30. October
Gurdarshan Memorial Football Tournament: Muslim FC, Malerkotla 4-0 Heros Club, Ambala; Nivia FC 7-5 Mahilpur Academy [after penalties]

29. October
Sikkim Governor Gold Cup: Northerners XI, Gangtok 0-1 Army XI, Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council XI 2-1 Eastern Railway

Note-1: FC Kochin, India's first professional soccer side which burst on to the scene with a string of stirring performances by its home-grown stars two years ago, has set another record by becoming the first football club to go public. Owned by Kochin Sports Limited, the shares of FC Kochin can now be bought at Rs. 100 each, with an application for a minimum of 25 shares. The company is offering the shares "to sports lovers and the general public in India and abroad (NRIs) to develop and promote the club and the game in the country," an FC Kochin press note said. The club has also signed a sponsorship agreement for the 1999-2000 season with the Dubai-based electronics major High Power, which has established production units in Noida in Uttar Pradesh as well as Kochi. The team will now be known as High Power-FC Kochin. The deal was signed by PV Paul, managing director of Kochin Sports Limited, and Jo Antony, managing director of High Power Marketing Limited, here. The company said Reebok India will continue to be the co-sponsor of the club, which has already won several major tournaments in its short history. The club, which will begin its campaign this season with the Rovers Cup in Mumbai followed by the IFA Shield (Calcutta) and the Durand Cup (Delhi), has launched its own website - www.fckochin.com and has an eMail - fckochin@md4.vsnl.net.in .

28. October
Sikkim Governor Gold Cup: George Telegraph 0-3 Bhutan XI, Rising Star, Orissa 2-1 Sikkim FA XI

27. October
Sikkim Governor Gold Cup: Northerners XI, Gangtok 6-5 Williamson Magor Football Academy - [after penalties]

Note-1: Two foreign teams - Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting and Bhutan XI - are likely to take part in the 1999 Kelvinator Durand Cup football tournament. The Durand Cup, India's oldest football tournament, will be played from November 24 to December 4 and three Calcutta teams - East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Tollygunge Agragami - will be among the participating teams. Organisers said there was no place for Mohammedan Sporting of Calcutta. The qualifying tournament, featuring the top four teams from Delhi and Services, will be played from November 17 to 23. Holders Mahindras and FC Kochin are among other participating teams.

Note-2: Meanwhile, Asif Jamal of Mahindras and Bengal Mumbai FC's Uday Konar have been included in the list of Asia Cup probables. This was announced by AIFF president Das Munshi. The camp is in progress in Patiala.

26. October
Sikkim Governor Gold Cup: Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council XI 1-0 Assam Rifles

25. October
Sikkim Governor Gold Cup: George Telegraph, Calcutta 2-1 Manipur XI - golden Goal

Note-1: 25 girls have been selected for the 2nd phase of the Indian women's football coaching camp, out of 35 probables. The camp is in progress at National Institute of Sports, Patiala. Five girls, including two from Punjab, have been selected by the AIFF for the coaching camp. The team will participate in the Asian Women's Football Championship to be held in Philippines from Nov 7-21, 1999, according to Surinder Bhambri, camp director. India have been placed in Group A with Chinese Taipei and Vietnam in the championship. The 25 probables for the 2nd phase of the camp are: Goalkeeper: Binashori (Manipur), Ranjita Mohanti (Orissa), Ranjita (Bengal). Defence: Thumpa Bannerjee, Sayanti Nandi (both Bengal), Geeta Devi (Manipur), Bentla D Couth (Kerala), Maria Rebelle (Goa), Madhu Kumari (Bihar), Mamu Gogoi (Assam) and Bathama Priyadarshini (Orissa). Midfielders: Gurmeet Kaur (Punjab), O Bem Bem Devi, Chaoba Devi, Rani Devi (all Manipur), Alpna Sil, Pampa Sarkar (Bengal), Kalpna Salur (Orissa). Forwards: Sujata Kar (Bengal), Tababi Devi, S Rani (both Manipur), Grace Pereira (Maharashtra), Sradhanjali Samanta Rai (Orissa), Geeta Romania (Assam).
Chaoba Devi of Manipur will be the captain. The final football team will be selected on November 2.

