With the launch of a fresh edition of the Federation Cup just two days away, the teams have started trooping in one by one and the tempo is slowly building up for what promises an absorbing football tournament over the next 14 days.

Sixteen top clubs are scheduled to take part in the country's premier knock-out tournament, which gets underway at the giant Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata on July 26.

The enthusiasm among the participants is all the more this time, as the Cup was not held last year because the All India Football Federation failed to rope in a sponsor.

But the upcoming edition suffers from no such maladies. The organisers have roped in Tata's as the title sponsor, besides getting the support of UB Group's Kingfisher, Pepsi, LG and Oil Public Sector Undertakings.

The tournament opens with a match between local outfit Mohammedan Sporting, a new entrant into the National Football League, and ITI, Bangalore.

In another match the same day, Indian Bank, Chennai, take on famed Goan side Salgaocar.

Title-holders Mohun Bagan kick-off their campaign against State Bank of Travancore the next day, which will also see Goan giants Churchill Brothers and JCT, Phagwara, in action.

The quarter-finals will be played from July 30, and the semi-finals on August 4 and 5. The final is slated for

August 8.

Salgaocar, the first team to reach the city on Tuesday, are hoping to repeat their title triumph of 1997, when the tournament was last held in Kolkata.

But coach Savio Madeira admits that his team has been hard hit by transfers.

Last year's custodian Kalyan Choubey has joined Kolkata's Everready, Monitmobi Singh is now with Mohun Bagan, while Covan Lawrence and Alex Ambrose have pitched their lot with Mahindra United and Dempo respectively. Even Bungo Singh has switched over to Mohammedan Sporting.

"I have taken this tournament as a challenge. I have to do with whatever resources I have. My youngsters are quite capable," Madeira said.

The team has only one foreigner - Belo Rejak - while India international Rajat Ghosh Dastidar, who quit Mohun Bagan this year, is expected to lend solidity under the bar.

ITI, Indian Bank and SBT also landed in the city during the day.

With East Bengal having a dream run in Jakarta, there are no prizes for guessing the tournament favourites. The Red and Gold brigade open opposite Bangalore club HAL in the last pre-quarter on July 31.