Kozhikode: Kerala will be on the field with hope when the ball rolls in the National Women’s Football Championship on Sunday. In the first match, Mizoram will face the hosts. The match will be played at 2:30 pm at the Corporation Stadium.
Aiming for their first title in front of their own home crowd, Kerala is looking forward to the strength of its defense and midfield. Manju Baby, Femina Raj, Atulya and Anjitha will work hard to break through the line of defense. The midfield, led by Captain Nikhila, also proved strong. Veda, Krishnapriya and Manasa will also support Nikhila in midfield.
Young players are important in the forward line. Nidhiya is an experienced player in the attacking line. The presence of seven players from Gokulam Kerala FC, the champions of the National Women’s League, gives confidence to the team. However, there are concerns about the extent to which the absence of games following Kovid may have affected the physical fitness of the players.
Coach Amrita Aravind said that the team will play in a 4-4-2 style. Strategies will change depending on the game of the opposing team. The coach’s assessment is that the team has the upper hand against Mizoram. Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand are the other teams in Kerala’s group.
The assessment is that Kerala will have to fight against Mizoram. Mizoram cannot be underestimated given the dominance of the northeastern states in women’s football. Mizoram has arrived with a line-up including Indian star Grace Lal Rampari. Madhya Pradesh will take on Uttarakhand at 9.30 am in the first match at the Corporation Stadium. The Odisha-Andhra match will be played at 9 am and the Haryana-Gujarat match at 2.30 pm at the Medical College ground.
8 groups, 32 teams, 55 matches
The 26th National Women’s Football Championship is being held at four venues in Kerala. Kannur Koothuparambu Municipal Stadium, Kozhikode EMS The matches will be played at Corporation Stadium, Kozhikode Medical College Ground and Calicut University Ground.
The inauguration of the tournament will be held at 9 am on the 28th at the Corporation Stadium. Performed by Muhammad Riyaz. On December 9, E.M.S. The final is at the stadium. The semifinals will be held on December 7 at the same venue. The quarter-finals will be played on December 5 at four venues. The championship will be held on a group cum knockout basis with 32 teams competing in eight groups. Total 55 matches.
In Group G, Kerala will play Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand against Uttarakhand on December 30 and Madhya Pradesh on December 2. The current winners are Manipur in Group A and runners-up Odisha in Group F.
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