31. May
under-19 National League - Semifinal: Dempo SC 0-2 East Bengal Club - Goals: 0-1 Arindam Saha (49'), 0-2 Prasantha Chakroborty (64').
under-19 National League - Semifinal: JCT Mills 2-1 Mahindra United [golden Goal] - Goals: 0-1 Sajid Ansari (25'), 1-1 Kulbir Singh (90'), 2-1 Sunil Kumar (115').

Note-1: At a press conference at the club Tent today, NFL champions East Bengal Club introduced their new signings for the season but the real interest was in physical trainer Kevin Jackson from Bloemfontein, South Africa, who will be working with the team in the month of June to fine-tune their fitness for the upcoming season.
Jackson was referred to East Bengal by Indian cricket team trainer Adrian Le Roux. He will be paid $ 1.000 per week plus from Rs 1.000 per day as 'daily expenses', all sponsored by the UB Group.
But this not the only firsts for East Bengal and an Indian club in general. The club will also put up the whole team at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta, with the team using the hotel's gym and swimming pool.
These measures are all being taken as preparation for the ASEAN Club Championships in July in Indonesia, so hopefully all these measures are fruitful!

30. May
1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Final: Assam 0-0,4-1 Manipur [on penalties] - Goals: none.
Hosts ASSAM won the inaugural 1st Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy through a penalty shootout 4-1 against favourites Manipur after goalless 120 minutes. Infront of a near sellout evening crowd of close to 12,000 spectators at the Nehru Stadium, Guwahati both teams played listless football, unlike earlier in the tournament. While Assam proved that it had talented players, with some shifting to Calcutta in the summer transfers, Manipur surely missed its top stars - the Singhs - like Renedy, Tomba, Bijen, etc...

Note-1: PTI reports: In London today INDIA presented its bid to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi amid a splash of colour and vibrant bhangra dance.
Former Miss World Diana Hayden, who entered the venue to the rhythmic drum beats along with colourfully attired Rajasthan belles, handed over India's bid to Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and President of the Commonwealth Games Federation.
Delhi faces stiff competition from the Canadian city of Hamilton - the only other bidder in the fray - but India fancies its chances of winning the bid, with even support from Pakistan and Bangladesh, the result of which will be announced in Jamaica in November.
We at indianfootball.com 100% support INDIA's bid but have to criticise something very very strongly. While Hamilton would introduce football to the Commonwealth Games, if it named as hosts; India has said Cricket would be included, after the game didn't really click at the 1998 Games in Malaysia. India should surely think about including football, as this could be the chance to get teams like England, Scotland, Australia and Canada to send their football teams to India!!!

29. May
1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - 3rd Place Playoff: Meghalaya 2-8 Mizoram - Goals: 1-0,2-7 Aiborland Kharpran (12',69'), 1-1,1-2,1-4,1-5,1-6,2-8 Lalvullaiya (30',32',45',48',50',81'), 1-3 Laluatlianasila (46'), 1-7 Himngthansang (60').
under-19 National League - Group A: Salgaocar SC 1-2 Mahindra United - Goals: 0-1 Agnelo Francis (21'), 1-1 Lector Caido (23'), 1-2 Anil Pawar (33').
under-19 National League - Group A: Churchill Brother SC - Vasco SC - Goals:

Note-1: As you will know, we at indianfootball.com are following the progress that Michael Chopra is making in English football. Sadly Chopra has played for England from the under-15 team onwards, so he is no longer eligible to play for India and now he has made another first. Michael Chopra, after a good loan spell at Watford FC, has now got his first call-up to the England under-21 team. This is another first for Chopra, as he so far has played from the under-15 to under-20 England sides, as the first British Asian/Indian. And next season back at Newcastle United, he is likely to get more time to play for the first team...

28. May
Japan and Feyenoord Rotterdam midfielder Shinji Ono has claimed the coveted AFC Player of the Year 2002 Award, seeing off compatriot Junichi Inamoto, Korea Republic's Jung-Hwan Ahn and China's Li Tie.
The trophy presentation will be held on June 4 when Feyenoord face Urawa Reds, Ono's current Vs former club, in a friendly in Saitama, Japan.
Guus Hiddink was named AFC Coach of the Year for his historic role in leading Korea Republic to the semifinals at the FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan; while Chun-Soo Lee, an important member of Hiddink's World Cup squad, pocketed another title for Korea Republic when he bagged the AFC Young Player of the Year title and Korea Republic was named AFC National Team of the Year for becoming the first Asian country to reach the World Cup semifinals.

1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Semifinal: Assam 1-0 Mizoram - Goal: 1-0 Sanjiva Rongpi (75').
1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Semifinal: Meghalaya 1-2 Manipur - Goals: 0-1 Sanaton Singh (67'), 1-1 Birendra Thapa (81'), 1-2 Neelkumar Singh (87').

Note-1: Manipur's O Bembem Devi will Captain and Sradhanjali Samantaray from Orissa, will be the Vice-Captain, of the Indian National Women's Team which will participate in the "AFC Women's Championships - Thailand 2003" at Bangkok from June 10 to 25. India are in Group C along with championship favourites China plus Vietnam and Uzbekistan. The team has 11 players from Manipur, three each from Bengal and Goa, two from Punjab and one from Orissa.
SQUAD: 1-Lourembam Ronibala Chanu; 2-Wangkhem Robita Devi; 3-Bag Namita; 4-Soibam Ibeyaima Devi; 5-Kangujam Rebika Devi; 6-Rocky Maynol N.; 7-Waikhom Sachirani Devi; 8-Khatun Rehana; 9-Khundrakpam Maichon Devi; 10-Uvena Fernandes; 11-Oinam Bembem Devi; 12-Chanu Shadokpam Rani; 13-Blanka Barretto; 14-Shadokpam Shanti Devi; 15-Sradhanjali Samantaray; 16-Thongram Tababi Devi; 17-Sujata Kar; 18-Nameirakpam Geetarani Chanu; 19-Rajwant Kaur; 20-Paramjit Kaur. OFFICIALS: Moiranthem Ratan Kumar Singh (Chief Coach, Manipur); Mary Victoria (Coach, Karnataka); Indrani Sarkar (Manager, Bengal); Arambam Santosh Kumar Singh (Leader of the Delegation, Manipur).

Note-2: At a press conference at the Club Tent, Mohammedan Sporting Club secretary Sultan Ahmed announced great plans for the club, after it at long last made it's maiden entry into the National League.
Among other things, the club would go into a partnership with an English Premier League club, enabling exchange of expertise, enabling Mohammedan players and coached to go to England, maybe even bringing the club into India.
Also Sporting wants to lease it's ground for the whole season, instead of having to hand over the ground to the Army for 15 days in October and also allowing Hockey matches to be played. Together with the two other Maidan giants, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, Sporting has made a strong plea with the state government to speed-up the rebuilding of gallaries or otherwise allow Sporting to hold home matches at the Saltlake Stadium, as the current capacity of the Sporting Ground stands at only 5000.
In the mid-term Sporting are planning to start an Academy and also built an own Stadium, with the land likely to be in Howrah. Initial talks have been held with the Bengal government.
Sporting is also trying to boast it's image with help from Bollywood stars. Seasoned Dilip Kumar and Bollywood megastar Shahrukh Khan have been approached through "wellwishers of the club", to be involved in the club, and beit just for publicity reasons.
The club has also set it's house in order with an elected executive committee and a new president in Bengal food minister Kalimuddin Shams. Industrialist Vipin Vora, has been elected vice president, who thus becomes the first non-Muslim office-bearer in the history of the club, while Sultan Ahmed has been re-elected general secretary, with Ishteyaque Ahmed taking over as football secretary. Also Md Shahabuddin, a MP from Siwan in Bihar, has been elected into the executive panel.
The club had appointed London-based FMM International as its agent and consultants, which among other things would look for a sponsor, with the finalisation of a sponsor being in the final stages.

