Sheikh Russel KC will play Uttar Baridhara Club in the opening match of the season’s curtain raiser soccer meet, the Independence Cup Football’ 21, beginning on Saturday at the Bir Shrestha Shahid Shipahi Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur here.

The match will kick off at 4 pm.
 
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club will face Bangladesh Air Force at 6 pm in the day‘s other opening fixture at the same venue.

The following day (Sunday), Mohammedan SC will encounter Muktijoddha Sangsad KC at 4 pm while Dhaka Abahani Ltd will meet newcomers Swadhinata KS at 5:45 pm at the same venue.

READ: Four Nations Football: Double strike by Waseem guides Sri Lanka to final at cost of Bangladesh

A total 15 teams, including 12 premier division league clubs and three services teams, split into  four groups, are initially taking part in league basis matches from November 27 to December 8.

Participating teams: 

Group A– Dhaka Abahani Limited, Rahmatganj MFS and Swadhinata KS 

Group B: Sheikh Jamal DC, Sheikh Russel KC, Uttar Baridhara Club and Bangladesh Air Force.

READ: Four Nations Football: Hosts Sri Lanka stand between Bangladesh and final

Group C: Saif Sporting Club, Mohammedan SC, Muktijoddha Sangsad KC and Bangladesh Army.

Group D: Bashundhara Kings, Chittagong Abahani Ltd, Bangladesh Police and Bangladesh Navy   

Later, four group champions and runners-up teams will play in the quarterfinals on December 10 and 12.  The two semifinals will be held on December 12 while the final match on December 18.