31. December
8th National League - Mumbai: Mahindra United 0-1 East Bengal Club - Goal: 0-1 Cristiano Junior (68').
East Bengal Club scored an important lone goal away victory at Mumbai's Cooperage Ground against Mumbai giants Mahindra United. For the current NFL champions it was the first away victory of this NFL campaign, whose goal was scored by Brazilian striker Cristiano Junior in the 68.minute and also a revenge on the Jeepmen, who had won the Super Cup last month against East Bengal in Calcutta.
Mahindra controlled the match initially with having a good look at the goal in the 2.minute when a James Singh freekick was headed onto the crossbar by Abhishek Yadav. East Bengal had especially problems in the air as Yadav and Felix Aboagye won most of the airial tussles. But things changed as the match went on as East Bengal coach Subhas Bhowmick made some tactical changes and also brought on Surkumar Singh and Malswam Tulunga. By the start of the second half East Bengal were controlling affairs. Especially Baichung Bhutia and Junior proved to be dangerous for the Mahindra goal, where keeper Kalyan Chaubey more than once proved his class. But in the 68.minute Chaubey couldn't do anything against a precise-fierce shot by Cristiano Junior, which Chaubey touched with his hands but couldn't direct past the goalpost.
MAHINDRA: Kalyan Chaubey, Climax Lawrence, Arun Malhotra, Peter Siddique (Praveen Arora), Falguni Datta (Syed Altafuddin Ahmed), Jinto Jose, James Singh, Khalid Jamil, Kasif Jamal (Steven Dias), Abhishek Yadav, Felix Aboagye.
EAST BENGAL: Sangram Mukherjee, Surya Bikash Chakraborty, Deepak Kumar Mondal, M Suresh, Debjit Ghosh, Sasthi Duley (Surkumar Singh), Mahesh Gawli, Bijen Singh (Malswam Tulunga), Kalia Kulothangan (Subhashish Roy Chowdhury), Cristiano Junior, Baichung Bhutia.

8th National League - Chennai: Indian Bank 0-0 Mohammedan Sporting Club - Goals: none.
Indian Bank and Mohammedan Sporting Club played out a goalless draw in a National League match at Chennai's Nehru Stadium. Indian Bank looked a transformed side compared to the team that had lost their first six NFL matches and were languinshing at the bottom of the league's table. Today the Bankmen for the first time played with all their three Sri Lankan recruits and they were instrumental in the teams good show. If luck had been on their side the Chennai team would not only have earned it's first point of this NFL campaign but also could have earned its first victory. Mohammedan Sporting, whose coach Jamshed Nassiri had said before the match that his team would play to win, rather looked average and content with a draw. The Bankmen had their best chances towards the end of the match with two freekicks - the first one hit the post, while the second attempt was blocked by Sporting keeper Gumpe Rime.
INDIAN BANK: Felix Edward, Kamaldeen Fuard, Rajesh Kumar Pandey, Anthony Noel, T Roopesh, Amjad Hussain, Mahendra Mani, AA Fazlur Rahman (Mohammed Bin Hassan), Hamilton Bobby (K Aseem), Kasun Nadika Jayasuriya, Syed Sabir Pasha (Prahlad Singh Rawat).
MSC: Gumpe Rime, Shahnawaz Iqbal Khan, Hussain Mustafi , Okoli Onyeka Odafa (Bhuvan Chandra Joshi), Amandeep Singh, Bungo Singh, Khalid Siddique (Dipankar Chatterjee), Godwin Abu Bakar, Syed Rahim Nabi, Dipendu Biswas (Sheikh Sanjib), Edeh Chiddi.

Note-1: East Bengal Club's Nigerian striker Mike Okoro returned to Calcutta yesterday evening and was back training at the club ground today. East Bengal Club officials are taking the stand not to punish or ban Okoro in view of the teams two of their four foreigners - Ghanian captain Suley Musah and Brazilian midfielder Douglas da Silva - being injured. The fear is that Musah might have to miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury suffered in Goa.

