31. March
A 16 member Indian under-23 national team with chief coach Stephen Constantine left their training camp in Goa for Delhi today on their way to their Pre-Olympic Round 1 first-leg in Ashkhabad against Turkmenistan coming Saturday, April 5. Mohun Bagan's reliable defender Satish Bharti has been named captain.
SQUAD: GK: VP Satish Kumar (East Bengal), Sangram Mukherjee (East Bengal). DF Satish Bharti (Mohun Bagan, CAPTAIN), Arun Malhotra (East Bengal), Raju Singh (East Bengal), Harpreet Singh (JCT Mills), Manitombi Singh (Salgaocar). MF: Vinu Jose (State Bank of Travancore), Dipankar Roy (East Bengal), Sheikh Sanjeeb (Mohun Bagan), Sukhwinder Singh (JCT Mills), Jatin Singh Bisht (Salgaocar), Mehtab Hussein (Tollygunge Agragami). FW: Ishfaq Ahmed (HAL), Alex Ambrose (Salgaocar), Nitin Pradhan (Vasco), Harvinder Singh (JCT Mills).

2.Division National League - Group A - Thiruvananthapuram: Border Security Force 2-0 Assam State Electricity Board - Goals: 1-0 DS Negi (4'), 2-0 Santosh Kujur (29').
In a dull match BSF won 2-0 to take them top of Group A with seven points (SBT on six with a game in hand) while ASEB remain rock bottom with no points and only one goal to their credit in three matches.
BSF entered the match with a more positive attitude than their previous two matches during which they got their whole team behind the ball every time possession was conceded. The Punjabi terrier, Vijay Kumar, a small stocky ballwinner was replaced in the centre midfield by Sarbjit Singh alongside Joseph. BSF scored an early goal as they had in the previous two matches, todays coming in the 4.minute after a cross from the right by Gurjit Atwal was converted by DS Negi. The second goal was almost identical, this time Atwal crossed for Santosh Kajur in the 29.minute. The Punjabi side had a massive physical advantage that the smaller Assamese were unable to cope with, in particular the strong running of Atwal.
Complacency slipped into the normally efficient and very well organised BSF team and given time on the ball ASEB are not as bad as their results suggest, however, they do lack a cutting edge and failed to score when presented with chances. At no point did BSF look like losing control of the match and uncharacteristically wasted good chances themselves.
As the competition heats up it looks like a threeway battle between BSF, SBT and Air-India and at the moment BSF and SBT have the upper hand.

2.Division National League - Group B - Jamshedpur: Mohammedan Sporting Club 2-0 Punjab Police - Goals: 1-0 Eugene Gray (31'); 2-0 Arunava Sarkar (84').
2.Division National League - Group B - Jamshedpur: Sporting Clube de Goa 2-1 Hindustan Club - Goals: 0-1 Abdullatif Seriki (52'), 1-1 Chanambam Jatin Singh (60'), 2-1 Peter Pereira (80').

Note-1: Former Indian FIFA referee, Milan Datta, has been named as one of the members in the Asian Football Confederation referees' committee, the first Indian to be named into this AFC committee.

30. March
2004 Asia Cup Preliminary Round Qualifier - Group G second-leg - Goa: INDIA 1-1 North Korea - Goals: 1-0 IM Vijayan (29'), 1-1 Choe Hyun U (85').
Infront of 18,000 screaming fans, at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, veteran striker IM Vijayan put India ahead in the 29.minute of play. But with India coasting to what seemed like a sure-shot win, Choe Hyun U dashed from nowhere to restore parity and the reward was a place in Group D of the qualifying round, where Asian Games champions Iran, Jordan and Lebanon await them.
The Qualifying Round matches for the Asian Cup will be played on a home and away basis from August 19 to February 18, 2004, with the top two sides from the seven groups set to join hosts China and defending champions Japan in the biggest ever edition of the continental clash.
Having won their home match at in the first-leg at the Kim-Il-Sung Stadium, Pyongyang 2-0, the draw was enough for North Korea to move ahead on a 3-1 overall aggregate.
Like India coach Stephen Constantine later told journalists, the draw was not a fair result of what actually transpired on the field. "We had three, possibly four clear chances to seal the match. The boys did their very best but the final pass that translates a good move into a goal was missing," Constantine told reporters.
His counterpart - Ri Jong Man - who recently led his side to the King's Cup final held in Bangkok (Thailand) was "not fully satisfied" but content that his side could scrape through.
"The heat troubled us a lot in the first session but once the sun came down, we could play our natural game. You could see that we had more of ball (possession) and chances after the change of ends," the polished coach said.
To be fair, India shared spoils in a match which they should have won comprehensively. But the proverbial "bad luck" and ocassionally poor finishing was their undoing. Veteran striker Vijayan more often than not was in the thick of action but two of his shots were brilliant saved by Korea keeper Ri Myong Dok while on a couple of ocassions he lacked juice in his boots.
North Korea had an early let-off when an in-swinging free-kick from the left flank by Alvito D'Cunha found Abhishek Yadav but, despite outjumping his marker, he sent his glancing header wide when well placed at the far post with the goalkeeper in no-man's land.
Alvito D'Cunha - easily the pick of the lot - was the first to threaten the rival goal with blistering drives. Making his markers run in circles, Alvito, on one ocassion broke from the shackles and sent a well-measured cross inside the danger-zone where Abhishek Yadav and Alex Ambrose were a trifle slow to connect.
India coach Stephen Constantine replaced an out-of-sorts Alex Ambrose with IM Vijayan , comparatively early in the match - 24th minute to be precise - and the Black Pearl of Indian Football did not disappoint both the coach and supporters.
It needed someone to grab the game by the scruff of the neck for Constantine's team who clearly looked determined enough to scrape through. After 29 minutes, Climax Lawrence took the initiative, picking out IM Vijayan on the rival goalmouth where his cross was powerfully headed home by the ageing striker.
That should have been just the ideal start for India but somehow one got the feeling that the Indians lost the plot from here. "The Koreans were walking in the last 15 minutes of the first session and we did not press them hard enough," Constantine was to lament later. Constantine surely had a point as India allowed their rivals the much-needed breathing space.
After the change of ends, North Korea came back strongly in the match. There was a sense of urgency and it was palpable. The signs were clear and quite early. The Korean strikers tested India goalkeeper Naseem Akhtar with long rangers but the Mahindra United goalkeeper proved equal to the task with some acrobatic saves. However in the 57.minute even he was beaten off a An Yong Mu free-kick but the crossbar rescued the home team. Minutes later, Hong Yong Jo delayed with only Naseem Akhtar at his mercy.
In-between, India's Tomba Singh shot wide with only the goalkeeper at his mercy, after being fed on the platter by Alvito D'Cunha.
The fatal blow for India came five minutes from close when North Korea's ever-reliable striker Choe Hyun U darted from nowhere to connect a Yong Mu corner-kick, much to dismay and horror of the Indian brigade.
INDIA: Naseem Akhter, Mahesh Gawli, Deepak Mondal, M Suresh, Sameer Naik (Tomba Singh), Alvito D'Cunha, Climax Lawrence, Jo Paul Ancheri, Renedy Singh, Abhishek Yadav (Roque Barreto), Alex Ambrose (IM Vijayan).

2.Division National League - Group A - Thiruvananthapuram: State Bank of Travancore 3-1 FC Kochin - Goals: 1-0 MA Abdul Hakkim (27'), 2-0,3-1 Krishnan Ajayan (50',64'), 2-1 Daniel Bomfa (52').
SBT overcame a much improved FC Kochin side to go top of Group A leaving the Kochin side with 0 points from two games.
The bankmen were unchanged from the side that beat ASEB so comfortably and FC Kochin only made one change but looked a competely different side with much better organisation and more commitment than when they lost to BSF.
SBT began their usual attacking game but soon looked nervous as the Kochin back line held firm while their forwards caused problems for SBT. Nana David looked certain to score for Kochin in the 6.minute but his shot hit a team mate 2 yards from the goal and bounced away. Then in the 11.minute MK Binoop ran at SBT left back Lanel Thomas who tripped him in the box conceding the penalty which David rolled tamely down the middle into the arms of a grateful Rehman.
Both teams continued to attack and looked vulnerable at the back, particularly FC Kochin whose offside trap was evaded on several occasions. This was how Abdul Hakeem came to be through on goal with enough time to make hime look nervous but his lob was well executed and SBT took the lead in the 27.minute. In the last minute of the half David was again guilty of squandering an easy chance when he was played through, this time keeper Rehman spread himself well to narrow down the angle and smothered the shot.
In the second half there was more attacking football and as Kochin went looking for the equaliser, gaps emerged at the back. In the 50.minute national team player Ajayan put SBT two goals in front. However, Kochin were not yet beaten and replied immediately with a goal from Ghanian Daniel Bomfa who punished SBT for a defensive mistake. Kochin encouraged by the goal went in search of an equaliser but were again exposed at the back as Ajayan helped himself to his second of the night and restored his sides two goal advantage in the 64.minute.
Kochin, to their credit did not let their heads drop and would have been back in the game were it not for a questionable offside decision when Bomfa had the ball in the back of the net for a second time. In the end FC Kochin ran out of steam as SBT were content to hold onto the ball and run the clock down.
The final score was 3-1 to SBT in an exciting Kerala derby match with most of the Trivandrum crowd rooting for the home side but a small vociferous group were in support of the Kochin team. FC Kochin could have got a result from this match had they taken their chances but now they must win the last three games to have any hope of qualifying while SBT continue their march towards the first division.