Note-3: At a meeting today at the residence of Justice Umesh Chandra Banerjee the issues surrounding Mohun Bagan's football team seems to have been sorted for the moment. Present at the meeting were members from the executive committee, the opposing group, two of the three court appointed panel members and representatives from the sponsors, the UB Group. In the interest of the club it was decided that Debashish Dutta, convener of the football committee, and advocate Shibaprasad Mukherjee, the opposition group lawyer, to shoulder the initiative of registering football players for the upcoming season, as the transfer deadline is fast approaching.
It was also clarified that the UB Group woul continue as sponsor and the club hoped to get the second installment of the Rs. 15,5 million total sponsorship in the coming days, to pay signed players and also clear the backlog of salaries from last season.

27. May
Panionios Athens clarified to indianfootball.com today that they never heard about Baichung Bhutia before the rumours in the media started. The story is making more and more waves, as today even a Greek sports daily reported about the trials.

1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group A: Arunachal Pradesh 1-3 SAI Red, Guwahati - Goals: 0-1 Robijit Jigdung (20'), 0-2 Johny Marboh (49'), 0-3 Pynwan Dhar (77'), 1-2 Koj Chatung (89').
1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group B: Meghalaya 4-0 SAI Blue, Imphal - Goals: 1-0 Roland Pyngrope (27'), 2-0 Pynskhem Garod (50'), 3-0,4-0 Edmund Kharkongar (53',86').
under-19 National League - Group A: Churchill Brother SC 0-1 Dempo SC - Goal: 0-1 Clinton D'Souza (73').

Note-1: The unsure senario at Mohun Bagan prevails...
The executive committee and the opposition group are blaming each other for the current situation, where it is not clear, who has the right to sign players in the name of Mohun Bagan AC and take care of the football team but now the three member committee, instated by the Calcutta High Court, is trying to take care of things.
Umesh Chandra Banerjee, one of the three member committee, has called a meeting of all concerned parties tomorrow at his residence to sort out things in the short term, so that things like the signing of players can be done, ahead of the Inter-State Transfer deadline on May 31, coming Saturday.

Note-2: The IFA is thinking of shifting the dates of the IFA-Shield from early-July as had been tentitively fixed earlier to September due to numerous reasons. The most important one being that by then the ban on the IFA organising tournaments with international participation could be lifted, as the AFC meets in July and the topic will come up for discussions. Also plans for the national team had to be changed, as the LG Cup in Vietnam now will be held a month earlier from August 22 to 31 instead of September, so the camp should start after the Federation Cup, with the final slated for August 7 in Calcutta. Also an AIFF directive says that local leagues should be finished by September 15, with the chance that the Shield could be held after that.

26. May
Yesterday we reported that Baichung Bhutia might be soon on his way to Greece for trials with Panionios Athens but after today being in touch with the Greek club, there have to be doubts.
Panionios Athens PR officer Kostas Papadakos told us, "Panionios FC has no idea about this information. Until now no official letter from any manager regarding this player has come to our club." An info which is contrary to rumours in India.
Papadakos added, "Needless to say we are not keen to get this player, not because we don't want him but simply because we don't know anything about him or a possible transfer."
Panionios guess that Baichung's agent is in touch with Greek colleagues, who had the idea to send Baichung for trials to Panionios, which currently the club doesn't know about.
We will try to find out further infos on the story and keep you uptodate...

1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group B: Mizoram 4-1 Nagaland - Goals: 1-0 F Lalzamawia (28'), 2-0 Lalrinkhuma (60'), 3-0 Lalpiamfela (68'), 3-1 Vizorou (69'), 4-1 Lalthlangzuala (88').
1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group B: Sikkim 2-2 SAI Blue, Imphal - Goals: 1-0 Suman Dewan (32'), 1-1 L Sumin Singh (36'), 1-2 Th Inatomba Singh (87'), 2-2 KC Dadul (90+').
under-19 National League - Group A: Vasco SC 3-0 Mahindra United - Goals: 1-0,3-0 Agnelo D'Souza (36',82'), 2-0 Beevan D'Mello (51').

Note-1: Calcutta's EverReady announced their big plans for the upcoming season at a press conference. The club, which was a debutant in the Calcutta Super Division last season, has roped in the whisky brand "Officer's Choice" as sponsors. The club management was also successful to sign experienced Amal Datta as the team coach. While the management stressed that the club aimed at getting into the 2.Division National League, Amal Datta wanted to wait and see how things went before naming any target for the team.
On the transfer front the club has been active to strengthen the team, making some big name signings. The most prominent signing is keeper Kalyan Chaubey from Salgaocar, who just last season was in Germany on trial with Karlsruher SC II. Also lasts season Bagan captain Dulal Biswas has been signed along with Crispin Chetri and Sushil Kartik from the former NFL champions. Also the club signed Liberian midfielder Eugene Gray from Mohammedan Sporting, defender Biswarup Bisu from Tollygunge Agragami and defender Wajid Ali from Assam State Electricity Board.

25. May
A couple of days ago we received a spectacular rumour but as we couldn't confirm the story then, we didn't publish it earlier.
INDIA captain and football superstar Baichung Bhutia might soon be on his way for trials with Greek Premier Division club Panionios Athens. Panionios finished fifth in the just concluded Greek league, after a 2-4 defeat at the hands of city-rivals AEK Athens today, the last spot which guarantees them a place in the upcoming seasons UEFA Cup. A great achievement for the number four club from the Greek capital and now they might become the first top division club in Europe to sign an Indian footballer!
As the situation stands now, the club are interested in signing Baichung but would like to see him in action in a week long trial and then decide. Also Baichung's agent is working out details and things should clear in the next couple of days.
We will keep you updated.

1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group A: Assam 2-1 Tripura - Goals: 0-1 Premjit Singh Barua (6'), 1-1 Utpal Basumatary (38'), 2-1 Sanjiva Rongpi (74').
1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group A: Manipur 5-0 Arunachal Pradesh - Goals: 1-0,3-0,4-0 N Uttam Singh (43',55',66'), 2-0 Ch Shyamananda (47'), 5-0 Sanaton Singh (80').
under-19 National League - Group A: Salgaocar SC 0-1 Dempo SC - Goal: 0-1 Wesley Coutinho (42').

24. May
1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group B: Mizoram 2-1 Sikkim - Goals: 0-1 Sonam Palzor (18'), 1-1 Lalvullaiya (41'), 2-1 Lalruatliana Sailo (64').
1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group B: Meghalaya 2-1 Nagaland - Goals: 0-1 Lungthui (10'), 1-1,2-1 Roland Pyngrope (29',89').
under-19 National League - Group A: Churchill Brother SC 1-4 Mahindra United - Goals: 0-1 Munir Sheikh (20'), 0-2 Anil Pawar (25'), 0-3 Mohammad Khan (48'), 1-3 Kingsley B D'Costa (64'), 1-4 Agnelo Francis (72').
under-19 National League - Group B: East Bengal Club 2-3 JCT Mills - Goals: 0-1,2-3 Survinder Singh (5',69'), 0-2 Yoginder Singh (23'), 1-2 Kingshuk Debnath (40'), 2-2 Arindam Saha (54').
under-19 National League - Group B: Tollygunge Agragami 2-0 Indian Bank - Goals: 1-0 Mriganka Sharma (71'), 2-0 Suman Datta (86').