30. December
Note-1: East Bengal coach Subhas Bhowmick has been asked to appear infront of the IFA disciplinary committee on January 16, 2004 to explain his comments on the governing body over a period of time. Bhowmick had criticised the IFA in regard to ground conditions of the Saltlake Stadium during the Federation Cup, why a playoff final was held for the Calcutta Super Division.

Note-2: After much controversy and uncertainty of the last few month's former East Bengal captain Anit Ghosh is back at East Bengal practicising at the club. The East Bengal team management had shown renewed interest in Anit after the indifferent start into this seasons National League by East Bengal. Earlier Anit Ghosh had taken a transfer to a club in Cuttack, so that he could get on loan transferred to an NFL team. He had even found a club in rivals Mohun Bagan but now that is part of history.

Note-3: 87 year old Dinanath Roy, a former Mohun Bagan player, has passed away. Roy a former right-winger had been part of Bagan's 1947 IFA-Shield winning team.

29. December
8th National League - Goa: Salgaocar SC 2-2 Churchill Brother SC - Goals: 1-0 Freddy Mascarenhas (14'), 1-1 M John Kingsley (15'), 1-2 Roque Pereira (45'), 2-2 Jatin Singh Bisht (49').
At the Nehru Stadium, Margao the Goan derby in the National League between Salgaocar SC and Churchill Brother SC ended in a two-all draw. Salgaocar wasn't able to utilise the fact that Churchill had to play with 10 men for nearly the last half hour.
Salgaocar, who had lost their last three matches, started on right earnest to turn the tide. Youngster Freddy Mascarenhas beat Churchill keeper Mark Mascarenhas in the 14.minute to shot Salgaocar into the lead but the lead lasted only a minute as Nigerian M John Kingsley headed in the equaliser for Churchill Brothers. Thereafter Churchill's Kingsley and Ghanian Yakubu Yusif pressed hard for their team to take a lead but they had to wait until just before the lemon break for defender Roque Pereira to shot his team into the lead. Inbetween Churchill keeper Mark Mascarenhas had to be substituted due to an injury through Raghuvir Khanolkar. But only four minutes into the second half Salgaocar came back to equalise, when Jatin Singh Bisht used a mistake by Churchill defender Osumanu Husseini. It was in the 62.minute that Churchill's Nigerian M John Kingsley received his second yellow card and had to leave the ground. But the 10-men Churchill Bros fought till the end and could have even won, as Salgaocar couldn't use the advantage.

28. December
It look us quite a while but now finally the NFL TEAM LISTS of all 12 participating league teams are online at indianfootball.com !
There you will find the list of players, squad numbers, their nationalities and dates of birth, wherever available.
For the complete NFL team lists click here .

8th National League - Goa: Sporting Clube de Goa 2-2 Mohun Bagan AC - Goals: 0-1,2-2 Jose Barreto (12',54'), 1-1 MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi (14'), 2-1 Francis Andrade (31').
Debutants Sporting Clube de Goa played out a two-all draw against former champions Mohun Bagan AC in a National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. For Sporting Clube it was a lost chance to score a major upset against one of India's biggest club sides.
It was Bagan who took the lead in the 12.minute when their Brazilian star Jose Barreto took a precise shot on goal. But the lead only lastest two minutes as Sporting Clube's Nigerian striker MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi headed home a Francis Andrade cross. Thereafter the Bagan defence - Sanjeev Maria and Harpreet Singh in central positions - were all at sea as Dudu along with Andrade caused numerous problems. In the 31.minute it was Francis Andrade's perfectly curled freekick over the wall which resulted in Sporting Clube taking a 2-1 lead. Until the lemon break the Goans controlled affairs but after the break they didn't pressure the Bagan defence as before, letting the Maidan giants back into the game. It was Barreto and young Ashim Biswas who had the chances for Bagan to equalise and it was in the 54.minute when Barreto scored of a pass from Hardip Singh Gill.