29. March
India will rely on Stephen Constantine's much-touted - and effective - Nasty Football when they lock horns with an unpredictable North Korea in the on Sunday, March 30, at Nehru Stadium, Goa. India need to win by a clear two-goal margin and also take care not to concede a goal. As per tournament guidelines issued by the AFC, an away goal counts for two in the ultimate goal analysis. The winners of Sunday's encounter would progress to Group D of the main draw where Asian Games champions Iran, Jordan and Lebanon await them.
"We will play hard. That's what nasty football is all about," Stephen Constantine told reporters prior to putting the boys through the paces at the stadium.
Just minutes earlier, North Korea chief coach Ri Jong Man speaking to sports journalists was singing praises of the Indian team and its hard approach. "In North Korea, India played tough football. They had a go at us," the chief coach.
"If the Korea coach says we played hard in the away match wait until Sunday to see what hard football - or rather nasty - is all about," the coach mused tongue-firmly-in-cheek. It is obvious that the Indians would look to tire their opponents and make the best use of it. "Our best chance lies in tiring them. But we should be clever enough to save some energy ourselves," Constantine maintained. Constantine knows what the Koreans are capable of. "I was in Bangkok recently to watch the Koreans play in the King's Cup. They are a good side, physically fit and competitive. But then, it's not that we can't beat them," Constantine maintained.
The Koreans gave a good account of themselves in the Kings Cup, at Thailand where they made it to the finals before succumbing to the might of Sweden 0-4. "In the league match we held Sweden to a 1-1 draw," North Korea chief coach Ri Jong Man disclosed before adding that there were positive results also against Thailand and Qatar.
While it is almost certain that the Koreans would field just one striker - possibly Chae Tu Yong, signals emanating from the India camp suggest Mahindra United striker Abhishek Yadav and East Bengal's Alvito D'Cunha would start the match with veteran sharpshooter IM Vijayan playing withdrawn. Mahesh Gawli - who according to the coach played exceptionally well in North Korea - would automatically select himself in defence alongside the ever-reliable Deepak Mondal and M Suresh. In all certainties, Mahindra United's Naseem Akhtar will guard the goal while skipper Jo Paul Ancheri, Dempo's Sameer Naik, Renedy Singh and Climax Lawrence would man the midfield. Also Malswam Tulunga has been added as the 19th member to the squad.
India will however miss the services of "Tinkitam Express" Bhaichung Bhutia, who is just recovering from an orthoscopic surgery on his right knee along with stopper-back Debjit Ghosh (viral fever) and Ashim Biswas.
Significantly the match at the Kim-Il-Sung Stadium, Pyongyang (North Korea), was played on artificial turf which troubled the Indians. "The difference is day and night when playing on an artificial turf and natural surface," acknowledged Constantine implying that India would put up a much-improved performance.
North Korea, who famously knocked Italy out of the 1966 World Cup were apparently still concerned about the searing heat. This evening, the team practiced at the stadium for a little more than 45 minutes out of which 20 minutes they trained under the confines of the shade. "Its hot here and could make an impact in the ultimate analysis," the chief coach feared.
The coach probably has a point and in the end, Stephen Constantine and his boys might just have the last laugh.
Lets hope for the best!!!

2.Division National League - Group A - Thiruvananthapuram: Border Security Force 1-1 Air-India - Goals: 1-0 Gurjit Singh Atwal (12'), 1-1 Anthony Fernandes (90+').
Border Security Force and Air-India split the points. Todays encounter between two former first division clubs who had both won their opening matches and both play the game in a physical manner, was always going to be an interesting match. The players did not disappoint and both teams began the match with determination. It was BSF who came out better off after the opening exchanges taking the lead in the 12.minute through Gurjit Atwal who finished precisely after beating the AI offside trap.
BSF then played in a very negative manner by getting every player behind the ball when AI were in possession. BSF looked content to sit back and defend their single goal lead for the entire match as AI struggled to provide any threat until the introduction of Godfrey Pereira on the half hour mark. However, the Airmen did not hit the target with any of their efforts leaving BSF goalie Machinder Singh untested and looking comfortable behind the strong Security Force back line.
The second half continued in the same manner with neither side coming close to scoring but AI used their substitutes early on, introducing two attacking players Narendra Meetei and Uday Konar on the hour mark at the same time as BSF exchanged a striker for a midfielder. From then on Machinder Singhs goal was under siege by the airmen who seemed to be getting closer as the match continued. As AI pushed forward they began to look vulnerable at the back, especially after Boy Singh had been brought on in attack for BSF.
In injury time Air India finally got a hard fought equaliser scored by their captain Anthony Fernandes who made no mistake when the ball fell kindly to him in the box. The crowd were delighted as this was no more than AI deserved for their sustained attacking for most of the match.

2.Division National League - Group A - Thiruvananthapuram: Tata Football Academy 2-1 Assam State Electricity Board - Goals: 1-0 Bimal Pariyar (25'), 1-1 Manoj Bora (43'), 2-1 Malswama (63').
In todays other match Tata football Academy beat Assam State Electricity Board 2-1. It was another match between two similar teams. Both had lost their first matches but had played good passing football but lacked penetration in the final third as they failed to come to terms with the dry bobbly pitch. Todays encounter was rather different. TFA began brightly looking for their first win while ASEB, a long way from home, did not look focused on the match at all. TFA were rewarded with a goal Vimal Pariyar with a cool chip over the stranded keeper Dinesh Basumatary who had made a hash of a clearance and was left stranded off his line.
Half an hour into the game the rain began to pour. The pitch became immediately drenched and the ASEB players seemed to wake up making it less of a one sided affair. Just before half time Monoj Boro equalised setting up an exciting second half.
Half time lasted for half an hour as officials discussed whether the sodden pitch was playable. With my European perspective it seemed that the pitch was improved as the bobbles were evened out and the ball carried further on the wet surface making passing easier. There were several large puddles in the areas where there was no grass.
The second half was not particularly exciting as ASEB went back into their shells and the youthful TFA boys turned it on with Malswama scoring the winner in the 63rd minute.

2.Division National League - Group B - Jamshedpur: Hindustan Club 2-1 Manipur Police SC - Goals: 1-0 Subash Negi (12'), 1-1 Sonam Singh (57'), 2-1 Sameer Jung (75').
2.Division National League - Group B - Jamshedpur: Sporting Clube de Goa 3-2 Punjab Police - Goals: 0-1,2-2 Sukhjit Singh (6',26'), 1-1,2-1 MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi, 3-2 Chanambam Jatin Singh (87').

Note-1: Mohun Bagan AC has decided to issue a show cause notice to their own club coach Subrata Bhattacharjee for reportedly making derogatory comments against a section of the club's officials. This was the second time this season that the club executive committee has taken such a decision but on the first occasion, the committee had stopped short of serving the notice on Subrata.
The timing of the show cause notice might decide, if Subrata Bhattacharjee will remain or leave as coach of Mohun Bagan.
Many in the meeting thought that the notice should be given to the coach at the end of the National League campaign.

Note-2: Tollygunge Agragami coach Aloke Mukherjee, who is also assistant coach of the under-23 national team, has been appointed the coach of the Bengal under-21 team for the Under-21 Nationals to be held in Balia, Uttar Pradesh. Nasir Ahmed has been named goalkeeper-coach. A total of 45 probables have been picked by the IFA.

28. March
Under the watchful eyes of chief coach Stephen Constantine, the Indian team had a rigorous training session at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, this evening. And missing was Indian football's easily recognisable football face - Baichung Bhutia.
"Bhutia is still not fit and will not play on Sunday," coach Constantine passed on the dreaded news to reporters after the training session. "Bhutia is a wonderfully experienced player and will be sorely missed," Constantine said but was quick to add there were others who could rise to the ocassion and do the trick for India. "We got a couple of young strikers and (IM) Vijayan's experience. I am sure they will come good," he maintained. Also missing will be reliable stopper-back Debjit Ghosh (viral fever) and promising Tollygunge striker Ashim Biswas (injured).
The Indian team is preparing for the preliminary round Group G 2004 Asia Cup qualifier against North Korea on Sunday, March 30, at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, 16.00 h. The match will be shown live on DD Sports.
Having lost 0-2 against North Korea in the first-leg at the Kim-Il-Sung Stadium, Pyongyang, India face a gigantic task when they take on the might of North Korea in the home match on Sunday. But Constantine reiterated Indians had the wherewithal to snatch honours from right under the Koreans' nose. India now need to win by a clear two-goal margin and also take care not to concede a goal. As per tournament guidelines issued by the AFC, an away goal counts for two in the ultimate goal analysis.
"It will be definitely tough. Its going to be a hard game on Sunday. I understand they will play just one striker and try to pin us on the backfoot on counter-attacks and we are ready for that," the coach said confidence personified. Whatever rival coaches might say, the searing heat will be a decisive factor on Sunday. Constantine came clear on this and stressed that India will look to tire their opponents and capitalise.
"Stamina will be a crucial factor. Whoever survives the heat will have the last laugh," he said tongue-firmly-in-cheek. "”We've got to go all out but we have to be clever enough to remain guarded throughout," he contended before adding that the North Koreans were dangerous exponents of dead-ball situations.
India 0-2 lost against North Korea in Pyongyang but Constantine - offering no climatic excuses - asserted, North Korea were "fortunate enough."
The coach said, in the last 20 minutes India came close to scoring twice. At first, a Climax Lawrence header was acrobatically saved by the rival keeper while minutes later another close chance went abegging. "They (N. Korea) had more ball possession," he suggested before continuing, "but 2-1 would have been a fair result and if we were lucky enough we could have salvaged a point."

2.Division National League - Group B - Jamshedpur: Mohammedan Sporting Club 0-0 Titanium XI - Goals: none.

Note-1: Here something interesting that Jaydeep Basu has written for the Hindustan Times:
All the good words spoken about football in India, it seems, remain confined to the four walls of luxury hotels. And when it affects the actual playing field, no one bothers to find out how it is being misused for political purposes.
Less than 10 days ago the AIFF, led by its president and the chief whip of the Congress party in the Parliament, Priyaranjan Dasmunshi, held a three-day seminar on the promotion of football in a luxurious hotel in the Capital. Attended by a large number of delegates from all over India and Asia, the seminar ended with a long list of proposals and promises to promote the game in India. The infrastructure and the facilities have to be improved, the delegates vowed in unison.
But now there is hardly anyone to come forward and protest when the Ambedkar Stadium, regarded the Mecca of Delhi football, is being given to the Congress party to hold its two-day seminar of block and district presidents, beginning on Friday.
The ground, according to the Delhi Soccer Association secretary, NK Bhatia, has been dug up and the grass has been totally spoiled. "While they dug up the ground to put poles, hundreds of chairs have been put up on the turf. It will take quite some time before the ground can be put back in shape," Bhatia complained.
The DSA secretary said the association was gearing up to hold the trials for the state under-21 team for the national championship in Balia and the women's national meet, which could be allotted to Delhi. "Now that the ground has been spoiled, we don't know how to go about the programmes," he said.
The DSA lodged its protest with the MCD over the allotment of the ground for non-football purpose, but the authorities have expressed helplessness, saying the directive has come from the state government, which is run by the Congress.
Using the Ambedkar Stadium - which has staged countless memorable matches over the years - for political functions has become a regular feature. Football lovers of the Capital have held protest marches and submitted memorandums to the authorities to stop this practice, but the situation has not improved.
What is interesting to note is that the political function this time is being organised by the Congress, whose state president Subhash Chopra is a former president of the DSA and known to be an avid follower of the game. And, the AIFF president himself is a senior functionary of the party. This could be one of the reasons why the DSA officials are not as vocal as they generally are in these matters.

