2023 Reliance Foundation Development League

Second season of RFDL

Football league season
Reliance Foundation Development League
Season2023
Dates27 February – 14 May
ChampionsBengaluru FC (2nd title)
Next Gen CupBengaluru FC
Sudeva Delhi
Mohun Bagan SG
RFYC
Matches played42
Goals scored148 (3.52 per match)
Best PlayerThoi Singh (Bengaluru)
Top goalscorerTaison Singh (Mohun Bagan SG)
(5 goals)
Best goalkeeperSachin Jha (Sudeva Delhi)
2022
2024

The 2023 Reliance Foundation Development League was the second season of the Reliance Foundation Development League, developmental football league organised by the Reliance Foundation and the AIFF.[1] The season features 59 teams divided into nine regions, each playing around 10 matches during the regional qualifiers held across multiple regions from 27 February to 23 April.[2][3] 4 teams qualified for the Next Gen Cup to be held in Mumbai.[4]

Bengaluru FC successfully defended their title against Sudeva Delhi FC in the final. Both teams, including Mohun Bagan SG and RFYC, qualified for the Next Gen Cup.[5]

Background

Reliance Foundation Youth Sports announced the second season of the RFDL to be started from 27 February with regional qualifiers in Kerala.

Format

The teams would predominantly feature U-21 players, with few overage players allowed as well.[6] Participants in the league must have been born on or after January 1, 2002.[7] Each team will play at least 10 matches in the regional qualifiers.[8] A total of 250+ matches will be played in entire league. 20 teams will qualify for the National group stage from the regional qualifiers. The top-four teams will play the National Championship Stage and the 2023 Next Gen Cup.[9]

Teams

Teams are divided into 9 zones for the regional qualifiers, each containing 4–8 teams.

State/Region Venue Clubs
Assam-Meghalaya Meghalaya Football Ground, Shillong Malki SC
Mawlai SC
NorthEast United FC
Rangdajied United FC
Ryntih FC
Shillong Lajong FC
East Barrackpore Stadium, Barrackpore
Kalyani Stadium, Kalyani
Naihati Stadium, Naihati
Mohun Bagan SG
East Bengal FC
Jamshedpur FC
Mohammedan SC
New Alipore Suruchi Sangha
Odisha FC
United SC
Goa Monte de Guirim Ground, Guirim
SESA Football Ground, Sirsaim
Dempo Academy Ground, Ella
Churchill Brothers FC Goa
Dempo SC
FC Goa
Salgaocar FC
SESA FA
Velsao SCC
Kerala Maharajas College Stadium, Ernakulam
Panampilly Ground, Kochi
FC Areekode
Gokulam Kerala FC
FC Kerala
Kerala Blasters FC
Kovalam FC
LIFFA
Muthoot FA
Parappur FC
Manipur Loitang Football Arena, Imphal
Artificial Turf Ground, Lamlong Thongkhong
SAI Ground, Takyel
Classic FA
Football 4 Change Academy
North Eastern Sporting Union
Pehlum Lamhil Lawm
Poloi FC
SAI-RC
Social Development Club
Wangoi FA
Mizoram Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Aizawl
AR Lammual, Aizawl
1st Bn MAP Football Academy
Chanmari FC
Chanmari West FC
Chawnpui FC
Ramthar Veng FC
SYS Football Club
Mumbai Neville D'Souza Football Turf, Bandra India Rush Soccer Club
Iron Born FC
Kenkre FC
Mumbai City FC
PIFA Sports FC
Reliance Foundation Young Champs
North 21 Raj Niwas, Civil Lines, Delhi Garhwal FC
Rajasthan United FC
RoundGlass Punjab FC
Sudeva Delhi FC
South Bangalore Football Stadium, Bengaluru Bengaluru FC
FC Bengaluru United
Chennaiyin FC
Kickstart FC
FC Mangalore
Mohammden Sporting FC
Roots FC
Sreenidi Deccan

Regional stage

Assam-Meghalaya region

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Shillong Lajong 10 7 3 0 32 6 +26 24 Advance to National group stage
2 NorthEast United 10 7 3 0 25 5 +20 24
3 Rangdajied United 10 5 3 2 17 5 +12 18
4 Ryntih FC 10 2 2 6 12 19 −7 8
5 Malki SC 10 2 0 8 12 37 −25 6
6 Mawlai SC 10 1 1 8 6 32 −26 4
Source: RFYS

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Alfred Lalroutsang NorthEast United 12
2 Samchaphrang Lato Shillong Lajong 6
Freddy Jyrwa Malki SC
4 Mebannangkiew Thabah Shillong Lajong 4
Parthib Gogoi NorthEast United

