Preparations in full swing for AFC Youth Championship

Bangalore, Sep 6 (UNI) Preparations are in full swing for the AFC Youth Football Championship, to be held in two venues here, besides in Kolkata, from October 29 to November 12.

In all, 14 matches of the Youth Championship (Under-20) would be held in the city -- 12 in Sri Kanteerava Stadium and two in Bangalore Football ground. With the participation of 16 countries, the tourney's other matches would be played in Salt Lake Stadium and Howrah Municipal Corporation Stadium in Kolkata.

All India Football Federation General Secretary Alberto Colaco, who held a meeting with the Karnataka State Football Association (KSFA) officials here today, expressed satisifaction over the works being taken up, KSFA President A R Khaleel told UNI.

He said upgradation of the stadium had been taken up at a cost of Rs ten lakh and the works included ground relaying, front elevation, and securing railings.

Khaleel said preparations were also on at the Sri Kanteerava Stadium for the qualifying round between India and Japan for the AFC, Cup slated for October 11. The Indian team would arrive here on September 30 and train in the Bangalore Football ground, while the Japan team was expected to arrive during the first week of October.

In the Youth Championships India were placed in Group 'A' with Korea Republic, Kyrgyzstan, Jordan. Group 'B' featured China, Thailand, the UAE, Australia, while Group 'C' has Japan, Iran, Tajikistan, DPR Korea and Group 'D' Iraq, Malaysia, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia.

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