31. May
East Bengal Club were formally awarded the 2001 IFA Shield at the annual prize distribution ceremony of the IFA (Bengal). Last October the Shield final between East Bengal and Brazilians Palmeiras was called off due to onfield violence. The Brazilians refused to continue and East Bengal were declared champions. East Bengal also got the winners' cheque of Rs 600.000.

29. May
Note-1: Doordarshan, which failed to get exclusive rights to telecast the ensuing World Cup in Japan and South Korea, will show daily highlights and some key matches as deferred telecasts.
While viewers, having access to satellite television, will see the live telecasts on TEN Sports, those having no cable connection can see an hour-long capsule daily giving the highlights of the matches. The match highlights will be shown from 11 pm to midnight, and there will be repeat telecasts on the 12 regional DD channels.
In addition, the opening ceremony will be shown in full on deferred telecast basis from 11:30 pm on May 31. The two semifinal matches on June 25 and 26 and the final on June 30 will be shown on deferred telecast basis from 11:00 pm.

Note-2: The 32nd Northern India Hot Weather Football Tournament will be held at Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) from June 11 to 16. Organising secretary Rajender Gupta said leading teams from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh had been invited to participate.

27. May
The "International Indian Football Series 2002" in Germany started with a bang!!!
The IFSC-Germany held it's first-ever tournament on Sunday, May 26 in Heilbronn, Germany. The 6 A-Side tournament was held with eight teams participating, five of the teams were from Germany, two from the Netherlands and the host club Heilbronner SpVgg, who have an Indian youngster in their junior team.
The final was held between the Heilbronner SpVgg Vs the IFSC-Germany Junior team, which HSV won 2-1 but I am proud about our team of Indian juniors from Germany, as we had only met once for a training weekend in March and now played in the tournament. This all is preparation for the big tournament on August 23/24 here in Germany, where we will play against opposition from India and maybe a select side of Indians from England!

26. May
Komaleeswaran Sankar , the first Indian assistant referee at a World Cup, will officiate in two matches during the first round of the World Cup. Both matches will be in Japan. Sankar will be the linesman in the June 3 Group G match between Croatia-Mexico in Niigata and in the June 10 Group H match between Tunisia-Belgium at Oita, according to the list released by FIFA for referees' assignments in the first round.

24. May
Coming season and Calcutta football fans might have the chance to watch matches of the Calcutta Super Division and Group A matches under floodlights. Talking to reporters, IFA joint-secretary Ranjit Gupta said: "Efforts are on to reactivate the floodlights at the Mohun Bagan ground."
Newly appointed IFA President Arun Poddar meanwhile informed that VSNL will take a satellite slot from July which will cut down the expenditure of ESPN and help them beam matches live from Calcutta.

23. May
The AIFF has appointed Englishmen Stephen Constantine as the new Indian national team coach to prepare the Indian under-23 team for the 2002 Pusan Asian Games in September/October. The highly qualified 39-year old Constantine will replace Sukhwinder Singh, who had been India coach for over three years.
Addressing a press conference in Delhi after the AIFF's executive committee meeting, the AIFF president Das Munshi said, "Stephen Constantine will be here on June 15. Though nothing has been formally signed, we are bringing him here for the Asian Games. As far as Sukhwinder Singh is concerned, we will offer him the post of Technical Director."
Also teh AIFF named Derrick Pereira and Aloke Mukherjee as assistant coaches for the Asian Games, while Shantanu Mitra will be the Project Director.
The AIFF has not finalised the plans for the team's preparation for the Games but it was confirmed that India would take part in the six-nation under-23 LG Cup in Vietnam in August.

In other decisions and news at the AIFF executive committee meeting:

22. May
Note-1: At long last in the interest of the Calcutta Maidan spectators and football in Calcutta, the West Bengal Government has sanctioned Rs 18,1 million for replacing the wooden galleries with tubular structures at the three Maidan grounds. IFA joint secretary Ranjit Gupta had a meeting with the state finance minister Asim Dasgupta at the Writers' Buildings, asking for an expeditious process of rebuilding the grounds.
"My department had sanctioned Rs 18,1 million for the total replacement of the wooden stands in the three football grounds", Dasgupta later said. "There were some problems relating to the tenders floated in this regard, but those have been sorted out," Dasgupta said. The Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting grounds with concrete stands are expected to be ready by July when the local league kicks off, the minister added.