27. December
8th National League - Chennai: Indian Bank 0-2 Mahindra United - Goals: 0-1 Shanmugam Venkatesh (40'), 0-2 Abhishek Yadav (89').
Indian Bank lost 0-2 against Mumbai's Mahindra United in a National League at Chennai's Nehru Stadium. For the Bankmen from Chennai the loss was the sixth loss in as many matches and their fight against relegation has started right earnest for the VP Sathyan coached team.
The Bankmen attack was strengthened by the return of their Sri Lankan hitman Kasun Nadika Jayasuriya, who played for the first time in this NFL. Jayasuriya added teeth to the Bank attack along with Syed Shabir Pasha but Kalyan Chaubey had an exceptional day in the Mahindra goal, otherwise the Jeepmen from Mumbai might have left some points back in Chennai.
Mahindra tested their bench strength in today's match with international Shanmugam Venkatesh playing an outstanding match and had he had mor eluck Venkatesh could have scored easily a first half hattrick. Mahindra did take the lead in the 40.minute when Venkatesh connected a Covan Lawrence long diagonal ball to score. Striker Abhishek Yadav scored off a rebound a minute from time to add to Indian Bank's misery.
INDIAN BANK: Felix Edward, Rajesh Kumar Pandey, S Sudhakar (J Anandavasan), Anthony Noel, T Roopesh, Amjad Hussain, AA Fazlur Rahman, Mahendra Mani, Hamilton Bobby (Mohammed Bin Hassan), Kasun Nadika Jayasuriya, Syed Sabir Pasha.
MAHINDRA: Kalyan Chaubey, Covan Lawrence, Arun Malhotra, Peter Siddique, Falguni Datta (Rauf Khan), Jinto Jose, Shanmugam Venkatesh (Syed Altafuddin Ahmed), James Singh, Steven Dias, Abhishek Yadav, Rapahel Patron Akakpo (Odartey Lawson).

8th National League - Goa: Dempo SC 3-2 East Bengal Club - Goals: 0-1 Cristiano Junior (1'), 0-2 Baichung Bhutia (7'), 1-2 Stanley Colaco (8'), 2-2 Sunday Seah (25'), 3-2 Nacimento Silveira (75').
A ten-men Dempo SC beat East Bengal Club 3-2 in a thrilling National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. Current NFL leaders Dempo were down by two early goals against the NFL champions East Bengal Club. Before things had settled down Brazilian striker Cristiano Junior headed in a Bijen Singh freekick seconds into the match. Bijen Singh got another assist when his corner couldn't be cleared by the Dempo defence, the ball landed infront of Baichung Bhutia and he made no mistake to shot East Bengal into a 2-0 lead. But only a minute later Dempo captain Stanley Colaco headed in a Clifford Miranda cross. Dempo were back in the match and their newly signed Nigerian midfielder Mohammed Gaffar once again proved his class to set-up the equaliser and later also the winner. In the 25.minute Gaffar send RC Prakash free on the right who played the ball into the middle for Liberian striker Sunday Seah to slot home. The second half started with both sides looking for the lead. But Dempo suffered a setback in the 72.minute when their Nigerian defender Majekodunmi Bolaji was given marching orders on a harsh tackle on East Bengal's Junior. But Dempo kept their offensive outlook and only three minutes later scored the winner against the run of play. Gaffar dribbled past a few East Bengal players surrounding the penalty area, lobbed the ball to RC Prakash who passed the ball forward to Nacimento Silveira, who headed home. Thereafter it was East Bengal for the final quarter of the match in search for the equaliser but as has become regular for the ASEAN Club champions luck wasn't in their favour. Baichung Bhutia, showing signs to get back into form and Junior were denied by the woodwork and a strong Abhijit Mondal in the Dempo goal.
While Dempo coach Armando Colaco was delighted by the comeback win. Subhas Bhowmick didn't really know what to think of the match. He was happy with the fighting spirit of his team but was unhappy not to get a draw. And East Bengal are likely to miss captain Suley Musah and Subhas Chakraborty in the coming matches due to injuries, increasing the worries and pressure on Bhowmick.