24. October
Sikkim Governor Gold Cup: Sikkim FA 5-0 Jamshedpur Football Academy

Note-1: Great news regarding Permi Jhooti. Permi, a Fulham Ladies Player has been selected for the India probables for the Asian Women's Soccer Championship. She will reach India by today night to join the Indian team. Jhooti has expressed her desire to play for India in the meet to be held in Manila from Nov 7-21. The probables are practising at the SAI - Patiala, and Indian men's coach Sukhwinder Singh is overseeing the coaching. AIFF secretary KN Mour said the wait for Jhooti will be till Monday after which the team will be named.

Note-2: Former Indian goalkeeper Brahmanand is preparing to launch an academy to groom the future goalies. He recently met with Irish custodian Ray Clemence, coach of Gordon Banks and Pat Jennings and decided to introduce specialised training for goalkeeper in India. The ex-goalkeeper of India attended the first ever FIFA organised goalkeepers training course in South-East Asia, under the guidance of Clemence. The Goan goalkeeper said that Clemence promised him to extend all kind of help to run the academy. The technical director of the Goa-football development programme will start training a few promising junior goalies in Goa from early next year. But, the goalkeepers' academy is a totally separate project, he added.

22. October
The AIFF is reportedly close to clinching two major sponsorship deals. It claimed today that the National League would be held in December. The AIFF president, Das Munshi, said today that Coca-Cola would continue to be the lead sponsor. "The media speculation about the League being in limbo is unfounded. It will come off in the third week of December," Das Munshi said. The other sponsor deals which the AIFF hopes to "sew up in a fortnight" are for the Federation Cup and the Santosh Trophy. The AIFF is in talks with Bharat Petroleum for the Federation Cup while Indian Oil's help is being sought for the Santosh Trophy. "We had Bharat Petroleum sponsoring the National Championship but now we are counting upon Indian Oil," Das Munshi said. While the AIFF chief refused to disclose any details of the twin deals for "commercial reasons," he said the AIFF was in very good shape financially. "Once we have something on paper, we will announce it. I hope things will be getting on in a fortnight's time," he said.
Meanwhile the AIFF is talking to two coaches, a French and a Russian, for the national team. Some four months ago, Das Munshi, had announced that an Irish coach was to have been appointed but today he said the deal was off.

21. October
The AIFF on Thursday released a list of 26 probables for the Asian Nations Cup qualifiers to be held in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Star striker Bruno Coutinho, Raman Vijayan and medio Noel Wilson, who were in the Indian squad for the 8.SAF Games in Kathmandu, have been dropped from the list of probables. However, most of the other players who did duty in the SAF Games have been retained in the list. The list comprised four goalkeepers, eight defenders, eight midfielders and six forwards, according to an AIFF release. The final team will be announced later. The players will attend a training camp at Patiala starting on October 26 under the supervision of chief coach Sukhwinder Singh. Former India captain Carlton Chapman, who was omitted from the SAF Games team due to poor form, could not find a place in the list of probables. Bengal striker Dipendu Biswas who was not picked for the Kathmandu meet, has been included. Star striker Baichung Bhutia, who is currently playing for the 2.Division English Club Bury FC, will again not be available for the country as his name does not figure in the list.
Probables: Goalkeepers: Virender Singh (Mahindras), Kalyan Chaubey (BMFC), Prasanta Dora (East Bengal), Sangram Mukherjee (East Bengal); Defenders: KV Dhanesh (FCK), Mahesh Gawli (FCK), Deepak Mondal (JCT), Daljit Singh (JCT), Roberto Fernandes (Salgaocar), Reazul Mustafa (Mohun Bagan), Ratan Singh (East Bengal), Falguni Datta (East Bengal); Midfielders: Jules Alberto (Salgaocar), Ranjan Dey (East Bengal), Basudeb Mondal (Mohun Bagan), Renedy Singh (East Bengal), Hardip Sangha (JCT), Roque Barreto (Churchill Brothers), S Venkatesh (Salgaocar), Jo Paul Ancheri (FCK). Forwards: IM Vijayan (FCK), Mohd Najeeb (Mahindras), Syed Shabir Pasha (Indian Bank), Dipendu Biswas (Mohun Bagan), Bijen Singh (East Bengal), Alvito D'Cunha (Salgaocar).

