Kolkata: The opening match of the fourth edition of the Indian Super League between defending champions ATK and Kerala Blasters FC, which was supposed to be earlier held at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan, has now been shifted to Kochi with Kolkata earning the ISL final in return.
“Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) today announced hosting the Hero Indian Super League 2017-18 final in Kolkata. As a result, the season opening game which as per the earlier fixture list was to be played at Kolkata on Friday, 17th November 2017 will now move to Kochi,” said an official statement from the ISL.
This comes as a great news for the football frenzy fans of Kolkata who just days after hosting the final match of the biggest international fooballing event in India now has a chance to witness the biggest national football tournament of India.
“Hero ISL started its journey from Kolkata in October 2014 with a glamorous ceremony, the city of Kolkata for the first time will play host to the Hero ISL grand finale on Saturday, 17th March 2018,” said the statement.
Meanwhile, the reverse fixture between the two teams earlier scheduled in Kochi will now be played in Kolkata on the 9th of February next year.
The fourth edition of the cash-rich ISL is set to begin on the 17th of November which will see Kerala Blasters lock horns with ATK in Kochi. This season will also have a total of 10 teams competing for the coveted trophy with Bengaluru FC and Jamshedpur FC being the two new franchises.
While Jamshedpur kicks off their campaign against NorthEast United in an away match on the 18th of November, Bengaluru would play their first match in the double header, the very next day against last season’s semi-finalists Mumbai City FC. However, fans will have to wait for the next year in order to witness the first Maharashtra derby of the season. January 4 will see Kerala Blasters take on FC Pune City at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Kochi, while FC Pune City host Kerala on February 2, 2018.
The change of fixtures as follows:
17th November 2017: Kerala Blasters FC Vs ATK at Kochi
9th February 2018: ATK vs Kerala Blasters FC at Kolkata
All other fixtures remain unchanged.