MRFL’s new prize money format will benefit more teams: Godfrey

Godfrey Pereira

After a successful inaugural season, the Godfrey Pereira-backed franchise-based Mumbai Rink Football League (MRFL) returns with bigger prize money - totalling almost a million rupees. The five-a-side tournament across four categories - men's open, women's open, veteran men and boys U-17 - will be held from May 18 to June 2 at the St Andrew's Bandra turf.

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Interestingly, the prize money will be distributed among a larger base of teams through a unique format. Former India vice-captain Pereira explained: "The total prize money is R8 lakh and for the first time on Mumbai's rink football circuit, we are introducing a structure wherein we distribute this prize money among almost all participating teams. For example, in the 12-team men's open, while the winner's prize purse is R1,20,000 and runners-up get Rs 80,000, the 3rd and 4th-placed teams will win Rs 60,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively, the 5th to 8th-ranked teams will get R10,000 and 9th to 12th-placed teams will get Rs 5,000 each."

The prize money will similarly be distributed in the other categories. "The top eight teams in the 10-team veteran men's category and top four teams in the six-team women's and boys U-17 categories will get cash rewards ranging from Rs 75,000 to Rs 5,000 depending on their final position in the points table. We want to promote the game among women and boys U-17 because there aren't enough rink football events for them across Mumbai," added Pereira.