Unbeaten in 14 games, @dhfootballclub are the first side to gain promotion to next season’s I-League Meanwhile, relegation-battling @NerocaFC bag a crucial win, denting @sportingoa promotion chances
Mohun Bagan ATK Supergiants Laknavi FC - ISL Champions Inter Kalyani - I League Champions Diamond Harbor - I league 2 champion East Bengal FC - IWL Champions
Mohun Bagan ATK Supergiants Laknavi FC - ISL Champions Inter Kalyani - I League Champions Diamond Harbor - I league 2 champion East Bengal FC - IWL Champions
Finally another I-League 2nd Division campaign begins !
The new system installed by Tetea Hmar whilst in charge of the I-League committee , certainly has some positives.
The teams that performed well in the 2nd Division last season : FC Bengaluru United, Sporting Clube de Goa, and United Sports Club have kept there place in the 3rd Tier. SUDEVA opted to withdraw from the tournament With the addition of the 2 Relegated I-League teams from Manipur : NEROCA & TRAU it brings it to 5 teams.
the 4 qualifiers from the complicated 3rd Division ( 4th Tier ) qualifier system were Diamond Harbour ( Champions ) , SAT Tirur , CHANMARI FC and KLASA.
Favourites / form guide imho DIAMOND HARBOUR FC : coached by former I-League winner and ISL Coach Kibu Vicuna* are the clear favourites with the biggest budget and a host of experienced players like Naro Shreshta , Jobi Justin and others with I-League and ISL experience.
SPORTING CLUBE De GOA : coach my Dronacharya ARMANDO COLACO , they are flying high in the Goa Pro League, on an unbeaten run. Have strengthened their squad with the likes of GPL top scorer Ronaldo Oliveira and ISL Hatrick man SEMBOI HAOKIP , shouldve learned from last years showing and qualify.
Contenders :
FC Bengaluru United : recently appointed Nallapan Mohanraj , but the short time to gel with the TEAM, and sqaud picked by others , will be a handicap. Will they once again be the perennial "bridesmaid"
CHANMARI FC : Very impressive in the 3rd Div and the MPL ,home grown squad have added Dipankur as their coach, will be tough to beat in Aizawl , but away from Mizoram ,expect them to struggle. They don't have the finances for I-League, so they will hoping to avoid relegation and stabilise as a 2nd Div team.
Dark horses :
SAT Tirur : relatively unknown entity , but with local players , will be tough prospect in Manjeri to play against. Inexperience will cost them away from home
United SC : Have the experience of the same Foreign coach Steve Herbots* and some Santosh tTrophy winning players , will be a tough nut to crack.
Also rans
The 3 Manipuri teams will have to play away from HOME most likley , and that will hamper them, although the talented youngsters that they can tap into with the experienced Veterans will mean they can play spoil sport to any of the above teams
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So the clear favourites Qualified UNBEATEN and joined by one of the 'contenders' in CHANMARI who were very impressive.
FCBU and SCdeGoa will feel another season where they squandered promising positions
Comments
I-League 2 (2nd Division League) Table
https://x.com/ILeague_aiff/status/1910698335759225269
https://x.com/ILeague_aiff/status/1910660009639215514
Mohun Bagan ATK Supergiants Laknavi FC - ISL Champions
Inter Kalyani - I League Champions
Diamond Harbor - I league 2 champion
East Bengal FC - IWL Champions
FCBU and SCdeGoa will feel another season where they squandered promising positions