31. October
AFRO-ASIAN GAMES - Football Tournament - Hyderabad - Final: INDIA 0-1 Uzbekistan - Goal: 0-1 Islom Inomov (90+').
The Indian teams dream of giving IM Vijayan a well-deserved golden farewell came to a crashing end in the second-half injury time in their match against Uzbekistan, when a long-ranger from Uzbek Islom Inomov sealed the fate of the Afro-Asian Games football final at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium.
But the match could have gone the other way as India scored an irregular goal according to the Chinese referee Lu Jun in the opening minutes. A Selwyn Fernandes throw-in from near the touchline went into the Uzbek goal with no deflections but the Indians protested as they said Jo Paul Ancheri touched the bal with his head. But the goal wasn't given. India thereafter had a tough day upfront as Baichung Bhutia and IM Vijayan were well-marked by the tall Uzbek defenders and the crosses from Renedy Singh and Tomba Singh went often in vain. But still India had good chances which it couldn't utilise today. And then came the end with no time to react for the Indians.
INDIA: Sangram Mukherjee, Mahesh Gawli, Selwyn Fernandes, Satish Kumar Bharti (Arun Malhotra), Tomba Singh, Jo Paul Ancheri (Shanmugam Venkatesh), Jatin Singh Bisht, Renedy Singh, Climax Lawrence, Baichung Bhutia, IM Vijayan (Ashim Biswas).
UZBEKISTAN: Ignatiy Nesterov, Yaroslav Krushilnitskiy, Islom Inomov, Sherzod Jalolov, Ilkom Suyunov, Muzaffar Kholiqov, Shavkat Raimqulov, Rustam Qodirov, Jasur Hasanov (Shavkat Salomov), Mansur Saidov, Alexandr Geynrikh.
Referee: Lu Jun (China)

AFRO-ASIAN GAMES - Football Tournament - Hyderabad - 3rd Place Playoff: Zimbabwe 2-2,5-3 Rwanda (on penalties) - Goals: 0-1 Milly Hassan (7'), 1-1 Vusumuzi Nyoni (65'), 1-2 Jimmy Iraguha (75'), 2-2 Albert Mbano (90').

Note-1: INDIA didn't win the gold medal tonight but Stephen Constantine's men were awarded the Afro-Asian Games 2003 football FAIR PLAY AWARD.

116th Durand Cup - Qualifiers Semifinal: Jammu&Kashmir Bank 2-1 Tarun Sangha - Goals: 0-1 Prabir Roy (11'), 1-1 Rizwan Sheikh (15'), 2-1 Deepak Sangral (57').
15th Kohima Royal Gold Cup - Round 1: Mon District FA 3-2 United Sikkim Sporting Club - Goals: 1-0 Yeanghe (25'), 2-0 Nahpoh (32'), 2-1 Pempa Tsering Bhutia (39'), 3-1 Khongjah, 3-2 Gyatso Lepcha.

30. October
The celebrations of beating Zimbabwe in the semifinals haven't died down, then already the final of the inaugural Afro-Asian Games comes-up.
Tomorrow India gets the chance to win a continental title after the gap of 41 long years. The last title had been the 1962 Asian Games gold medal in Jakarta, Indonesia but the match has also another more emotional aspect. It will be IM Vijayan's last international match for India and he himself and all his teammates want him to finish on a high. Something very deserving for Vijayan, a key member of the Indian team for years and also as he was fundamental in taking the team to the finals with his four goals.
Also in a somewhat unique gesture captain Baichung Bhutia has offered to hand over his captaincy in tomorrow's Afro-Asian Games final against Uzbekistan to IM Vijayan but he declined.
"It was a great gesture, no one else will do that. But things are going smoothly now and I don't want to disturb it now," Vijayan said. National coach Stephen Constantine said he knew of the move but he too did not want to force anything on Vijayan.
That is the way Vijubhai is known to his teammates and friends, he has always remained humble throughout his career...
So INDIA do your best and get the title!!!

116th Durand Cup - Qualifiers Semifinal: Assam Rifles 0-1 Tarun Sangha - Goal: 0-1 Haradhan Kora (15').
15th Kohima Royal Gold Cup - Round 1: Nagaland Police 2-0 Kurseong United SC, Darjeeling - Goals: 1-0 Alfred (80'), 2-0 Renthango.

Note-1: As reported a few days ago it still is unclear if Mohun Bagan can take part in the Durand Cup or not. Now the goalkeeper's position has become a major problem as regular keeper Prasanta Dora is away on an official commitment, Imran Khan injured and Arindam Ghosh down with jaundice, leaving Bagan with only Assamese rookie Bilifang Narzary. Narzary will have to play the Super Division final on Sunday but what happens with Bagan's participation in the Durand Cup will only be decided when coach Aloke Mukherjee gets back from the Indian team.

29. October
AFRO-ASIAN GAMES - Football Tournament - Hyderabad - Semifinal: INDIA 5-3 Zimbabwe - Goals: 0-1 Albert Mbano (4'), 1-1,2-1 IM Vijayan (25',33'), 3-1,5-2 Baichung Bhutia (40',83'), 4-1 Renedy Singh (58'), 4-2 Regis Marere (81'), 5-3 Simon Chipunza (87').
INDIA have made it to the football final of the inaugural Afro-Asian Games!!!
And what a match it was - an eight goal thriller between India and African-side Zimbabwe, double strikes by the star duo of IM Vijayan and Baichung Bhutia plus a great long-range effort by Renedy Singh and a red card for Zimbabwe's Mantora Asani.
Zimbabwe took an early lead in the 4.minute when Albert Mbano scored of a rebound. But India fought back scoring three goals before the interval. First IM Vijayan equalised in the 25.minute through a right-footer after being fed by Jatin Singh Bisht and then Vijayan shot India into the lead scoring of a Tomba Singh freekick eight minutes later. And then captain Baichung Bhutia finally scored his first goal of the tournament in the 40.minute beating two defenders. 10 minutes after the breather Zimbabwe's Mantora Asani was given a red card for an infringement on Bhutia and only three minutes later midfielder Renedy Singh scored a magnificant goal a long-range right-footed effort, something special as Renedy is a left-footed player. Thereafter Zimbabwe tried hard to get back into the match and the efforts paid-off as in the 81.minute Regis Marere scored of a penalty after Satish Kumar Bharti had handled the ball but the joy was shortlived as India then received a penalty the very next minute, when Baichung Bhutia was fouled by Peter Moyo and Bhutia scored his second. Still the match wasn't over as Simon Chipunza once more reduced the margin for the African three minutes from close with a header, as India won 5-3 in the end.
So India beat a FIFA top 50 ranked country and the second African country in the tournament to reach the finals on Friday. There the Indians will face the talented young Uzbeks, who beat Rwanda through a golden Goal.
After the match a more than happy Stephen Constantine told indianfootball.com, "A truely fantastic result, incredible, for once i'm lost for words! Really a great result for India and as you can imagine I am absolutely delighted for the players, the FA and for everyone connected with India football."
Correct we are all proud of Indian football tonight!!!
INDIA: Sangram Mukherjee, Mahesh Gawli, Muttath Suresh (Selwyn Fernandes), Satish Kumar Bharti, Tomba Singh, Jo Paul Ancheri, Jatin Singh Bisht, Renedy Singh, Climax Lawrence (Shanmugam Venkatesh), Baichung Bhutia, IM Vijayan (Abhishek Yadav).

AFRO-ASIAN GAMES - Football Tournament - Hyderabad - Semifinal: Uzbekistan 2-1 Rwanda (golden Goal) - Goals: 1-0 Mansurjon Saidov (63'), 1-1 Jimmy Mulisa (73'), 2-1 Konstantin Boev (102').

