Tuesday, July 30, 2019

No GRC team in Elite Div this season-2019-20

City Police, who were relegated last season, will fill up the 10th spot in Elite Division

By Paritosh Pramanik

THERE is some bad news for ardent football lovers of the city. Last year’s runners-up Guards Regiment Centre (GRC) won’t be seen in action in the Nagpur District Football Association (NDFA) organised JSW Elite Division League this season.
The military outfit has decided not to participate this season.
According to sources, GRC higher authorities have refused to release its players for the premier competition of the city. Last year, GRC had finished second best behind champions Young Muslim Football Club (YMFC) and were rewarded with a cash prize of Rs 75,000.
With GRC not participating, Nagpur City Police, who were relegated to Super Division last season, will continue to be part of the Elite Division this season too. City Police had a bad 2018-19 where they lost two matches and drew one in the Relegation Final.
“We were informed by GRC that they won’t be participating in this year’s competition. They said that the players were not released by higher authorities,” Iqbal Kashmiri, Secretary, NDFA told ‘The Hitavada’.
“If GRC wants to participate next year they will have to compete in the lower division (Super Division),” added Kashmiri.
GRC had qualified for Elite Division in 2014-15 after they won the Super Division title.
Since last three years, GRC were part of the league and had performed exceedingly well making their way to the top of the table.
The last date of clubs registration was August 20.
GRC football coach Lama’s cell phone was unreachable.
This year Elite Division will see Nagpur Blues as the new entrant. Nagpur Blues were promoted after they emerged 
Super Division champs in 2018.

Other teams of Elite Division are defending champions Young Muslim Football Club, former champions Rabbani Club, Kamptee, Qidwai Club, South East Central Railways, Ansar Club, Nagpur Academy Football Club, Big Ben Football Club, Rahul SSA, and City Police.

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