19. October
Note-1: Rustom Akhramov who was shown the door by AIFF will be back in India next year, not as the National Coach, but as the AFC appointed technical expert to head the FIFA specified Youth Development Programme and coaches' preparations. Akhramov's tenure as India's national coach did not end on a happy note in 1996. He was accused of not fielding a balanced side in the Pre-World Cup qualifiers at Qatar, where India lost by half a dozen goals to the hosts. He was also blamed for picking up a side too young for the pre-Olympics where India lost by huge margins to Indonesia and Malaysia. Under the FIFA programme Akhramov who is the AFC's only technical expert from the Central Asian Area, will go all around India in the next year to hold classes for the coaches. He is also supposed to chalk out elaborate training programmes for under-16, under-19, under-21 and senior national teams.

Note-2: This year's Rovers Cup, scheduled at the Cooperage Ground in south Mumbai from November 1-15, will be a scaled down affair due to the financial crunch faced by its organisers. "Due to financial constraints the newly-elected committee members of the Western India Football Association have decided to hold the event as an eight-team affair instead of the usual 16 to cut down on expenses," WIFA spokesman Pervez Ziauddin said. "As of now only four outstation teams and Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting are in the fray along with three local super league outfits though we had sent invitations to some other teams from outside Maharashtra," Ziauddin said. JCT Mills, FC Kochin, Salgaocar, Churchill Brothers are the teams from outside the state and the three local outfits which are in the eight-team draw are Mahindra&Mahindra, Air India and Bengal Mumbai FC, according to the WIFA vice-president. "The appearance of Dhaka's Mohammedan Sporting is subject to central government's clearance," Mr Ziauddin said. "We had sent invitations to Calcutta's East Bengal and Mohun Bagan too but are yet to get any reply from them," he said. "Invitations sent earlier to ITI, Tata Football Academy, Vasco and State Bank of Travancore have been withdrawn due to the financial crunch," he said and added that WIFA would need only eleven days to complete the tournament.

Quick Note: Sorry for no updates in the last few weeks but wasn't able to get a proper FTP access from Calcutta due to the monsoon and after the second heaviest one day shower ever recorded in Cal, I wasn't even able to access the Web. Due to start of my new University session here in Germany and with Durga Puja around the corner, I'll be very busy, so maybe only updates in two or three day gaps. I will put a report on what I did in regard to indian football soon on the web.

18. October
Police Cup - Final: Churchill Brothers 2-1 Dempo SC

Note-1: 14 Indian and three foreign teams are expected to participate in the Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup from 24 October. The 21.edition of the championship will be inaugurated by the Governor, Chaudhry Randhir Singh, on Sunday, the Sikkim FA said. Among the participants are Mohammedan Sporting, George Telegraph, Air-India, Dempo, Kerala Police, Army XI, Assam Rifles, Williamson Magor Academy, Rising Star of Orissa, a Manipur XI, TFA, a Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council XI and two local teams: Northeners and SFA XI. A team each from Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh have also confirmed their participation. The final is fixed for November 6. The SFA president, Tempo Bhutia, said: "Initially Mohun Bagan and Churchill Brothers were scheduled to come. But after the Calcutta team lost by eight goals to Japan's Jubilo Iwata and had some problems with a few players, we had to abandon the idea." Dempo replace Churchill Brothers, he said. The Sikkim tournament is one that East Bengal club have never won despite several attempts.