East region

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 East Bengal 10 7 2 1 18 8 +10 23 Advance to National group stage
2 Mohun Bagan SG 10 6 3 1 19 7 +12 21
3 Mohammedan 10 3 1 6 11 20 −9 10
4 United SC 6 3 1 2 7 6 +1 10
5 Jamshedpur 6 2 1 3 10 11 −1 7
6 Odisha 6 2 0 4 9 8 +1 6
7 NA Suruchi Sangha 6 0 0 6 5 19 −14 0
Source: RFYS

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 William Lalgoulien Mohammedan 6
Suhail Bhat Mohun Bagan SG
3 Ningomba Engson Singh Mohun Bagan SG 5
4 Muhammed Roshal PP East Bengal 4
Surajit Ghosh United SC

Goa region

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 FC Goa 10 8 2 0 19 3 +16 26 Advance to National group stage
2 Velsao S&CC 10 5 2 3 9 13 −4 17
3 Dempo SC 10 4 3 3 16 11 +5 15
4 SESA FA 10 3 3 4 8 10 −2 12
5 Salgaocar FC 10 2 2 6 11 14 −3 8
6 Churchill Brothers 10 1 2 7 8 20 −12 5
Source: RFYS

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Saish Gaunkar FC Goa 4
2 Necio Maristo Fernandes Dempo SC 3
Laximanrao Rane Dempo SC
Shrine Clemente Churchill Brothers
Laitonjam Lemba Singh FC Goa

Kerala region

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Muthoot FA 10 8 1 1 23 6 +17 25 Advance to National group stage
2 LiFFA 10 7 1 2 18 7 +11 22
3 Kerala Blasters 10 6 2 2 25 12 +13 20
4 Kovalam FC 10 3 0 7 9 22 −13 9
5 Parappur FC 7 2 2 3 12 6 +6 8
6 Gokulam Kerala 7 2 2 3 12 13 −1 8
7 FC Areekode 7 1 0 6 4 18 −14 3
8 FC Kerala 7 1 0 6 5 24 −19 3
Source: RFYS

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Salahudheen Adnan K Muthoot FA 7
2 Muhammad Ajsal Kerala Blasters 6
3 Saivin Ericson E LiFFA 5
4 Vineeth A LiFFA 4
Naresh Bhagyanathan Muthoot FA

Manipur region

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Classic FA 10 7 2 1 31 3 +28 23 Advance to National group stage
2 SAI-RC 10 5 3 2 17 15 +2 18
3 North Eastern Sporting Union 10 6 0 4 30 13 +17 18
4 Wangoi FA 10 4 0 6 17 34 −17 12
5 Football 4 Change Academy 7 3 3 1 14 7 +7 12
6 Poloi FC 7 1 2 4 10 14 −4 5
7 Pehlum Lamhil Lawm 7 1 1 5 13 22 −9 4
8 Social Development Club 7 1 1 5 4 28 −24 4
Source: RFYS

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Kharibam Meitei SAI-RC 10
Serto Worneilen Kom Classic FA
3 Thokchom Singh North Eastern Sporting Union 8
4 Sonjalen Haokip Pehlum Lamhil Lawm 6
Abujam Singh North Eastern Sporting Union

Mizoram region

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Chawnpui FC 10 6 2 2 34 13 +21 20 Advance to National group stage
2 Chanmari FC 10 6 2 2 33 15 +18 20
3 Ramthar Veng 10 6 1 3 19 15 +4 19
4 SYS FC 10 3 5 2 22 15 +7 14
5 1st Bn MAP FA 10 1 3 6 8 29 −21 6
6 Chanmari West 10 1 1 8 14 43 −29 4
Source: RFYS

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Suanngaihmuana Chawnpui FC 10
2 PC Lalruatsanga Ramthar Veng 9
3 Laltlanzova Chanmari FC 7
Lalthangliana Chanmari FC
5 Ephraim Lalremtluanga Chawnpui FC 6

Mumbai region

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 RFYC 10 10 0 0 33 3 +30 30 Advance to National group stage
2 Mumbai City 10 6 1 3 19 16 +3 19
3 Iron Born FC 10 4 1 5 14 13 +1 13
4 India Rush Soccer Club 10 4 0 6 13 16 −3 12
5 PIFA Sports 10 2 2 6 8 22 −14 8
6 Kenkre FC 10 1 2 7 11 28 −17 5
Source: RFYS

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Vian Vinay Murgod RFYC 7
2 Ayush Chhikara Mumbai City 5
3 Dipu Neupane India Rush SC 4
Alex Konthoujam RFYC
Mohammed Khatib Iron Born FC

North region

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Sudeva Delhi 10 6 2 2 19 9 +10 20 Advance to National group stage
2 Garhwal FC 10 5 2 3 17 8 +9 17
3 RoundGlass Punjab 9 3 2 4 10 9 +1 11
4 Rajasthan United 9 1 2 6 6 26 −20 5
Source: RFYS