27. March
A strong 19-member North Korea squad arrived in Goa today for their preliminary round Group G 2004 Asia Cup qualifier against India on Sunday, March 30, at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda. Having easily accounted for India in their home encounter 2-0, at the Kim-Il-Sung Stadium, Pyongyang, the visitors should start strong favourites to make it to the next round but the Koreans dropped enough hints to suggest that the heat could possibly halt their charge.
"It's very hot," North Korea chief coach Ri Jong Man told this site upon arrival at Kenilworth Resort, Utorda, this evening. "The heat is a worrying factor and acclimatising to the conditions could be a big ask," he added. At Pyongyang, the conditions - extremely chilly - were unfamiliar to the Indians and largely contributed to the team's defeat. Infront of 40,000 roaring spectators and a light drizzle, the home team proved too good for India. Despite the obvious advantage, the visitors showed enough respect for India, something that the Indians would be mighty pleased. "India is a very compact side. I think they were troubled by the cold climate in Korea. They should be a tough side when they play in familiar conditions," the coach speaking through their interpreter - Jang Su Myong.
The football world, particularly Asia, will always remember North Korea's exploits in the 1966 World Cup on English soil when they turned the tables by mesmerising the fans and shocking the bookies and pundits with their incredible performance. For starters, North Korea began as minnows but coasted home as giant killers having famously knocked out title aspirants Italy with a solitary goal win and a draw against Chile to progress to the quarterfinals where they succumbed to the might of Portugal, led by the irrepressible Eusabio.
"Some of the team members are still alive and they are real heroes. Whenever we think of 1966, we feel proud. That was one performance that put North Korea on the football map," Jang Su Myong disclosed.
The average age of the Korean squad is 23 with atleast six players under-20. "We have only two who are above 25. It's a young squad. We have left out quite a few exprienced campaigners as we believe this young brigade will do the job for us. We have an eye on the future," the chief coach said.
The chief coach was impressed with India's performance at Pyongyang (North Korea) but was quick to add that his boys had the wherewithal and talent to tackle the Indians at home. "Ours is a very talented side and we can go very far in this championship," he stressed.
There were no hints about going into Sunday's qualifier with a defensive mindset since Korea take with them a 2-0 advantage. "Everything will depend on the situation. But I think a draw will not be a fair result," the chief coach said tongue-firmly-in-cheek.
The Koreans will have their first training session on Friday at 15.30 h. "There will be no morning training sessions. We have to practice at a time when we are to take the field for the match," the coach stressed.
The strength of this Korean side can be gauged from the fact that North Korea held the mighty South Korea to a goalless draw, a few days after South Korea famously made their way into the last-four of the World Cup. "We have seven players who played that match," Ri Jong Man said.

2.Division National League - Group A - Thiruvananthapuram: State Bank of Travancore 4-0 Assam State Electricity Board - Goals: 1-0,2-0 Sylvester Ignatius (4',7'), 3-0 Abdul Hakkim (30'), 4-0 AB Kabeer (90+').
State Bank Travancore cruise past North East Zone champions Assam State Electricity Board. Having comfortably won the South Zone qualification tournament SBT carried on the good work by beating ASEB 4-0 at a canter. The result looked secure within the first 10 minutes as SBT helped themselves to a two goal lead thanks to the blistering pace and sublime skill of their attacking players. Both early goals were converted by Sylvester Ignatius, scored in the 4. and 7.minute. The first goal came from a quick break after ASEBs Utpal Basumatary failed to convert his sides best chance of the game. After their great start SBT were in complete control of the game and were content to sit back and watch ASEB pass the ball tidily, but rarely threaten the SBT goal. On the occasions where SBT did assert themselves, the ASEB defence was easily pierced and only complacent finishing prevented the final score from being higher than it was. The third goal was scored in the 30.minute by Abdul Hakkim after which there was little entertainment as ASEB showed no great desire to reduce the deficit. One moment of entertainment did come in the second half when the ballboys/stretcher bearers dropped their stretcher and the unfortunate occupant who ended up on the floor was the ASEB number 8, Manoj Boro, and with the last touch of the game substitute AB Kabeer completed the scoring for SBT.
ASEB did not look like a bad side and may yet qualify for the next phase, but today they were up against a rampant SBT who look a good bet to qualify for the 2003/04 National League.

2.Division National League - Group A - Thiruvananthapuram: FC Kochin 0-1 Border Security Force - Goal: 0-1 J Joseph (9').
FC Kochin went down to 1-0 to Border Security Force, winners of the North Zone Qualifiers. FC Kochins hopes of an immediate return to Indias top flight were dealt a serious blow as their 3 new Ghanaian signings missfired, conceding all 3 points to BSF in todays scrappy affair. Both teams opted for long ball tactics, unable to contend with the bobbly surface in Trivandrum which is not conducive to short passing football. Although technically it was only last season that FC Kochin were relegated, it has been almost a year since the clubs last match, the management opting not to enter any other tournaments in the break. This Kochin team have only recently been assembled and bears no resemblance to the team that was relegated last season, more of a mixture of local players of varying experience with 3 foreign stars thrown in at the last minute. BSF, in contrast, have been playing together for years showing good committment but lacking flair and creativity.
The game itself was very open with some clumsy defending from both sides but this was matched by poor finishing. The outcome was decided in the 9th minute by a solitary goal that was created by a seies of defensive blunders, scored by Ouseph J. FC Kochin could have drawn level and BSF might have put the match out of their oppositions reach but neither team was able to convert their chances.

2.Division National League - Group B - Jamshedpur: Mohammedan Sporting Club 4-1 Hindustan Club - Goals: 1-0,4-1 Awal Ibrahim (12',90+'), 2-0 Dipendu Biswas (69'), 3-0 Bhuvan Chandra Joshi (73'), 3-1 Abdullatif Seriki (87').

26. March
2.Division National League - Group A - Thiruvananthapuram: Tata Football Academy 0-1 Air-India - Goal: 0-1 Anthony Fernandes (69').
The 2.Division proper finally got underway here in Thiruvananthapuram today as Air-India edged past Tata Football Academy having just about deserved their 1-0 victory.
After weeks of regional playoffs around the country, the wheat has been separated from the chaff and the best 12 teams outside the National League will entertain us as they battle for the top 2 spots in each group. The 4 successful teams will then battle it out in a round robin tournament for 2 places in next years National League.
Todays game at the Chandreskharan Nair Stadium was a dull encounter with both teams lacking the creativity to create clear chances. TFA were better in the first half showing good technique and interchanging some neat short passes but failed to penetrate the Air-India defence. Having displayed no threat to the TFA goal before the break, Air-India came out for the second half with a more determined attitude and had a goal ruled out for offside within a minute of the restart. The game looked more open but both sides could only create half chances, one of which fell to Air-Indias Anthony Fernandes, who smashed a wonderful volley from outside the box over Subrata Pal in the TFA goal in the 69.minute.
In the last few minutes TFA caused a few problems with 4 corners for which their confident young keeper advanced into the opposition box thus endearing himself to the small crowd. However, Air-Indias experienced team were able to keep a clean sheet and take all 3 points from a close game.

2.Division National League - Group B - Jamshedpur: Punjab Police 1-2 Titanium XI - Goals: 0-1 Ebin Rose (38'), 0-2 K Sameer (53'), 1-2 Vijay Pal (89').
2.Division National League - Group B - Jamshedpur: Sporting Clube de Goa 1-1 Manipur Police SC - Goals: 0-1 Desh Kumar Singh (23'), 1-1 MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi (85').

25. March
Many among you, our readers/site visitors, will by now know that the indianfootball.com editorial team is based in Germany, one of the international football Superpowers. Therefore we try to do whatever we can for Indian football, first of all keep you all uptodate with the latest Indian football news but also help in the promotion of Indian football, worldwide!
After having founded the "Indian Football Supporters Club"; organised a conference on Indian football in England; having brought the Indian under-17 national team over to Germany for a training camp and test matches; and putting together the "International Indian Football Series 2002", I would like to get involved in the development of club football in India.
Maybe work together with like-minded people to form a model club in India for India.
I think I have already found the right coach for such an ambitious project!
I've discussed with a good German friend of mine, who is an experienced coach having worked in Germany and the Balkans, the situation of football in India. He was especially interested to hear about the club scene in India and the talent available. He was quite impressed.
And at the end of the chat he said, if given the chance by a club in India, he would like to try to do something for the development of the club and try to educate talent youngsters in modern-day football, as he also has experience in football management and talent scouting, in that way also help Indian football.
Who knows, maybe he might be given an offer by an Indian club but they need to act fast, as he has received offers from Chinese clubs.

Note-1: After yesterday's loss to North Korea, now some good news for the Indian team, star-striker Baichung Bhutia is likely to be back for the second-leg match to be played coming Sunday at the Nehru Stadium, Margao; Goa. Baichung is needed, as we haven't been scoring off our chances. India, as well as North Korea, are currently on their way from Pyongyang and will both reach Goa on Thursday.
And believe me friends, the issue is far from over...

24. March
2004 Asia Cup Preliminary Round Qualifier - Group G first-leg - Pyongyang: North Korea 2-0 INDIA - Goals: 1-0,2-0 So Hyok Choi (44',70').
India lost 0-2 against hosts North Korea in a 2004 Asia Cup Preliminary Round Group G qualifier at the Kim-Il-Sung Stadium, Pyongyang. According to infos we have received, North Korea opened the scoring a minute from halftime, while they doubled the lead in the 70.minute. Around 40.000 spectators were at the Stadium, in unfamiliar conditions for the Indians, as it was quite cold and rained lightly throughout the match. India were supposed to have had two chances through Alvito D'Cunha and Climax Lawrence. Sadly no more details so far but as you will know, North Korea is a totalitarian regime, so infos out from there are very difficult to get.
So now India will at least have to score two goals to level the issue and with three goals the team would move on into the Qualifying stage. But this time, the weather in Goa could be a major advantage for the Indian team, is it will be much mcuh warmer than in Pyongyang!
All is not lost and best of luck for our boys!!!

