Division A1 of the 2013 National Football Championships kicked off in Takeo province on Monday, with eight sides drawn in two groups of four.

The top two of each group progress to criss-cross semi-finals, with winners of these matches booking berths in play-offs against one of the two relegated clubs from this year’s Metfone C-League.

Entry into next year’s top tier competition is granted for the winners of these play-offs, which give Asia Europe University and Senate Secretariat another chance to redeem their seasons.

Group A features Prek Pra Keila, Tri-Asia, Takeo and Kandal provincial teams, while Battambang’s Cambodian Rice Bank, Western University, Stung Treng, and Rithy Sen of Kampong Chhnang are in Group B. Monday’s and yesterday group game results include Tri-Asia 0 Prek Pra 0, Takeo 3 Kandal 1, Cambodian Rice Bank 3 Western University 3 and Steung Treng 4 Rithy Sen 3. Tri-Asia play hosts Takeo today at 8:45am.