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Shubho Paul Sudeva Delhi 5
2 Ashangbam Aphaoba Singh RoundGlass Punjab 4
3 Sunil Soren Garhwal FC 2
Iashanbok Buhphang Garhwal FC

South region

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Bengaluru 10 6 3 1 25 9 +16 21 Advance to National group stage
2 Sreenidi Deccan 10 6 1 3 17 10 +7 19
3 Chennaiyin 10 5 3 2 18 6 +12 18
4 Kickstart FC 10 5 2 3 24 11 +13 17
5 FC Mangalore 7 3 1 3 9 11 −2 10
6 Roots FC 7 2 2 3 8 8 0 8
7 Mohammden Sporting 7 1 0 6 8 35 −27 3
8 FC Bengaluru United 7 0 0 7 2 21 −19 0
Source: RFYS

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Finto Kickstart FC 8
2 Senthamil S Chennaiyin 6
Satendra Singh Yadav Bengaluru
4 Udit G Kickstart FC 4
Jonathan Ian Franco Roots FC

Ranking Of Third-Placed Teams

Due to fewer number of teams in North Region, Third placed Team is not taken into account from North Region.

Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Kerala Kerala Blasters 10 6 2 2 25 12 +13 20 Advance to National group stage
2 Mizoram Ramthar Veng 10 6 1 3 19 15 +4 19
3 Manipur North Eastern Sporting Union 10 6 0 4 30 13 +17 18
4 South Chennaiyin 10 5 3 2 18 6 +12 18
5 Assam-Meghalaya Rangdajied United 10 5 3 2 17 5 +12 18
6 Goa Dempo SC 10 4 3 3 16 11 +5 15
7 Mumbai Iron Born FC 10 4 1 5 14 13 +1 13
8 East Mohammedan 10 3 1 6 11 20 −9 10
First match(es) will be played: March 2023. Source: RFYS

National group stage

Top 20 teams will qualify from the regional qualifiers to the National group stage. National group stage is divided into 4 groups of 5 teams, with winners advancing to the National Championship stage.

Qualification

No. Club Qualified as
1 Shillong Lajong Assam-Meghalaya region champions
2 NorthEast United Assam-Meghalaya region runners-up
3 East Bengal East region champions
4 Mohun Bagan SG East region runners-up
5 FC Goa Goa region champions
6 Velsao S&CC Goa region runners-up
7 Muthoot FA Kerala region champions
8 LiFFA Kerala region runners-up
9 Classic FA Manipur region champions
10 SAI-RC Manipur region runners-up
11 Chawnpui FC Mizoram region champions
12 Chanmari FC Mizoram region runners-up
13 RFYC Mumbai region champions
14 Mumbai City Mumbai region runners-up
15 Sudeva Delhi North region champions
16 Garhwal FC North region runners-up
17 Bengaluru South region champions
18 Sreenidi Deccan South region runners-up
19 Kerala Blasters Best 3rd-placed team
20 Ramthar Veng FC Second-best 3rd-placed team

Delhi group

All matches to be played at 21 Raj Niwas, Civil Lines, Delhi.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SUD MFA CHW GAR CHA
1 Sudeva Delhi 4 3 1 0 11 4 +7 10 Advance to Next Gen Cup & National championship stage 1–0 4–2 2–2
2 Muthoot FA 4 2 1 1 7 4 +3 7 3–0
3 Chawnpui FC 4 1 1 2 6 7 −1 4 1–1 2–0
4 Garhwal FC 4 1 1 2 6 7 −1 4 2–3 2–0
5 Chanmari FC 4 1 0 3 2 10 −8 3 0–4 2–1
Source: RFYS

Imphal group

All matches to be played at SAI Complex, Imphal. With the last round being cancelled, Mohun Bagan SG advanced to the National championship stage.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification AMB CFA NEU SAI SHL
1 Mohun Bagan SG 3 3 0 0 9 1 +8 9 Advance to Next Gen Cup & National championship stage 3–0 4–0
2 Classic FA 3 1 2 0 7 3 +4 5 2–2 1–1
3 NorthEast United 4 1 2 1 6 6 0 5 1–2 2–1
4 SAI-RC 3 0 1 2 2 6 −4 1
5 Shillong Lajong 3 0 1 2 1 9 −8 1 0–4 1–1
Source: RFYS

Mumbai group

All matches to be played at Reliance Corporate Park Football Ground, Ghansoli, Navi Mumbai.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification RYC EAB MCI RVE VEL
1 RFYC 4 3 1 0 13 5 +8 10 Advance to Next Gen Cup & National Championship stage 0–0
2 East Bengal 4 3 0 1 14 6 +8 9 2–3 2–0 7–2
3 Mumbai City 4 2 1 1 7 5 +2 7
4 Ramthar Veng 4 1 0 3 4 7 −3 3 1–2 1–3 0–2 2–0
5 Velsao S&CC 4 0 0 4 7 22 −15 0 2–8 3–5
Source: RFYS