Note-2: Calcutta's Tollygunge Agragami will move court against the AIFF as they failed to meet the club's May 20 deadline to give them an answer on the issue of the 2000/01 National League. The AIFF had taken steps against Vijayan and fined FC Kochin for fielding the footballer without completing the necessary technicalities, but refused to award Tollygunge full points against FCK which would have assured the city team a finish among the top six, where the teams get prize money.

21. May
After losing some of their long-term players to Punjabi rival outfits Punjab Police and Border Security Force, JCT Mills made some gains in the Inter-state transfers by the signings of stars IM Vijayan and Jo Paul Ancheri from East Bengal!
The two are back in the small Punjabi town of Phagwara after five years.

20. May
For whom will last season Mohun Bagan captain Debjit Ghosh play for in the new season?
Today Ghosh asked the IFA (Bengal) to cancel his inter-state signature for Mahindra United. The midfielder has written to the IFA saying his signature in favour of Mahindra United on the inter-state transfer form is illegal, because at the time of signing, he was playing for a Bangladeshi club. Therefore, to sign for any Indian club, even to stay on in Mohun Bagan, he first has to bring an International Transfer Certificate from Bangladesh. In Debjit's letter to the IFA, he has said that complications may arise as a result of these technicalities.
It seems, as if Indian players have learned from the IM Vijayan mistake two seasons ago...

19. May
Mohun Bagan AC is poised to have another first to its credit with its residential football academy all set to kick off by July aiming to rear a dream team for the 2012 Olympics. The current National League and Federation Cup winners recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Durgapur Steel Plant, a subsidiary of public sector Steel Authority of India Limited, to set up the academy at the industrial town of Durgapur in Burdwan district of West Bengal. Christened Mohun Bagan Sail Football Academy, the dream project is taking shape on a sprawling area owned by the DSP which has been licensed free of cost to the fancied 113-year old club for a period of six years after which the agreement would be renewed.
"This is the first soccer academy in the country which is being set up and run by a club. The Tata Football Academy in Jamshedpur was established by a business house," Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra told PTI. Setting an ambitious goal of grooming a 'dream team' for the 2012 Olympics, the academy would recruit around 40 rookies equally divided into two age groups - under 13 and 15 years - from various parts of the country. "We'll start the recruitment process by July. A talent search will be conducted to choose the trainees," Mitra, the moving spirit behind the project, said. A committee comprising celebrated football coaches and former National players would conduct countrywide trials to spot talented youngsters who would be initially trained for two months to gauge their aptitude and potential. Successful candidates would be given long-term contracts for 10-12 years, Mitra said.
"We don't have to do any fresh construction as we can improvise the already existing infrastructure of the DSP," he said. A 22-room DSP guest house is being converted to a full-fledged hostel for trainees. The academy also has a swimming pool and a modern multigym. It will also make exclusive use of a DSP ground for daily three-hour practice sessions. The educational needs of the trainees are also being taken care of. For this, the academy has entered into an arrangement with two DSP-run schools. Several corporate houses are being tapped for funds to meet the annual expenses of running the academy, which would be around Rs 5 million. "Already some individuals have promised help. But I can't divulge their names now," he said. To begin with, the academy would admit 30 trainees and the number would be gradually increased thereafter. "It will take about a year to set things in order," he said. The academy would not only bear all the expenses, including educational costs, of the trainees, but would also give them a monthly stipend of Rs 500. The boys would play exhibition matches with leading Indian sides on a regular basis. There are also plans to send them on exposure trips abroad, Mitra disclosed. The recruits would be on exclusive contract with the academy for the entire duration of the training. Any player wishing to be released before the end of the contract period, would have to shell out the entire amount spent on him along with a transfer fee. "If the academy decides to give any player to another club within the contract period, then we will collect a transfer fee - which will be more than the money spent on him," Mitra said. The vacuum would be filled up by roping in fresh talents. The Bagan offical said a number of names were being considered for the coach's slot and a final decision would be taken soon.

18. May
Note-1: The Under-20 Indian national team will tour Bangladesh in the last week of June as a part of the preparation for the Asian U-20 Championships qualifiers, to be held Calcutta in July. The first phase of the preparatory camp with the probables is currently going on at the SAI Complex, Calcutta and it will continue till June 5 and the second phase starts from June 15.
Newspapers in India report that efforts are on to send the national under-17 team to Germany in August in preparations for the Asian U-17 Championship to be held in September. The idea of the tour was put forward to the AIFF by the indianfootball.com team, to help the juniors in their training ahead of the finals in the UAE.