116th Durand Cup - Qualifiers Semifinal: Jammu&Kashmir Bank 2-1 Indian Air Force, Delhi - Goals: 1-0,2-1 Deepak Sangral (13',62'), 1-1 Kalyan Pal (24').
15th Kohima Royal Gold Cup - Round 1: Mokokchung District FA 1-0 SAI, Dimapur

Note-1: 2002 World Cup assistant referee Komaleeswaran Shankar is set to officiate the Calcutta Super Division playoff final between archrivals East Bengal Club and Mohun Bagan AC on Sunday, November 2 at the Saltlake Stadium. That is what the organising IFA has planned, even though protest has come from the Calcutta referees but the IFA understands what importance the match has.

28. October
116th Durand Cup - Qualifiers Round 2: Jammu&Kashmir Bank 2-1 Assam Regimental Centre - Goals: 1-0 Inkhilab Alam (37'), 2-0 Deepak Sangral, 2-1 K Linen Kom.
116th Durand Cup - Qualifiers Round 2: ASC, Bangalore 0-2 Assam Rifles - Goals: 0-1 Ajit Singh, 0-2 H Changloi.

Note-1: Robin Dutt, a coach of Indian origin here in Germany, has been appointed as the new head coach of German Regionalliga Sued (3.Division south) club Stuttgarter Kickers. The former Bundesliga club lost by a goal over the weekend against SV 07 Elversberg and were down to 15th in the league, which at the end of the season would mean relegation to the fourth division, so therefore fired coach Rainer Adrion. Dutt earlier was Adrion's assistant and head coach of Stuttgarter Kickers II (reserve team) who play in the fourth division. Dutt has been at the club since July 2002, having done good work with the reserve team, therefore his promotion was a logical step, when the first team needed a new coach.
All the best and success to Robin Dutt for his new job!!!

27. October
AFRO-ASIAN GAMES - Football Tournament - Hyderabad - Group B: Zimbabwe 1-1 Uzbekistan - Goals: 1-0 Leonard Tsida (10'), 1-1 Imhojon Suyunov (50').

AFRO-ASIAN GAMES - Football Tournament - Hyderabad - Group B: Iran 1-2 Burkina Faso - Goals: 0-1 Abdul Moctar Diallo (45+'), 0-2 Germain Bationo (50'), 1-2 Hassan Ashjari (81').

116th Durand Cup - Qualifiers Round 1: Shahdara Club 0-1 ASC, Bangalore - Goal: 0-1 Ramachandran (31').
116th Durand Cup - Qualifiers Round 1: Assam Rifles 3-0 Indian Navy - Goals: 1-0 Ajit Singh (10'), 2-0 Abel Sema (40'), 3-0 Akum Ao (82').

Note-1: The 52nd Bordoloi Trophy dates have been finalised. Assam's most important club tournament will be held between November 19 and December 3, 2003. From the quarterfinals onwards the matches would be played under floodlights.
Five out teams - Fransa FC, Goa; EverReady Association, Calcutta; SAIL, Calcutta; Hyderabad XI and a team from Jamshedpur (Tata Football Academy or Jamshedpur Sports Association) have confirmed their participation.

26. October
AFRO-ASIAN GAMES - Football Tournament - Hyderabad - Group A: Malaysia 1-2 Rwanda - Goals: 1-0 Mohd Amri Yahaya (28'), 1-1,1-2 Jimmy Iraguha (81',87').

5th Goa Governor's Cup - Final: Churchill Brothers SC 1-1,4-1 Sporting Clube de Goa (on penalties) - Goals: 1-0 Nitin Pradhan (55'), 1-1 MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi (60').
48th Sohanlal Dugar Shield - Final: Nagaland Police 1-1,5-4 Assam Police, Dergaon (on penalties) - Goals: 0-1 Ratul Bora (48'), 1-1 Alfredo (79').

116th Durand Cup - Qualifiers Round 1: Jammu&Kashmir Bank 5-0 Indian Nationals FC - Goals: 1-0 Dupale Singhal (55'), 2-0 Manzoor Zou (65'), 3-0 Inthikab Alam (70'), 4-0 Rizwan Sheikh (72'), 5-0 Ayar Bin Abhak (75').
116th Durand Cup - Qualifiers Round 1: Assam Regimental Centre 2-1 Simla Youngs

25. October
President of Maldives Invitational Soccer Cup - Male,Maldives - Final: Mahindra United 3-1 Club Valencia (Maldives) - Goals: 0-1 Anwar Abdul Ghanee (8'), 1-1 Raphael Patron Akakpo (11'), 2-1 Syed Altafuddin Ahmed (32'), 3-1 Steven Benedict Dias (40').
Mahindra United won the President of Maldives Invitational Soccer Cup 2003 (POMIS Cup) and became the second Indian club to win an international tournament outside India this year. East Bengal Club (Calcutta) clinched the ASEAN Club Championship 2003 in July with an impressive Baichung Bhutia up-front. Federation Cup 2003 champions Mahindra United had to play the POMIS Cup without key players Arun Malhotra, James Singh, Shanmugam Venkatesh and Abhishek Yadav, who are currently on national duty with the Indian national team at the Afro-Asian Games 2003. United, led by former Indian international Jules Alberto, started a very offensive game and paid the price in the early 8.minute as Club Valencia went ahead through Anwar Abdul Ghanee. But David Booth's men didn't hesitate to answer, when a Raphael Patron Akakpo header found the net just three minutes later. The equaliser came as a shock for Valencia and Mahindra increased the pressure, which led to several bookings on both sides. The Indians didn't lose control and were able to net another goal through Syed Altafuddin Ahmed in the 32.minute. Valencia coach Ahmed Mujthaba didn't find any tactic to level the score and saw his side going down further in the 80.minute, when youngster Steven Benedict Dias sealed the victory for the Indians.
MAHINDRA UNITED: Kalyan Chaubey, Sanjay Parte, Odartey Lawson, Covan Lawrence, Rauf Khan, Jules Alberto, Jinto Jose, Hekmat Singh, Steven Benedict Dias, Syed Altafuddin Ahmed, Raphael Patron Akakpo.

AFRO-ASIAN GAMES - Football Tournament - Hyderabad - Group B: Zimbabwe 1-1 Iran - Goals: 1-0 Ronald Badza (3'), 1-1 Seyed Jalal Hosseini-Khoshkbijari (59').

AFRO-ASIAN GAMES - Football Tournament - Hyderabad - Group B: Uzbekistan 1-0 Burkina Faso - Goal: 1-0 Krusheinitskiy Yaroslav (66').

48th Sohanlal Dugar Shield - Semifinal: Nagaland Police walkover Assam Regimental Centre - as ARC had to leave for Delhi to play in the Durand Cup qualifiers

24. October
AFRO-ASIAN GAMES - Football Tournament - Hyderabad - Group A: INDIA 2-0 Malaysia - Goals: 1-0 Jatin Singh Bisht (50'), 2-0 IM Vijayan (64').
India beat Malaysia 2-0, topped Group A of the Afro-Asian Games football tournament and in the process qualified for the semifinals. India faced tough opposition from the young Malaysians in the first half but decided the match in the second half with two goals. Youngster Jatin Singh Bisht put the hosts ahead in the 50.minute and seasoned IM Vijayan doubled the lead in the 62.minute.
Though India won national coach Constantine wasn't at all happy the way his team played in the first half but thought the ame improved after the break.
INDIA: Sangram Mukherjee, Mahesh Gawli, Muttath Suresh, Satish Kumar Bharti (Selwyn Fernandes), Tomba Singh, Shanmugam Venkatesh (Jo Paul Ancheri), Jatin Singh Bisht, Renedy Singh (Krishnan Nair Ajayan), Climax Lawrence, Baichung Bhutia, IM Vijayan.
MALAYSIA: Md Anis Faron Binahmad Arsidi, Somchart Narong, Mohamed Fauzi Naan, Ronny Harun, Mohamad Zaidi Zaing (Tengku Ibrahim), Mohamad Haris Safwan, Haswami Hassan, Maohamed Norhisham Hassan, Ahmad Noffandy Mohamad Yatim, Mohamad Amri Yahyah, Ahmad Shahril Faizal Sharifuddin.