Note-1: East Bengal coach Mr Subhas Bhowmick has informed All India Football Federation secretary Alberto Colaco he is unwilling to release players for the World Cup qualifiers preparatory camp.
for more details visit the FIFA World Cup 2006 section click here

Note-2: East Bengal Club's Nigerian striker Mike Okoro might be in real trouble. Okoro left the East Bengal teams hotel in Margao without informing the team management and his non-availability for the match against Dempo. A show-cause notice has been issued but couldn't be handed to the player yet.

25. December

Note-1: A story from "The Telegraph Northeast":
Roko Angami - the first footballer from Nagaland to play in the national league - has called for the introduction of a local league to boost the standard of the game in the state.
The former Mahindra&Mahindra and Young Amateur Club of Guwahati player said football has taken a big knock in the state due to the lackadaisical attitude of the sports department.
Roko was in the city to attend the recently concluded 20-day coaching course run by the Asian Football Confederation.
"Nagaland is teeming with football talents but lack of proper infrastructure has impeded their growth. There is a crying need for a local soccer league in the state and I reckon that is the only way to revive football in Nagaland. The state sports department has done little to improve the plight of footballers in the state," rued the current coach of Naga Boys Club. He, however, spared the state football association for the state of affairs.
Roko was critical about the functioning of the state sports department. "Without sounding too cynical, I must say I am a little sceptical about its existence (state sports department) as they are only good at talking big and doing nothing concrete on the ground."
"A state department’s job is to work for the development of sports in the state but I cannot help but say our sports department have failed to live up to the expectations of the football-loving people here," he said.
Roko, who represented the government Higher Secondary School, Dimapur, in the coveted Subroto Mukherjee Cup for three years on the trot, said players with huge potential for football often had to shun the game due to the negligence of the state government.
"How can you expect players, who have it in themselves to make it in big on the maidan, to continue with the same zeal and ebullience if there is no encouragement and adequate support from the government?" he asked.
"After all, they take to football, or for that matter, any other sport because each one of them have aspirations to fulfil. Look, for a soccer professional, the prime goal is to play his best so that one can earn his bread and butter from football or any other sport one is excelling in," he said.

24. December
On Monday the UB Group, sponsors of Mohun Bagan AC, had after a meeting with the clubs top brass directed the clubs management to clear the dues of the players. Now today the players received some portion of their salaries ahead of their Goan National League trip with three matches coming-up. A player whose signing dues are still to be paid is Brazilian star player Jose Barreto but he would receive it before Sunday's match against Sporting Clube de Goa.

23. December
8th National League - Ludhiana: JCT Mills 0-0 Vasco SC - Goals: none.
JCT Mills were held goalless by Vasco SC in a National League match at the Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana. JCT kept a watch on their defence today after they had failed to contain attacks of another Goan-side Dempo SC in their last match and it worked today as KV Dhanesh and Musa Aliu played a concentrated match to contain especially Vasco's Nigerian dangerman Amaechi Nwabunwanne Tochukwu. In a fast-paced match both sides had their chances but if the defences didn't stop the attacks then the keepers, JCT's Mansuru Mohammad and Vasco's Rogerio Ramos stood in the way.

8th National League - Calcutta: Tollygunge Agragami 0-1 Mohammedan Sporting Club - Goal: 0-1 Sheikh Sanjib (87').
Mohammedan Sporting Club registered their first-ever win in the National League, beating Calcutta rivals Tollygunge Agragami at the Saltlake Stadium. The only goal of the match came in the 87.minute through substitute striker Sheikh Sanjib, who converted a Hussain Mustafi cross. Sanjib's goal was the only highlight of a very unimpressive NFL match. Sporting missed several chances to score, while Tollygunge coach Krishnendu Roy preferred an ultra-defensive tactic.
TOLLYGUNGE: Chinmoy Banerjee, Amitava Chanda, Isiaka Awoyemi, Sujit Neogi, Gautam Debnath, Chinmoy Sarkar, Shamshi Reza (Manik Barman), Suman Dutta, Biman Mondal, Jiten Rai (Kajal Bhattacharjee), Akeem Abul Alem.
MSC: Gumpe Rime, Shahnawaz Iqbal Khan, Hussain Mustafi, Amandeep Singh, Madhab Das, Bungo Singh, Okoli Onyeka Odofa, (Bhuvan Krishna Joshi), Godwin Abu Bakar, Syed Rahim Nabi, Dipendu Biswas (Sheikh Sanjib), Edeh Chidi.