Note-2: Protests against Doordarshan not showing the World Cup in India is growing and there is also reaction from Information & Telecommunications Department.
A few days ago the Lok Sabha was informed that Prasar Bharati was negotiating with TEN Sports, which has the rights for the telecast of the 2002 World Cup matches in India, about possibly showing matches on Doordarshan.
The protests on the streets are growing, the biggest demonstration so far was held in Kochi today, as the Democratic Youth Federation of India took out a march to the Doordarshan Kendra Kochi demanding telecast of the World Cup. A large number of football lovers, including Saju Paul - MLA, football players and coaches took part in the march.

17. May
The AIFF has decided to allow only four foreign players to be registered with a club of which only three can play in a match for the club in the Premier and 2.Division National League and Federation cup for the 2002/03 season. "The AIFF committee members decided to restrict the number of foreigners in a team to four after the coaches and players of the NFL clubs recently stated that foreigners playing for the various clubs in the national league should be reduced," Alberto Colaco, the AIFF secretary informed. The federation's decision of accepting the recommendation of its technical committee would now bring down the number of foreign players as against five registered and four played in the 2001/02. "For state league, all-India tournaments and all other tournaments except the National League and Federation Cup only three foreign players may be registered of which two can play in a match in these tournaments," he said further.

16. May
Former India footballer K Balakrishna Pillai, (59) expired yesterday in Mumbai through a prolonged illness of Parkinson. He is mourned by wife and two daughters. A Mafatlal stopper, Balakrishna wore India colours for four seasons and represented Maharashtra for a decade.

15. May
Note-1: From today on the IFA (Bengal body) has a new president in Arun Poddar. No election was needed as outgoing President Raghunath Dey did not stand election at the last moment. Poddar's vice-President Amiya Samanta, Noomi Mehta, Krishnendu Banerjee were elected. Subrata Dutta was elected treasurer.

Note-2: The turmoil at Mohun Bagan continued today as football secretary Debashish Datta withdrew his letter of resignation, while the club informed that it had been able to persuade medio Basudeb Mondal to stay at the club and not switch over to Mahindra United or Mohammedan Sporting. The club will also try to keep captain Debjit Ghosh at the club, though he is knwon to have agreed to play for Mahindra United.

14. May
Note-1: The crisis at Mohun Bagan AC deepened as their football secretary Debashish Dutta resigned today. The official version says, he quit due to personal reasons but later he told reporters that coach Subrata Bhattacharya's criticism in his putting together of the team being bad, as being the real reason. The problems continue at Bagan after secretary Anjan Mitra had announced the decision not to form a team this season until his rivals withdrew their court cases and the controversy of Bagan not representing India in the first-ever Asian Champions League.

Note-2: Well-known footballerr of the 50s and 60s, Nilesh Sarkar died today, following a severe cerebral attack at his Bally residence. He was 67. He was known as "Hattrick Sarkar" in his playing days for his achievement of numerous hattricks. The centre-forward, popular among his fans for his skill and goal-scoring abilities, had played for both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan in his nearly decade-long career.

9. May
Nigerian Chima Okerie has decided to retire from football. "I am finding it difficult to keep up the fitness level needed for top class football as I am a 35-year-old which is a bit on the higher side for football," Chima said. Chima, who played for Bengal Mumbai FC in the 2nd division National League last, said he would like to be involved as a coach in future. Chima played for the Calcutta big three, Mohammedan Sporting, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal before moving to Mumbai for his last season.

7. May
Asian Sub-Junior (U17) Championships Qualifiers - Goa: INDIA 2-0 Maldives - Goals: 1-0 Suting Marlangki (66'), 2-0 Vanlal Rova (69').

Note-1: A parliamentarian has written to Information and Broadcasting Minister, Sushma Swaraj demanding that the 2002 World Cup be telecast live by Doordarshan. "We wait for four years to see the World Cup... But, we still do not know whether lakhs of Indian viewers, especially in rural areas, will be able to view the games," CPI-M Member of Parliament, Hannan Mollah said. The parliamentarian said some private channels were going to show the games which will be available to only a few fortunate people in urban areas where cable television is there, he said adding "it will be depressing for those crore of people, especially the youth in the countryside who will be deprived of viewing such a great event." Mollah said it was not still certain whether Doordarshan would telecast the matches. "The people are very eager to know about it. Under the circumstances, I would request you to arrange for live telecast of all matches of World Cup through the national network and kindly announce the same immediately," the MP said.