48th Sohanlal Dugar Shield - Semifinal: NF Railway SC 0-0,2-4 Assam Police, Dergaon (on penalties)

Note-1: Mohun Bagan's problems on and off the pitch continue.
Mohun Bagan might have to pull out of the Durand Cup due to injury worries to key players. Brazilian superstar Jose Barreto is currently out with an injury sustained in the Airlines Gold Cup while defenders Debkumar Sashmal and Sanjeeb Kumar Maria plus veteran midfielder Basudeb Mondal are down with jaundice.
Also Bagan has been asked by FIFA to clear the dues of Isa Musah Eroje to be allowed to sign new foreigners ahead of the National League, as otherwise the ban would continue.

Note-2: On coming wednesday the 15th Kohima Royal Gold Cup football tournament would be kicked-off in Kohima, the capital of Nagaland with the final slated for November 13, 2003. 14 teams will try to win the trophy, which had to be postponed due to the visit of the PM Vajpayee. The list of participating teams is headed by defending champions Assam Regimental Centre and runners-up Punjab Police, Jalandhar. But due to the Durand Cup and National League preparations none of the top teams of the country are taking part.

23. October
Asian U20 Championship Qualifiers - Ashkhabad - Group 8: Turkmenistan 2-0 INDIA
Turkmenistan qualify for the 2004 Asian U20 Championships to be held in Malaysia.

AFRO-ASIAN GAMES - Football Tournament - Hyderabad - Group B: Zimbabwe 4-1 Burkina Faso - Goals: 1-0,3-1 Vusumuzi Nyoni Prince (3',74'), 1-1 Barro Samba Seydou (16'), 2-1,4-1 Albert Mbano (26',82').

AFRO-ASIAN GAMES - Football Tournament - Hyderabad - Group B: Iran 0-1 Uzbekistan - Goal: 0-1 Marat Bikmoev (48').

President of Maldives Invitational Soccer Cup - Maldives - Semifinals: Mahindra United 2-0 Victory FC (Maldives) - Goals: 1-0 Jules Alberto (5'), 2-0 Mongba Aby Samson (15').

55th Independence Day Cup - Final: Oil India Limited, Duliajan 0-3 SAIL, Calcutta - Goals: 0-1,0-2 V Lalchunmawia (20',63'), 0-3 Gauranga Biswas (90+').
48th Sohanlal Dugar Shield - Quarterfinal-League: Assam Regimental Centre 3-1 Assam Rifles

Note-1: Ghana has struck out of the Afro-Asian Games, as the Africans failed to turn up in Hyderabad. Group A will just see hosts India, Malaysia and Rwanda. The next Group A match will be India vs Malaysia tomorrow. All matches including Ghana have been cancelled, while the Group B fixtures will be played as scheduled.

Note-2: What has worked once, should be helpful once more for East Bengal Club. From today onwards the team would hold a 10 day residencial camp ahead of the Calcutta Super Division playoff final, the Durand Cup and the National League. As for their successful ASEAN Club Cup campaign the squad will stay at the Hyatt Regency hotel but this time will train at their club's home ground on the Calcutta Maidan.

22. October
AFRO-ASIAN GAMES - Football Tournament - Hyderabad - Group A: INDIA 3-1 Rwanda - Goals: 1-0 IM Vijayan (13'), 2-0 Muttath Suresh (53'), 2-1 Aziz Balinda (61'), 3-1 Ashim Biswas (78').
The 3-1 win against Rwanda was the perfect start for the Indian team to their Afro-Asian Games campaign, which had been postponed earlier by a day and then in the morning looked like it would have to be postponed once more due to heavy post-Monsoon rains which have unleased Hyderabad lately. But in the late morning the skys cleared for a few hours and enabled the match to take place. And what a match it was for the Indians!
India controlled and dominated the match with it's players having more experience under such ground conditions. Seasoned IM Vijayan opened the scoring in the 13.minute off a cross from Tomba Singh, which defender Muttath Suresh consolidated through a header eight minutes after the breather from a Renedy Singh corner. But then Rwanda hit back through a header from substitute Aziz Balinda in the 61.minute but the Indians played on and decided the match in the 78.minute, when substitute Ashim Biswas was send free on the right by James Singh and scored with a fierce right-footer.
INDIA: Sangram Mukherjee, Mahesh Gawli, Muttath Suresh, Satish Kumar Bharti, Tomba Singh (James Singh), Shanmugam Venkatesh (Jo Paul Ancheri), Jatin Singh Bisht, Renedy Singh, Climax Lawrence, Baichung Bhutia, IM Vijayan (Ashim Biswas).
RWANDA: Mossi Mahmud Mossi, Jean-Paul Habyarimama (Felix Muvunyi), Leandre Bizagwira, Mana Lita, Remy Bitana, Frederic Rusanganwa (Jimmy Mulisa), Jimmy Iraguha, Olivier Karekezi, Elias Nataganda, Eric Nishimiyamana, Michel Ndayiragiel (Aziz Balinda).

AFRO-ASIAN GAMES - Football Tournament - Hyderabad - Group A: Malaysia - Ghana
The match has been postponed as Ghana haven't arrived yet in Hyderabad.

19th Airlines Gold Cup - Final: EverReady Association 2-1 Mohun Bagan AC - Goals: 0-1 Manitombi Singh (2'), 1-1,2-1 Eugene Gray (12',49').
25th Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup - Final: Tata Football Academy 1-0 Air-India - Goal: 1-0 Parminder Singh (36').
48th Sohanlal Dugar Shield - Quarterfinal-League: Nagaland Police 1-0 Williamson Magor Academy

Note-1: Tonight it is not clear if Ghana will arrive at all in Hyderabad for the football tournament or if they have pulled out. Some saw Ghana is on their way to Hyderabad, while others have said that Ghana have pulled out. A decision on what happens would be taken today, after it becomes clear if Ghana are coming or not.
Our partner site persianfootball.com reports: After the see-saw battle which was IRIFF's want to send the Club side Malavan to the Afro-Asian Games and AFC's want for Iran's U23 side to be sent, it was finally Malavan who boarded the plane today to Hyderabad.
The Iranian club side from Bandar Anzali in the Gilan province play their first match against Uzbekistan tomorrow.
In Hyderabad meanwhile the organisers are expecting the Iranian U23 to take part.

21. October
Asian U20 Championship Qualifiers - Ashkhabad - Group 8: Turkmenistan 2-0 Kyrgyzstan - Goals: 1-0 Amayev Hasmagamet (27'), 2-0 Kalandarov Berdiklich (89').

55th Independence Day Cup - Semifinal: SAIL, Calcutta 5-1 Khidderpur Sporting Union, Calcutta

Note-1: The 52nd Bordoloi Trophy will be held in the later part of November after the one-day International Cricket match between Australia-New Zealand on November 9 at the Nehru Stadium, Guwahati. As the Guwahati Sports Association has no alternative then to wait it will hold the tournament later but with no Indian top teams, as they will be busy with the National League. 18 to 20 teams will play out the trophy and teams from Bangladesh and Thailand will be invited.