Note-1: The Federation Cup 2003/04 might be held in Calcutta coming August 2003. The AIFF marketing agents Strata have made a request in that regard to the IFA (Bengal body), who were interested to hold India's Cup competition. This season's Federation Cup had to be cancelled due to lack of time in the calendar.

23. March
Last week at the Conference of Indian football in Delhi, the mid- and long-term future of Indian football was discussed but tomorrow India will have to show in Pyongyang against North Korea in a 2004 Asia Cup preliminary Round qualifier what short-term progress we can make on the Asian stage. Chief coach Constantine himself has said, the national team has to make progress on the Asian stage, so that the overall development of football in India can get a much needed boost.
For the first-leg tomorrow against the North Koreans Constantine would be content with a draw, as this would be an ideal platform for the home match coming Sunday in Margao, Goa and one should not forget, India will be missing Baichung Bhutia and Debjit Ghosh from the line-up due to injury and illness. So we can expect a tactically defensive Indian team, not taking too many risks against the hosting North Koreans.
Constantine had told Navhind Times: "North Korea are an extremely tough and competitive side and importantly they are an aggressive unit. Their performance in the Tiger Cup has been very good and so India might find the going tough against them."
So best of luck to our boys in Pyongyang!!!

56.Punjab State Senior Football Championship - Final: Patiala 2-2,4-1 Kapurthala (after penalties)

22. March
56.Punjab State Senior Football Championship - Semifinal: Patiala 2-0 Ropar
56.Punjab State Senior Football Championship - Semifinal: Kapurthala 3-0 Fatehgarh Sahib

Note-1: The 9.SAF Games, to start on March 29 in Islamabad, Pakistan, have been postponed once again. This time due to the War on Iraq. The hosts Pakistan fear that the war might cause political instability during the games. Earlier India had pulled out of the games, due to security fears of the Indian government.

Note-2: In a great gesture, Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has dedicated his success at the ongoing World Cup in South Africa to his boyhood football idol and former India captain Krishanu Dey who died of heart ailment. During his school days in early 1980s Sourav, beside playing football himself, was also a regular visitor to Calcutta Maidan to watch Krishanu Dey, his favourite ball player in the mould of famous soccer stars Ahmed Khan and Chuni Goswami, in action. According to reports available here Sourav after hearing the sad demise of Krishanu Dey not only conveyed his heartfelt condolence to Krishanu's bereaved family, also dedicated his fine performances in this World Cup to his memory.

21. March
2.Division National League - West Zone - Qualifying Round: Sporting Clube de Goa 0-0 Fransa FC - Goals: none.
2.Division National League - West Zone - Qualifying Round: Central Railway 0-1 Air-India - Goals: 0-1 Steven Dias (57').

Note-1: A forum of top National League clubs has approached the AIFF with some demands.
The clubs have asked the AIFF not to allow players to be approached directly for inter-club transfers. They would rather want the club, on whose payroll the player is, to be approached first and then the player.
Another demand, which isn't so new, is that the AIFF gives the clubs the option of hosting their own National League matches, with the governing body receiving a guarantee sum. Also the clubs proposed they would not play in other meets when the National League is on.

20. March
On a day when India reached the Cricket World Cup final, while the world watched the start of the War on Iraq, Calcutta lay in shock as one of "Bengal's last home-grown football superstar", Krishanu Dey passed away.
Here a Telegraph report: Having fought death for over 24 hours, Krishanu Dey lost his last battle at a city hospital Thursday afternoon. The former India football captain leaves behind his father, wife Ponny, 12-year-old son Sohan, an elder brother and countless admirers.
Doctors had given enough hints Wednesday that the 41-year-old was perhaps fighting a lost battle. But people had kept their fingers crossed, hoping against hope, that the man who churned out many magic moments on the football field would produce one final miracle.
That was not to be.
In a semi-coma state overnight, India's finest ball-player of the Eighties and early Nineties had a cardiac arrest in the morning, which he withstood. He was on continuous dialysis since 11.30 am and a final cardiac arrest stopped his heartbeat at 3.15 pm.
Doctors informed the cause of his death was pulmonary embollism - due to which a clot of blood that originated in the lower half of his body went on to affect his lungs and finally wore down all the organs.
It was a rare disease to claim a former footballer, whose brilliance with the ball and wizardry in producing uncannily accurate passes was equally rare. Dr Subrata Maitra suggested Krishanu was an unusual victim, considering he was a player, still pretty active with coaching and office matches.
"Normally, people who are bed-ridden for some time, or those with little exercise of the lower limbs are affected by this," the doctor opined.
A who's who of the city's football fraternity - past and present - rushed to the hospital. Sailen Manna, PK Banerjee, Sukumar Samajpati, Subhas Bhowmick, Goutam Sarkar, Shyam Thapa, Subrata Bhattacharya, Mohammed Habeeb were among the many notable names who were stunned by the impact of Krishanu's shocking expiry. A number of officials, from clubs and the governing bodies, and hundreds of fans were also there.
A generous gathering of people from other walks of life - including state sports minister Subhas Chakraborty, mayor Subrata Mukherjee, Mamata Banerjee, actor Biplab Chatterjee, and Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua - were also present to pay a final tribute to someone who had mesmerised them all with his masterly touches and fine skills.
Krishanu's body was first taken to his old club Port Trust and East Bengal was the next stop. After this the hearse travelled to Mohun Bagan, the offices of AIFF and IFA, the Food Corporation of India (the place he worked for) tent before heading for his home in Naktala, in the southern part of the city.
A crowd of hundreds chose to do away with the India-Kenya cricket World Cup semi-final and followed the hearse to form a convoy. Later in the night, it headed for the Keoratala crematorium.

19. March
As had been reported earlier, India's test match against HongKong ahead of the first-leg 2004 Asia Cup qualifiers against North Korea in Pyongyang, has finally been cancelled. As the match had been scheduled on short notice, numerous problems cropped-up, which couldn't be solved.

2.Division National League - West Zone - Qualifying Round: Sporting Clube de Goa 1-1 Air-India - Goals: 0-1 Vijay Shetty (1'), 1-1 MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi (40').
2.Division National League - West Zone - Qualifying Round: Fransa FC 0-0 Central Railway - Goals: none.

Note-1: Former India captain and one of our best players of the 1980s, Krishanu Dey, is fighting for life at a Calcutta hospital with severe lung, kidney and liver infections. Dey, 41, admitted to hospital on last Friday, has been diagnosed with "pulmonary embolism" or blood clotting in the lungs. He is also suffering from kidney failure and liver problems. Dey, whose career spanned more than a decade, is now on a ventilator and his condition has been described by attending doctors at the Woodlands Nursing Home as "critical". He is said to be in deep coma. About 10 days ago, doctors performed surgery to try and remove the clot.

Note-2: The 2002/03 Under-21 National championships for the Dutta Roy Trophy will be held in Uttar Pradesh from April 22 to May 2, 2003. The five zonal qualifiers - North, West, South, East and NorthEast - will be held earlier in April across India.

18. March
2.Division National League - North Zone - Qualifying Round: Hindustan Club 2-1 Jammu&Kashmir Bank

Note-1: A very Happy HOLI (DOL) FESTIVAL to you all!!!
But here a tragic story on Holi from Calcutta. Tollygunge Agragami's three African footballers - Nigerian brothers Akeem Abul Alem and Isiaka Awoyemi, and Kenyan Moses Owira - were beaten up by a mob in eastern Calcutta for protesting after youngsters celebrating Holi sprinkled colour on them. The players were getting of a taxi near their residence in Kasba, when the partying kids sprinkled colour on them. This led angry locals to rush to the spot and beat them up. The three players later filed an FIR with the Police. None of them, however, sustained any injury. The matter was amicably settled when seniors of the locality went to the police station along with the revellers and made peace.

17. March
An 18 member squad has been named for the 2004 Asia Cup qualifier preliminary Round first-leg in Pyongyang against North Korea on March 24. In the absence of the injured Baichung Bhutia and Debjit Ghosh, JCT Mills allrounder Jo Paul Ancheri has been named captain. Ancheri had last been appointed captain nearly two years ago for the Merdeka Cup. Chief coach Constantine hoped that Bhutia and Debjit Ghosh would return to the line-up for the return-leg in Goa on March 30.
SQUAD: GK: Sandip Nandy (East Bengal), Naseem Akhtar (Mahindra United). DF: Deepak Mondal (East Bengal), Arun Malhotra (East Bengal), M Suresh (East Bengal), Mahesh Gawli (Churchill Brothers). MF: Jo Paul Ancheri (JCT Mills, Captain), Climax Lawrence (Salgaocar), Sameer Naik (Dempo), Alvito D'Cunha (East Bengal), Renedy Singh (Mohun Bagan), Tomba Singh (Salgaocar), Roque Barreto (Churchill Brothers), Jules Alberto (Vasco), Subhas Chakraborty (East Bengal). FW: IM Vijayan (JCT Mills), Abhishek Yadav (Mahindra United), Alex Ambrose (Salgaocar).

2.Division National League - North Zone - Qualifying Round: Border Security Force 3-0 Punjab State Electricity Board - Goals: 1-0 PH Boy Singh (21'), 2-0 Sarabjhit Singh (26'), 3-0 Pransata Das (59').
2.Division National League - North-East Zone - Qualifying Round: Langsning FC 0-5 Assam State Electricity Board - Goals: 0-1,0-2,0-4 H Lalremruata (11',15',40'), 0-2 Lawrence Rongpi (28'), 0-5 Nitu Narzary (79').
2.Division National League - North-East Zone - Qualifying Round: Manipur Police SC 2-0 Eastern Sporting Union - Goals: 1-0 N Uttam Singh (6'), 2-0 Neel Kumar Singh (55').
2.Division National League - West Zone - Qualifying Round: Air-India 1-1 Fransa FC - Goals: 0-1 Jose Flores, 1-1 Steven Dias.
2.Division National League - West Zone - Qualifying Round: Sporting Clube de Goa 4-2 Central Railway - Goals: 1-0 Francis Andrade (8'), 2-0 Nureni Ayodegi, 3-0,4-2 MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi, 3-1,3-2 Kasif Jamal.

