Calcutta: Bengal will start their Santosh Trophy campaign from the preliminary stage in Manipur. They will play from the preliminaries for failing to go past the group stage last year.

They open against Rajasthan on October 20 and play Jammu & Kashmir two days later.

Sarkar for AFC course

Former international Goutam Sarkar will attend an AFC Youth Licence Coaching Course in Kuala Lumpur from September 2-14.

The course will be conducted by Richard Bate of England — head coach of the England youth team, according to a release from the AFC. Coaches from 22 other Asian countries are expected to attend the course.