Note-1: In a press release today, Coca-Cola India announced its title sponsorship of the National League. The company has signed an agreement with the AIFF, to sponsor the NFL for the next two years.

22. December
Note-1: In Bangalore a meeting was held today between the United Breweries Group "Board of Directors" and top Mohun Bagan club officials. The UB Group is the sponsor of Mohun Bagan and has directed the club to immediately clear the outstanding wages of the clubs footballers. Mohun Bagan's representative at the meeting were general secretary Anjan Mitra and assistant secretary Balaram Chowdhury. Anjan Mitra, who is in charge of the finances given to Mohun Bagan by the UB Group, has been aked to release the money to pay the players their dues.
So it seems the risk of a players' strike or revolt at the club has been finally curtailed.

Note-2: Mohammedan Sporting Club has been show-caused by the AIFF for having missed the deadline to submit their team sheet ahead of their last match against Churchill Brothers on last Friday. The club has been given 15 days to reply. The notice from the AIFF has come after a complaint from the match commissioner.
Meanwhile Sporting are to get the show-cause notice from the AIFF. The club management will hold an internal inquiry as to why such a mistake could happen or not.

21. December
8th National League - Mumbai: Mahindra United 1-0 Salgaocar SC - Goal: 1-0 Shanmugam Venkatesh (24').
Mahindra United scored an important lone goal victory against Salgaocar SC in a National League match at the Cooperage Ground, Mumbai. Both sides started into the NFL as favourites along with East Bengal for the title but after Round 4 and before today's match both sides were stuck in the middle of the table with two wins and two losses. So both sides were looking for a win to move-up in the table.
It seemed too much had been expected of the match, which didn't reach the expected high level. Mahindra scored the winner in the 24.minute when Shanmugam Venkatesh headed-in a Falguni Datta corner. But it was Salgaocar who had the chances in the match with the strikers missing and mounting on the misery of coach Savio Madeira. It was the third 0-1 loss for Salgaocar in a row.

Junior Subroto Mukherjee Cup - Final: Oxford High School, MIZORAM 1-1,4-2 Government High School, Carnicobar, ANDAMAN&NICOBAR ISLAND (on penalties) - Goals: 0-1 W Ashael (5'), 1-1 Jerry Zorinsanga (90+').

Note-1: National coach Stephen Constantine was in Mumbai to watch the Mahindra-Salgaocar match.
Our Mumbai-based press colleagues asked Stephen why he had recommended the ADIDAS Fevernova balls to the AIFF to be used in the National League. Stephen said Indian players needed to get used to play with the Fevernova ball, which was standard in international football and with the World Cup qualifiers coming-up, this experience was needed. Stephen was happy that his recommendation had been implemented by the AIFF. The difference was "night and day" between the footballs former used in India and the Fevernova and I can only agree!

20. December
8th National League - Ludhiana: JCT Mills 0-2 Dempo SC - Goals: 0-1,0-2 Sunday Seah (3',47').
Dempo's successful run in the 8th National League continued with a 2-0 away victory against JCT Mills at the Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana. Dempo's Liberian striker Sunday Seah was the match winner for the Goans with his two goals. Sunday struck his first goal as early as the 4.minute, as he easily got past JCT defender KV Dhanesh and shot past a hapless keeper Mansuru Mohammad. Thereafter JCT didn't get into the match properly as Dempo controlled proceedings. Dempo doubled the lead just after the break as Sameer Naik broke free on the right, played a pass into the middle and Sunday Seah scored.

