AIFF's Champions Cup scheduling may clash with Bengaluru FC's AFC Cup match

IN A STRANGE MOVE, the AIFF is putting Bengaluru FC's AFC Cup campaign in a spot by scheduling the four-nation Champions Cup in the second half of August.

According to reports, the re-branded version of Nehru Cup called Champions Cup (which we revealed would be played in Chennai this August) is to be played between India, St Kitts, Mauritious and a yet-to-be-determined fourth national side between August 17th and August 27th.

The problem is, Federation Cup winners Bengaluru FC are supposed to play the first leg of their AFC Cup knockout double header (Inter-zone play-off semi-finals) against fearsome North Korean club April 25th on the 23rd of August at Bengaluru's Sree Kanteerava Stadium. 

Which means, if these reports are correct, India will be playing their Champions Cup tournament through the crucial continental matchday that Bengaluru FC have had scheduled for months now. This potentially creates a major player release issue between the Blues and the Blue Tigers.

Although the Champions Cup venue Chennai is very close to Bengaluru FC's home city, moving players back and forth between club and national team on short notice may end up hurting both teams.

The likes of Sunil Chhetri, Udanta Singh and Daniel Lalhimpuia are sure starters for Bengaluru FC as well as regulars at the national camp. It's unclear how their schedule will be if India potentially play 4 Champions Cup matches with Bengaluru FC's AFC Cup match falling bang in the middle of it. 

The AIFF and their commercial partners IMG-Reliance are keen to launch the Champions Cup, especially since they have signed a mega contract with Star Sports to become the official broadcasters for the national team. But there's an obvious lack of planning in their execution of the scheduling.

August is a month when in most countries, the national leagues are already underway. Very few associations will send a full-fledged national team to India at this point. Initially the Federation was apparently in talks with respectable sides like Afghanistan and Malaysia but it seems neither of those teams are turning up, leaving the Blue Tigers with no option but to face teams that are much below them in terms of FIFA ranking; something that does not help India's cause of pushing ahead in the rankings quickly. 

Although, considering this tournament is to serve as a boot camp for the national squad ahead of two Asian Cup Qualifers against Macao (away and home), one against Myanmar and a friendly against Palestine between September and November, playing countries like this does fulfil the basic requirements Constantine would have from warm-up matches.

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