Note-2: Vasco SC, angered by Western India Football Association's decision not to accommodate the Goan club for the Rovers Cup, has decided to take the Mumbai-based body to task. Vasco official Savio Messias says WIFA had earlier assured the club - vis-a-vis an official letter - a berth in the country's prestigious tournament, called the Blue Riband of Indian football. Messias said he had confirmed their participation after accepting the terms and conditions as laid down by the organisers. This had happened only a week back, claimed Messias. But on Friday he was in for a rude shock as the club received a communique saying that WIFA is not in a position to accommodate Vasco due to financial constraints. The club officials have taken this as a bitter pill as Vasco had spurned the offer of participating in a tournament in Meghalaya and the Sikkim Gold Cup. Not only has WIFA robbed them of a chance of playing in the North East but this is the repeat of last year's, the only difference being the time of intimation. Last year Vasco were intimated not to proceed to Mumbai the night before they were to board the train to the metropolis. Infact, the club had bought tickets for the team well in advance and the players, too, had reported at the railway station the next day and had to return home crestfallen. Messias has now written to WIFA to compensate the club suitably. At the same time Messias has renewed efforts to get a berth in one of North East tournaments through the good offices of Alberto Colaco, the former secretary of the Goa FA. One is puzzled as how the WIFA has messed up for the second year in running so much so that even last year's runners-up Central Railway do not get a chance to play in the home tournament.

17. October
Last Monday was an important day in the AIFF calendar--the Super Cup was scheduled to be held and the pending amounts disbursed to the teams of last season's National Football League. But the day came and went without any reaction whatsoever from the AIFF. The Super Cup is a one-off contest between the winners of the NFL and the Federation Cup, in this case Salgaocar vs Mohun Bagan. It is also an occasion for the awards nite when the prize-distribution ceremony takes place. Last year, however, the season extended well beyond the stipulated period and the Super Cup was postponed indefinitely. While its non-conduct is not being questioned, the teams are now apprehensive about the AIFF fulfilling its monetary commitments, especially as the fourth NFL is set to start in December. "There is no sign of any cheque or money," confirmed Salgaocar secretary Henry Britto from Vasco. Salgaocar are the winners of the NFL last year and are awaiting their winners' booty of Rs. 400,000. "Though the AIFF promised us the entire amount by Oct11, they have not even shown the basic courtesy of giving reasons for the delay." "The AIFF owes us Rs. 75,000 from last year, apart from the share of the gate collection," said Mahindras manager Harish Rao. "We are yet to receive it." AIFF president Das Munshi had hurriedly announced in New Delhi on August 19 that all matters would be sorted out by October 11. Das Munshi had perceived a threat from the Forum of Clubs, an unregistered and non-recognised consortium of all national-level clubs, launched on the initiative of FC Kochin secretary Babu Mather. Subsequently, Mahindras, the hosts for the congregation of clubs and also the only city side for NFL 1999-2000, had succumbed to some indirect pressure from the AIFF and had decided to "postpone" the meeting. "Yes, it is true that Das Munshi had announced that all pending payments would be cleared by October 11," said AIFF secretary KN Mour from his Guwahati office on Thursday evening. "He has not instructed me about it subsequently. I think he is trying to arrange for the money." Meanwhile, the AIFF is all set to start the 4.edition on December 1. Tournament director Alberto Colaco has written to the 12 teams, soliciting suggestions and comments. But the 4.NFL is bound to suffer a setback as Das Munshi has announced that the Federation Cup will be held this year with the money coming from the AIFF coffers. The Federation Cup, now called the KBL Cup, was being held at various centres between July and September over the last three years. But, with the United Breweries not keen on continuing with the sponsorship, it was shelved. "It will be held as in the same format like in earlier years," said Mr. Mour. "Eight qualifiers will join the eight quarterfinalists of last season and matches will be held at different venues. The programme will be released shortly for the zonal qualifiers and the final rounds." With no slot available, it remains to be seen when the AIFF is likely to schedule the event. November is earmarked for the Rovers and the Durand Cups while the NFL runs from December to March 2000. Then comes the national championship for the Santosh Trophy. Though a few members of the AIFF are not keen on having the Federation Cup this year, given the paucity of time and funds, the president is believed to be steadfast in his decision. In that case, the 4.NFL will only start next year and the AIFF will be forced to make further minor arrangements for its smooth conduct. At the New Delhi meeting, the AIFF had agreed to the clubs' plea of reverting to the home-and-away format for the NFL and any moves to stick to the two-group arrangement of the 3.NFL will only invite further criticism and complaints. "If the Federation Cup has to be held as per the president's directive, the NFL will certainly be delayed," said Mour.