Note-1: After yesterdays court ruling Mohun Bagan are in really troubled times.
While Bagan secretary Anjan Mitra will only be able to access the situation after he returns from his holidays in Darjeeling; the UB Group's company McDowell & Company Limited, who are sponsors of Mohun Bagan, might take actions, if the situation arises. Currently they have no idea what will happen in the coming days, as even the members of the instated committee, will received orders from the High Court on Monday. But if things don't go their way, the UB Group might even pull out as Bagan sponsors, creating even more problems for Bagan, as the UB Group has already given Bagan Rs 6 million to sign players for the new season, which they then would demand back and Bagan are already in financial trouble

23. May
It's transfer time, time for rumours and speculations on where players will go, might go or might not be allowed to go...
While from Calcutta a lot of news has come out on the teams that the top four clubs will be fielding in the coming season, the focus now seems to shift to Goa, as the five Goan National League teams are putting their squads together.
Churchill Brothers Yakubu Yusif, the top scorer of the National League in the last two seasons, scoring a total of 40 goals in the high-profile league, has attracted huge interest among clubs from across India. In Goa it has been reported that Yakubu has already signed for Goan rivals Dempo SC, while he had been approached by Mohun Bagan, Mohammedan Sporting and Mahindra United. But according to Churchill Brothers patron Churchill Alemao, Yakubu still has a year to go of a three-year contract the Ghanian signed with the Goan club in 2001.
Also Dempo might also be in trouble with another foreign signing, Majekodunmi Bolaji from Fransa FC, who had been with the club on loan duing the NFL. According to Fransa president Mickky Pacheco the Nigerian would have to report back to Fransa before thinking of moving to another club.
Otherwise Dempo have signed Indian Junior goalkeeper VP Satish Kumar from champions East Bengal, Liberian Sunday Seah from Salgaocar and RC Prakash from Mahindra United; while losing Bijen Singh - who returns to East Bengal, Levy Coelho joining Vasco SC, international Sameer Naik moving on to Mohun Bagan and goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal joining promoted Mohammedan Sporting.
Churchill Brothers have also released their signings so far. They are the trio of Nitin Pradhan, Santa Singh, Riston Rodrigues from Vasco; Mohammed Najeeb and AS Firoze from relegated Indian Telephone Industries; Sukhdev Arwade and Francisco Afonso from Fransa FC: While the club is also likely to sign former international Hardip Singh Sangha from Punjab Police; and goalkeeper Raghuvir Khanolkar from Central Railway.
More transfer news in the coming days...

1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group A: Assam 3-1 Manipur - Goals: 1-0,2-0 Sanjiva Rongpi (39',69'), 2-1 L Shamananda Singh (72'), 3-1 Akum Ao (84').
1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group A: Tripura 2-4 SAI Red, Guwahati - Goals: 0-1 Aiborlang Lywait (20'), 1-1,2-1 Kiran Chetri (33',34'), 2-2 Dhananjoy Boro (75'), 2-3 Anupam Chetia (78'), 2-4 Robijit Jigdung (81').
under-19 National League - Group A: Vasco SC 1-2 Dempo SC - Goals: 1-0 Vilas Morje (28'), 1-1,1-2 Faisal Martins (60',72').

Note-1: Over the last few weeks Mohun Bagan have been in the news for a number of wrong reasons.
Now a decision by the Calcutta High Court mmight change the whole senario at the club. The division bench of the Calcutta High Court comprising of Justice MHS Ansari and Arun Mitra ruled that the executive committee of Mohun Bagan AC to keep away from matters related to football, and appointed a three-man committee to run the game. The football controlling body will comprise Justice Umesh Banerjee, Justice Shyamal Sen (former Governor of Bengal) and senior advocate Indrajit Sen. The executive committee would not be dissolved or anything but look into matters of the club, other than football.
The ruling also stated that McDowell & Company Limited of the UB Group could continue as sponsors but wouldn't be allowed to form a company with the club - as East Bengal has done with the UB Group's Kingfisher division, when the company started to sponsor the clubs.
As Mohun Bagan top officials are out of station, the assistant secretary Balaram Chowdhury gave a statement on the issue, saying that the club would first study the judgement and then, if required, might move to the Supreme Court. The case had been started by an opposition within the club, when the ruling body decided to float a company in collaboration with the UB Group. The court case has been going on since 1998, with both sides moving to higher courts to get their right.
The question remains, if the committee will be allowed to take-over and when and then how it would function, as it is a crucial time of the season, with the transfers on.
The question also remains, if the UB Group in the end will also say that they are no longer interested to work with Mohun Bagan and end their sponsorship of the club.

Note-2: Indian football superstar Baichung Bhutia today was at the Nehru Stadium, Guwahati to witness the ongoing Dr T. Ao NorthEast Football Tournament on invitation from the organisers DONER and SAI Guwahati. Tomorrow Baichung will play in an exhibition match between the SAI's - Guwahati Vs Imphal, playing a half each for the sides.
Talking to the press in the Assam capital the India captain said that he was targeting to play abroad, not naming any club or country, where he might be going but also said that the Indian option was open.
Scouts from numerous National League teams are said to be in Guwahati to witness the tournament, among them the Calcutta giants East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. While rumours say that East Bengal coach Subhas Bhowmick might turn-up over the weekend, he might hold initial talks about bringing back Baichung Bhutia to the red-and-gold brigade. Already East Bengal are said to have signed Oil India Limited's goalkeeper Jitu Chetri and striker Bhim Kanta Sonowal from Assam. Also Mohun Bagan have signed SAI Guwahati goalkeeper Bilifang Narzary. With the first signings, one of the first aims of the Dr. T. Ao tournament has been met!

Note-3: The Delhi football scene, known for the chaotic situation surrounding the Delhi Soccer Association, is currently adding a new chapter to the never-ending story.
This time it is about Delhi's most popular football club, City Club and issues which have nothing to football. The DSA, as it says, is trying to bring together opposing sides within City Club but analyists say that several DSA officials want to settle personal scores...
What has happened: A group of dissidents within City Club around three months ago send a letter to the DSA, claiming themselves as the 'original' body of the club and called the actually official body headed by Sharafatullah as unofficial and illegal. Surprisingly the DSA reacted to the letter and asked the Sharafatullah-led body to send in needed papers, which they did but when the dissidents where asked to send in documents, they couldn't.
The City Club officials feel the real problem are the last DSA elections, when Sharafatullah stod as presidential candidate but lost, still the bad atmosphere between the rival camps remain.
The question remains and will be asked at the DSA's AGM on Sunday from the official City CLub body, how the DSA can get involved with the internal problems of a club.
Just shifting to Calcutta, has the IFA ever got involved in the Mohun Bagan court case, mentioned in Note-1 today???

22. May
1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group B: Meghalaya 2-4 Sikkim - Goals: 0-1 Suman Dewan (10'), 0-2 Kamal Bagdas (65'), 0-3 Milan Lepcha (67'), 1-3,2-3 Kalain P Syiemhra (75',77'), 2-4 KC Dadul (90+').
1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group B: Nagaland 2-0 SAI Blue, Imphal - Goals: 1-0 Bendang Ao (66'), 2-0 Imliyangar (89').
under-19 National League - Group A: Salgaocar SC 3-1 Churchill Brother SC - Goals: 0-1 Minguel Peixoto (14'), 1-1,3-1 Melvish D'Costa (34',85'), 2-1 Rajesh Patil (68').
under-19 National League - Group B: East Bengal Club 3-0 Indian Bank - Goals: 1-0 Kartik Kisku (42'), 2-0 Surajit Bose (76'), 3-0 Bipul Hansda (81').
under-19 National League - Group B: Tollygunge Agragami 0-1 JCT Mills - Goals: 0-1 Mandeep Kumar (22').

Note-1: The info that the postponed 25th Federation Cup would be held from July 25 to August 8 in Calcutta had been released, now more infos are coming out. In this edition of the Federation Cup India's best 16 teams would take part, last seasons 12 National League teams plus the top four 2.Division National League teams.

21. May
In the latest FIFA world rankings INDIA remain ranked as the No. 126 team in the world, while in Asia they are 22. With no national team action until the autumn, India's ranking depend on what the teams around us do in their matches...

