Watford FC to play in India

Though the list of the players is not confirmed, it is learnt that Watford would most probably be fielding its Under-21 side. The tournament would also feature Argentina’s Under-23 national team.

Watford FC club.

A team from the English Premier League’s Watford FC will play in the Sait Nagjee international football tournament to be held here from February 3 to 21.

Though the list of the players is not confirmed, it is learnt that Watford would most probably be fielding its Under-21 side. The tournament would also feature Argentina’s Under-23 national team.

Clube Atletico Paranaense, which plays in the top division in Brazil, German clubs Hertha BSC and TSV 1860 Munich, are also in the fray.

An Indian team would also figure in the tournament, an ambitious project conceived by the Kozhikode District Football Association (KDFA). The tournament, featuring eight teams, is expected to cost over Rs. 20 crores.

It is also the revival of the Sait Nagjee tournament after a gap of two decades. It was an all-India event in its previous avatar and had attracted the top teams of the country. It used to be the prime attraction in the annual sporting calendar of a football-crazy city.

The new Nagjee tournament is a joint venture of the KDFA and Mondial Sports LLP. All the matches will be telecast live on a national sports channel.

The tournament was originally scheduled to be held later this month, but the organisers decided to postpone it because the dates were clashing with those of the National School athletics meet, which is also being hosted by Kozhikode.