16. October
Baichung Bhutia got just seven minutes of action as his club, Bury FC trounced Blackpool 5-0 in an away match of the English Division II soccer league today. The goals came from Chris Swailes, John Hills, Chris Billy, Ian Lawson and Paul Barnes as Bury, leading 1-0 at the break, scored their fifth win in 12 matches for a tally of 19 pts (five wins and four draws). Bhutia was again on the bench for a good part of the match. He came in as substitute for Andy Preece in the 83.minute. After three matches, Bhutia is yet to play a full match. In his first match, he came in as a second half substitute and was later himself replaced and in the second never got to see the action as he was benched. Baichung has had a hectic week as manager Neil Warnock, in his bid to get the Indian star fitter, made him play in two practice matches with the Bury reserve team. Bury's next match is against Reading, currently placed third-last, on October 20.

15. October
Tollygunge Agragami and George Telegraph were selected by the Indian Football Association for the East Zone qualifiers of the Federation Cup. Though neither the dates nor venues of the zonals have yet been finalised, an AIFF official said it will be done by next week. It is likely the zonal rounds will begin by late October. Since the Maidan big three teams (East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Mohammedan Sporting) are already in the main draw by virtue of being a quarterfinalists last year, Tollygunge and George were chosen as they finished third and fifth in the apex tier, respectively.

13. October
Note-1: The AIFF plans to go ahead with the zonal rounds of the 1999 Federation Cup though uncertainty prevails over the final round. AIFF president Das Munshi has asked secretary KN Mour to finalise the draw for the zonal competition by next week. Mour said that the zonal rounds will begin in the last week of October. The matches will be held in a way so as not to disturb major domestic tournaments like the IFA Shield, Durand and Rovers Cup. The final round of the Federation Cup, Mour said, can only be held in December, which means further postponement of the National League. The AIFF is still struggling to rope in a sponsor for the Federation Cup and the National League. Mour added that in case a sponsor was unavailable by the end of the month, the Federation Cup will not be held under the new format (zonal plus final round). Instead, the AIFF will stage the tournament in the first fortnight of December at one venue, as in the past, with local sponsors and less prize money.

Note-2: Mohun Bagan, in an effort to improve upon their recent showings, have decided to depute a goalkeeper coach. Former India goalkeeper Atanu Bhattacharya will begin training Mohun Bagan custodians from October 21, when the team resumes post-Puja practice. Meanwhile, Mohun Bagan are yet to get any formal intimation regarding any fine that the Asian Football Confederation may want to impose on the club for defaulting on the Jubilo Iwata Asian Club Cup fiasco. Club secretary Anjan Mitra said: "If we are penalised in any way we will sue the state government to realise the amount."

12. October
Note-1: The Asian Football Confederation awarded full points to Japan's Jubilo Iwata after rivals Mohun Bagan postponed the return leg tie in the Asian Club Cup Championship slated for October 16. Mohun Bagan, the organisers of the tie, had on Oct10 written a letter to the AIFF saying the match at the Saltlake Stadium had to be postponed following the West Bengal state police's refusal to grant permission. The state police had said that it was in no position to provide adequate number of personnel on Oct16 as the day marked the beginning of the Durga Puja festival. Gupta said the IFA yesterday held deliberations with state police director General Dipak Sanyal, who "refused to budge from his stand". "We immediately informed the AIFF who apprised the AFC of the entire affair," he added. Bagan had suffered a humiliating 0-8 drubbing to titleholders Jubilo Iwata in the first leg match at Iwata in Japan.

Note-2: Mohun Bagan will be called upon to pay a fine for their aborted Asian Club Cup Championship match with Jubilo Iwata because they, on losing the away game 0-8, made sure the home match in Calcutta on October 16 would not come off. KN Mour, AIFF secretary, told The Statesman over the telephone from New Delhi that the Asian Football Confederation had asked the Japanese team not to proceed to Calcutta in view of the letter Mohun Bagan circulated. They have also been waved through. Jubilo, in fact, had asked the AFC what they should do in the context of the Mohun Bagan pull-out decision. Mour said it indeed was shameful for the country in general and the AIFF in particular that Mohun Bagan had chosen the course of action they did. He said that the AFC had simultaneously instructed Jubilo that they had been awarded full points for the Calcutta match which came to be scuppered. "This," Mour said, "doesn't mean there will be no fines. And the AIFF will not bail Mohun Bagan out. The point is that the fixtures had been announced so far ago - and Mohun Bagan knew it too - that there could never have been a question of getting out of it at the eleventh hour."