1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group A: Manipur 1-0 SAI Red, Guwahati - Goals: 1-0 Sanaton Singh (30').
1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group A: Tripura 5-0 Arunachal Pradesh - Goals: 1-0 Litan Mia (2'), 2-0,3-0 Sandip Das (17',36'), Raju Lama (60'), 5-0 Kiran Chetri (89').
under-19 National League - Group A: Dempo SC 0-0 Mahindra United - Goals: none.

Note-1: In the past the AIFF used to organise the Nehru Gold Cup, now there are plans from the AIFF to organise a "Nehru Football Series" in October against foreign teams to give much needed exposure to the Indian senior team against of the first Afro-Asian Games in late-October/early-November 2003. The AIFF is planning a series of upto 12 matches to be played in Calcutta, Goa and Kochi each year.
Further the AIFF is working on plans of sending the senior national team to Iran, Japan and South Korea to prepare the side for the 2006 World Cup qualifiers starting sometime in 2004.
If these plans all become reality, a big step forward for the national team!!!

Note-2: The West Bengal sports minister, Subhas Chakroborty, has asked the state PWD minister, Amar Chaudhuri, to construct concrete galleries, with a capacity of 7,000 each for East Bengal and Mohun Bagan and 4,000 for Mohammedan Sporting before the football season starts at the Maidan, with the date for completion of construction set for June 15.

Note-3: The Karnataka State Football Association secretary Mohan Raj informed the DECCAN HERALD in Bangalore that the KSFA is planning to conduct camps in its 11 affiliated units soon, in a move to promote football in the districts.
"We will be conducting camps in the age groups, under-14, under-16 and under-19 to promote football in the districts," he said. The KSFA secretary added that coaches will be sent from Bangalore to train the players. At the end of the camps, an inter-district tournament will also be held. "We do not want to just have camps. A tournament is also being planned as we want interest to be sustained." This is the first time in the state such an event has been planned said Mohan Raj.

20. May
1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group B: Sikkim 2-2 Nagaland - Goals: 0-1 Imliyangar (22'), 0-2 Vizakie (30'), 1-2,2-2 Sushil Karthik (40',63').
1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group B: Mizoram 2-5 Meghalaya - Goals: 0-1 Peddy Perry (16'), 1-1 Lalvullaiya (24'), 1-2 Ailad Kharnggap Ngapkyta, 2-2 Lalzamania (71'), 2-3,2-4,2-5 Edmund Kharkongor (74',76',87').
under-19 National League - Group A: Salgaocar SC 3-0 Vasco SC - Goals: 1-0 Rajesh Patil (34'), 2-0,3-0 Lector Caido (36',48').
under-19 National League - Group B: East Bengal Club 0-0 Tollygunge Agragami - Goals: none.
under-19 National League - Group B: JCT Mills 0-0 Indian Bank - Goals: none.

Note-1: Might David Beckham be coming to India soon on a promotional tour???
As has been reported in the media, Beckham will be coming to southeast Asia on a promotional tour for his sponsors, with Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Japan as destinations. But with the SARS outbreak, Beckham might skip certain countries and that would be India's chance!
The AIFFs marketing agents Strata are working on getting Beckham to India and the SARS outbreak is a chance to get sponsors to maybe look at India as an Asian alternative, if southeast Asia remains a problem.

Note-2: Subrata Bhattacharya, unceremoniously fired by Mohun Bagan, has now been appointed the Tollygunge Agragami coach for the 2003/04 season. For Subrata the Tollygunge job will not be as glamorous as that of Mohun Bagan and he will also not have the finances to built a strong team at his disposal but now he will rather be able to work with a team with talented youngsters and a club, which doesn't boast of having such a large budget.
Subrata had also received an offer from top Bangladeshi club Mukti Joddha Sansad to coach their team but he decided to stay in Calcutta.

Note-3: The INDIAN U18 selection trials for the Milk Cup, Northern Ireland in July started today at the CRC Ground, Chinchinim in Goa. Chief coach Stephen Constantine, who is coaching the junior boys for the Milk Cup, will have 72 boys from across India to choose from for the Northern Ireland tournament.

19. May
12.Datta Ray Trophy - Final: West Bengal 2-1 Services - Goals: 1-0 Ashim Biswas (49'), 2-0 Sanjib Mishra (57'), 2-1 Vijay Thapa (85').
Bengal win their 4th under-21 Nationals title!!!

1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group A: Assam 8-0 Arunachal Pradesh - Goals: 1-0,2-0,3-0,6-0,7-0,8-0 Sanjiva Rongpi (11',35',40',59',86',90+'), 4-0 Utpal Basumatary (43'), 5-0 Sanjay Brahma (53').
1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group A: Manipur 4-0 Tripura - Goals: 1-0 M Napoleon Singh (9'), 2-0,4-0 N Helen Singh (19',79'), 3-0 Neelkumar Singh (36').

Note-1: The second edition of the under-19 National League kicks-off tomorrow simultaniously in Goa and Calcutta with the group stages. The semifinals and final will be held in Goa, with the final slated for June 2.
The Group A, being played in Goa, has Salgaocar, Vasco, Churchill Bros, Dempo and Mahindra Utd; while Group B in Calcutta has defending champions East Bengal, Tollygunge, JCT Mills and Indian Bank.
Three NFL teams, Mohun Bagan, HAL and ITI are not taking part, who will have to pay a fine of Rs 100,000.
The AIFF should be applauded to have started a U19 NFL but the way it is now being organised after the season has actually ended and with certain clubs not having under-19 teams, so getting players on loan to play for the club in just the NFL, is not the way. But the blame is not only on the AIFF but also the state associations, who need to get the grass roots sorted and so state or in major city local under-19 and under-16 leagues need to be started.

18. May
1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group B: Mizoram 1-1 SAI Blue, Imphal - Goals: 0-1 Vikuzo (57'), 1-1 Lalsusllwao (65').
1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group B: Nagaland - Meghalaya - match postponed by a day as Meghalaya failed to turn-up.

Note-1: The much-delayed 11th Women's National football championship will be held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu from June 8 to 24. Holders Manipur and runner-up Orissa plus 16 other states in West Bengal, Bihar, Tripura, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Assam, Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, Kerala, Chandigarh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have confirmed their participation.

Note-2: Jamshedpur will be the host for a new international under-19 tournament, the JRD Tata International (U19) football tournament from September 12 to 20. The tournament will be a five team event with Iran, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh confirming besides the host India. India will be fielding two teams, India U19 and India U18 in the tournament. Another team might be added to the tournament.

17. May
1.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group A: Assam 1-1 SAI Red, Guwahati - Goals: 0-1 Dhananjoy Boro (53'), 1-1 David Gayari (71').
12.Datta Ray Trophy - Semifinal: Maharashtra 0-1 Services - Goal: 0-1 MG Ramchandran (83').

Note-1: In an interesting development, Tollygunge Agragami have approached former Mohun Bagan coach Subrata Bhattacharya to coach their team for the coming season. Subrata has asked for a few days to decide on the offer. Tollygunge's search for a new coach started, after it became clear that their last seasons coach Aloke Mukherjee would switch over to Mohun Bagan. If Subrata rejects the offer, then the club would talk with other coaches, like former Tollygunge coach Chandu Roy Chowdhury or Krishnendu Roy.

Note-2: East Bengal Club who had a remarkable last season and who have been able to organise the club in a professional way, may once again do a first for India. East Bengal have decided to hire a physical trainer. The club have been in touch with Kevin Johnson of Bloemfontein and he has agreed to serve East Bengal in the coming months.
Johnson is currently in Spain leading as trainer of a South African squad in an athletic meet there.
He is expected here by the end of this month following approval of East Bengal coach Subash Bhowmick to hire a trainer from overseas.

