The qualifiers for the I League 2 or the second division of the Hero I-league begin on February 12 to 16, 2023 in Kokrajhar, Assam. Four teams will battle it out in a round-robin format with the top two joining the 17 other sides, who have been seeded directly, in the group stages. The 19 teams will then be divided into four groups and play on home and away basis, which will start from March 2023. All the games of the qualifiers will be played in the SAI STC Ground, Kokrajhar.
Clubs
United Chirang Duar
The first team to represent Assam from the Bodoland region in the I League second division, United Chirag Duar will also be the only team to play from the state. UCD FC was selected for this season’s I League 2 Qualifiers after they won a two-legged face-off home and away in the qualifying matches against Eleven Star FC of Bongaigaon, another representation from Assam, with an aggregate score of 3-0.
DownTown Heroes
DownTown Heroes football club is based in Srinagar, Kashmir and only the second team after Real Kashmir from the state to play in any national division this season. The club was founded only three years ago in 2020 and competes in the JKFA Professional League. It is inclined to promote sports culture among the youth to save them from drug addiction which is on the rise in Kashmir.
Corbett FC
Founded in 2013 as Amenity Sports Academy and later functioning as an academy for the ISL side Odisha FC, Corbett FC will represent Uttarakhand being based in the city of Rudrapur. The club currently competes in Uttarakhand Super League and has participated in the 2021 I-League Qualifiers. This will be their second time in the I League 2 Qualifiers.
Shillong Lajong FC
A more familiar name in the I League 2 Qualifiers, Shillong Lajong FC last played in the first division I-League in the 2018/19 season when they were relegated. They last played in the second division in the 2011/12 season becoming the champion of that edition. Nicknamed The Red Dragons, the club will be the only representation from Meghalaya this season.
Fixtures
Sunday 12 February 2023
United Chirang Duar vs DownTown Heroes – 9:30
Corbett FC vs Shillong Lajong FC – 13:30
Tuesday, 14 February 2023
Shillong Lajong FC vs United Chirang Duar FC - 9:30
Downtown Heroes FC vs Corbett FC - 13:30
Thursday, 16 February 2023
Shillong Lajong FC vs Downtown Heroes FC - TBD
United Chirang Duar FC vs Corbett FC - TBD
All timings are in Indian Standard Time (IST).
