After a gap of seven years, Army XI has again been promoted to CFL Premier Division this season. The team finished as runners-up in the CFL Premier Division in 2016. They stunned Mohun Bagan in the Premier Division that year. 

The team which has graduated to the Premier Division after being champion in the CFL first division last season will start their campaign on Wednesday at Bidhannagar Municipal Ground at Salt Lake against Diamond Harbor FC.

Army Red however following an intense five-month training camp at their Bangalore center, is optimistic about the team's performance in the league this season. 

The team's think-tank has even started thinking of winning the championship due to the absence of foreign footballers in the Premier Division this season. 

The team has already taken part in a couple of preparatory matches against a few Kolkata teams and they are hopeful that their young brigade will make a breakthrough. Army Red has a Bengali striker Liton Shil and expectation for this striker from North Bengal is high from the team's think-tank.