16. May
12.Datta Ray Trophy - Semifinal: Uttar Pradesh 1-1,0-1 West Bengal [golden Goal] - Goals: 0-1 Palash Karmakar (4'), 1-1 Nitin Singh Bisht (60'), 1-2 Ashim Biswas (95').

Note-1: Aloke Mukherjee has been appointed as the new Mohun Bagan coach for the 2003/04 season. At Bagan's executive committee meeting of top club officials, it was also decided to appoint Uzbek Igor Shkvyrin as new technical director but as he is currently coaching Russian club Krylia Sovetou, he will only be able join the club from November 1, ahead of the National League. Veteran PK Banerjee has been asked to take charge as technical director at Bagan until Igor joins Bagan but he is undecided yet, and it comes just days after he was appointed technical director of the Mohun Bagan-SAIL Academy. Former India goalkeeping coach Atanu Bhattacharjee has been given the goalkeeping coach job.
The naming of Aloke Mukherjee as Bagan coach, ended the weeks of speculations, after Subrata Bhattacharya had been sacked before the end of the National League. A lot of names had been making the rounds as possible Bagan coaches with Bagan also taking with numerous coaches around India, starting with Calcutta options, Syed Nayeemuddin, Prasanta Banerjee, current Md. Sporting coach Mohammed Habib or national options former Bagan coach TK Chatunni, Vasco coach Derrick Pereira, Indian Bank coach VP Sathyan, JCT coach Sukhwinder Singh or even international options in a German coach, former Bagan players Kenyan Samuel Omollo, Uzbek Igor Shkvyrin, who has been signed as technical director; and former India coach Uzbek Rustam Akramov.
Aloke Mukherjee joins Bagan from Calcutta rivals Tollygunge Agragami, where he has been doing good work with a young and talented team, with some of the players moving with the coach to Bagan, the trio of Ashim Biswas, Mehtab Hussain and Debkumar Sashmal.

15. May
Note-1: The INDIA under-18 national team will participate in the Milk Cup (Northern Ireland) from July 19 to 25, 2003. The 21st edition of this youth tournament will host matches in three different age groups. India will play in the "Premier Section". This section includes the youth teams of some European giants like Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Leeds United, Dynamo Kiev and south American giants River Plate and Botafogo plus the Oman U18 national team. The "Premier Section" consists of six groups of four teams each. The draw of lots was carried out at the Odyssey Arena by England shooting-star Wayne Rooney and Everton coach David Moyes. India will play in Group 1 against English side Preston North End, Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kiev, and County Antrim from Northern Ireland. The Milk Cup 2003 will be the first tournament for the Indian U-18 team, after some of the boys put up a superb performance at the AFC Under-17 Championships in September 2002 as the then India U-17 team. So a tough draw for your boys, so they can now prove themselves on a bigger international stage!
The participation of the U18 team has been made possible by INDIA chief coach Stephen Constantine, who used his excellent contacts in the UK, to get India to take part in the tournament. 72 boy will try to get into the final squad of 20 for the Milk Cup, in a 45 day training camp, which will be held in three phases. The first batch of boys will start training on May 20 in Goa, with another 20 boys joining them on May 27. The best from this lot will join the 20 boys from last years under-17 squad for the final round of selection from June 27. The final team will leave India for Northern Ireland on July 14.
The Groups:
Group 1: Preston North End, Dynamo Kiev, INDIA, County Antrim.
Group 2: Manchester United, Panathinaikos, Otago (New Zealand), County Armagh.
Group 3: Crewe Alexandra, Botafogo (Brazil), NK Factor (Slovenia), County Londonderry.
Group 4: Kilmarnock, Bayern Munich, Maccabi Haifa, County Fermanagh.
Group 5: Leeds United, River Plate (Argentina), Toulouse, County Tyrone.
Group 6: Cherry Orchard, Universidad Catolica (Chile), Oman, County Down.
As Chris and I are Bayern Munich fans, so we would have loved to have seen India be in the same group as the Bayern Munich juniors, but who knows maybe we will meet the Bayern youngsters, trained by Stefan Beckenbauer, son of the legendary Kaiser: Franz Beckenbauer; later in the tournament.

Note-2: Football Academies are coming-up in India like mushrooms. The latest now in Noida, Haryana by Ashoka Club, which will be for both boys and girls in the age group between 5 and 18 at the Cambridge School from May 20. Former international Anandi Barua will be chief coach.

14. May
12.Datta Ray Trophy - Quarterfinal-League - Group B: West Bengal - Punjab
12.Datta Ray Trophy - Quarterfinal-League - Group B: Maharashtra - Tamil Nadu

Note-1: After some action on the transfer market, they will be made official from tomorrow, as the annual inter-State transfer of players begin. The new regulations regarding the status and transfer of players, approved by the special AGM of the AIFF, which came into force last season, will be enforced with immediate effect as advised by the AIFF players status committee to state secretaries.
There are two categories of players - amateur and non-amateur (professional) - and two windows (periods) for transfers - May 15 to 31 and October 15 to 31.
Any transfer under the old system will be illegal and in violation of FIFA regulations. Transfer of players will become effective from June 1 and from any date thereafter, depending on clearance from the AIFF.
The player having taken inter-state transfer during the first window will not be allowed to seek transfer during the second window. All transfer of players on loan shall be dealt with in the same way as the inter-state transfer and the player transferred on loan cannot return to the same club or be transferred to another club during the same season. No transfer on loan will be accepted or made after February 28, 2004.

Note-2: The joint-secretary of the Goan FA executive committee, Victor Fernandes, has handed-in his resignation. Mr. Fernandes resigned as he owned moral responsibility for the "Sporting Clube de Goa's third player on-loan issue", as he had made mistakes.

13. May
12.Datta Ray Trophy - Quarterfinal-League - Group A: Uttar Pradesh 2-2 Services

Note-1: Is the Indian football system becoming a comedy serial???
Everyday new stories about wrong-doings and allegations, etc. It seems as if this off-season with no big transfers taking place and the market relatively quite, other issues are taking centre-stage, which could shatter Indian football.
First to the allegations about Brazilian Douglas da Silva's visa ending on April 20. The latest is that East Bengal coach Subhas Bhowmick gave a telephone interview to a Goan newspaper, where he said that Douglas had a visa until August 19. If this is true, then the Vasco protest with the AIFF, would be a non-starter. Bhowmick blamed the Calcutta press for starting the issue, as they wrongly reported on the issue.
But there are more questions to this issue. The AIFF president Das Munshi had said at the press conference after the executive meeting on Saturday that there was no issue of handing Vasco the title, while now the secretary Alberto Colaco says that East Bengal have until May 25 to comment on the Vasco protest. But who should have to prove what first? Have Vasco handed in evidence to support their protest, besides a newspaper article? In the current situation all sides in this story have to questioned.
Meanwhile Vasco has now threatened to take legal action against another Calcutta club, this time Mohun Bagan, if they decide to play Brazilian Marcos Pereira in the upcoming season, they may have to pay damages to Vasco. Vasco alleges that Bagan have signed Marcos against the rules and if what they say is true then Bagan looks to be in major trouble. This also does not augur well for Bagan as it is going through a financial crisis. In Goa, there has been a rule since 1997 that if a club wanted to take a player from another club, the officials will have to talk first before approaching the players. Bagan, by approaching Marcos before the vital match against East Bengal at the fag end of NFL, had broken this rule and so the question of demand for compensation. But does this Goan rule apply to the whole of Indian football? Well, we have learnt that the AIFF secretary Alberto Colaco has decided to implement this rule all over the country from this season on but the newly elected IFA secretary Subrata Dutta has not heared about any such rule. Another complex problem seems to be coming-up...

