The 2016 Premier League Division I Championship kicks off this weekend adding to the football overdose in the next few months.

The 20 participating teams, including some impressive performers in Moragasmulla SC, SLTB SC, Cooray SC, Red Star SC and Comrades SC, will be divided into four groups.

Moragasmulla were losing finalists in last year’s Division I final and they have been performing well in the last two FA Cups coming to the 6th & 7th rounds while SLTB has been similarly consistent in the FA Cup.

Red Star and Comrades SC were also standout performers in this year’s FA Cup, though they lost their Round of Last 32 matches to defending champions Colombo FC and Saunders SC, albeit in close games.

From the 2015 Champions League three clubs were relegated, namely Highlanders SC, Kalutara Park, Pelicans SC.

Though Highlanders won the 2014 Division I title and got promoted, their stay in the champions league lasted only one year.

At the end of the tournament the Champion & Runner Up teams will be promoted and teams finishing 5th in each group (total of four teams) will be relegated.

Group – A

  1. Moragasmulla
  2. Old Bens SC
  3. New Star SC
  4. Badovita United SC
  5. St. Mary’s SC

Group – B

  1. Jupiters SC
  2. Old Mazenodian SC
  3. Pelicans SC
  4. SLTB SC
  5. Cooray SC

Group – C 

  1. Red Sun SC
  2. Comrades SC
  3. Hy Line SC
  4. Serendib SC
  5. Golden Star SC

Group – D

  1. Eastern Youth SC
  2. Red Star SC
  3. High Landers SC
  4. Green Filed SC
  5. Kaluthara Park

In the four groups the five clubs will play on home and away league basis after which the top two from each group will qualify for the quarter finals.

Quarter-Final match-ups

1) A-1 Vs B-2
2) A-2 Vs B-1
3) C-1 Vs D-2
4) D-1 Vs C-2

Quarter finals and semifinals will be played at home venues as knockout games. If the match ends in a draw, then extra time of 15min x 2 and penalty shoot outs will come into play.

Semi Finals                 
1st Semi – The Winner of Quarter 1 Vs Winner of Quarter 3  
2nd Semi –The Winner of Quarter 2 Vs Winner of Quarter 4 

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