6. May
Note-1: Mohun Bagan's Subrata Bhattacharya has been named Coach of the Month for April by the Asian Football Confederation! The second Indian coach to get the award after Sukhwinder Singh last year for the great performance of the Indian national team then.
"With Bagan a point behind Churchill Brothers going into the final day of the season, the former India international masterminded a remarkable 1-0 victory over the league leaders in Churchill's home state of Goa. An estimated 30,000 supporters turned up in anticipation of Churchill securing their first NFL championship, but Nigerian defender Abdul Wastu Saliu spoiled the party with a 73.minute goal, giving Bagan their third title in five seasons. Bhattacharya also became the first coach to win two NFL titles after leading the Kolkata giants to victory in the 1999-2000 season," AFC said in its release from Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

Note-2: Samir Thapar and Inder Singh (Arjuna Awardee) have been unanimously elected as President and hony secretary of the Punjab Football Association for the next four years. The election took place under the chairmanship of Harish Thapar, senior vice-president PFA, while Raja K.S. Sidhu, Secretary-General of Punjab Olympic Association, was present as observer.

Note-3: Chandu Roy Chowdhury has been named as Bhratri Sangha's new coach. Roy Chowdhury was in charge of Mohammedan Sporting for a short period last season, as he succeeds Shabbir Ali. Shabbir Ali meanwhile is likely to join HAL in Bangalore.

5. May
Asian Sub-Junior (U17) Championships Qualifiers - Goa: INDIA 10-0 Maldives - Goals: 1-0 Jerry Zirsanga (9'), 2-0,6-0,7-0 Malswama (11',45',53'), 3-0,5-0 Francis Marbaniang (18',35'), 4-0,9-0,10-0 Sutang Marlangki (27',75',77'), 8-0 Rockus Lamare (72').
Riding on hattricks by Malswama and Sutang Marlangki, India trashed Maldives 10-0 in the first leg tie of the qualifying round of AFC's under-17 football championship at Nehru stadium, Goa. Francis Marbaniang (2), Jerry Zirsanga and Rochus Lamare scored the other goals, with India leading 6-0 at halftime. The visitors were all at sea against the marauding Indian lads, who displayed their striking prowess and dribbling, passing, shooting skills. The stoutly built Indians, who enjoyed the height advantage over their rivals, resorted to short passes and showed good all-round coordination. Never did they strike the ball wayward and always used subtle variations in speed control to outsmart the Maldives defenders. The way the Indian boys played speaks volumes of how professionally coach Islam Akhmedov has handled the whole unit!

Note-1: For the first time ever, 10 young footballers fully trained in skill and techniques of the game, have graduated from the prestigious Sesa Football Academy, Goa. The ten 19 year old boys concluded their three year course at a convocation ceremony held at the Academy grounds, were they received their certificates and medals in full football gear at the hands of Chief Guest, PK Banerjee, Technical Advisor to the AIFF. Guest of Honour for the function, Albert Colaco, secretary of the AIFF, felicitated the Academy's Chief Coach Mr Viwas Gaunkar and his assistant Anthony D'Sousa!

4. May
11.Datta Ray Trophy - Final: West Bengal 1-1,0-0 Goa (after extratime) - Goals: 1-0 Ashim Biswas (24'), 1-1 Joseph Pereira (29').
Due to bad light draw of lots were carried out with GOA winning by draw of lots!!!

Note-1: The AIFF president PR DasMunshi, in Mandya for the finals of the under-21 nationals, informed that the Nehru Cup would be restarted again after a break of five years. The 13th Nehru Cup would be held in Bangalore and it is being planned for December.
The format of the second Division National League would be changed from the new season. It no longer would be held under the zonal qualifying system. Now the 2.Division will now be held in the same format as the top division, with 12 teams, while a 3rd Division would be created.
A decision on whether to reduce the number of foreign players, which a club can sign up, will be taken at the AIFF Executive Committee meeting on May 17 in Delhi, he said.
Das Munshi also said FIFA had approved the Goal Project and construction work on the National Academy in Bangalore and the AIFF House in New Delhi will begin after the World Cup in over. The Corporation grounds at Austin Town will also be used for practice purposes and Das Munshi will make a request to SM Krishna for use of the Grounds.
"Our aim is to make this the best training complex in Asia, built on the strength of the Karnataka State FA and FIFA," Das Munshi said. He also said construction of the Bangalore Football Stadium would be completed along with the Academy.
Das Munshi also confirmed the end to the controversy over Mohun Bagan's participation in the Asian Club Championship. Das Munshi said the AIFF had received confirmation of the club's participation in the tournament.