Note-1: In a charity match in Siliguri, north Bengal, East Bengal drew Tollygunge Agragami 1-1. Brazilian Douglas da Silva shot East Bengal into the lead, while Tollygunge equalised through Niladri Chakraborty ten minutes from time. The match had been organised in honour of former international Ahmed Khan.

16. March
2.Division National League - North Zone - Qualifying Round: Hindustan Club 3-0 Punjab State Electricity Board - Goals: 1-0 Abdullatif Seriki (55'), 2-0 Sameer Jung, 3-0 Rishi Kapoor.
2.Division National League - South Zone - Qualifying Round: State Bank of Travancore 4-0 MEG Centre - Goals: 1-0 Abdul Noushad (17'), 2-0 Asif Saheer (38'), 3-0,4-0 MA Abdul Hakkim (58',60').
2.Division National League - South Zone - Qualifying Round: Integral Coach Factory 0-2 Titanium XI - Goals: 0-1 U Shajahan (80'), 0-2 Ebin Rose (81').

15. March
2.Division National League - North Zone - Qualifying Round: Border Security Force 4-1 Jammu&Kashmir Bank - Goals: 1-0,2-0 Gurjit Atwal (28',33'), 2-1 Rizwan Sheikh, 3-1 Santosh Kujur, 4-1 J Joseph.
2.Division National League - North-East Zone - Qualifying Round: Manipur Police SC 0-1 Assam State Electricity Board - Goal: 0-1 Utpal Basumatary (72').
2.Division National League - North-East Zone - Qualifying Round: Eastern Sporting Union 3-0 Langsning FC - Goals: 1-0,2-0 MK Mathew (55',65'), 3-0 Ashok Kumar (84').
2.Division National League - West Zone - Group B: Fransa FC 0-1 Central Railway - Goal: 0-1 Kasif Jamal.
2.Division National League - West Zone - Group B: Reserve Bank of India, Gujarat 1-1 Border Security Force, Jodhpur - Goals: 1-0 Ramesh Kumar (44'), 1-1 Robin Roy (85').

Note-1: India's international friendly against Hong Kong maybe cancelled due to visa problems. AIFF secretary Alberto Colaco said: "The HongKong tie may be cancelled because visas for our players are yet to be arranged." Another chapter of the AIFF's last minute organizing ability...?!

Note-3: India captain Baichung Bhutia returned to the national training camp in Goa after undergoing a minor orthroscopic surgery. He is expected to be fit for the Asia Cup qualifiers return leg against North Korea.

Note-4: The AIFF today annouced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Japanese FA for the development of football in India. "The commercial details of the MoU are still being worked out. The MoU would facilitate us in establishing coaches' education programme with the help of JFA's expertise and exchange visits of the u-19 teams," Albert Colaco, Secretary of the AIFF, said on the sidelines of the three-day Vision India Football conference that concluded today. The conference saw Peter Velappan, General Secretary of the Asian Football Confederation, present the AFC's study report on football scene in India and the various national clubs in turn pledging to work for the betterment of the game. Comparing the success of Japan and Korea, Velappan said he saw no reason why India cannot achieve what those countries have done. "Japan had no football culture but had a clear vision and dynamic leadership. Korea on the other hand had the culture but lacked the resources. "India though have both. So it is not beyond your ability," Velappan said. The AFC General Secretary exhorted the Indian officials to start their ground work from the grassroots level. "Schools are the foundation. If we can develop talents at the age group level, that will help develop the clubs which in turn will produce a strong national team," he said.
Highlighting the shortcomings and problems afflicting Indian football, the Asian Football Confederation on Saturday suggested a total revamp in the structure and functioning of the AIFF. "There is a need for professionalism in Indian football, which is severely lacking. It should start from the apex body and state bodies should also follow," AFC secretary general Peter Velappan said after the conclusion of a three-day conference on Indian football. Velappan said there is an absolute lack of professionalism and coordination among those who are governing the sport in the country. "It is high time that they become professional and behave like one," he noted. The AFC general secretary said the AIFF will have to undergo drastic changes in it's structuring to make it efficient and result-oriented. He wondered how the AIFF, the governing body for football in the country, is able to run without a proper constitution, rules and regulations. "The proposed new constitution of the AIFF should clearly spell out its aims, objectives, rules and regulations with the state bodies having similar constitutions," he said.

14. March
2.Division National League - North Zone - Qualifying Round: Border Security Force 1-1 Hindustan Club - Goals: 0-1 Abdullatif Seriki (59'), 1-1 J Joseph (82')
2.Division National League - North Zone - Qualifying Round: Jammu&Kashmir Bank 0-0 Punjab State Electricity Board - Goals: none.
2.Division National League - South Zone - Qualifying Round: State Bank of Travancore 1-0 Integral Coach Factory - Goal: 1-0 MA Abdul Hakkim.
2.Division National League - South Zone - Qualifying Round: Titanium XI 4-0 MEG Centre - Goals: 1-0 Bijesh Ben, 2-0,4-0 Ebin Rose (60',75'), 3-0 Shajahan (61').
2.Division National League - West Zone - Group A: Sporting Clube de Goa 5-0 Central Reserve Police Force - Goals: 1-0 Bibiano Fernandes, 2-0,3-0,4-0 MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi, 5-0 Joseph Pereira.

Note-1: The Indian senior national team is scheduled to play their preparation match in HongKong on March 20. The match will kick-off at 19.30 h (local time) at the Mongkok Stadium. The Indian team will arrive in HongKong on Wednesday (March 19) and will leave for North Korea on March 21. India will play their Asia Cup qualifying matches against North Korea on March 24 away in Pyongyang and the return leg will be held at the Nehru Stadium, Goa on March 30. The Indian squad, currently training under chief coach Stephen Constantine in Goa, is expected to be named Sunday.

13. March
The Indian senior national team will miss captain and star striker Baichung Bhutia in the first-leg of their Asia Cup qualifiers against North Korea in Pyongyang. Bhutia underwent an orthoscopic surgery on his right knee in a Delhi nursing home. All hope that Bhutia can strengthen the team for their return-leg in Goa.
A heavy blow for the Indian team, where also Debjit Ghosh is down with viral fever and youngster Ashim Biswas injured.
In Delhi coach Constantine said, "I was in Bangkok recently to watch the Koreans play in the King's Cup tournament. They are a good side, physically fit and competitive. But then, it's not that we can't beat them. My team can beat anyone, if they play to their potential." Good to hear that Stephen believes his team can beat the North Koreans!

2.Division National League - North-East Zone - Qualifying Round: Eastern Sporting Union 2-1 Assam State Electricity Board - Goals: 1-0 K Ashok Singh (31'), 2-0 MK Matthews (52'), 2-1 Utpal Basumatary (59').
2.Division National League - North-East Zone - Qualifying Round: Manipur Police SC 3-0 Langsning FC - Goals: 1-0,2-0 Desh Kumar Singh (71',76'), 3-0 Neel Kumar Singh (85').
2.Division National League - West Zone - Group B: Central Railway 3-0 Border Security Force, Jodhpur - Goals: 1-0,2-0 Praveen Nair, 3-0 Adil Ansari.
2.Division National League - West Zone - Group B: Fransa FC 9-0 Reserve Bank of India, Gujarat

12. March
2.Division National League - North Zone - Group B: Indian Nationals FC 1-3 Chandigarh Police - Goals: 1-0 Sanjeev Sharma (24'), 1-1 Jagmohan Singh, 1-2 Munish Kumar, 1-3 Sunil Kumar.
2.Division National League - North Zone - Group B: Border Security Force 8-0 Him Club
2.Division National League - East Zone - Group A: Tata Football Academy 0-0 Mohammedan Sporting Club - Goals: none.
2.Division National League - West Zone - Group A: Sporting Clube de Goa 0-1 Air-India - Goal: 0-1 Godfrey Pereira.
2.Division National League - South Zone - Qualifying Round: State Bank of Travancore 3-0 Titanium XI - Goals: 1-0,3-0 Ignatius Sylvester, 2-0 Asif Saheer.
2.Division National League - South Zone - Qualifying Round: Integral Coach Factory 4-3 MEG Centre - Goals: 1-0,3-3 M Jagan (12',84'), 1-1 Sajith Kumar (23'), 1-2 Lokeshwar Singh (33'), 2-2 Marcel Sladen (45'), 2-3 Ramu (73'), 4-3 Suresh Kumar.

Note-1: Though the 2002/03 season is still not over, rumours are making the rounds about possible transfers for the new season. Among them is that Debjit Ghosh will return to Mohun Bagan from Mahindra United and that Baichung Bhutia is thinking of staying with Mohun Bagan.

11. March
The India camps have started in Goa at the Nehru Stadium, Margao and the CRCC Sports Complex, Chinchinim under the supervision of chief coach Stephen Constantine. The goalkeepers are getting help from Vasco's Brazilian keeper Rogerio Ramos, who in the last few years has been one of the best keepers in India and is passing on his vast experience to the keepers, a department where the Indian team hasn't been doing to well lately.
Meanwhile the Indian camp has lost it's first player, Vasco's Riston Rodrigues. Rodrigues picked-up a knee injury in the last NFL match against Dempo and has been advised two weeks rest, ruling him out against North Korea.
The Organising Committee in Goa has fixed the prices for the match against North Korea on March 30 at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. The prices have been fixed at Rs. 20 and Rs. 50.

2.Division National League - East Zone: Calcutta Port Trust 0-0 Raj Milk FC - Goals: none.
2.Division National League - North-East Zone - Group B: Eastern Sporting Union 0-0 Langsning FC - Goals: none.
2.Division National League - North-East Zone - Group B: Oil India Limited 2-3 1st MAP FC - Goals: 0-1 Lalthangsanga (40'), 1-1 Lalmauzuala (61' - own Goal), 2-1 Biju Gogoi (64'), 2-2 B Zununsiana (70'), 2-3 F Lalmouzuala (75').
2.Division National League - West Zone - Group B: Fransa FC 2-0 Border Security Force, Jodhpur - Goals: 1-0 Francis Silveira, 2-0 Sebastian Canio.
2.Division National League - West Zone - Group B: Reserve Bank of India, Gujarat 5-1 Central Railway

10. March
7th National League - Chennai: Indian Bank 6-1 Indian Telephone Industries - Goals: 1-0,3-0 Syed Shabir Pasha (29',40'), 2-0,4-1,5-1 Kasun Nadika Jayasuriya (38',54',56'), 3-1 Mohammed Najeeb (43'), 6-1 Basheer Ahmed (90').
Indian Bank put the final nail on the coffin of Indian Telephone Industries' survival in the National League, as ITI got trashed 6-1 at the Nehru Stadium, Chennai, to be relegated to the 2.Division. ITI started the match well, creating chances and making some nice moves but Bankmen keeper Sebastian Netto had a good day in goal. But when veteran striker Syed Shabr Pasha scored the opener in the 29.minute, the floodgates opened and ITI were swept away. Indian Bank's Sri Lankan striker Kasun Nadika Jayasuriya doubled the lead and then Pasha added a third, before ITI striker Mohammed Najeeb reduced the margin before the breather. Jayasuriya added two more goals quickly after resumption of the match and then substitute Basheer Ahmed completed the half dozen for Indian Bank at the end of the match.The Bankmen now need one more point to make sure that even theoretically they cannot get relegated, while ITI have lost all chances of staying in the Premier Division. Meanwhile city mates HAL would have to win all their remaining matches, while Indian Bank loose all theirs and then also conceede some high defeats that Indian Bank can indirectly plan for next seasons NFL.

