Football action returns to the Nehru stadium on Friday, thanks to the revival of the TFA Shield.

The Tamil Nadu Football Association, which has taken the initiative to bring back the once-popular tournament after a 15-year gap, found in All India Malayalee Association a sponsor willing to give it the financial prop.

The AIMA-TFA tournament, which will witness 16 teams, six of them from outside the State, kicks off with local league champion Chennai Customs taking on Tiruchi DFA. RCF (Kapurthala) and Tamil Nadu Police will figure in the second match which will be played under floodlights.

Unfortunate incident

Of the six outstation units, Sikkim’s Football Academy Namthang has been replaced by Karnataka XI.

The Sikkim team had to withdraw after a member of the side died in a road accident even as the team was getting ready to travel.

From the modest field, this much is clear: the contests will be close and there is little else fans would want, starved as they are of quality football in the city. Apparently, each of the outstation teams is aiming to do well in the tournament ahead of the tougher competitions during the season.

Veteran player Raman Vijayan, who coaches South United Bangalore, is keen to use this tournament to make his young side a compact unit. Drawn mostly from Bangalore champion side BEML which he coached earlier, Vijayan said: “We have a young side, some are just touching 20, and our effort is to settle down quickly.” Almost similar is the outlook of Kerala Police, which has recently given the side a fresh look. KSEB is the other Kerala side in the fray.

Talented outfit

The Punjab team, RCF, is, however, hoping for more. “After taking the runner-up spot in four earlier outings, I hope we win the title here,” said coach Mohinderdeep Singh. According to him, the team, which finished behind Punjab Police and BSF in the local league, has the talent to deliver.

Pune FC will be sending its second string, comprising members of the champion under-20 side, said Dr. Ashok, the team spokesman. Southern Railway, SAI, ICF, Tiruvellore DFA, Indian Bank. President’s XI and AG’s Office will be the other sides vying for honours.

Overall, there is much to look forward to at the Nehru stadium where the TFA is making arrangements to roll the turf back into shape.

COSCO will supply the balls for the tournament for which there will be no entry fee.