Starhub League Cup to include NFL

axrosstheline have reported the 2013 Starhub League Cup will include a National Football League club for the first time ever.

The top two teams from the 2012 NFL Division 1 and 2 will have to participate in a qualifying round in May this year, with the winner of the playoffs being granted a spot in the StarHub League Cup proper. On top of gaining qualification, the winning team from the four-team play-off will also stand to gain a cash prize of SGD$2,000.

The FAS have labeled the initiative as the “Progression Plan” as they aim to introduce new initiatives to the NFL.

Come 2014, the winner of the 2013 Singapore Pools FA Cup will also stand a chance to be involved in one of the prestigious knock out competition of Singapore football. The winner of NFL Division 1 will take the second slot available for the play-off.

Should the FA Cup winner be a Prime League team, only the NFL Division 1 Champion qualifies for the League Cup qualification round in 2014.

However there will be a odd number of teams in the Starhub league Cup so the competition will likely see a change in format again from last year when it had a group stage before proceeding to the knockout stage for both the league Cup and Plate Cup (The cup for those who do not make it in the league Cup).