8th National League - Chennai: Indian Bank 2-4 Sporting Clube de Goa - Goals: 1-0 Syed Shabir Pasha (26'), 1-1,2-4 MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi (51',83'), 1-2 Abdullatif Seriki (60'), 2-2 Mahendra Mani (68'), 2-3 Avinish Thapa (82').
Indian Bank scored their first two goals in the 8th National League but it wasn't enough as they lost 2-4 against Sporting Clube de Goa at the Nehru Stadium, Chennai, their fifth loss in five matches.
Indian Bank took the lead in the 26.minute when seasoned striker Syed Shabir Pasha scored. It looked good until the lemon break for the Bankmen, who had their chances but things changed after halftime. Sporting Clube's Nigerian strikers MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi and Abdullatif Seriki got onto the scoresheet within the first quarter of the second half. First Omagbemi equalised in the 52.minute and then Seriki shot the Goans into the lead at the hour mark. Indian Bank came back as youngster Mahendra Mani equalised only eight minutes later but a double strike in the 82. and 83.minute by Avinash Thapa and Omagbemi second decided the match for the NFL debutants.
INDIAN BANK: Felix Edward, Rajesh Kumar Pandey, S Sudhakar, Anthony Noel, T Roopesh, Amjad Hussain, AA Fazlur Rehman, Mahendra Mani, Hamilton Bobby, KG Joseph, Syed Shabir Pasha.
SPORTING CLUBE: Luis Xavier Barreto, Vincent Pires, Louis Aniweta, Mehraj Din Wadoo (Sandeep Colaco), Akshay Das, Bibiano Fernandes, Jerose Oliveira (Avinash Thapa), Chanambam Jatin Singh (James Singh), Francis Andrade, Abdullatif Seriki, MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi.

8th National League - Calcutta: East Bengal Club 1-0 Tollygunge Agragami - Goal: 1-0 Cristiano Junior (1').
A goal seconds into the match was decisive for East Bengal's important single goal victory against Tollygunge Agragami in a National League match at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. The goal will go down as one of the fastest goals in Indian football's history. The kickoff was taken between Baichung Bhutia and Cristiano Junior, Baichung passed the ball forward to Junior who saw that the Tollygunge defence wasn't organised yet, keeper Chinmoy Banerjee out of position, so he tried a lob into the Tolly goal and it worked.
The match was controlled by East Bengal but their current weakness to score goals showed once more today but also Tollygunge keeper Chinmoy Banerjee had a great outing, denying East Bengal sure goals on a number of occasions. If East Bengal had utilised only some of their chances, they would have come away as clear winners but they had to fear until the end that Tollygunge could somehow have equalised.
EAST BENGAL: Sandip Nandy, Mahesh Gawli, M Suresh, Suley Musah, Sasthi Duley, Malswam Tulunga (Dipankar Roy), Debjit Ghosh, Alvito D'Cunha (Tushar Rakshit), Subhas Chakraborty, Baichung Bhutia, Cristiano Junior (Kalia Kulothungan).
TOLLYGUNGE: Chinmoy Banerjee, Kabijit Khotel, Isiaka Awoyemi, Ebi Bar Bar, Amitava Chanda. Biman Mondal (Manik Barman), Sandip Das (Suman Dutta), Shamshi Reza, Jiten Rai, Gouranga Dutta, Akeem Abul Alem.

Subjunior Subroto Mukherjee Cup - Final: Holy Heart High School, MIZORAM 1-0 BANGLADESH Krira Shiksha Parishad - Goal: 1-0 Lalramluaha (52').

Note-1: Former footballer and former national coach PK Banerjee will be fecilitated coming Tuesday at Rabindra Sadan for completing 50 years in football in Calcutta. Present on the occasion will be sporting legends - athlete Milkha Singh and cricketer Kapil Dev.
"PK" as he is called in football circles had come to Calcutta in 1953 to play for Aryan Club.

