Vodafone Goa Pro-football league kick starts from August 23

Panaji, Aug 14 (UNI) Eight leading teams--Defending champions 'Dempo Sports Club', runners up 'Salgaocar', 'Sporting Club de Goa,' 'Churchill Brothers Sports Club', 'Vasco Sports Club', 'Raia Sporting Club', 'Velsao Pale' and 'Sesa Football Academy' will vie for top honours in the Vodafone Professional Football League Championship, getting underway from August 23 at three different venues in the state.

The opening match will be played between Dempo and Churchill Brothers at Nehru stadium Fatroda, while Vasco Sports Club will meet Raia Sporting Club and Sesa Football Academy will take on Velsao Pale on August 24 at Tilak ground and Duler ground respectively.

Among the eight participating teams four teams are from I League.

Speaking to mediapersons, the Goa Football Association (GFA) Secretary Savio Messias informed that the championship is being organised by GFA in association with Promoters Procam International along with Title Sponsor Vodafone, associate sponsor King Fisher and Big 92.7FM.

Chief Executive officer of Vodafone- Maharastra and Goa Range, Bipin Singh, who was also present on the occasion, said ''Vodafone has always associated itself with sports of mass appeal. Our commitment to the people of Goa is in offering value services as well as in supporting their favourite sports.' Vodafone has also planned a host of service initiatives during the league. These would include football alerts which will include alerts on all international football matches as well as football trivia. Special Football mobile games can be downloaded as well, Mr Singh added.

Mr Messias further said the winners of the Vodafone pro league will gain Rs 2 lakh, while runners up teams will get Rs one lakh.

The financial assistance will also extend to the Vodafone First Division league with the winning team getting a purse of Rs 50,000 and the runners up team Rs 25,000.

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