2.Division National League - North Zone - Group B: Border Security Force 1-1 Jammu&Kashmir Bank - Goals: 1-0 Raghuvir Singh (45'), 1-1 Rizwan Sheikh (54').
2.Division National League - North Zone - Group B: Indian Nationals FC 5-0 Him Club - Goals: 1-0,2-0 Sanjeev Sharma (11',16'), 3-0,4-0 Shekhar Khanna, 5-0 Bhupinder Thakur.
2.Division National League - North-East Zone - Group A: Manipur Police SC 3-0 Lajong SSC - Goals: 1-0 Desh Kumar Singh (5'), 2-0 Shyam Singh (9'), 3-0 Neel Kumar Singh (90').
2.Division National League - West Zone - Group A: Air-India 3-0 Central Reserve Police Force, MP - Goals: 1-0,2-0 Anthony Fernandes (25',50'), 3-0 Steven Dias (90').
2.Division National League - South Zone - Group A: State Bank of Travancore 0-1 Integral Coach Factory - Goals: 0-1 Ravi (89').
2.Division National League - South Zone - Group A: Karnataka State Police 5-1 Satyabhama Engineering College - Goals: 1-0 Sampath Kumar (6'), 2-0 MJ Antony (22'), 3-0 Mohammed Ismail (25'), 4-0 BV Pradeep (60'), 5-0 Maheshwaran (61'), 5-1 Magesh Kumar (77').

9. March
In keeping with the Vision Asia Football Development master plan launched last September by the AFC, the AIFF has taken the initiative to organize a seminar to discuss the current status of the game in India. Following the "Conference of Indian Football" from March 13-15 in New Delhi, a Vision Plan for the development of football in India will be formulated. Attending the Conference will be AFC President, Mohamed bin Hammam; AFC General Secretary Dato' Peter Velappan; Japan FA General Secretary, Takeo Hirata; FIFA Goal Project Development officer, Dato' Paul Mony Samuel; AFC Vice-President and FIFA Goal Project Development officer for south Asia, Manilal Fernando; and the Director of the AFC Technical Department, Alex Soosay. Also in attendance will be Gurucharan Singh, Chairman of the AFC Medical Committee and Alain Leiblang, FIFA Communications Department as well as AB Kashmiri of Strata Marketing.
The AIFF will be led by President, Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, with representatives of each state association and the clubs participating in the National League, and the Arjuna Awardees of football attending the Conference - a first for Indian football - including officers of the Sports Authority of India, the schools, and the TATA Football Academy.
Presenting papers at the Conference will be Peter Velappan, Takeo Hirata, Paul Mony, Alex Soosay, AB Kashmiri, Alain Leiblang and Dr Gurucharan Singh. Peter Velappan will present a paper on "Vision India - The Way Forward". Takeo Hirata will speak on the subject of a model football league and the Japan experience.
The Conference on Indian Football follows a visit by a FIFA/AFC team to India last year to study the status of the sport in the country. Dato' Paul Mony who was in the team then will be presenting a paper on the findings of the visit.
"Indian football represents a huge source of untapped talent for Asian football. Under the Vision Asia plan, India will be given special emphasis and the Conference in March is the first of the many steps we will be initiating to help Indian football reorganize and relaunch itself to new heights of excellence.
"The presence of the AFC President, Mohamed bin Hammam at the Conference, is an indication of the seriousness with which we are approaching the issue of development and Indian football. Towards this end we have the support of FIFA too. The AIFF has on its part shown a keen desire to work along with both the AFC and FIFA in implementing an eventual plan for the development of Indian football. I can assure you that no effort is being spared to try and get this sleeping giant of Asian football on its feet. We are aware that given the size of India, it may take us a while to achieve our goals but we are determined to succeed. The meeting in New Delhi is the first step towards the dream of greater glory for Indian football. It is our hope that all concerned in India will work along with the AFC and FIFA in respect of the Vision India plan to be formulated," Peter Velappan said.
Interesting to note is that a number of former internationals, like Sailen Manna and Chuni Goswami have pulled out, while PK Banerjee doesn't know if he will attend. Our question is, why is the AIFF inviting numerous people to the conference only on merit, who will have nothing to do with the development of Indian football in the coming years???
e.g. WHY HASN'T INDIANFOOTBALL.COM BEEN INVITED???
We have been keeping the online world uptodate, a job we have done for the AIFF but somehow no one in the federation thinks that we are needed...

2.Division National League - North Zone - Group A: Uttar Pradesh Police 1-1 Rewari FC - Goals: 0-1 Bhagwan Dass (9'), 1-1 Dherendra (40').
2.Division National League - North Zone - Group A: Hindustan Club 1-2 Punjab State Electricity Board - Goals: 1-0 Noel M Fernandes (32'), 1-1 Kuldip Singh (66'), 1-2 Parminder Singh (90').
2.Division National League - East Zone: Mohammedan Sporting Club 2-0 Raj Milk FC - Goals: 1-0,2-0 Awal Ibrahim.
2.Division National League - East Zone: Tata Football Academy 0-0 Calcutta Port Trust - Goals: none.
2.Division National League - South Zone - Group B: Titanium XI 2-2 MEG Centre - Goals: 0-1 Chettri (12'), 1-1 Ebin Rose (27'), 2-1 Ranjith, 2-2 Lokeshwar Singh (75').

Note-1: Now to something curious. Did anyone of you know that India was bidding to host a football World Cup? Seriously, no joke, India did bid for the FIFAs U19 Women's World Cup. But in the end Thailand was chosen ahead of India and Belarus. After the successful staging of the AFC U19 Women's Championships last April, India seems to be moving in the direction of maybe hosting bigger Asian level events in football. A very good sign!!!

8. March
India's senior and under-23 national teams are assemblying in Goa today, ahead of the start of the preparatory training camps for the Asia Cup and Pre-Olympic under-23 qualifiers tomorrow. Both teams will be under supervision of headcoach Stephen Constantine, the senior squad have Aloke Mukherjee as coach, while the under-23 team have Parminder Singh.
Gujarat FA secretary Hardev Jadeja has been named as Project Director for the senior and under-23 teams until the Afro-Asian Games in November. In my personal opinion the best possible choice for the post!
India's travelling plans to their match in Pyongyang on March 24 against North Korea are difficult, due to the political senaio prevailing in North Korea. There are only flights to Pyongyang twice a week from Beijing.
As preparation for the Asia Cup qualifying matches against North Korea, India on their way to Pyongyang will play Hongkong on March 19 or 20. A good test, as just a few days ago Hongkong won the qualifying tournament of the East Asia Cup!
India will play their Asia Cup qualifying matches against North Korea on March 24 away in Pyongyang and the return will be held at the Nehru Stadium, Goa.
In the Pre-Oympic qualifying India travel to Ashkhabad to face Turkmenistan on April 5, while India host Turkmenistan also at the Nehru Stadium, Goa on April 19.
Interesting to note in this matter is that the AIFF wanted the Pre-Qlympic qualifier match against Turkmenistan to be played at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta but the state association of Bengal "IFA" pulled out citing too high financial burden and likely losses to host such an international match. Even Siliguri, Bengal's alternative venue to hosting matches, wasn't interested. Sad that Bengal is unable to host an Indian national team...

2.Division National League - North Zone - Group B: Chandigarh Police 6-0 Him Club
2.Division National League - North Zone - Group B: Indian Nationals FC 1-2 Jammu&Kashmir Bank - Goals: 1-0 Harish Bisht (45'), 1-1,1-2 Rizwan Sheikh.
2.Division National League - North-East Zone - Group B: Eastern Sporting Union 2-0 Oil India Limited - Goals: 1-0 Bhupen Gogoi (own Goal), 2-0 M Somochandra.
2.Division National League - North-East Zone - Group B: Langsning FC 0-0 1st MAP FC - Goals: none.
2.Division National League - South Zone - Group A: State Bank of Travancore 1-0 Karnataka State Police - Goals: 1-0 Srinath (12' - own Goal).
2.Division National League - South Zone - Group A: Integral Coach Factory 6-0 Satyabhama Engineering College - Goals: 1-0 M Jagan (27'), 2-0,3-0 Manimaran (34',36'), 4-0 Suresh Kumar (42'), 5-0 Murali (52'), 6-0 Ramakrishnan (63').

7. March
7th National League - Goa: Churchill Brothers SC 5-0 Indian Bank - Goals: 1-0 Nascimento Silveira (17'), 2-0,3-0,4-0 Yakubu Yusif (28',31',53'), 5-0 Benjamin Ansah (70').
Churchill Bros' Ghanaian sharpshooter Yakubu Yusif put all his (off-field) miseries behind as he notched a brilliant hattrick to knock the stuffings out of Indian Bank 5-0 in the National League, at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda. With Yakubu Yusif in ominous form, Churchill Bros led 3-0 at the breather. Nascimento Silveira also added his name to the scoresheet while Ghanaian Benjamin Ansah hammered the final nail in Indian Bank's coffin. With this win Churchill jumped on to the sixth spot from the present eighth with 25 points from 18 matches relegating the likes of Mahindra United (Mumbai) and Dempo. Indian Bank are precariously placed on the 10th spot with 17 points in their kitty. After the loss to Bagan, Churchill Bros had a lot to prove. And they proved it in the most intimidating fashion. Unfortunately for Indian Bank, they had to pay the brunt for this not-so-sudden transformation. No doubt, Churchill Bros were helped by a sloppy Indian Bank defence, which seemed to bow down at the slightest of pressure. But nothing, just nothing, can take away the credit from Yakubu's splendid performance. Had the others shown half the accuracy as Yakubu, the scroeline would have been more than just embarrassing for Indian Bank.