Note-2: Former international Shyam Thapa has been appointed chief coach-cum technical director of the Mohun Bagan-SAIL Football Academy with another former international Bhupinder Singh Rawat as coach, while PK Banerjee was named as chief advisor. The Academy will start to work with the boys from July 29, the day "Mohun Bagan Day" is celebrated. Initially the Academy, which will be based in Durgapur, West Bengal; will have 25 trainees but the number will grow in the coming years.

12. May
12.Datta Ray Trophy - Quarterfinal-League - Group B: West Bengal 0-1 Maharashtra
12.Datta Ray Trophy - Quarterfinal-League - Group B: Tamil Nadu 1-2 Punjab

Note-1: While in Goa it is a major issue, if East Bengal's Brazilian player Douglas da Silva had been playing for his club without a valid visa in the last couple of NFL matches, in Calcutta the clubs are working on their teams for the new season.
Vasco has now officially lodged a protest against East Bengal to the AIFF.
Sorry for an earlier mistake, as I had written that even if Vasco's protest is successful, then East Bengal would remain NFL champions but that is sadly not true. We had a mistake in the indianfootball.com's NFL league table, therefore East Bengal were nine points ahead of Vasco but in reality they are only six points ahead and if the East Bengal-Vasco match reult is turned from a 4-0 into a 0-3 (according to FIFA law), then Vasco are NFL champions on goal difference.
Thanks to Noel da Lima, who made us aware of the mistake on NFL league table!

11. May
Maybe someone can help in regard to the following request:
Hello, I am a Leeds United fan, living in England; and I am helping a student with a project regarding English football and the perception by Asians of our Leed United team... If anyone would like to answer some questions for us, please do. We do prefer the views of Asians living in the UK (as it is an Anglo-Asian viewpoint we need in the main) but would welcome a response from all football fans.
UPeNDeR. My eMail is: u-punx@supanet.com .

12.Datta Ray Trophy - Quarterfinal-League - Group A: Uttar Pradesh 1-1 Goa

Note-1: The AIFF today held an executive meeting in Varca, Goa to decide on the schedule for the 2003/04 season. After the meeting the AIFF president Das Mundhi informed the press on decisions taken at the meeting.
The postponed 2002/03 Federation Cup will be held in Calcutta from July 25 until August 8, while all state leagues are expected to be completed before September 15 and the 8th National League will kick-off on November 15.
A task force has been set up to implement of the terms of reference set by the FIFA and AFC at the conference on Indian football, held back in March in New Delhi, and the first report is expected by July 15. One of the main tasks of the Task Force will be the changes to the constitution of the AIFF and the state associations, according to the guidelines of FIFA and AFC. Members of the Task Force are PR Das Munshi (chairman); Praful Patel (vice-chairman, WIFA president); Arun Ghosh; KMI Mathur (Kerala FA President); Shivanand V Salgaocar; K Narashima, IAS (SAI Secretary); A Borchand Singh (Manipur FA secretary); Subrata Dutta (IFA Secretary); Alberto Colaco (AIFF secretary).
A four-member committee comprising CR Vishwanathan, Fortunato Franco, ND Nagendra and Satish Pillai has also been set up to prepare a long term development programme for spotting, developing and training future Indian teams from the under-14 to senior levels.
The technical committee approved the programme for training the Indian national Senior, U-20, U-19, U-18, U-17, Women's and Girls' teams.
But meanwhile on starting a 3.Division National League, the AIFF is still considering the idea and how to implement it.
The transfer periods as recommended by players' status committee has been finalised for May 15 to 31 and from October 15 to 31.
The AIFF has also declared that a new under-19 National tournament, titled 'JRD Tata National Football Championship' will get underway in September this year.
It was also decided that the AIFF will start functioning from a temporary headquarter in Delhi in six months' time before permanently shifting base to the capital.
The AIFF president said on the East Bengal player issue, "AIFF has not recieved any complaint... There is no question of giving Vasco the title." A clear statement from the AIFF president...
Meanwhile, the one-man committee of the Goan FA, Jovito Lopes, has submitted its report to the AIFF on the registering of three players on loan by Sporting Clube de Goa following an allegation by Fransa FC.
Schedule for the 2003/04 season:
JUNE: INDIA U-18 preparatory camp; C-license course
JULY: U16 zonal qualifiers and final round; Federation Cup 2002/03 in Calcutta; INDIA U-18 at Milk Cup, Northern Ireland; INDIA U19 camp; B-license course.
AUGUST: U19 zonal qualifiers and final round; Federation Cup 2002/03 in Calcutta; AFC Champions League; INDIA Girls U-19 and Boys U-16 camps; course for national referees and Cooper Test.
SEPTEMBER: Girls U19; AFC Champions League; INDIA U-19 plus U-19 II at JRD Tata Cup in Jamshedpur; INDIA Seniors camp and LG Cup; C-license course.
OCTOBER: AFC Champions League; Afro-Asian Games; INDIA Girls U-19 camp; C-license course; second transfers period from October 15-30.
NOVEMBER: Girls U16; Super Cup; 8th National League; AFC Champions League; Asia Cup; INDIA U-16 and U-19 camps; B-license referees instructors course.
DECEMBER: 8th NFL; INDIA U-16 and U-19 camps; seminar for State secretaries; AIFF AGM.
JANUARY 2004: 8th NFL; Women's Nationals, Men U21 zonal qualifiers and final round; INDIA U-16 and U-19 camps; C-license course.
FEBRUARY: 8th NFL; 2.Division National League.
MARCH: 8th NFL; 2.Division NFL.
APRIL: Federation Cup 2003/04; Santosh Trophy 2003/04.
MAY: U19 National League.

Note-2: Might the 9.SAF Games be held in the end?
As India and Pakistan have been coming closer to each other, the Pakistani Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali told reporters that the thrice-postponed and then cancelled SAF Games will be held in Pakistan. This is a turn-around after the decision had been made to hold the next SAF Games in 2005 in Sri Lanka.

10. May
12.Datta Ray Trophy - Quarterfinal-League - Group B: West Bengal 3-0 Tamil Nadu
12.Datta Ray Trophy - Quarterfinal-League - Group B: Maharashtra 1-0 Punjab

Note-1: We have reported earlier that Eas Bengal's Brazilian Douglas da Silva was not allowed to fly out of India, due to missing documents, which were prove that Douglas has stayed on in India without a valid visa. Now third-placed NFL side Vasco have lodged an official protest with the AIFF asking how a player could play against Vasco and Salgaocar, if he did not have the right to be in India. According to Vasco this is a gross violation of AIFF rules.
An East Bengal official has meanwhile said that Douglas had gotten an extension of his visa by two month's but something had gone wrong at the Airport.
The AIFF will look into the matter but in the meantime, the AIFF will get tougher with the NFL clubs on registering foreign players, with a new form, in which the teams would need to fill in details about the players and then send it to the AIFF.

Note-2: Mohun Bagan is trying to avoid any punishment it might face from the world governing body FIFA in the case of non-payment of salaries of Nigerian defender Musah Isa Eroje. Bagan has now suspended Eroje for six months on grounds of indiscipline, along with another foreign player, striker George Ekeh. The problem for Bagan is that FIFA has opened a case on the issue and has been in touch with the club on the issue.
Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra said Eroje was punished for his alleged "refusal to participate in club matches and misbehaviour," while Ekeh was charged with refusing "to present himself before the club's medical board and attend practice sessions. He also refused to play matches for us," Mitra said.
And also the third African player on the Bagan roaster last season , Yakubu, was accused of being unavailable when the club needed him.

9. May
12.Datta Ray Trophy - Quarterfinal-League - Group A: Services 1-1 Goa

Note-1: Arati Banerjee, wife of former Indian football captain and coach PK Banerjee, died just after midnight in a Calcutta nursing home. She was 58 and is survived by two daughters. She had been founding secretary of Women's Football Association of india and had been active to organise women's football in Bengal and across India. She was suffering from non-alcoholic cirrhosis of liver.
At the time of her death, Mrs. Banerjee was vice-president of the women's wing of the AIFF.