10. October
Goa Professional League: Dempo SC 0-2 Churchill Brothers - CB win the Goa Professional League title.

9. October
Asian Club Cup - 2nd Round 1st-leg: Jubilo Iwata (Japan) 8-0 Mohun Bagan AC
Jubilo Iwata hammered Mohun Bagan 8-0 in their Asian Club Cup second-round tie, scoring four goals in each session. Vladimir Radchenko, who donned Russian colours at the 1994 World Cup, netted thrice - a penalty in the first half and a brace in the second. None in the Mohun Bagan ranks had doubted the Calcutta giants would be up against it when they took on the holders of the Asian Club Cup. But little did they visualise losing by an unprecedented eight-goal margin. The stress had to be on defence, and Nayeem did line up four men in the rear-line and five in midfield. But that wasn't enough to prevent the deluge of goals. The lone man upfront was Emeka Achilefu, for the first 20 minutes, and Dipendu Biswas thereafter. The injured Nigerian was in no condition to take the field but was still tried out as "he's the only big guy we had and I wanted to take a chance," Syed Nayeemuddin explained. A long-ranger nestled into the net to signal the start of Hemanta Dora's dreadful day in office. As the Jubilo attacks came in torrents, the Mohun Bagan defence - already exposed this season in the CFL Super Division league - just fell to pieces. Even a man with Samuel Omollo's experience panicked and conceded a penalty. Nayeem was hardly devastated by what was his most embarrassing defeat in his coaching career. "My team didn't play bad, everyone fought for the full 90 minutes. But they (Jubilo Iwata) were just too strong for us," was how the Dronacharya summed it up. Picking out striker Radchenko and Brazilian stopper-back Edilson as the key men, Nayeem said the two foreigners in the Jubilo line-up made a huge difference. "The whole team operated like a machine and didn't give us any chance to do any damage. The difference in class was very apparent. No wonder they spend millions of dollars to maintain and nurture the team."

Note-1: India have been clubbed in Group 5 with Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bhutan for next year's 32nd Asian Youth under-19 soccer championship in Iran. The draw was held in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. In the under-16 championship, to be held in Vietnam, India find themselves in Group 4 along with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bhutan.

7. October
The Asian Football Confederation's technical expert - Akhramov said there are only five more in the continent - is conducting a coaches clinic in Calcutta. 17 have already enrolled for the 10-day programme which began yesterday, he said. "The idea behind such clinics is to prepare coaches to take charge of youth football academies," Akhramov, in India on a year-long AFC youth development programme, said. He will also be the chief consultant for all national teams till next August when his tenure ends. "This was started four years ago following a FIFA directive and funded by it. The accent is on establishing a network of football academies - principal ones in the main cities with a series of nodal units under them - and training a new generation of coaches to run them. He said a plot of land has already been selected in Shillong for a nodal academy. "Young ones need intensive but planned training. I am showing the coaches how to plan such programmes," Akhramov said. Since joining AFC on January 1, 1998, Akhramov spent 16 months in Nepal helping set up the country's first academy, in Kathmandu. It has eight coaches and 40 boys (all U-13) and took part in the last Subroto Cup. Nepal will build four more soon, he added. The Uzbek said only 19 of the 30 U-19 players chosen by the AIFF for the regional camp in Imphal turned up. "I have shortlisted eight but maybe four will finally make it to the junior India squad."

