaluru – 3 PM 11 March – Ozone vs CFC B – Bangalore Football Stadium, Bengaluru – 3 PM 21 March – CFC B vs KBFC (R) – SSN College Ground, Chennai – 3:30 PM 26 March – CFC B vs Fateh Hyderabad – SSN College Ground, Chennai – 3:30 PM