11-team 2nd division I-League to begin on Nov 14

New Delhi: A revamped 11-team second division I-League will begin on November 14, the All India Football Federation said .

The second Division I-League 2015-16 will see another major change in the format as it's going to be played home and away basis, unlike last season. The matches of the league will be played over the weekends.

Eleven teams, from across the country, are divided in two conferences according to their geographical location; three teams from each conference would qualify to the final stage which would decide the eventual winner of Second Division I-League 2015-16, the AIFF said.

Gangtok Himalayan SC (Sikkim), Mohammedan SC (West Bengal), Guwahati FC (Assam), Neroca FC (Manipur) and Fateh Hyderabad (Telangana) will compete in the Eastern conference.

Lonestar Kashmir FC (Jammu & Kashmir), Minerva AFC (Chandigarh), PIFA, Kenkre FC, DSK Shivajians (Maharashtra) and Dempo SC (Goa) would ply their trade from Western conference.

Gangtok Himalayan SC, Guwahati FC, Neroca FC, Fateh Hyderabad and Minerva AFC are going to debut in this season.

Sunando Dhar, I-League CEO said, "Spreading out the Second Division League is one of the major steps taken by AIFF to hone the national football. Second Division League with five debutants, 10 venues are no less than a great message to Indian football lovers."