The championship will be played in two groups among 10 leading football teams of the State. Disclosing the venues and format of the meet, Assam Football Association (AFA) secretary Ankur Dutta revealed in a press conference here today that, at Diphu five clubs – Assam Rifles SC, Gauhati Town Club, Morning Star FC, Assam Police Blues and Silchar PHSRC – will take on each other for the top two places.

Accordingly at Guwahati, OIL FC, ASEB FC, Green Valley SC, FCI FC and defending champions SAI Kokrajhar will play in a round robin league from March 6. Top two teams of each group will qualify for the semifinals. The semifinals will be played on March 17 and 18 while the final is scheduled for March 20, Dutta said. The Airtel sponsored tournament will be organised under the guidance of AFA. Dutta further revealed that it is almost certain that India will host the U-17 World Cup in 2017 and Assam is likely to get matches of one group. He also said six Assam youngsters have been selected to attend AIFF’s U-14 camp to be held at Kalyani from March 16. Airtel officials Tridip Sarma and Anjali Chittaranjan along with AFA office bearers Jatin Bora and Dhansing Rongpi were also present in the press conference.

Morning Star will play against Silchar PHE in the inaugural match at Diphu while Green Valley SC is scheduled to play FCI in the Guwahati leg opener.