2.Division National League - North Zone - Group A: Punjab State Electricity Board 2-0 Uttar Pradesh Police - Goals: 1-0 Jujhar Singh, 2-0 Kuldeep Shah.
2.Division National League - North Zone - Group A: Hindustan Club 4-0 Rewari FC
2.Division National League - East Zone: Mohammedan Sporting Club 2-0 Calcutta Port Trust - Goals: 1-0,2-0 Syed Rahim Nabi (18',54').
2.Division National League - North-East Zone - Group A: Lajong SSC 0-0 Assam State Electricity Board - Goals: none.
2.Division National League - South Zone - Group B: MEG Centre 2-2 AG's Office

Note-1: The National League match between Indian Bank - Indian Telephone Industries supposed to have been played at the Nehru Stadium, Chennai last Sunday, March 2, has been rescheduled for March 10. The match had to be postponed as the All-India Police Athletic Meet was being held at the Nehru Stadium, Chennai.

6. March
7th National League - Mumbai: Mahindra United 2-1 Tollygunge Agragami - Goals: 0-1 Akeem Abul Alem (4'), 1-1 Mongba Aby Samson (68'), 2-1 Ednei Jose Damasio (90').
In a midtable tussle, Mahindra United beat Tollygunge Agragami 2-1 in a National League match at the Cooperage Ground, Mumbai. Tollygunge got an early lead in the 4.minute, when Nigerian striker Akeem Abul Alem loobed the ball over Mahindra Rajan. Now the Mahindra strikers Mongba Aby Samson and Ednei Jose Damasio got into action but Tollygunge keeper Gopal Das had something against this. Das made some superb saves but it wasn't enough. First Samson equalised in the 68.minute of a header, using his height to get to the ball and then Damasio kept his incredible trackrecord of scoring in India intact, with an oppurtunistic winner in the 90.minute against a fighting young Tollygunge team.

7th National League - Bangalore: Indian Telephone Industries 3-1 Hindustan Aeronautics Limited - Goals: 1-0 Jude Nwadu (5'), 1-1 Raja Baliev Nurlan (37'), 2-1,3-1 (77',86').
In Round 18 of the National League Indian Telephone Industries at long last won their first match of the campaign, a 3-1 victory against city-rivals Hindustan Aeronautics Limited at the Bangalore Football Stadium. The Bangalore derby wasn't the usual crowd puller in India's No.1 Cybercity, taking the situation in the league table no surprise, both clubs are close to relegation to Division 2 and only a win for HAL might have given the Aircraftmen a chance to maybe catch-up with 10th-placed Indian Bank. But after today's match both Bangalore sides are likely to find themselves in Division 2 in the next season. The match meanwhile was much more interesting and thrilling than people expected, in the end it was a derby!
ITI went into the lead in the 5.minute, when a Jude Nwadu shot went past HAL keeper Mark Mascarenhas. HAL came back into the match with their Kyrgysztan striker Raja Baliev Nurlan equalising in the 37.minute in spectacular fashion, a perfect backvolley and it seemed early in the second half that HAL gained control of the match. But then ITI substitutes Louis Nickson and Jiten Rai came into the match and two goals by the seasoned Nickson, in the 79. and 86.minute, gave ITI their first victory in this seasons NFL.

7th National League - Goa: Salgaocar SC 3-1 Dempo SC - Goals: 1-0 Sunday Seah (7'), 2-0 Jatin Singh Bisht (18'), 3-0 Sabastiao Endro (32'), 3-1 Mario Soares (85').
Salgaocar talismanic medio Jatin Singh Bisht won his third man of the match honour as he guided his team to a fluent 3-1 win over Dempo in the National League, at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda. The Uttar Pradesh lad was at his awesome best as he scored a goal and had a hand - nay leg - in the other two as Salgaocar remained in contention for the runners-up spot. Salgaocar led 3-0 at the change of ends. Sunday Seah gave them the perfect start in the 7.minute when he headed home a fine centre from Jatin Singh while Jatin himself made it 2-0 minutes later. Substitute striker Sebastiao Endro who came in for an off-colour Samson Singh, early in the match, hammered the final nail in Dempo's coffin, minutes before the breather. Veteran Mario Soares pulled one back for the azzure brigade at the fag end of the match. "The title is beyond us. All that we are playing for is the runners-up spot," Salgaocar coach Savio Madeira told reporters after the match. "Vasco, Bagan and JCT are fast catching-up but if we play like we did today, nobody, just nobody will come close to us," he added. The win meant Salgaocar jumped to the third spot with 32 points in their kitty from 18 encounters while Dempo were glued to the sixth spot with 23 points. Significantly, Dempo are yet to win a match in the second leg. There seems to be something terribly wrong with Dempo. They are nowhere close to the awesome team that finished at the top of the pool in the first leg. Close on the heels of the disappointing campaign comes this news that Uzbekistan striker Andreev Sergey has returned home while Raman Vijayan is also contemplating doing the same, after falling out with coach Armando Colaco. The Dempo management - not surprisingly - has maintained a stoic silence over the departures. In a way, Dempo did well to restrict Salgaocar in the second session but Salgaocar's class and determination was apparent from the opening whistle as three goals in the first half quietened the Dempo brigade, quietly hoping for a turnaround. Sunday Seah scored the opener in the seventh minute, turning past a defender before heading home a Jatin Singh Bisht cross, and then the Uttar Pradesh medio scored eleven minutes later following a neat passing move. Salgaocar's speed and movement had proved too much for Dempo in the first half, and they looked to have sealed the game at the fag end of the first session when Sebastiao Endro added his name to the scoresheet. However, Dempo fought hard to rescue the match, and went on to create several clear scoring opportunities, but Dempo strikers Sri Lankan EB Channa and Bijen Singh were guilty of spurning opportunities.

2.Division National League - North Zone - Group B: Border Security Force 4-2 Indian Nationals FC - Goals: 1-0,2-1 J Joseph (34', ?'), 1-1 Aftab Ashraf (378'), 3-1,4-1 Gurjit Singh Atwal (70',79'), 4-2 Sanjeev Sharma (90').
2.Division National League - North Zone - Group B: Jammu&Kashmir Bank 2-0 Chandigarh Police - Goals: 1-0 Deepak Sangral (37'), 2-0 Rizwan Sheikh (77').
2.Division National League - East Zone: Tata Football Academy 2-0 Raj Milk FC - Goals: 1-0 Debabrata Roy (12'), 2-0 Jerry Zirsanga.
2.Division National League - North-East Zone - Group B: Eastern Sporting Union 1-1 1st MAP FC - Goals: 1-0 M Somochandra (44'), 1-1 Lalthangsanga (89').
2.Division National League - North-East Zone - Group B: Oil India Limited 0-2 Langsning FC - Goals: 0-1 Perry Pde (59'), 0-2 Edmund Kharkongor (69').
2.Division National League - South Zone - Group A: Integral Coach Factory 1-0 Karnataka State Police
2.Division National League - South Zone - Group A: State Bank of Travancore 12-0 Satyabhama Engineering College

5. March
7th National League - Ludhiana: JCT Mills 2-0 East Bengal Club - Goals: 1-0 Jo Paul Ancheri (44'), 2-0 IM Vijayan (70').
East Bengal's unbeaten run in the National League ended today, with a 0-2 defeat at the hands of an inform JCT Mills at the Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana. JCT continued their rise up the table, now already third, with the chance of finishing as high as second, after being stuck in the lower rung of the table earlier on in the league campaign. The stars for the Millmen were internationals Jo Paul Ancheri and IM Vijayan, and the Ghanian goalkeeper Mohammad Mansuru. Interesting to remember is that Ancheri and Vijayan were with East Bengal last season. In an interesting encounter both sides had their chances, which they couldn't utilise until a minute before the lemon break, when Vijayan passed on to Jo Paul Ancheri, who scored of a typical left-footer. After the break East Bengal tired hard for the equaliser, especially around the hour mark but they even couldn't score of a penalty, as Kalia Kulothungan shot straight at keeper Mansuru. With the crowd backing JCT again regained control of the match and seasoned IM Vijayan proved his class, when he scored the winner in the 70.minute of a flagkick, which sailed over East bengal keeper Sandip Nandy. East Bengal players protested, saying the ball hadn't crossed the line but the referee kept his decision.

7th National League - Calcutta: Mohun Bagan AC 2-3 Vasco Sports Club - Goals: 0-1,0-3 Marcos Pereira (15',40'), 0-2 Agnelo Jose Gomes (21'), 1-3 Sunil Chetri (77'), 2-3 Baichung Bhutia (87').
Mohun Bagan dismal home run in the National League continued with a 2-3 defeat against Vasco at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. At halftime Bagan were loosing 0-3 but were able to pull two goals back. Brazilian Marcos Pereira headed Vasco into the lead in the 15.minute, with Agnelo Jose Gomes doubling the score just six minutes later. Bagan's own Brazilian Jose Barreto worked hard to get a goal back before halftime but he failed and Bagan had to concede another goal six minutes from halftime, again by Marcos Pereira. 13 Minutes from time Bagan pulled a goal back, with young Sunil Chetri scoring and then India captain Baichung Bhutia scored Bagan's second three minutes from time but this wasn't enough for Bagan to at least get a draw. With this win Vasco kept their small title hopes alive and also cemented their chances of finishing second, the automatic spot for AFC Champions League qualification.
MOHUN BAGAN: Rajat Ghosh Dastidar, Dulal Biswas, Yakubu Rabiu, Kajal Bhattacharya, Lolendra Singh, Basudeb Mondal, Jose Barreto, Palash Karmakar (Jayanta Sen), Renedy Singh (Sunil Chetri), George Ekeh, Baichung Bhutia.
VASCO: Rogerio Ramos, Seby Dias, Sanjay Parte, Franky Barreto, Sushanth Mathew, Abhay Kumar ((Shamshi Reza), Jules Alberto (Santa Singh), Menino Fernandes, Marcos Pereira, Rui Wanderley Weis, Agnelo Jose Gomes (Nitin Pradhan).