20. October
19th Airlines Gold Cup - Round-Robin League: EverReady Association 4-0 Tollygunge Agragami - Goals: 1-0,4-0 Satyajit Bose (55',80'), 2-0 Jayanta Sen (56'), 3-0 Dulal Biswas.
5th Goa Governor's Cup - Semifinal: Sporting Club de Goa 0-0,4-2 Cabral SC (on penalties) - Goals: none.
55th Independence Day Cup - Semifinal: Nagaland Police 1-2 Oil India Limited, Duliajan - Goals: 1-0 Yapang (27'), 1-1,2-1 Birjab Mushahary (47',54').
25th Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup - Semifinal: Tata Football Academy 3-0 Sikkim Police - Goals: 1-0,3-0 Lester Fernandez (12',47'), 2-0 Parwinder Singh (34').
48th Sohanlal Dugar Shield - Quarterfinal-League: NF Railway SC 2-0 Assam Regimental Centre

Note-1: The start of the football tournament at the inaugural Afro-Asian Games in Hyderabad has been pushed back by a day as the African participants haven't arrived so far. Hosts India were supposed to play Rwanda and then Malaysia take on Ghana tomorrow but none of the two teams have been able to travel to India and will only arrive tomorrow in Hyderabad so the organisers were forced to postpone the first days matches plus the next two days matches by a day. The planned off-day on October 24 has now been cancelled and matches will be held on that day. Otherwise the tournament will be played as per plans. But further surprises are possible as the last few weeks have shown...

Note-2: India's finest striker of the 1990s, IM Vijayan, has decided to hang-up his boots after the Afro-Asian Games. Announcing this at a press conference in Hyderabad the other day Vijayan said: "The decision was taken after consulting the national coach Stephen Constantine. He had told me to wait, when I was on the verge of announcing my retirement early this year. Now he feels the time is ripe for quitting the scene."
IM Vijayan added he would continue to be active in domestic football for another couple of years. "After that I hope to revive the activities of my soccer school, which was formally launched two years back in Thrissur."
IM Vijayan, now 34-year old, had begun his international career with a tour to Maldives back in 1989.
"It's too early for Vijayan to leave the Indian team," said AM Sreedharan, Vijayan's former coach at FC Kochin and Kerala Police.
A sad decision for the Indian national team but I think the time has come for IM Vijayan to call it a day and to make way for younger players. But these younger players will have to prove that they have the class that Vijayan has shown over years for India.

Note-3: Will the Calcutta High Court give football the justice of a good playing surface at the Saltlake Stadium or not?
That question has to be asked as the Calcutta Super Division playoff final between archrivals East Bengal and Mohun Bagan will be held on Sunday, November 2 at 1500 IST. But the night earlier at the Saltlake Stadium Amitabh Bachchan - the Big B of Bollywood - of one India's biggest film stars is supposed to run a show organised by the Bengal Film Journalists' Association. For the show a stage will be built at the centre of the ground, which means bamboo holes and/or other constructions on the grass pitch of India's biggest football stadium, which no doubt would be harmful to a good summit clash in Indian football Mecca.
So Anjan Nag, general secretary of Maidan Sports Association, has moved a writ petition to seek clarification from the courts today for the stadium authorities to cancel the Amitabh Bachchan show for the sake of Calcutta football's summit clash. The vacation judge - justice PN Sinha - admitted the petition but asked Anjan Nag to move the matter before a regular bench but those only reopen on October 28 after the Puja holidays, still the justice thought it was enough time for a decision, four days ahead of the first November weekend.
Lets pray and hope that Indian law gives football it's fundamental right to play football on a good pitch with no damages and other possible obstructions. Such events should be held elsewhere as football grounds aren't the place for such events and even if such events are organised do it like they do it here in Europe - built the stage on one side of the ground on the tartan track, which wouldn't do the grass pitch any harm, otherwise leave it.
The Saltlake Stadium grass has come under enough criticism earlier in the season during the Federation Cup and all concerned had said to do their best for the betterment but this isn't the way or otherwise spend some money to modernise the stadium that such events can be held even on the grass pitch.
In the end we can only hope that football gets its due justice...

19. October
Asian U20 Championship Qualifiers - Ashkhabad - Group 8: INDIA 0-0 Kyrgyzstan - Goals: none.
According to sources India were the better of the two teams but messed-up a penalty and further good chances to win the match. Now it depends on what India can do in their final match against hosts Turkmenistan on Thursday.

19th Airlines Gold Cup - Round-Robin League: Mohammedan Sporting Club 0-1 Mohun Bagan AC - Goal: 0-1 Sunil Chetri (12').
5th Goa Governor's Cup - Semifinal: Churchill Brothers SC 2-0 Vasco SC - Goals: 1-0,2-0 Nitin Pradhan (33'.40').
55th Independence Day Cup - Quarterfinal-League: Nagaland Police 2-2 Khidderpur Sporting Union, Calcutta
25th Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup - Semifinal: Air-India 1-0 Assam State Electricity Board - Goal: 1-0 Vinay Kuruvilla (64').
48th Sohanlal Dugar Shield - Quarterfinal-League: Assam Police, Dergaon 3-0 Williamson Magor Academy

Note-1: Finally the draw for the inaugural Afro-Asian Games football tournament has come out. Cameroon are a last minute exit and have been replaced by Rwanda. Hosts India along with Uzbekistan, Malaysia and the Iran represent Asia, while Africa will be represented by Ghana, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso and Rwanda.
India have been clubbed in Group A along with Asian rivals Malaysia plus Ghana and Rwanda, a group from which the Indians could make the semifinals. India open their campaign against Rwanda on October 21.
Group A: India, Rwanda, Malaysia, Ghana.
Group B: Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Iran, Uzbekistan.

18. October
19th Airlines Gold Cup - Round-Robin League: Mohammedan Sporting Club 0-0 EverReady Association - Goals: none.
55th Independence Day Cup - Quarterfinal-League: Oil India Limited 2-2 SAIL, Calcutta
25th Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup - Quarterfinal: Tata Football Academy beat Chittagong Abahani, BANGLADESH
48th Sohanlal Dugar Shield - Quarterfinal-League: NF Railway SC 2-1 Assam Rifles

Note-1: The 116th Durand Cup will be held from October 26 to November 10, 2003 at the Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi. The qualifiers would begin on October 26 with 10 teams - four Delhi teams; four army teams; Assam Regimental Centre, Shillong and Jammu&Kashmir Bank fighting for one spot tournament proper. The Quarterfinal Group-Stage would begin from November 1. The groupings are: Group A: Mahindra United, JCT Mills, Army XI; Group B: East Bengal Club, Dempo SC, Indian Bank; Group C: Salgaocar SC, Mohammedan Sporting Club, Tata Football Academy; Group D: Mohun Bagan, Vasco SC, qualifier.

Note-2: To make the Calcutta Football League's more interesting as they say - the IFA (Bengal body) will be returning the Rs 15,000 registration fee for the recruitment of foreign players to all clubs from now onwards. As seen this season not only are foreigners, especially Africans playing in the Super Division but even in the first division group A and B, which is a disturbing trend to see for Calcutta football.
The Calcutta Super Division playoff final between East Bengal Cluv-Mohun Bagan has now been confirmed for November 2 at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. The match will be shown live by ETV.

17. October
President of Maldives Invitational Soccer Cup - Maldives: Mahindra United 2-4 Club Valencia (Maldives)

19th Airlines Gold Cup - Round-Robin League: Mohun Bagan AC 3-2 Tollygunge Agragami - Goals: 0-1 Akeem Abul Alem (44'), 1-1 Mehtab Hussein (45+'), 1-2 Kabijit Khotel (56'), 2-2,3-2 Bhola Dey (68',76').
5th Goa Governor's Cup - Quarterfinal: Sporting Club de Goa 1-1,5-4 Dempo SC (on penalties) - Goals: 1-0 Rakshak Naik (11'), 1-1 RC Prakash (90').
55th Independence Day Cup - Quarterfinal-League: Khidderpur Sporting Union, Calcutta 2-1 Williamson Magor Academy
25th Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup - Quarterfinal: Border Security Force 1-1,4-5 Assam State Electricity Board (on penalties)
48th Sohanlal Dugar Shield - Quarterfinal-League: Nagaland Police 2-1 Assam Police, Dergaon

Army Football Championships - Shillong - Final: Army Regimental Centre, Shillong 1-1,4-2 Corps of Signal, Goa (on penalties)

Note-1: An appeal by 13 East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting players fined for misconduct has been turned down by the IFA. The IFA will remain by the verdict given by the disciplinary committee.
While all the 13 players were imposed fines ranging between Rs 10,000 and Rs 30,000, seven among them were also suspended for one match by the IFA after having looked at the video footage, while further three officials were fined Rs 10,000 and also banned for a match from the enclosed area.