19. December
8th National League - Calcutta: Mohammedan Sporting Club 1-2 Churchill Brothers SC - Goals: 0-1 Chidi Edeh (56'), 1-1 SA Firoze (89'), 1-2 Yakubu Yusif (90').
Mohammedan Sporting Club lost 1-2 against Churchill Brothers SC in a National League match at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. Until the 89.minute it looked as if the new coach magic would work for Mohammedan Sporting Club with the team leading 1-0 and that they would come home with their first-ever NFL victory in their Round 5 match. But the Sporting defence cracked under the constant Churchill pressure before the final whistle was blown, not only once but twice to lose the match. Meanwhile for Churchill the win was the return of luck, as in their last match a Baichung Bhutia injury time goal had meant defeat against East Bengal.
In the opening session both sides had their chances and the loopholes in the Sporting defence already surfaced. But it was Sporting who took the lead in the 56.minute, when a Chidi Edeh header beat Mark Mascarenhas. Then came the 89.minute, when Churchill defender AS Firoze scored with a fierce shot of a rebound and then a minute later Ghanian striker Yakubu Yusif once more showed his class as he outran Sporting defender Madhab Das to score the winner.
MSC: Gumpe Rime, Amjad Ali Khan, Hussain Mustafi, Okoli Onyeka Odofa (Bungo Singh), Madhab Das, Syed Rahim Nabi (Zaheer Abbas), Godwin Abu Bakar, Khalid Siddique (Shahnawaz Iqbal Khan), Amandeep Singh, Dipendu Biswas, Chidi Edeh.
CHURCHILL: Mark Mascarenhas, Roque Pereira, Osumanu Husseini, SA Firoze, Rajesh Meetei, Francisco Alfonso, M John Kingsley (Noel Wilson), Riston Rodrigues, Hardip Singh Sangha (Santa Singh), Yusif Yakubu, Tiken Singh (Nitin Pradhan).

Note-1: Manipuri footballer Somatai Shaiza will soon be seen in action again!
"Soso" as Shaiza is called by his friends will return to Goan side Churchill Brothers SC, having asked for his release order from the IFA in Calcutta. He had last played for Mohun Bagan last season.
Also Churchill Brothers are showing interest in injured Brazilian striker Marcos Pereira from Mohun Bagan. Bagan haven't registered the Brazilian for their NFL roaster and speculations are ripe that they might sign a different foreigner to fill their last foreigners slot. Meanwhile Churchill and other Goan sides show interest in Marcos, if he is available as he is a proven striker on Indian soil.

18. December
8th National League - Calcutta: Mohun Bagan AC 2-0 Vasco SC - Goals: 1-0 Renedy Singh (32'), 2-0 Jose Barreto (54').
After an indifferent start Mohun Bagan scored a convincing 2-0 victory against Vasco SC in the National League at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. Jose Barreto returned to the Bagan line-up after he was forced to sit out the last match for a yellow card ban and made his presence more than felt but it was Vasco initially which troubled the new formed Bagan defence, where Leonardo Monorat de Almeida had been pulled back into the central defence from his midfield position and the Brazilian showed problems to adjust. Only the Vasco strikers Amaechi and Levy Coelho weren't able to utilise the chances that the hard working, skillful Brazilian Edson de Crasto set-up for them. Against the run of play Bagan captain Renedy Singh shot his team into the lead in the 32.minute, when he needed a second attempt to score as the ball had come of the post. Before halftime Vasco lost their most influencial player Edson as the Brazilian picked-up two yellow cards in short succession and was expelled. In the second half Vasco tried to come back but without their key man in midfield the combo of Barreto, Renedy and Hardip Singh Gill took control of affairs and it was the three who worked together to give Bagan it's second goal. Gill on the right crossed across to Renedy, who played a low cross for Barreto to connect with his head - 2-0. Thereafter Bagan could have enhanced their lead but Punjabis Gill and substitute Saini missed on a number of occasions.
MOHUN BAGAN: Prasanta Dora, Babun Kar, Harpreet Singh, Leonardo Monorat de Almeida, Rishi Kapoor, Mehtab Hussain, Hardeep Singh Gill, Eduardo Rebeiro (Hardeep Singh Saini), Renedy Singh (Sunil Chetri), Ashim Biswas (Palash Karmakar), Jose Barreto.
VASCO: Rogerio Ramos, Agnelo Colaco (Thomas D'Cruz), Selwyn Fernandes, Seby Dias, John Dias, Kamal Thapa, Sushanth Mathew (Anthony Fernando), Dennis Cabral, Edson de Castro, Amaechi Nwabunwanne Tochukwu, Levy Coelho (Sukhwinder Singh).