Note-2: Delhi referee Rizwan-Ul-Haq has been appointed as a referee by FIFA to officiate in the Pre-Olympic qualifier match between Palestine and Kuwait, to be held at the Prince Mohhamed International Stadium, Amman in Jordan on June 7. Another Delhi referee, Krishan Avtar, had earlier supervised a pre-Olympic qualifying match between Tajikistan and the UAE in Tajikistan on April 26.

Note-3: Siliguri in north Bengal is soon going to have a Football Academy. The Siliguri Municipal Corporation has set aside Rs 200.000 in it's 2003/04 budget for the construction of the Academy. The SMC mayor Bikash Ghosh, who claimed that the academy would be the first of its kind in north Bengal, said it would be functional from June 2003. Outlining the objective of the academy, he said: "Our aim is to revive public interest in football in this region and to ensure greater participation."
So all the best for the project!!!

8. May
Here the latest transfers news:
NFL champions East Bengal Club have been able to sign the prize catch of Mahesh Gawli from Churchill Brothers SC. Gawli was also sought after by city rivals Mohun Bagan and other clubs from across the country. Now East Bengal have the India back three together in their team, with Deepak Mondal already at the club, with Mahesh Gawli and Debjit Ghosh joining from Mahindra.
Mohammedan Sporting still without a sponsor, who fear to loose some of their star players, have been able to resign Dipendu Biswas for the new season. Talented youngster Syed Rahim Nabi still hasn't resigned for them with offers from many top teams from across India.
Another youngster who is being hunted by many clubs is Tollygunge youngster Ashim Biswas. Rumours say, he might not shift to one of the bigger clubs in Calcutta but might shift to Goa...

Note-1: Yesterday we had reported that one of the favourite clubs in Singapore to sign Baichung denied any talks. Now today Baichung at a promotional event for his personal sponsor Kingfisher at the CCFC in Calcutta he said, he still could go to Singapore and that on his own "terms and condition". But it became evident that Baichung is in touch with an agent in the UK, who is trying to organise trials for him in Europe and those trials might be as early as this month, as Baichung is also keeping his Indian option open, as he would need an Inter-State Transfer, if he leaves Mohun Bagan and Calcutta. Baichung has been linked in India with Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and JCT. But East Bengal might be out of the race to sign Bhutia as the East Bengal manager Majumdar had said that he wasn't upto the mark for the champion club of India.
So lets see what happens in the coming days...

Note-2: Promoted Mohammedan Sporting Club on Sunday last had held it's first annual general meeting in nearly 20 years and the mood among club members was positive as the club finally reached the Premier Division of the National League. And now the club management has the tough work to rebuild the squad for the new season. The club was able to retain coach Mohammed Habeeb, who had an offer from rivals Mohun Bagan. But the club desperately needs a sponsor, so that it can form a competitive team for the coming season, with expectations already high among the members and fans. But the club's management has stated that the club would not allow a liquor company to be worn by it's players, making the search even more difficult. One has to be aware that Mohammedan Sporting Club has a muslim background.

7. May
Note-1: According to news from Singapore, the club Baichung Bhutia is supposedly talking to, Woodlands Wellington, currently second in the S-League, have denied having held any talks with Baichung lately. So he might be in touch with some other club in Singapore or it is a bluff from Woodlands.

Note-2: The Assam Football Association will set it's "Vision 2005", aiming at having a formidible football team at the 2005 National Games hosted by Assam, in motion by having Indian national coach Stephen Constantine training 25 to 30 under-19 youngsters from across Assam. The camp will be of a 21-day duration, with Constantine likely to be present for seven to ten days, to get the things started with three to five coaches from the state being their as his understudy. The AIFF agreed to the plan as Constantine wouldn't be needed for national duty.

Note-3: The Assam Sports Journalists' Association today felicitated Assamese sportspersons for their outstanding contribution and performance in their respective fields. Indian under-20 international Birjab Mushahary, who plays for Oil India, Duliajan in Assam received the Dr S Dasgupta Award for the Best Footballer of Assam, while referee Babul Barmiz, who had passed away a few month's ago, bagged the Manoj Patra Award for the Best Referee of Assam.

6. May
The 2002/03 season is now over with the end of the National League, so now ahead of the Inter-State Transfers from May 15-31, the clubs are trying to strengthen their teams for the upcoming season.
Especially in Calcutta a lot of rumours are making rounds, with East Bengal winning the NFL title, Mohammedan Sporting at long last making their entry into the NFL, while Mohun Bagan want to forget their dismal season.
East Bengal coach stated that he would like to retain most his team from last season and the club is hoping to get a budget hike from sponsors UB Group, from the Rs. 16,5 million. Already prolific Nigerian striker Mike Okoro has left for his adopted home country Poland, while youngster Amjad Ali Khan is said to have joined Mohammedan Sporting. Retained have been Brazilian Douglas da Silva, Ghanian Suley Musah, Malswam Tulunga, Surya Bikash Chakraborty and Shankarlal Chakraborty, while further players should resign soon. The club is supposed to have signed India defender Debjit Ghosh from Mahindra and Bijen Singh is said to return after a season with Dempo.
Mohun Bagan meanwhile are said to have recruited JCT trio of Harpreet Singh, Balkar Singh and Hardip Singh Gill, plus Manitombi Singh from Salgaocar and Vasco's Brazilian striker Marcos Pereira but Bagan are said to have failed to sign wanted Salgaocar midfielders Tomba Singh and Dharamjit Singh. Bagan have retained Renedy Singh, who had offers from JCT and Goan clubs.
JCT have retained Jo Paul Ancheri and IM Vijayan. Ancheri was sought after by East Bengal and Mohun Bagan but only by himself without long-time friend IM Vijayan, which Ancheri didn't want to do. JCT are trying to strengthen their team with top Indian players but so far none seem too interested.
Mahindra are trying to keep their star players. Already Debjit Ghosh has signed for East Bengal, Khalid Jamil is being sought after by East Bengal and JCT, while striker also has some offers from across India.
Salgaocar have signed goalkeeper Rajat Ghosh Dastidar from Mohun Bagan.
More transfer news in the coming days...

Note-1: The postponed Asian Women's Championships will now be held from June 8 to 21 in Thailand. The tournament had to be postponed due to the outbreak of SARS. India have been drawn in tough Group C along with favourites China, Vietnam and Uzbekistan.
The Indian women's team is currently undergoing training at the Saltlake Stadium complex, Calcutta under the head coach M Ratan Singh from Manipur and his assistant Mary Victoria from Bangalore. 25 probables are fighting for the 20 places in the squad for Thailand. 12 of the women are players from Manipur, while three each are from Bengal, Orissa, Goa and Punjab, while one from Tamil Nadu.

Note-2: The IFA has released it's calendar for the coming season. The Calcutta Super Division will start on June 15, while the first division gets underway earlier on June 3. The IFA Shield will be held early this season, from July 1 to 15, which would clash with East Bengal's ASEAN Club Championships commitments. So a change in dates or East Bengal not taking part could happen...

5. May
Note-1: An one-man inquiry commission, Jovito Lopes, has been called by the Goan FA to look into the "loan issue" surrounding just promoted National League side Sporting Clube de Goa, who against the rules had supposedly signed three players on loan from other Goan clubs against the rule, which states on two players from the clubs home state could be signed during the season. The GFA has asked for another seven days to submit the report to the AIFF, against the prior date of May 3 set by the AIFF. The whole inquiry was necessary as Fransa FC president Francisco Pacheco had made allegations against Sporting Clube to have broken the "on loan" rule.

