Viva Kerala has accepted an invitation to play in the 114th IFA Shield tournament in Kolkata.
The tournament is scheduled between August 25 and September 10. It will provide much needed exposure for Viva's young team. By that time, the foreign players also would have joined the team.
The IFA has informed the media that this seasons IFA Shield will be a 12 team affair. The tournament will see five local clubs, six outstation teams and the winners of the Prodyut Dutta Memorial tournament taking part.
There will be 8 I-League sides in action - East Bengal Club, Mohun Bagan AC, Chirag United and outstation teams Mahindra United, Viva Kerala, Lajong FC and Pune FC.
I-League champions Churchill Brothers SC have been invited, but if they turn down the offer then Dempo SC would be invited in their place. Other local teams would be I-League 2 sides Mohammedan Sporting Club and George Telegraph SC. Senegalese side AS Douanes will add the foreign flavour to the tournament.
Compiled from: Vivakerala.net & Indianfootball.com
From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Tuesday 21 July 2009, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.