Calcutta Premier Division: Preliminary round kicks off

The Calcutta Premier Division, the top tier of the Indian Football Association organised Calcutta Football League, kicked-off today in and around Kolkata today with the preliminary round which does not include the city’s four I-League clubs.

Times are difficult for the clubs with many losing important sponsorship money from chit fund companies, who since the scam earlier this year have pulled out of sports sponsorship with some clubs expected to shut down or have low budget squads.

The first day saw wins for Bhowanipore Club, Kalighat Milan Sangha and Peerless SC besides a draw between Army XI and Southern Samity – one club, which had said they would close down their team but decided otherwise.

FIXTURES & RESULTS

20-Jul-2013: Kalighat Club 0-2 Kalighat Milan Sangha20-Jul-2013: Southern Samity 0-0 Army XI20-Jul-2013: Bhowanipore Club 4-0 Police AC20-Jul-2013: Peerless SC 3-1 Calcutta Port Trust21-Jul-2013: BNR – Eastern Railway SC21-Jul-2013: Dalhousie AC – Aryan Club21-Jul-2013: Railway FC – George Telegraph SC23-Jul-2013: Kalighat Club – Calcutta Port Trust23-Jul-2013: Kalighat Milan Sangha – Army XI23-Jul-2013: Southern Samity – Police AC23-Jul-2013: Bhowanipore Club – Peerless SC24-Jul-2013: BNR – Aryan Club24-Jul-2013: Eastern Railway SC – George Telegraph SC24-Jul-2013: Dalhousie AC – West Bengal Police24-Jul-2013: Janbazar AC – Railway FC