Note-2: The GFA Football Academy was inaugurated today, three years after the idea of such an academy was put forward by then Governor of Goa, Lt Gen (retd) JFR Jabob. The Academy which is not a residential one, has been set-up along the lines of a British Football Academy. The academy was inaugurated by the AIFF secretary Alberto Colaco, who said that the Academy was part of the AIFF's "Project 2010" to qualify for the World Cup 2010. The Academy will have two coaches in Augustine Dias and Inacio Viegas, with technical help coming from India coach Stephen Constantine, whenever he can help.

Note-3: The inaugural Talimeren Ao football tournament for the Northeast, sponsored by the department for Development of North Eastern Region, has been put off by a day.
The tournament, organised in memory of independent India's first Olympic football captain, will get under way in Guwahati from May 17 instead of May 16 and continue till May 30. The total budget of the tournament is over Rs 1,8 million.
Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi will be the chief guest at the opening ceremony, while Union minister minister CP Thakur, who is in charge of DONER, will attend the closing function.
All 24 matches in the league-cum-knockout tournament will be played at the Nehru Stadium, Guwahati. However, the NF Railway Stadium, Maligaon will be kept ready for emergency purposes, while the Assam Engineering Institute ground at Chandmari and SAI's New Field will be used for practice.
Ten teams - one each from the seven states in the Northeast, Sikkim and two SAI teams - will participate in the tournament.

Note-4: The Sun City of Jodhpur in Rajasthan, which has a long tradition of producing fine football players, will soon have a football academy according to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Gehlot said the academy, the first in the State, would be established at a cost of Rs 8,5 million in Jodhpur in view of the huge interest and enthusiasm among the people in the sport. A good move by the Rajasthan government to invest in football talents!

4. May
Subrata Dutta (42) has been unanimously selected as the new IFA (Bengal body) secretary!
Dutta, who for the last two years held the post of IFA treasurer, replaces Ranjit Gupta and KD Pal, who laid down office after completing their four-year term. Dutta now will serve for a five year term. Dutta's election became a foregone conclusion after an overwhelming majority of governing body members supported his candidature and he had no opponent.

3. May
Note-1: East Bengal's Douglas da Silva on Friday was not able to leave Calcutta for his home country Brazil. Douglas was missing the necessary documents that he should have submitted to immigration authorities, so he wasn't allowed to board the aircraft and will now have to return on Monday with the documents. The Airport authorities said his visa was for only 180 days and he had stayed in the country without extending it from the Foreigners' Registration Office.

Note-2: Turkmenistan's under-23 team, which had beaten India in Round 1, did not turn-up for it's Round 2 away match in the Pre-Olympic qualifier in Malayasia due to fear of SARS. And now Malaysia take a 3-0 victory to their return match in Turkmenistan.

2. May
Note-1: Relegated Goan professional league club St Anthony's Club have withdrawn their team from the coming seasons First Division League. Club president Arun Sansguiri informed the press that once the Pro League 2002 started their sponsors Fransa Group of Companies - owned by Sports Minister, Francisco "Mickky" Pacheco - decided to withdraw support after reimbursing their players' salary for the first two months. "And, ultimatelty the club had to spend whatever little it had to compensate for the players' salary for the rest of the Pro-League until we went bankrupt," Sanguiri added. "With no funds and sponsor to sustain the club's activities for the ensuing season the club's organising committee decided to pull out of next season's First Division League," Sansguiri added. Sansguiri further said: "We await the GFA's response. But for the time being the club's committee has decided to field an age-group team in the U-15 category to promote youngsters rather than aim for Professional League qualification."

Note-2: From May 7 India will for the first time host an Asian Football Confederation A-licence course. The Calcutta centre of the National Institute of Sports is to hold the month-long event and would have 24 aspirants for the highest coachung degree in Asia. Each day's work schedule would span more than eight hours, split into theory and practice. Five persons would be send by the AFC and FIFA as supervisors - instructors, coaches and observers.

Note-3: The Guwahati Sports Association inter-club transfers for will be held from May 15 to May 18, while the last date for signature withdrawal is May 19.
Also the format for the GSA Super Division League will be changed in the coming season. The format will be changed into the format already in use by the Calcutta Super Division. In the first leg all teams play each other, then in the second-leg the top four play for the champions, whil the bottom four decide, which teams get relegated.
But the number of teams taking part in the league isn't clear at the moment, as champions Guwahati Town Club have pulled out and if it remains so, then the league will be held with seven instead of eight teams.

Note-4: The Delhi Soccer Association will hold its annual inter-club transfers of players from May 15 to 21.

1. May
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Note-1: The big question in the transfer market at the moment is: Where is Indian football superstar Baichung Bhutia going to play in the coming season?
As it looks at the moment, Baichung is looking at foreign options first and if things don't work out, he might look at Indian clubs.
At the moment Baichung is in talks with a top club from Singapore, not having disclosed the name of the club and he sees it very likely that he will get a contract until the end of the S-League (Singapore League) season in October, and then in the second transfer period in India in November sign for an Indian club for the National League. Baichung has also supposedly been approached by clubs from Vietnam and the UAE, while himself Baichung still hopes to maybe get a chance to play in England again.
Indian clubs are also interested, though all seem to say, Baichung would have to settle for a lower salary than what he got this season at Mohun Bagan. But after their early reluctance Bagan along with city rivals East Bengal seem to be front-runners, if Baichung stays in India. Also Mohammedan Sporting and his former club JCT have thrown their hat into the ring, while rumours say even the Goan clubs plus Mahindra might approach Baichung.

Note-2: At the Hero Indian Sports Awards last night in Delhi, the Indian football team was beaten to the team of the year trophy by the Women's Hockey team, due to their performance in the Commonwealth Games.
The Footballer of the year award went to Baichung Bhutia, who had been clubbed in the category along with IM Vijayan, Tomba Singh and Bungo Singh.

Note-3: Vasco's Brazilian goalkeeper Rogerio Ramos gave a very interesting interview to Dharmender Jore of the Indian Express. Here it comes:
WHAT exactly is the nemesis of Indian footballers? The answer comes from an unexpected quarter - a Brazilian who has had a strong association with the country's National League for last three seasons.
"Indian footballers are dumb and fear the establishment most," observed Rogerio Ramos, the mercurial goalkeeper of Vasco Sports Club. The 29-year-old will not turn up for the Goan club next season but India remains on his radar screen and football is still the calling. He's all set to take on the job of India's goalkeeping coach following a brief stint with under-23 and Senior National squads a couple of months ago.
Ramos played his last match for the Goan club against Mahindra United here at the Cooperage on Monday. And expectedly showed flashes of brilliance in a 2-1 victory that placed Vasco in the finals standing of the National Football League.
"I don't understand why the footballers here do not speak their minds. They do not open up even when they are in deep trouble," said a miffed footballer from the Brazilian town of Rio Grace Do Sul (big river of south).
He suggested the Indian players - especially the pros must stand up to the establishment and be heard so that they get better facilities and in turn improve their game.
"Forget speaking with the management, the players here do talk to each other as well. Have you seen the European footballers? They interact so much... that improves your understanding of each other."
Ramos blames this commuincation breakdown on the Indian system of governance - right from the schools to the club managements. "The schools bar children from open discussions, so does other places."
Ramos points out yet another discrepancy that nags Indian soccer - poor quality of refereeing. "The referees are of lowest quality. And if a player like me wish to appeal on the field, they are not allowed to speak up. These officials drive us away. How do you expect us to respect them if they don't have respect for us?"
Soccer is a passion for every Brazilian and Ramos is no exception. He's flying out to Brazil tomorrow night and will be back in India within a couple of months to train custodians in various age groups. "I'm planning to spend some time with my wife and also supervise the construction of my home."
The All India Football Federation had specially roped in the Brazilian for the National teams' preparatory camps in Goa following coach Stephen Constantine's recommendations. He is expected to sign the contract with AIFF after his return from Brazil.