6. October
The Indian Football Association is contemplating holding the IFA Shield with six teams, instead of eight as originally planned. The meet is scheduled between November 12-24. Confirmation from a Hungarian team and the amount they are demanding as appearance money could be the reason behind the proposed reduction, it was learnt. Through a fax message to the IFA, Kerulet FC has conveyed their wish to participate. And though the financial details are yet to be finalised, it is learnt that after paying them appearance money, funds won't permit holding an eight-team meet. Matters have been made more difficult with the unavailability of the Saltlake Stadium till November 18. The Hungarian club, it was learnt, had reached the semifinal of the recently concluded Bangabandhu Cup in Bangladesh where they lost 0-1 to the Ghanaian national team. East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Tollygunge Agragami and Mohammedan Sporting are the certainties. FC Kochin, Tata Football Academy and Bangladesh's Jagarani too are interested. If the Hungarian team does take part and the IFA decides to hold the meet with six teams, one from among the three will be chosen.

5. October
Note-1: Bengal Mumbai FC is set to go public soon. And according to Krishnendu Sen, one of the club's directors, it will be the first in India to do so. The nitty-gritty of floating shares has almost been completed, Sen said, adding that it is likely to be launched next month. "Through private placements, we will sell 25% shares, each priced at Rs 10. The premium for each share will also be Rs 10," he said. BMFC are also sending a seven-point proposal to the AIFF for an improved 2.Division National League. The reigning Rovers Cup champions have qualified for the competition by virtue of finishing 3rd in the Mumbai League which was won by Air India. BMFC will be automatic entrants into the 2.Division, as Air India and second Mahindras are NFL sides. The proposals include prize money, appearance money, a home-&-away format for the second stage, a percentage of the gate receipts and television coverage among others. Sen said they will be officially presented to the AIFF tomorrow. Given the financial doldrums the AIFF finds itself in at present, it will be interesting to see whether any of the proposals are accepted. And though there is nothing official about it yet, the club, now in its third year, is also keen on getting the system of transfer fees started. In Gulf Oil, they already have a sponsor on a five-year contract with provision for a 15% increase every year but obviously BMFC have set higher targets. Going public is not only an attempt to generate more revenue but also to promote the club as a brand, the official said. The sponsorship deal, in its second year now, is worth Rs 57 lakh, the official said. Having roped in film personality Shakti Samanta and several bigwigs from the corporate world into its new advisory board, BMFC seem on course to realise both goals. Proof of the club's growing popularity is the fact that life membership which could be got for Rs 6000 when BMFC started is now worth Rs 11000.

Note-2: The IFA governing body today agreed in principle to let Revenue Board compete in the Calcutta Football League next year. Provided, of course, they meet with certain conditions laid down by the association vis-a-vis a professional league planned from 2001. Revenue Board, comprising Central Excise, Customs and Income Tax, had recently written to the IFA expressing their desire to take part in the proposed professional league. A few objections to their entry were raised at the meeting today, but the members finally agreed to let them in conditionally. Revenue Board will have to satisfy the IFA that they have a full-fledged professional set-up, failing which their application will be scratched once and for all. If they meet that criterion, Revenue Board are likely to be given a slot in the first division. Whether it will be in group A or B will be decided later. The salient feature of this afternoon's governing body conclave was a detailed discussion centering on the professional league. And, at the end of the day, the members were unanimous in their view that it's an absolute must to set up one with a line-up of all-professional teams as soon as possible. The immediate target is 2001, but if that's not possible, IFA members sounded determined to start it a year later. Whether the state association - not famous for adhering to deadlines - manages to be an exception in this crucial project, only time will tell. The nine-point proposal of UB Group chairman Vijay Mallya also came up for discussion. Here again, the members agreed that if a professional league has to be set up, these proposals have to be considered with the utmost seriousness. Among Mallya's suggestions are: clubs participating in exhibition games sharing 60 per cent of the gate money; TV rights be auctioned and granted to the highest bidder with complete transparency in negotiations; granting merchandising rights and allowing sale of merchandise at all venues; scheduling day-night matches for maximum prime-time viewership.

4. October
8.SAF Games Football Tournament - Final: Bangladesh 1-0 Nepal - Goal: 1:0 Alfaz Ahmed (45').
Bangladesh created history by winning their first football gold medal at the SAF Games. Playing before a packed stadium, Bangladesh fulfilled their dream with a solitary-goal victory over hosts Nepal with their star striker Alfaz Ahmed emerging as the hero, scoring the all-important goal at the stroke of half-time.

