Elite Division of MMFL to kick off on August 11

Mumbai, Aug 5 (UNI) Three teams of India's biggest league--the I League - Mahindra United, Air India and Mumbai F.C. will be seen in action in the prestigious Mahindra Mumbai Football Leagues (MMFL) Elite Division for the Harwood League Trophy that was launched here today.

The Elite Division will kick off from August 11.

Sanjeev Saran of Saran Sports, the promoters of the MMFL, said this year there have been a host of new measures like enhanced prize money, and also new initiatives for the spectators have been introduced.

The MMFL for the third year running will be sponsored by Mahindra and Mahindra and will be played under the auspices of the Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA).

The MMFL will also be sponsored by Elder Pharmaceuticals and a new partner Budweiser.

Elder Pharmaceuticals will be sponsoring ''The Tiger Balm Fairplay Trophy'', which includes a cash award of Rs 20,000, while for the Senior Division ''Tiger of the Match'', trophies and cash awards will be given for all the play-off matches in this division.

It was also announced on the occasion that Budweiser has signed a three-year partnership with the MMFL.

Players in the Elite Division, which consists of 18 best teams in the league, also have a chance to win Rs 1,250 and Rs 2,500 ''Budweiser Man of the Match'' awards at the league and play-off stages respectively.

Players from the Elite Divison will also have a chance to win Rs 10,000 as part of the ''Budweiser Man of the Match Bonanza'' that will be awarded to the player winning the maximum number of ''Budweiser Man of the Match'' awards.

In the Super division, players have a chance to bag a cash prize of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 in the league matches and play off matches respectively.

In its third season, the MMFL will comprise of 255 teams, who will be battling it out for supremacy in nine divisions of the League, for a total prize money of Rs 10 lakh.

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