Date:06/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/06/stories/2007040605411700.htm

Sport - Football

Tragedy forces postponement

KOZHIKODE: The NFL Second Division match between Viva Kerala and Army XI, scheduled for Thursday, has been postponed by a day, following the deaths of five people in a major fire that broke out on SM Street here. The match will now be played at 7 a.m. on Friday.

There is no other change in the schedule of the league, which concludes on Sunday.

The top two teams, out of the six in the fray, will qualify for the next season's NFL first division. The fight for those two berths is essentially between three teams — Salgaocar, Viva and Chirag United. Chances are the two teams could be identified on Friday itself (Salgaocar takes on Chirag later in the day, in the last game for both the sides).

If Viva wins against Army, it will make the grade with a game to spare. For Salgaocar, a draw with Chirag will do.

With four matches remaining, Salgaocar is leading the table with eight points, followed by Chirag (seven), Viva (six), Vasco (four), Indian Army (two) and ONGC (two). — Principal Correspondent