2.Division National League - North Zone - Group A: Punjab State Electricity Board 5-2 Rewari FC
2.Division National League - North Zone - Group A: Hindustan Club 2-0 Uttar Pradesh Police - Goals: 1-0 Sameer Jung (61'), 2-0 MK Candid (69').
2.Division National League - North-East Zone - Group A: Manipur Police SC 0-0 Assam State Electricity Board - Goals: none.
2.Division National League - South Zone - Group B: Titanium XI 2-1 AG's Office - Goals: 1-0 KP Shabeer (7'), 2-0 Abdul Hakkim (45'), 2-1 Raghupathy (85').

4. March
2.Division National League - North Zone - Group B: Jammu&Kashmir Bank 6-0 Him Club - Goals: 1-0,3-0,4-0 Ashim Bhoir (23',47',48'), 2-0 Deepak Sangral (46'), 5-0 Rizwan Sheikh (71'), 6-0 Kamaljeet Kumar (81').
2.Division National League - North Zone - Group B: Border Security Force 5-1 Chandigarh Police - Goals: 1-0 Boy Singh (28'), 2-0 Jaswant Singh (30'), 3-0,5-0 Sarabjit Singh (63',80'), 4-0 Prasanta Das (69'), 5-1 Jagmohan Singh (90').

Note-1: Before the start of the West Zone qualifiers of the 2.Division National League in Indore, Madhya Pradesh next Monday, Goan club Fransa FC have made a spectacular "on loan" signing of Salgaocar keeper Kalyan Chaubey, to fill a weak position and strengthen the chances of the club to make it from the 2.Division to the Premier Division of the National League. Fransa are lucky that the NFL take a one month break, due to the training camps for the Asia Cup and Olympic qualifiers, and also that Chaubey was not picked for any of the camps. This allows Chaubey to play for Fransa in the 2.Division.
For the new season, when Chaubey will be back with Salgaocar, Fransa are trying to sign talented Satish Kumar from East Bengal, were the youngster is only the number 3 keeper behind Sandip Nandy and Sangram Mukherjee.

Note-2: A technical revolution is going to take place in the Mecca of Indian football, Calcutta!
At the eastern Headquarters of the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, at the Saltlake Sports complex, the Sports Authority of India will be constructing floodlight pylons at their three football grounds, which are located besides the Saltlake Stadium. The costs of such a project would be taken care of by SAI, who have been given the go ahead from New Delhi. The floodlights would enable evening practice which is not possible at the Maidan grounds of the big three and it could also be an option for the IFA to play lower division football in the summer in the evenings, though SAI is saying the grounds would only be used for practice with floodlights.

3. March
At a felecitation ceremony organised by Tollygunge Agragami at the Calcutta Referees Association Tent, young striker Ashim Biswas and coach Aloke Mukherjee were fecilitated for having earned India colours. The duo was presented with mementoes and other gifts.
Meanwhile the mayor of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation said at the function that it was time to review the activities of clubs who occupy their tents at Maidan. The mayor wondered how a club playing in the National League for the past five years does not have a tent at the Calcutta Maidan. Subrata Mukherjee assured that he would look into the matter. He blamed the AIFF and IFA officials for the gradual loss of interest in football in the country. The mayor also rued the fact that people who had never played football are now at the helm of things.

2. March
7th National League - Bangalore: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited 0-5 Mahindra United - Goals: 0-1 RC Prakash (32'), 0-2,0-3 Ednei Jose Damasio (41',45'), 0-4 Monga Aby Samson (66'), 0-5 Naushad Pari (82').
Whatever hopes Hindustan Aeronautics Limited have had to stay in the National League, they were shattered today by Mahindra United at the Bangalore Football Stadium. HAL got trashed 5-0 by the Jeepman, one of their worst home defeats in recent history. Mahindra United meanwhile seemed to have at long last reached their higher performance levels, after another indifferent season for the Mumbai boys. RC Prakash put Mahindra in lead in the 32.minute when his "freak shot" from the left corner landed into the net, shocking the HAL defenders. Brazilian Ednei Jose Damasio scored twice in four minutes before the lemon break to take the match out of HALs reach, now having scored 10 goals in nine matches, an impressive track record! Monga Aby Samson's powerful header in the 66th minute and substitute Naushad Pari in the 82.minute completed the rout.

7th National League - Calcutta: Mohun Bagan AC 3-0 Churchill Brothers SC - Goals: 1-0 Sunil Chetri (9'), 2-0 George Ekeh (60'), 3-0 Jose Barreto (68').
Mohun Bagan won impressively 3-0 against Churchill Brothers in a National League match at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. Bagan opened the score in the 9.minute, when a Renedy Singh cross was headed in by young Sunil Chetri. Nigerian striker George Ekeh doubled the lead on the hour mark with an oppurtunistic strike for which Baichung Bhutia had done the spade work. But the best goal of the match was still to come. Bagan's Brazilian superstar Jose Barreto seeing Churchill Bros keeper Edward Ansah out of position loobed the ball from about 40 yards out into the goal!
MOHUN BAGAN: Rajat Ghosh Dastidar, Dulal Biswas, Yakubu Rabiu, Kajal Bhattacharya, Lolendra Singh, Jayanta Sen, Sunil Chetri (Ranjan Dey), Jose Barreto, Renedy Singh (Sheikh Sanjib), Baichung Bhutia, George Ekeh.
CHURCHILL: Edward Ansah, Rajesh Meetei, Osumanu Husseini, Mahesh Gawli, Mir Farooq Hyder (Denzie Ferrao), Roque Barreto, Noel Wilson (Zaheer Abbas Hamza), Nascimento Silveira, Ratan Singh, Benjamin Ansah, Tiken Singh (Preetam Bahadur).

7th National League - Ludhiana: JCT Mills 1-1 Salgaocar SC - Goals: 1-0 IM Vijayan (43'), 1-1 Sunday Seah (73').
JCT Mills held Salgaocar to a 1-1 draw in a National League match at the Guru Nanak stadium, Ludhiana. Seasoned striker IM Vijayan, who replaced Hardip Gill in the second half, made his presence directly left, as he scored for JCT after resumption of the match, converting a long pass from Taranjit Singh. Salgaocar equalised in the 73.minute, when man of the match, midfielder Dharamjit Singh lobbed a volley from outside the striking box and Liberian Sunday Seah scored a superb goal with a header.

Note-1: The AIFF will conduct random dope tests on players during the on-going National League. AIFF secretary Alberto Colaco disclosed that the dope testing would be done with a limited number of kits to be made available by FIFA. Mr Colaco said since each dope testing kit would cost around Rs 3,000, the AIFF would conduct only random tests on the players. He said the urine samples collected would be sent to an International Olympic Commitee accredited dope-testing laboratory in Malaysia, instead of relying on the 'indigenous' Sports Authority of India lab in Delhi, to ensure irrefutable results.

1. March
7th National League - Calcutta: East Bengal Club 2-0 Tollygunge Agragami - Goals: 1-0 Douglas da Silva (67'), 2-0 Kalia Kulothungan (89')
East Bengal's winning run continued in the National League with a 2-0 victory against Tollygunge Agragami at the Saltlake Stadium Calcutta and is now almost certain to win the NFL title 2002/03, just four points missing from five matches. The Calcutta-derby was decided through two magic moments by Brazilian midfielder Douglas da Silva. East Bengal broke the deadlock when Douglas da Silva headed in a freekick from Chandan Das in the 67.minute. Tollygunge missed several chances to level and were punished in the 89.minute, when Kalia Kulothungan found the net after a good pass by Douglas.
EAST BENGAL: Sandip Nandy, Surya Bikash Chakraborty, Deepak Mondal, M Suresh, Subhashish Roy Chowdhury (Kalia Kulothungan); Malswam Tulunga, Shanmugam Vankatesh, Chandan Das, Douglas da Silva, Gilmar Goncalves (Dipankar Roy, Subhash Chakraborty), Suley Musah.
TOLLYGUNGE: Gopal Das, Amitava Chanda, Isiaka Awoyemi, Debkumar Sashmal (Sujit Neogi, Joshua), Manas Das, Mehtab Hussain, Sandip Das, Sujoy Dutta, Srikanta Dutta (Uttam Debnath), Ashim Biswas, Akeem Abulalen.

7th National League - Goa: Dempo SC 0-2 Vasco SC - Goals: 1-0 Marcos Pereira (80'), 2-0 Riston Rodrigues (87')
Vasco made shortwork of an out-of-sorts and out-of-form Dempo 2-0 to collect full points in a 17th round encounter of the National League, at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda. After an insipid and uninspiring first session, Vasco pulverised Dempo with two second-half goals. Brazilian sharpshooter Marcos Pereira did not have a great encounter but still managed to punch the first goal in the 80.minute while Riston Rodrigues made the issue safe at the fag end of the match. The win enabled Vasco jump to the second spot with 31 points while Dempo remained with 21 points. Significantly, Dempo, who remained at the top of the first leg, are still to win a match in the second phase. And its been 9 matches for now. "We went all out for full points and we got them," Vasco coach Derrick Pereira said. "We are looking to finish second since East Bengal has gone beyond our reach," he added. After a barren first session, where Vasco missed umpteen chances - many from handshaking distance - Vasco took the lead in the 80.minute, thanks to some smart work from Brazilian Marcos. The sharpshooter colected a ball from substitute Agnelo Colaco, cut past a rival defender and sent goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal the wrong way. Inspired by the lead, Vasco attacked vigorously and increased their lead at the fag end of the match through the boots of Riston Rodriques, who gave finishing touches to a Rui Wanderely Weis centre. Menino Fernandes of Vasco was adjudged the man of the match.

Note-1: The South-Zone 2.Division National League qualifying round matches will be held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala from March 5 to 15. Of the seven teams participating in the league matches, the two toppers from each group will play in the super league round matches.
Group A: State Bank of Travancore (Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala), Satyabhama Engineering College (Pondicherry), Integral Coach Factory (Chennai, Tamil Nadu), Karnataka State Police (Bangalore, Karnataka).
Group B: Titanium XI (Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala), AG's Office Tamil Nadu (Chennai, Tamil Nadu), MEG Centre (Bangalore, Karnataka).

Note-2: East Bengal captain Anit Ghosh underwent operation on his injured right knee under the supervision of Dr Anant Joshi in a Calcutta nursing home yesterday. East Bengal authorities informed that though he will be off for at least six months, he will be resigned for the forthcoming season.