Defending champs to start I-League campaign

NEW DELHI: Defending champions Dempo kick off their campaign in the second edition of the I-League on September 28, five days after their second leg AFC Cup quarter-final away match against Home United of Singapore.
    
This season's I-League will commence on September 26 with East Bengal taking on debutantes Chirag United at Barasat Stadium and Sporting Clube de Goa meeting Vasco in Goa.     

The fixture was announced here today by the All India Football Federation.
    
The schedule for the first nine rounds has been decided but the fixtures for the last two rounds of the first leg will be announced after finalising an opponent for a friendly match for the national team.
    
The AIFF is yet to name the venues for the matches to be held in Mumbai with the Cooperage and DY Patil Stadium in a bit of trouble.
    
The I-League Committee will meet later this month to finalise the venues for the Mumbai matches.
    
The AIFF has also kept provisions to change the dates of Dempo's matches depending on their progress in the AFC Cup.
    
The I-League derby clash between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal in the first phase will be held on October 25 at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium.