Costa Rican club Deportivo Saprissa to participate in 117th IFA Shield

Deportivo Saprissa, the most successful Costa Rican club, will participate in the 117th edition of the IFA Shield, the second oldest tournament in India and Asia and the fourth oldest in the world.

Besides Saprissa, Bangaldesh’s Muktijoddha will be the other foreign participant in the eight-team tournament, which will be played between March 4 and 19.

Saprissa have been placed in the same group as Mohun Bagan — who are making their return to the competition after refusing to play last year — Pune FC and Pailan Arrows. Kalyani will host the matches of this group.

Mukhtijoddha’s group opponents are holders East Bengal, high-spending Prayag United and Bhaichung Bhutia’s United Sikkim. All matches of this group will be played in Siliguri.

One of the semi-finals could also be played in Siliguri with the other one and the final being played at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.

Saprissa, which is also the former club of Arsenal’s Costa Rican starlet Joel Campbell, will be aiming to become the first foreign club since Bayern Munich reserves to win the tournament, although it remains to be seen how many first-team members they bring to India as their domestic league will be very much on in March.