: Chennaiyin FC 'B' will open its I-League Second Division campaign against southern rivals Kerala Blasters FC Reserves on January 14 at the Panampilly Ground in Kochi.

CFC 'B', which is making its second consecutive appearance in the second tier of Indian football, is pitted against Bengalurus Ozona FC and South United FC and Fateh Hyderabad AFC apart from Kerala Blasters Reserves in Group B.

The ties will be played on a home-away basis with CFC contesting their home games at the SSN College ground here, a press release said.

Under the tutelage of Sameer Shaikh, a former Youth Development Coach at DSK Shivajians, CFC 'B' players have been training in Goa over the last three weeks.

The team also played Goa Pro League outfits Vasco SC and Sporting Clube de Goa as well as FC Goa reserves and in practice games.

The CFC B squad comprises talent from Tamil Nadu and around the country, including a number of CFC U-18 boys who qualified for the final round of the 2018-19 Hero Elite League recently, after winning the Chennai zone with an unbeaten record.

CFC 'B' is one of six Indian Super League clubs fielding reserve teams in the preliminary round of the 16-team 2nd Division League, the release said.

The preliminary round group winners from Group A and Group B and the top two teams from Group C will progress to the final round. However, if an ISL reserve team finishes in the qualifying positions, the slot will go to the next non-ISL team.

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