3. May
Note-1: The Hindustan Times reports: In an apparent attempt to contain disguised professionalism in Indian football, the AIFF has decided to issue two sets of forms for the inter-state transfer of players beginning on May 15.
AIFF secretary Alberto Colaco said on Friday that for the first time in Indian football history, transfer forms of two different categories - amateurs and non-amateurs - have been issued to all the state associations.
"While for the amateur players, there is not much change in rules that prevailed last year, the players willing to be engaged as professionals with different clubs will have to attach copies of the contracts with their clubs along with the transfer forms," Colaco said.
The new rule for the professional players, which was passed in the last annual general body meeting of the AIFF in Delhi, clearly says "every player designated as non-amateur by his state association and AIFF shall have a written contract with the club employing him. Such contracts shall have a maximum duration of three years. A contract will always end at the end of the respective season."

Note-2: Mohun Bagan secretary Anjan Mitra today announced at a press conference the clubs decision to form a team and to participate in the newly-formed Asian Champions League. Mr Mitra further said that he had changed his stand because of the general members' feelings.

Note-3: The Mumbai District Football Association's leagues will be sponsored by Shaw Wallace Breweries Ltd for the second year. To be called the Haywards 2000 Football Leagues, Shaw Wallace announced a commitment of Rs 2 million towards the seven divisions of the MDFA at a press conference held at the Cricket Club of India recently.
Speaking to the media, Vivek Singh of Procam International, the promoters of the leagues, said for the first time the MDFA had formed the Elite Division, comprising the top six teams in the city - Mahindra United, Air India, Bengal Mumbai FC, Western Railway, Central Railway and Mumbai Customs.
These teams, in a league of their own, would compete among themselves, followed by the Super Division, Senior Division, 1st Division, 2nd Division, 3rd Division and 4th Division.

2. May
11.Datta Ray Trophy - Semifinal: Goa 4-2 Jammu&Kashmir - Goals: 1-0,4-2 Wilfred Gomes (22',80'), 1-1,3-2 Mehraj-Din-Wadoo (35',69'), 2-1 Joseph Pereira (42'), 3-1 Ryan D'Souza (53').

Note-1: Bhratri Sangha has asked for financial compensation from the three Iraqi players who had absconded just before the continuation of the 2.Division National League. It was learnt that the AIFF has issued a letter to the IFA asking for details on the three Iraqis, as a possible step of disciplining the absconders. The national body is also planning to approach FIFA in a bid to initiate punishments against the defaulters.

1. May
2.Division National League - PHASE III - Group League: Dempo SC 3-0 Indian Bank - Goals: 1-0 Alesha Shameki (15'), 2-0 Dudu M Omagbemi (28'), 3-0 Levy Coelho.
2.Division National League - PHASE III - Group League: Bengal Mumbai FC 3-0 Bhratri Sangha - Goals: 1-0 Emil Vartazarian (65'), 2-0,3-0 Peter Chidi (73',82').

11.Datta Ray Trophy - Semifinal: West Bengal 1-0 Karnataka - Goal: 1-0 Chinmoy Sarkar (89').

Note-1: The former Calcutta giants Mohammedan Sporting Club are trying to get back into the big league in Indian football through taking some fundamental decisions and changes!
Firstly reputed Mohammed Habib was signed as their new coach and now some spectacular transfers follow. Nigerians Abdullatif Seriki (Mohun Bagan) and Habib Adenkule (Mahindra Utd) have already been signed, along with some known names of the Indian football circuit, like Hussain Mustafi, Khemtang Paite, Amandeep Singh or Zaheer Abbas. But the most spectacular transfer might be in the pipelines, as Sporting are going to talk to Baichung Bhutia about a possible signing but that looks very very unlikely...
The club is going to go into the season with a budget of Rs. 10 million with half the money already being raised and the club is waiting for a sponsor.