16. October
Friendly - Thai-Japanese Stadium, Bangkok: Thailand 2-0 INDIA - Goals: 1-0 Peeratat Phorueundee (64'), 2-0 Sarayooth Chaikamdee (78').
The Indian team gave a good fight to the Thais, but were unable to score. The Thais, under new head coach Brazilian Carlos Roberto Carvalho, got off to a fabulous start, maintaining most of the possession in midfield and attacking freely down the flanks in the first 10 minutes. But India's defence was flawless and did not allow the Thai forwards to get on the scoresheet. India almost went one up in the 21st minute when IM Vijayan's header beat goalkeeper Kittisak Rawangpa, but the crossbar denied success. Stephen Constantine said he was disappointed with the standard of referring by the Thai officials.
INDIA: Sangram Mukherjee, Mahesh Gawli, M Suresh, Satish Kumar Bharti, James Singh (Tomba Singh), Renedy Singh, Jo Paul Ancheri (Jatin Singh Bisht), Climax Lawrence, Shanmugam Venkatesh (Ashim Biswas), Baichung Bhutia, IM Vijayan (Abhishek Yadav).

FAS International Women's Tournament - Singapore: INDIA 0-3 Vietnam - Goals: 0-1,0-3 Nguyen Thi Hai (31',60), 0-2 Do Thi Hai Anh (40').
INDIA: Aditi Kumari (Madhusmita Sharma 35'), Ranjita Singh (Ranjana Patel 57'), Poonam Singh, Prathma Pridarshini, Palvinder Kaur, Priyanka Kumari (Ashrita Kisan 85'), Gitanjali Khuntia, Pinky Bompal Magar, Reshma Begum (Beena Kerketta 64'), Aruna Dibyadarshini, Gurpreet Kaur.

19th Airlines Gold Cup - Round-Robin League: Mohammedan Sporting Club 3-0 Tollygunge Agragami - Goals: 1-0 John Ugwo (66'), 2-0 Dipendu Biswas (72'), 3-0 Syed Rahim Nabi (79').
5th Goa Governor's Cup - Quarterfinal: Salgaocar SC 0-1 Cabral SC - Goals: 1-0 Thomas D'Cruz (67').
55th Independence Day Cup - Quarterfinal-League: Assam Police Blues 0-1 SAIL, Calcutta
25th Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup - Quarterfinal: Sikkim Police 0-0,4-3 Eastern Railway SC (on penalties)

Note-1: East Bengal's Nigerian-Polish striker Mike Okoro arrived back in Calcutta today and is likely to rejoin the teams training from tomorrow. Okoro had left a few weeks ago for Poland as his baby daughter had died.

15. October
FAS International Women's Tournament - Singapore: INDIA 0-9 Thailand - Goals: 0-1 Pantipa Mingkwan (10'), 0-2 Narumon Piamsin (12'), 0-3 Aruna Dibyadarshini (20' - own Goal), 0-4,0-6 Chutima Takonrum (26',58'), 0-5 Anootsara Maijarern (31'), 0-7 Chownee Phanlet (60'), 0-8 Pranee Saipin (82'), 0-9 Kitiya Thiangtham (85').
INDIA: Aditi Kumari, Ranjita Singh (Ranjana Patel 78'), Poonam Singh, Prathma Pridarshini, Palvinder Kaur (Ashrita Kisan 74'), Priyanka Kumari, Gitanjali Khuntia, Pinky Bompal Magar, Reshma Begum, Beena Kerketta (Gurpreet Kaur 35'), Aruna Dibyadarshini.

President of Maldives Invitational Soccer Cup - Maldives: Mahindra United 2-0 New Radiant FC (Maldives) - Goals: 1-0 Raphael Patron Akakpo, 2-0 Steven Dias.
Mahindra United needs just one more point to qualify for the semifinal. Mahindra will take on Valencia FC in their second and final Group A match.

5th Goa Governor's Cup - Quarterfinal: Churchill Brothers SC 5-1 Raitura Sports Club - Goals: 1-0 Nitin Pradhan (15'), 2-0,3-0,5-1 Yakubu Yusif (21',39',77'), 4-0 Osmanu Husseini (44'), 4-1 Joaquim Martin (60').
5th Goa Governor's Cup - Quarterfinal: Fransa FC 1-1,4-5 Vasco SC (on penalties) - Goals: 1-0 Ivan Fiel da Silva (46'), 1-1 Agnelo Jose Gomes (72').
55th Independence Day Cup - Quarterfinal-League: Nagaland Police 1-0 Williamson Magor Academy, Tezpur
25th Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup - Quarterfinal: Air-India 3-0 Mohun Bagan-SAIL Academy
48th Sohanlal Dugar Shield - Pre-Quarterfinal: Assam Rifles 5-0 South Transport Corporation of Durgapur, Bengal

14. October
Friendly - Bangkok: Thailand U20 0-0 INDIA - Goals: none.
As Thailand played their junior team in today's match, India also gave the junior players in the squad a chance to get international exposure and experience. Seasoned players like captain Baichung Bhutia, IM Vijayan and Renedy Singh were rested today.
According to infos received from Bangkok the team played a good match, controlling affairs and had their chances to score but were guilty of missing them all.
INDIA: Sandip Nandy, Satish Kumar Bharti, Arun Malhotra, Selwyn Fernandes, Climax Lawrence, Krishnan Ajayan (James Singh), Tomba Singh, Jatin Singh Bisht, Sukhwinder Singh (Shanmugam Venkatesh), Ashim Biswas, Abhishek Yadav.

19th Airlines Gold Cup - Round-Robin League: Mohun Bagan AC 1-2 EverReady Association - Goals: 0-1 Earnest Jeremiah (14'), 1-1 Jose Barreto (34'), 1-2 Eugene Gray (72').
5th Goa Governor's Cup - Pre-Quarterfinal: Sporting Club de Goa 3-0 Napoli SC - Goals: 1-0,2-0,3-0 Dudu MacPherlin Omagbemi (13',52',65').
5th Goa Governor's Cup - Pre-Quarterfinal: Dempo SC 5-0 Goa Police - Goals: 1-0 RC Prakash (25'), 2-0 Jose Colaco (43'), 3-0 Clifford Miranda (50'), 4-0,5-0 Alex Ambrose (55',84').
55th Independence Day Cup - Quarterfinal-League: Assam Police Blues 1-2 Oil India Limited, Duliajan
25th Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup - Pre-Quarterfinal: Sikkim Police 3-0 RBK Academy, NEPAL
25th Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup - Pre-Quarterfinal: Tata Football Academy 1-0 Indian Air Force, Delhi
48th Sohanlal Dugar Shield - Pre-Quarterfinal: Assam Police, Dergaon 2-0 31 Bn Assam Rifles

Note-1: According to AIFF president Dasmunshi African Champions Cameroon will lead the field of eight nations at the inaugural Afro-Asian Games. Africa will be represented by Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso and Rwanda. The Asian teams will be Iran U23, Uzbekistan, Malaysia and hosts India.

Note-2: Singapore will be the hosts of the inaugural FAS International Women's Tournament to be held from October 15-21, 2003. A total of six teams have confirmed their participation for the tournament, which will take place at the Tampines Stadium. Singapore will face the challenge of Hong Kong and Australian side Northern Territory in Group A while Group B will feature India along with Thailand and Vietnam Coal. The top two sides from each group will proceed to the semifinals with the 3rd/4th placing and final matches being played on Tuesday, October 21.

