CHENNAI: The Chennaiyin FC 'B' team is set to compete in the upcoming Second Division League that is slated to begin on March 16.
Chennaiyin FC 'B' will be one of seven ISL clubs fielding reserve teams (except ATK, NorthEast United FC and Mumbai City FC) in the 18 team Second Division League, the second tier of Indian football, a press release here said.
Chennaiyin's 'B' team is pitted against the reserve teams of ISL compatriots Bengaluru FC and Jamshedpur FC in the same group.
The Second Division League will begin with a preliminary round that involves the 18 teams divided into three groups of six teams each.
The preliminary round will begin on March 16 and go on till May 15, with the teams playing on a home and away basis.
The three preliminary group winners and the best 2nd placed team qualify for the final round of the Second Division League scheduled for May 21-27 at a central venue wherein they play each other in a single-leg league system to decide the winner that is promoted to the next tier of Indian football.
However, if a reserve team of an ISL club finishes first or second in the preliminary group, the position will be passed on to the next non-ISL team.
Preliminary group A: Real Kashmir, Lonestar Kashmir, Delhi Dynamos FC (reserves), Hindustan FC, Delhi United, FC Pune City (reserves)
Group B: Madhya Bharat SC, FC Goa (reserves), Kerala Blasters (reserves), Ozone FA, Fateh Hyderabad AFC, FC Kerala Group C: TRAU FC, Langsning FC, Mohammedan Sporting, JSW Bengaluru FC (reserves), Jamshedpur FC (reserves), Chennaiyin FC B.