KARACHI, Oct 22: Irfan Memorial Landhi will take on Drigh Road Union as the 9th Karachi United Football League 2011-12 kicks off at the Drigh Road Union Ground on Monday.

Hosted by Karachi United FC and organised by the KU Football Foundation (KUFF) the league’s opening game coincides with World Polio Day in relation to which KUFF is working with the Unicef.

The 2011-12 season will once again feature 20 of the top club teams of Karachi divided into two groups of 10 playing each other on a single league basis, with the top four from each group advancing to the super league phase.

Group ‘A’ appears to be the tougher group featuring the likes of defending champions Baloch Youth Garden, last year’s runners-up Mauripur Baloch, former champions Shahzad Mohammadan Malir (2007-8 and 2008-9), Aga Khan Gymkhana, FC Rovers, Gulshan Soccer, Lyari Powerhouse, Kalri Star, Burma Mohammadan, Frontier City and Usmanabad Union.

Meanwhile, Karachi United FC are joined in Group ‘B’ by Baloch Mujahid, Drigh Road Union, Irfan Memorial, Qadri Sports, Baloch Mohammadan Malir, Al Shahbaz Korangi, Muslim Star, Islah Baloch and Korangi Baloch Sharafi.

The six-month event will see around 120 matches being played at various grounds in the city including Baloch Muhajid Stadium, Ibrahim Hyderi (Korangi), Drigh Road Union Ground (Shah Faisal Colony), KMC Stadium (Lyari), Jam XI (Malir), Aga Khan Gymkhana (Garden) and Korangi Baloch (Sharafi).