Bengaluru group

All matches to be played at Bangalore Football Stadium, Bengaluru.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification BEN GOA KEB SDE LIF
1 Bengaluru 4 3 1 0 9 3 +6 10 Advance to Next Gen Cup & National championship stage 2–0 2–1
2 FC Goa 4 3 0 1 6 4 +2 9 1–4 3–0
3 Kerala Blasters 4 2 1 1 9 5 +4 7 1–1 0–1
4 Sreenidi Deccan 4 1 0 3 7 8 −1 3 2–3 5–0
5 LiFFA 4 0 0 4 2 13 −11 0 0–1 1–5
Source: RFYS

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Loitongbam Taison Singh Mohun Bagan SG 5
Muhammad Ajsal Kerala Blasters
3 Chirag Bhujel RFYC 4
Himanshu Jangra East Bengal
Meuton Fernandes Velsao S&CC
Serto Kom Classic FA

National championship stage

Top 4 teams will qualify from the National group stage to the National championship knockout stage, with winners being crowned champions.

Qualification

No. Club Qualified as
1 Sudeva Delhi Delhi group champions
2 Mohun Bagan SG Imphal group champions
3 RFYC Mumbai group champions
4 Bengaluru Bengaluru group champions

Bracket

Semifinals Final
      
1 Mohun Bagan SG 1 (6)
2 Bengaluru 1 (7)
2 Bengaluru 2 (4)
4 Sudeva Delhi 2 (3)
3 RFYC 0
4 Sudeva Delhi 1 Third place
1 Mohun Bagan SG 5
3 RFYC 1

Semi-finals

SF1
Mohun Bagan SG1–1Bengaluru
  • R. Basfore Yellow card 5'
  • Engson Yellow card 69' 87'
Report
  • H. Thoi Singh 61'
Penalties
6–7
  • C. Fernandes soccer ball with check mark
  • Akashdeep soccer ball with check mark
  • Harpreet soccer ball with check mark
  • Harmanpreet soccer ball with check mark
  • H. Thoi Singh soccer ball with check mark
  • Lyngdoh soccer ball with check mark
  • Ketkar soccer ball with check mark
Reliance Corporate Park, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Attendance: 200
Referee: K Ramdasan

SF2
RFYC0–1Sudeva Delhi
  • A. Kamath Yellow card 65'
Report
  • C. Jackson Yellow card 51' Yellow-red card 85'
  • S. Lotjem 66'
  • K. Panicker Yellow card 74'
  • P. Tushir Yellow card 90+9'
Reliance Corporate Park, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Attendance: 10
Referee: Mrutyunjay L Amatya

Third place

Mohun Bagan SG5–1RFYC
  • Nassiri 18'
  • Giri 58'
  • U. Hansda 68'
  • D. Biswas 89'
  • Amandeep 90+2'
Report
  • S. Mohammed K 26' Yellow card 65'
Reliance Corporate Park, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Attendance: 10
Referee: Akashkumar Kamleshkumar Mehta

Final

Bengaluru2–2Sudeva Delhi
  • H. Thoi Singh 23' (p)
  • S. Singh Yadav 67'
Report
  • S. Lotjem 17'
  • D. Gurung 49'
Penalties
  • C. Fernandes soccer ball with check mark
  • S. Singh Yadav soccer ball with check mark
  • Harpreet soccer ball with check mark
  • Harmanpreet soccer ball with check mark
  • H. Thoi Singh soccer ball with red X
4–3
Reliance Corporate Park, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Attendance: 50
Referee: Surojit Das

See also

References

  1. ^ "Seven Hero ISL clubs to join RFYC in inaugural Reliance Foundation Development League from April 15". 7 April 2022. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  2. ^ "All you need to know about the RF Development League 2022". 8 April 2022. Archived from the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Seven Hero ISL clubs to join RFYC in inaugural Reliance Foundation Development League from April 15". Indian Super League. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  4. ^ Modak, Sourav (12 May 2022). "Bengaluru FC hold Kerala Blasters to emerge inaugural RFDL champions". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Bengaluru FC crowned RFDL Champion after a thrilling title defence against Sudeva Delhi FC". indiansuperleague.com. 14 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  6. ^ Marcus Mergulhao (30 June 2021). "ISL proposes new league for reserve, U-21 players | Goa News - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  7. ^ Tarafdar, Veronica (30 March 2023). "In the last matchday of the I-League season, teams compete for improved Super Cup qualifying ranking". footballexpress.in. Football Express India. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Seven Hero ISL clubs to join RFYC in inaugural Reliance Foundation Development League from April 15". 7 April 2022. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  9. ^ "Seven Hero ISL clubs to join RFYC in inaugural Reliance Foundation Development League from April 15". 7 April 2022. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2023.