- The AIFF Futsal Club Championship 2024–25 will be held in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand, from August 3 to 18 Seventeen teams, including defending champions Corbett FC, will battle for the title in India’s top futsal competition
GOWRI MANICKAVASAGAM
AHMEDABAD, JULY 27
Gujarat-based Juggernaut FC will be vying for the coveted AIFF Hero Futsal Club Championship 2024–25, which will be held from August 3 to 18 at the Shri Manoj Sarkar Stadium – Shivalik Hall in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand. Sponsored by Strikers 11, Juggernaut FC is the first club from Gujarat to participate in the premier national futsal tournament, marking a significant milestone for the state’s football ecosystem, announced Philip Job, Gujarat State Football Association (GSFA) Executive Committee Member and the general secretary of Ahmedabad District Football Association (ADFA) here on Sunday.
Speaking with the media, Philip Job described the achievement as a proud moment for Gujarat football.
He said, “Juggernaut FC’s qualification for the national championship reflects the growing popularity and standard of futsal in the state. We are confident the team will represent us with a great deal of skill and passion and make us all proud with its performance. With growing interest in the fast-paced, indoor variant of football, the tournament is seen as a crucial platform for showcasing emerging talent from the region.”
“Seventeen clubs will compete for the trophy in what is the fourth edition of the country’s highest-level futsal tournament. The teams have been drawn into four groups of A, B, C and D— three with four teams and one with five. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals,” he said.
Talking about the future of football in Gujarat, Philip Job said, “Thanks to the efforts of GSFA President Parimal Nathwani, the state government is developing better sports infrastructure for football in the upcoming Navrangpura stadium and all over the state. Aman Shah and Malhar are signing examples of the emerging football stars in Gujarat.”
Abheshek Rai, Team Head of Juggernaut FC, said, “Our focus has been on building a strong grassroots programme and a competitive team culture. Representing Gujarat at the national level is a huge honour, and we will put our best foot forward. The support from GSFA, ADFA, and our sponsor Strikers 11 has been instrumental in our success.”
Also present on the occasion were Dhruvin Parikh and Abhi Doshi, representatives of sponsor Strikers 11, Dr. Adit Patel, physiotherapist from NX Health, Kshitij Jain, Juggernaut FC Coach, Hardipkumar Majirana, Juggernaut FC’s Manager, Jenishsinh Rana, Defender and stat-level qualifier of last year from Juggernaut FC, and Shibu Sunny, Attacker, who has been a part of the Indian futsal camp.
Juggernaut FC’s qualification and participation in the tournament underscore the rising potential of futsal in Gujarat and reflect growing interest and investment in football. The team will travel to Rudrapur in the coming days to begin their campaign in the national championship.
The AIFF Hero Futsal Club Championship is the country’s flagship futsal competition, bringing together top clubs from across the country.
What is Futsal
Futsal is an indoor and mini version of football, which has been getting popularity in Gujarat off late. GSFA has played a major role in making it popular in the state. Futsal is an exciting and fast-paced indoor sport that is played across the world and is recognised by FIFA. It is a 5 vs 5 small-sided game, played with a smaller, low-bounce futsal ball and on smooth surfaces with touchlines. It is a great sport to develop skills as it demands quick thinking and reflexes, creative dribbling and accurate passing of the ball.
AIFF Futsal Club Championship Draw
Group A: Aphuyemi FC, Reallona FC, Triumph FC, Juggernaut FC, Minerva Academy FC
Group B: Bhawanipore FC, Thlangtiang Futsal Club, Corbett FC, Golazo FC
Group C: Hazrat Nizamuddin Club, Pondicherry United Football Academy, K3 Futsal Club, Goal Hunterz FC
Group D: TOFA, Ambelim Sports Club, Real Malabar FC Kondotty, OGP Club
AIFF Futsal Schedule (All times are in IST)
August 3
Triumph FC vs Reallona Football Club (12:00)
Minerva Academy FC vs Juggernaut FC (14:30)
August 5
Juggernaut FC vs Aphuyemi Football Club (12:00)
Minerva Academy FC vs Triumph FC (14:30)
August 7
Aphuyemi Football Club vs Minerva Academy FC (12:00)
Reallona Football Club vs Juggernaut FC (14:30)
Bhawanipore FC vs Golazo Football Club (17:00)
Thlangtiang Futsal Club vs Corbett FC (19:30)
August 8
Hazrat Nizamuddin Club vs Goal Hunterz FC (12:00)
Pondicherry United Football Academy vs K3 Futsal Club (14:30)
TOFA vs OGP Club (17:00)
Ambelim Sports Club vs Real Malabar FC Kondotty (19:30)
August 9
Reallona Football Club vs Minerva Academy FC (12:00)
Triumph FC vs Aphuyemi Football Club (14:30)
Golazo Football Club vs Thlangtiang Futsal Club (17:00)
Corbett FC vs Bhawanipore FC (19:30)
August 10
Goal Hunterz FC vs Pondicherry United Football Academy (12:00)
K3 Futsal Club vs Hazrat Nizamuddin Club (14:30)
OGP Club vs Ambelim Sports Club (17:00)
Real Malabar FC Kondotty vs TOFA (19:30)
August 11
Juggernaut FC vs Triumph FC (12:00)
Aphuyemi Football Club vs Reallona Football Club (14:30)
Bhawanipore FC vs Thlangtiang Futsal Club (17:00)
Corbett FC vs Golazo Football Club (19:30)
August 12
Hazrat Nizamuddin Club vs Pondicherry United Football Academy (12:00)
K3 Futsal Club vs Goal Hunterz FC (14:30)
TOFA vs Ambelim Sports Club (17:00)
Real Malabar FC Kondotty vs OGP Club (19:30)
August 14
QF1 – Winner Group A vs Runner-up Group B
QF2 – Winner Group B vs Runner-up Group A
QF3 – Winner Group C vs Runner-up Group D
QF4 – Winner Group D vs Runner-up Group C
August 16
SF1 – Winner QF1 vs Winner QF3
SF2 – Winner QF2 vs Winner QF4
August 18
Final – Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2