13. October
The Indian national team is in Bangkok, Thailand ahead of the Afro-Asian Games to play their first match against Thailand U20 tomorrow evening at 1800 TST (1630 IST). On Thursday India then play the Thailand senior side.
Chief coach Stephen Constantine is to use his familiar 3-5-2 system and nine of the first eleven seem to be decided by now. At the back Mahesh Gawli and M Suresh are to play along with either Satish Kumar Bharti or Arun Malhotra, while in midfield the Manipuri trio of Renedy Singh, Tomba Singh and debutant James Singh will be joined by the seasoned IM Vijayan with Salgaocar teammates Climax Lawrence and Jatin Singh Bisht fighting for the last spot, while upfront captain Baichung Bhutia will be joined by youngster Ashim Biswas, who has just come out of a long injury layoff.

Calcutta Super Division - relegation playoff - second-leg: West Bengal Police 1-1 Railway FC
Calcutta Super Division - relegation playoff - second-leg: Bhratri Sangha 2-2 Wari AC
West Bengal Police and Bhratri Sangha have been relegated to the Calcutta Football League's first division Group A.

5th Goa Governor's Cup - Pre-Quarterfinal: Vasco SC 2-0 Sarzora SC - Goals: 1-0 Agnelo Jose Gomes (80'), 2-0 Gregory Clarke (90+').
5th Goa Governor's Cup - Pre-Quarterfinal: Cabral SC 1-0 Marmugao Port Trust SC - Goal: 1-0 Sandrick Coelho (65').
55th Independence Day Cup - Pre-Quarterfinal: Williamson Magor Academy 2-1 Assam Police
25th Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup - Pre-Quarterfinal: Assam State Electricity Board 2-1 Mohammedan AC
25th Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup - Pre-Quarterfinal: Mohun Bagan-SAIL Academy 3-2 Sikkim FA XI

Note-1: PTI report: The Supreme Court Monday issued notices to Debaprasad Mukherjee and his group on a petition filed by Mohun Bagan AC and its general secretary Anjan Mitra challenging a Calcutta High Court order appointing a three-member committee to run the affairs of the club.
Refusing to stay the High Court order, a Bench comprising Justice S Rajendra Babu and Justice GP Mathur asked the respondents to file objections to the petition within two weeks.
Appearing for the petitioner, senior advocate Kapil Sibal sought modification in the High Court order, which was opposed by the respondents' advocate Uday Umesh Lalit and Satyajit Saha saying that the present arrangement was working fine and the football team has won three of the four major tournaments it participated recently.
The High Court had on May 23 set up a three-member committee to run the affairs of the football team of Mohun Bagan and ordered the existing executive committee to work under the guidance of the three-member panel. It had asked Balaram Choudhary, assistant general secretary of the Club to render assistance to the panel.
In respect of other affairs of the club, the High Court had said that the existing executive committee would continue to manage the affairs of the club subject to any directions of the three-member committee that may be issued by them in the matter concerning the football team.

Note-2: Luck for East Bengal Club and it's international defender Deepak Mondal who will not need an injury to his knee. In Mumbai Deepak was exampined by Dr. Anand Joshi, who advised him not to do a surgery and instead he will now have to undergo three weeks of physiotherapy. Earlier the medical board of the AIFF, headed by Dr. Vece Paes had told the player to undergo a surgery but that doesn't seem needed now.

Note-3: Deccan Herald report: An institution which has done yeomen service to the cause of sport and a sports club that has become a household name in Karnataka has suffered a huge blow.
ITI Sports Club, which has contributed immensely to the state's sport with its representatives in football, hockey, volleyball, basketball and ball badminton bringing much cheer to their supporters by their performances in various tournaments across the country, is on the verge of a close down.
"Yes, we are in the process of closing down as we don't have funds," the President of the club and Chairman of the Sports Committee, PBO Warjri, told Deccan Herald.
Although the club's hockey, volleyball and basketball teams are yet to receive an intimation of the shutdown, there was no doubt over the football team winding up. According to ITI sources, the football team has been disbanded. "The players, all of whom have been taken on contract, were notified of the closure this morning," sources said.
There is, however, a silver-lining as far as the football team was concerned. "As far as football is concerned, we would be willing to hand over the club if there are any takers. As regards the other games too, there have been efforts to keep going, but we have not found any takers," Warjri said.
The football players are the ones who have been affected the most, their transfer to other teams in a state of limbo following the sudden development. The second bunch of club transfers are still due at the end of this month before the National League begins, but whether they would get picked up by the top clubs remains uncertain.
The contracted players from other teams - hockey, volleyball and basketball - have been a trifle lucky as the top state leagues have concluded. That though would be no consolation as the club proved a wonderful platform for the sportsmen in the state to channelise their talent.
The club's history in football is unmatched in the state. After their win in the first Federation Cup at Kochi in 1977, the club has only grown in stature, the 1986 Scissors Cup in Trivandrum securing them a runners-up slot and some fine performances surfacing in the National League in the last few years. But last season, ITI struggled in the National League and were relegated to the second division along with fellow Bangalore outfit Hindustan Aeronautic Sports Club.
A catastrophy for football in Bangalore as not only a football institution but a sporting hub in the cybercity is set to fully close down. One can only hope that someone comes forward and at least tries to save the football club in the interest of the game in Bangalore. SO if anyone interested to takeover a football club in India, now is your chance!!!

12. October
5th Goa Governor's Cup - Pre-Quarterfinal: Fransa FC 3-0 Velsao Pale SC - Goals: 1-0 Marcos Rogerio Secco (14'), 2-0 Vitorino Dias (15'), 3-0 Remedios Barreto (81').
5th Goa Governor's Cup - Pre-Quarterfinal: Raitura SC 1-1,4-3 Goa U19 (on penalties) - Goals: 0-1 Wesley Coutinho (26'), 1-1 Suraj Zambodkar (42').
28th Gurdarshan Memorial Trophy - Final: JCT Mills 0-2 CRPF
55th Independence Day Cup - Pre-Quarterfinal: Assam Police Blues 1-0 NF Railway SC

11. October
5th Goa Governor's Cup - Pre-Quarterfinal: Churchill Brothers SC 5-1 Raia SC - Goals: 1-0,4-0,5-0 Yakubu Yusif (5',?',58'), 2-0 Riston Rodrigues (19', 3-0 Rajesh Meetei (27'), 5-0 5-1 Cajetan Fernandes (90').
28th Gurdarshan Memorial Trophy - Semifinal: JCT Mills 2-0 Shri Guru Gobind Singh Society
28th Gurdarshan Memorial Trophy - Semifinal: CRPF 4-3 Punjab Police (on penalties)
55th Independence Day Cup - Qualifiers Round 2: Williamson Magor Academy 2-1 Uday Sangha
25th Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup - Round 1: Assam State Electricity Board 6-0 State Bank of India, Chennai

Note-1: The 8th National League is set to kickoff on November 15 in New Delhi with a match between the defending National League champions East Bengal Club against last seasons runners-up Salgaocar SC. The President of India APJ Abdul Kalam has been invited to inaugurate the league and be guest of honour.

Note-2: In an interview with the UNI national coach Stephen Constantine made some interesting statements on what critirias players have to meet to get into his squad. One important criterion will be physical size.
"Most of the goals that we concede are not from free play. Against North Korea we conceded three goals and all the three were from set plays. Height advantage is a big factor in international football," he told UNI.
"Some people ask why I don't pick certain players when they are five feet tall. In India that's OK. But, in the international stage, unless the boy is absolutely out of this world, then five feet is not good enough. You are going to lose before you start the game. You see the younger players. They're all fairly decent sized and that will be our goal," Constantine explained.
To a question, the coach said: "I don't think we have anything to be afraid of. Perhaps our only disadvantage is the physical size. We don't have a great deal of height. When you compete against international teams, they have five or six players who are six feet plus while we have one or maybe two."
Interesting statements by Stephen but something I surely agree with him on! As I have been with the Indian team to England on their three tours, I know of examples of some players, who are great on the Calcutta Maidan's and other grounds across India but fail on the international level due to height...

