Bhutia`s team to play in I-League second division

New Delhi: Indian captain Bhaichung Bhutia`s team United Sikkim FC and last season`s I-League first

division demotees Sporting Clube-de-Goa and Shillong Lajong FC will be among the 21 teams participating in the second division preliminary round matches next month. Five teams from Kerala and four from Meghalaya including Shillong Lajong FC, who were relegated from the first division last year, will feature in the league. Mohammedan Sporting, Southern Samity and Techno Aryan are the three sides from West Bengal. Goa has two other teams, apart from relegated Sporting Clube-de-Goa. Sikkim also has another team in Denzong Boys while Manipur and Assam will be represented by NISA and Gauhati Town Club respectively. Bhutia is unlikely to play for United Sikkim FC as he is yet to fully recover from his hamstring injury, which he suffered last year, but his national teammate Renedy Singh has confirmed playing for the side. Indian team goal-keeping coach Marcus Pacheco is likely to be roped in as coach of the side, which will be based at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok. The preliminary round matches will start from the middle of next month. The exact date and venues will be confirmed later. The final round will be held at Shillong, Meghalaya. The top two teams from the second division will be promoted to the I-League first division for 2011-12 season. The Teams: Royal Wahingdoh (Meghalaya), Lansing Sports Club (Meghalaya), Ar-Hima Football Club (Meghalaya), Shillong Lajong FC (Meghalaya), PIFA (Maharashtra), Kenkre Football Association (Maharashtra), Southern Samity (West Bengal), Techno Aryan (West Bengal), Mohammedan Sporting (West Bengal), Gauhati Town Club (Assam), Vasco Sports Club (Goa), Sporting Clube-de Goa (Goa), Sesa Football Academy (Goa), Jasco FC (Kerala), Chandni FC (Kerala), Eagles FC, Cochin (Kerala), Golden Threads (Kerala), Malabar United (Kerala), United Sikkim FC (Sikkim), Denzong Boys (Sikkim) and NISA (Manipur). PTI