8.SAF Games Football Tournament - 3rd Place: India 3-1 Maldives - Goals: 0:1 AG Mausam (6'), 1:1 IM Vijayan (16'), 2:1 Syed Shabir Pasha, 3:1 Raman Vijayan.
India warded off a spirited Maldives challenge to carve out a 3-1 win and claim the soccer bronze at the SAF Games. Shabir Pasha and Raman Vijayan struck a goal each in the last four minutes of the game to save the day for the Indians. AG Mausam put the Maldives ahead in the 6.minute but India restored parity 10 minutes later through mercurial striker IM Vijayan.

3. October
Jas Bains send me a report on Baichung's debut for Bury FC vs Cardiff City:
BB made his historic entry into the English game as a second half sub for Ian Lawson. Within 30 seconds he entered the referee' notebook for encroachment. BB was not amused by this but I told him afterwards that it was the sort of thing you get booked for in England.
His first touch almost led to a goal. Following a long throw-in he managed to get his foot around a flick on which went inches beyond the far post. His next major contribution led to Bury's second goal. Attempting a flying volley in the penalty area his deflection fell invitingly into the path of the oncoming Darren Bullock who fired in.
Overall he showed intelligent signs of linking up with Andy Preece. This may well become a classic little man big man partnership.
In the last few minutes BB was substituted as Bury sought to waste as much time as possible as they held onto their slender lead. Bury made another substitution a minute later. This seemed to be their best way of holding Cardiff back.
After the game BB said he was pleased with his game. This was shared by Bury's manager and his assistant. Both the latter felt relieved today was over because BB can now get down to concentrating on his football. Remember this has been quite a week for BB.
Congrats from me BB for your successful entry into the english game!!! I think the pressure ahead of the match must have been a burden for you but a good debut was that was the need of the hour. Hope that your success story continues over the next few weeks and months!

2. October
8.SAF Games Football Tournament - Semifinals: India 0-1 Bangladesh - Goal: 0:1 Md Shajuddin Tipu (65').
By not being assertive enough from the very beginning, India gave Bangladesh hope. From hope was born confidence and thriving on that, Bangladesh scripted a memorable 1-0 triumph to enter the football final of the SAF Games. At the Dashrath Stadium today, India presented a pathetic picture of unrealised potential. On a pitch drenched by mid-afternoon showers, they were tentative for most part, groping for ideas against a side that went from strength to strength. And came the 65.minute, substitute Md Shajuddin Tipu produced evidence of the rise of the Bangladesh game with a stunning 25-yard right-footer that gave no chance to Indian goalkeeper Virender Singh. In a game where defenders of either side had a big say, that one goal carried the value of a dozen.

8.SAF Games Football Tournament - Semifinals: Maldives 1-2 Nepal - Goals: 0:1 Naresh Joshi (11'), 0:2 Hari Khadka (14'), 1:2 AM Moosa (42').

1. October
Note-1: The manager of Bury FC, Neil Warnock, is certain to keep Baichung Bhutia among the reserves for tomorrow's 2.Division home clash against Cardiff City. Warnock, in fact, wants to give Bhutia a taste of the action too. "I want to get him straight into action. He will be on the bench tomorrow and I would hope to give him around 25 minutes," Warnock said. Warnock decided to sign Bhutia after a pre-season trial where he scored five goals in two games. The coach is now confident that the striker will be able to cope up with the physical aspects of english football. "He's got a Gary Lineker type of attitude and if he's kicked up and down he won't retaliate," Warnock said.

Note-2: With a little help from IFA, Mohun Bagan cleared the fines on their errant trio 'in time' to clear the deck for its playing the ties against Jubilo Iwata. This was the version of joint secretary Ranjit Gupta, who said he came to know about it Friday. IFA sources, however, said the employee mentioned had left early that day. Though the receipt was issued Friday, it had Thursday's date (the day the deadline expired). It was learnt that KD Pal, the other joint-secretary, had ratified issuing the receipt on Thursday's date. Pal was unavailable for comment. Had the fines not been paid by Thursday, the players would have been suspended for another month.