10. October
Calcutta Super Division - relegation playoff - first-leg: Railway FC 2-1 West Bengal Police
Calcutta Super Division - relegation playoff - first-leg: Wari AC 2-1 Bhratri Sangha
28th Gurdarshan Memorial Trophy - Quarterfinal: Guru Gobind Singh Football Society, Jalandhar 0-0,6-5 Punjab State Electricity Board (on penalties)
28th Gurdarshan Memorial Trophy - Quarterfinal: CRPF 1-1,12-11 Rail Coach Factory (on penalties)
28th Gurdarshan Memorial Trophy - Quarterfinal: Punjab Police 4-2 JCT Academy (on penalties)
55th Independence Day Cup - Qualifiers Round 2: Assam Police Blues 10-1 Rajasthani Yubak Sangha, Nagaon
25th Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup - Round 1: Sikkim FA XI 2-1 TNFA

Note-1: Our friends at persianfootball.com informed us, that Iran won't participate in the Afro-Asian Games: "After Japan and Korea declined to participate, Iran also said that they will not participate, but then they offered an alternative and it is the Malevan of Anzali! A team from the middle of Iran's first division."

Note-2: Mohun Bagan and the their foreign players has become a never-ending story.
Now Bagan sound to have had problems with their Brazilian striker Marcos Pereira signed at the beginning of the season from Vasco SC. It needed assistant secretary Balram Chowhury to persuade Marcos to stay, as the Brazilian had been told by some sections of club officials that he would be released before the NFL, as other better foreigners would be brought in. Thereafter Marcos said if the club wanted he could be released and would try to get a transfer in the upcoming transfer period. But this wasn't true.
But Bagan will not extend the contract of Nigerian defender Akuneto and will have two Brazilians - striker Rivelino Vital de Oliviera and defender Waladi Mir Sores Coimtra - on trials from October 20. If they don't meet the standard then other Brazilians would come ahead of the NFL for trials.

9. October
A day earlier than originally planned chief national coach Stephen Constantine named his 20 member squad for the Afro-Asian Games and the Thailand test matches. It didn't come as a surprise that Indian football star Baichung Bhutia has been named captain but the team misses a number of regulars - the East Bengal trio Debjit Ghosh, Deepak Mondal, Alvito D'Cunha plus Dempo's Sameer Naik - due to injury. Also youngster Vinu Jose had to leave the camp early due to injury but talented youngster Ashim Biswas, who hasn't played for a while due to injury has been included in the squad.
TEAM: GK: Sandip Nandy (East Bengal Club), Sangram Mukherjee (East Bengal Club). DF: Mahesh Gawli (East Bengal Club), M Suresh (East Bengal Club), Arun Malhotra (Mahindra United), Selwyn Fernandes (Vasco SC), Satish Kumar Bharti (Mohammedan Sporting Club). MF: Jo Paul Ancheri (JCT Mills), Renedy Singh (Mohun Bagan AC), Climax Lawrence (Salgaocar SC), Krishnan Nair Ajayan (Vasco SC), Tomba Singh (Salgaocar SC), Jatin Singh Bisht (Salgaocar SC), James Singh (Mahindra United), Shanmugam Venkatesh (Mahindra United). FW: Baichung Bhutia (East Bengal Club - CAPTAIN), IM Vijayan (JCT Mills), Ashim Biswas (Mohun Bagan AC), Abhishek Yadav (Mahindra United), Sukhwinder Singh (Vasco SC).
Chief coach: Stephen Constantine. Assistant Coach: Aloke Mukherjee.

Goa Professional League: Dempo SC 2-0 Salgaocar SC - Goals: 1-0 Raju Singh (38'), 2-0 Clifford Miranda (88').
28th Gurdarshan Memorial Trophy - Pre-Quarterfinals: CRPF 1-0 Punjabi University, Patiala
28th Gurdarshan Memorial Trophy - Pre-Quarterfinals: Guru Gobind Singh Football Society, Jalandhar 3-2 DFA, Kapurthala
55th Independence Day Cup - Qualifiers Round 1: Assam Police 3-0 Sanjivan Samaj, Nagaon

Note-1: After meeting his Indian counterpart AB Vajpayee, the Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a proposal to hold a five nation football tournament - India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand - to improve relations among the nations. The Indian PM had earlier proposed a car rally from Assam in India to Vietnam going through the ASEAN region.

Note-2: As was expected Shankar Maitra, currently coach of Super Division rivals Eastern Railway SC, has been named as the new Mohammedan Sporting Club coach. But Maitra will only be joining the black-and-white brigade after the Airlines Gold Cup, were technical director PK Banerjee and goalkeeping coach Nasir Ahmed would be in charge of the team.
Meanwhile also Tollygunge Agragami named a new coach today and also as expected Krishnendu Roy will take over at the Moore Avenue club.
Both sides are expected to strengthen their sides with foreigners and on loan Indian players ahead of the National League.

Note-3: The Indian U17 boys will face Nepal and Afghanistan on December 1-5, 2003 in Calcutta in the Asian U17 Championship qualifiers. As preparations for the qualifiers a 25 member Indian U17 squad will travel to Dhaka on October 14 to play a number of preparatory matches. So far it is unknown, who the boys will face in and around the Bangladeshi capital.

8. October
Goa Professional League: Vasco SC 0-0 Churchill Brothers SC - Goals: none.
Goa Professional League: Cabral SC 0-0 Sporting Clube de Goa - Goals: none.
28th Gurdarshan Memorial Trophy - Qualifiers Round 2: JCT Academy 2-0 Football Academy, Mahilpur
28th Gurdarshan Memorial Trophy - Qualifiers Round 2: Guru Gobind Singh Football Society, Jalandhar 2-0 Sonalika Club, Hoshiarpur
28th Gurdarshan Memorial Trophy - Pre-Quarterfinals: Muslim Club, Malerkotla 3-0 Diamond FC, Kalka
55th Independence Day Cup - Qualifiers Round 1: White Doves Society, Diphu 1-1 Rajasthani Yubak Sangha, Nagaon

3rd Girls U19 National Football Championship, Haldwani,Uttaranchal - Final: West Bengal 0-0,0-1 Manipur - Goal: 0-1 Sandhyarani Devi (golden Goal).

Note-1: As will most of you football fans will know there is an international world club ranking. Ranked first as of October 1, 2003 is UEFA Champions League winners AC Milan ahead of Scots Celtic Glasgow and FC Santos from Brazil with star-studded Real Madrid only fourth. But is of more interest to us Indian football fans is the fact that two Indian clubs have made it into the Top 350 list - ASEAN Club Champions and NFL champions East Bengal at 261 and arch-rivals Mohun Bagan at 343.
East Bengal are ranked 261st along with US MLS champions LA Galaxy and Israeli side Maccabi Tel-Aviv, ahead of famous teams like Steaua Bucharest, Lierse SK, Racing Strassbourg and FC Middlesborough.
Mohun Bagan are ranked 343rd along with former German greats VfL Borussia Moenchengladbach, Italians FC Bologna and Saudi giants Al Nasr.

Note-2: Yesterday it was confirmed that Mohammed Habib is no longer coach of Mohammedan Sporting Club and now the search is on for a new coach. After the not so good performances of the club in the Calcutta Super Division and the IFA-Shield Habib himself decided to leave. Initially Shankar Maitra, Shankar Banerjee, Shyamal Banerjee and Goutam Sarkar were in the running for the position but it looks Shankar Maitra will be signed as new coach of the club in the coming days.
Meanwhile Krishnendu Roy is likely to take over at Tollygunge Agragami, who are also on the lookout for a new coach.

Note-3: Ghanian sharpshooter and two-time National League golden boot winner Yakubu Yusif will continue to play for Churchill Brothers SC this season. Earlier Dempo SC had claimed to have gotten the services of the Ghanian striker but now on Saturday in the Goan Governor's Cup match against Raia SC Yakubu will make his debut this season for Churchill.

7. October
28th Gurdarshan Memorial Trophy - Qualifiers Round 1: Football Academy, Mahilpur 4-2 DFA, Fatehgarh Sahib
28th Gurdarshan Memorial Trophy - Qualifiers Round 1: Guru Gobind Singh Football Society, Jalandhar 2-0 AG Haryana
28th Gurdarshan Memorial Trophy - Qualifiers Round 2: Punjabi University, Patiala 6-1 Sunny Rakhi Club, Shimla

Note-1: Good news for national coach Stephen Constantine and his boys, as they get to test their skills against quality opposition ahead of the Afro-Asian Games. INDIA will play two friendly matches against Thailand on October 14 and 16, on a six day trip to Bangkok from October 11 to 17. Afterthat the team will directly proceed to Hyderabad as the Afro-Asian Games football tournament starts on October 21, three days ahead of the opening ceremony.
And of the 29 players called to the camp, defenders Debjit Ghosh and Deepak Mondal from East Bengal plus Vasco's Vinu Jose are to miss the Thailand trip and also likely the Afro-Asian Games.

Note-2: The Afro-Asian Games football tournament is becoming a farce even before it has started, as both continents Asia and Africa seem to be switching participants are more and more federations aren't able to send teams. As per the latest list, hosts India will represent Asia along with Iran, Uzbekistan and Malaysia, while Africa only has named three countries so far in Cameroon, Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso and is looking for a fourth country. The latest to say were Japan and China plus South Africa and Angola.

Note-3: According to plans of the IFA (Bengal body), the playoff final of the Calcutta Super Division between holders East Bengal and Mohun Bagan would be held on Sunday, November 2 at 14.15 h. The IFA is working on getting the final match telecast live but the date isn't finalised yet.

6. October

3rd Girls U19 National Football Championship, Haldwani,Uttaranchal - Semifinal: Manipur 4-1 Orissa
28th Gurdarshan Memorial Trophy - Qualifiers Round 1: DFA, Kapurthala 6-1 Nabha Academy
28th Gurdarshan Memorial Trophy - Qualifiers Round 1: Sunny Rakhi Club, Shimla 1-0 Hero Club
28th Gurdarshan Memorial Trophy - Qualifiers Round 2: Muslim Club, Malerkotla 2-1 Union Club, Yamunanagar

Note-1: We have received information from South Africa that the South African Football Association is facing problems to name a team and send it to the Afro-Asian Games later this month. SAFAs problem is that the local South African season is in full swing plus it's top players are in action across Europe and the under-23 isn't available due to African Games commitments.

5. October
Goa Professional League: Cabral SC 1-1 Churchill Brothers SC - Goals: 1-0 Cristovam Colaco (30'), 1-1 AS Firoze (90').
Goa Professional League: Fransa FC 1-2 Sporting Clube de Goa - Goals: 0-1,1-2 MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi (27',89'), 1-1 Nicholas Rodrigues (53').
3rd Girls U19 National Football Championship, Haldwani,Uttaranchal - Semifinal: West Bengal 1-0 Goa
28th Gurdarshan Memorial Trophy - Qualifiers Round 1: Muslim Club, Malerkotla 2-0 DFA, Patiala

Note-1: The preparatory camp of the Indian senior national team for the Afro-Asian Games, scheduled to begin in Bangalore on October 2, is expected to start today, altough most of the players have reported in time. Chief coach Stephen Constatine was forced to reschedule the camp due to a long injury list. Constantine: "Of the 28-29 players we have called up for the camp, 12 are carrying injuries. Some of those are serious, while others are physically exhausted. It isn't the ideal situation prior to an important competition. I initially asked for a camp of three weeks, that is from October 1 to 21. The State leagues were supposed to finish by September 15, which meant the players would have had two weeks to recover and then join for the camp fresh. Unfortunately, the state leagues decided to have other meaningless competitions, which in the case of the Bengal and Mumbai players, meant they played approximately ten games in 20 days, which is absolutely ridiculous. So instead of starting work on October 2, we have to start work on October 5 or 6. The aim will be to get 20 players ready for Afro-Asian Games. But when you are hampered from the beginning by your own people, it becomes an extremely difficult task."

4. October
Goa Professional League: Vasco SC 0-0 Salgaocar SC - Goals: none // Salgaocar SC win Goa Pro League title with one match remaining!
Goa Professional League: Cabral SC 1-0 Churchill Brothers SC - Goals: 1-0 Cristovam Colaco (30') - The match was abandoned after the first half due to heavy rainfall. The second half will be played tomorrow!

3. October
2nd Lt. Governor's Cup - Final: City Club 0-0,5-6 Simla Youngs (on penalties) - Goals: none.

Note-1: Another of India's footballing greats is no more.
Olympian Byomkesh Bose died in the afternoon today at his residence in Calcutta after a heart attack. Bose had in the Helsinki 1952 Olympics and had played for East Bengal for a decade since 1948. After his footballing days, Bose had been football secretary and vice-president at East Bengal Club.

Note-2: Indian superstar Baichung Bhutia returns to India after his loan deal with Perak FC ended with a loss in the Malaysia Cup 2003 semifinal last Saturday. Bhutia feels he could have done more in the semifinal match against Sabah. Bhutia: "I am really upset with the way we conceded three goals and I feel sorry for the 30,000 crowd who braved the rain. I will be going home with great memories of playing in the Malaysia Cup, a premier event in the country's soccer calendar."

1. October

Goa Professional League: Sporting Clube de Goa 0-1 Churchill Brothers SC - Goal: 0-1 Tiken Singh.
Goa Professional League: Cabral SC 1-2 Salgaocar SC - Goals: 0-1,0-2 Felix Ibrebru (35',75'), 1-1 Thomas D'Cruz (72').
Goa Professional League: Fransa FC 2-3 Dempo SC - Goals: 1-0 Agustine Rodrigues (1'), 1-1 Raju Singh (64'), 2-1 Ivan Da Silva (76'), 2-2 RC Prakash (83'), 2-3 Alex Ambrose (90').
2nd Lt. Governor's Cup - Semifinal: City Club 1-0 Raisina Sporting Union
2nd Lt. Governor's Cup - Semifinal: Indian Nationals FC 1-2 Simla Youngs
Mumbai Elite League - Final: Mahindra United 5-2 Haywards 2000-Holy Family - Goals: 0-1 Subhash Adelkar (30'), 1-1 Jules Alberto (34'), 1-2 Prakash Patil (47'), 2-2 Khalid Jamil (59'), 3-2 Monga Aby Samson (67'), 4-2 Syed Altafuddin Ahmed (70'), 5-2 James Singh (88').

Note-1: East Bengal's Douglas da Silva has suffered a stress fracture in his shin bone and will not be available for practise for at least 20 days. The scan on his injury was done after the IFA Shield final and the report came on Tuesday. It is understood that a synthetic device has been fitted around his leg and he has been advised complete rest. Furthermore Sasthi Duley has suffered a quadricep tear and he too has been advised rest for a minimum of 15 days.

Note-2: The AFC U17 Championship qualifying round Group 4 will be held in Calcutta in the last week of November. India face Nepal and Afghanistan. The India U17 national team is currently holding a preparatory camp at the SAI complex, Saltlake Stadium in Calcutta.