Note-1: The AIFF president Das Munshi has invited FIFA president Sepp Blatter to visit India in March 2004 to celebrate FIFA's centenary year and the Asian Football Confederation golden jubilee. And according to Das Munshi he has received a positive reply.
"We are planning to conduct the derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan at the Saltlake stadium in front of 120.000 spectators to celebrate the events," he said.

Note-2: The IFA installed five-man disciplinary committee at it's meeting today decided to issue a show-cause notice to East Bengal coach Subhas Bhowmick for his negative remarks on the IFA. Bhowmick has been asked to reply within a weeks time. Thereafter a decision if a fine or ban will be imposed will be decided.

17. December
8th National League - Calcutta: Tollygunge Agragami 2-1 Mahindra United - Goals: 0-1 Raphael Patron Akapko (16'), 1-1 Akeem Abul Alem (50'), 2-1 Jiten Rai (57').
Dark horses Tollygunge Agragami scored the biggest upset of the ongoing National League by beating Mahindra United 2-1 at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. It was the first loss for Mahindra United this season against a Calcutta side, not as would be expected against East Bengal, Mohun Bagan or Mohammedan Sporting but against a young, fighting Tollygunge side. With this win Tollygunge also remain without a loss this NFL, also as the only side from Calcutta. So far a better then expected NFL for the Moore Avenue club.
Mahindra took the lead in the 16.minute when their Togolese striker Raphael Patron Akapko utilised the blunder made by Tolly keeper Chinmoy Banerjee. But thereafter Tollygunge played a brand of attacking football not seen from the club in ages. Tollygunge were lucky that Mahindra weren't awarded a penalty four minutes after the break but only minute later Tollygunge captain Akeem Abul Alem headed in the equaliser of a Biman Mondal freekick. And then came the goal of the match as Jiten Rai took control of the ball outside the Mahindra box dribbled past numerous defenders and then unleashed a placed left-footer to score the winner in the 57.minute. Mahindra were also reduced to 10 men as right wingback Sanjay Parte received marching orders for a foul on Biman Mondal.
TOLLYGUNGE: Chinmoy Banerjee, Kabijit Khotel, Isiaka Awoyemi, Ebi Bar Bar, Amitava Chanda, Biman Mondal (Chinmoy Sarkar), Sandip Das, Shamshi Reza, Jiten Rai (Manik Barman), Gauranga Dutta, Akeem Abul Alem.
MAHINDRA: Kalyan Chaubey, Sanjay Parte, Arun Malhotra, Covan Lawrence, Odartey Lawson, Rauf Khan, Khalid Jamil, Shanmugam Venkatesh (James Singh), Jules Alberto (Steven Dias); Raphael Patron Akakpo, Syed Altafuddin Ahmed (Abhishek Yadav).

Note-1: Two matches of Round 5 & 6 of the National League have been rescheduled at the request of the IFA secretary and due to non-availability of the Saltlake Stadium in Calcutta.
- East Bengal Club Vs Tollygunge Agragami will now be held on December 20 instead of 21.
- Tollygunge Agragami Vs Mohammedan Sporting Club will now be held on December 23 instead of 24.

Note-2: Mohammedan Sporting Club have appointed Iranian Jamshed Nassiri as their new club coach. Shankar Moitra, who had only been appointed in November, had to leave the Sporting hot seat as he is too preoccupied with his employers - Eastern Railway SC, which made it impossible for him to do both jobs.
Jamshed Nassiri will take charge of affairs from tomorrow.

Note-3: Here an unbelievable report from "The Telegraph":
Some things never change in the Anjan Mitra-led administration of Mohun Bagan. Ever since the club was stripped by the high court of the power of overseeing the club's football affairs, they have put up one excuse after another to cover up their mistakes and playing a blame-game on the media has been a common feature.
On Wednesday, the ugly face came to the fore yet again when Mitra's men manhandled journalists, bringing disrepute to the century-old club.
Mitra, who is the club secretary, called a press conference at Calcutta Sports Journalists Club (CSJC) to speak about the allegations levelled against him by the current football administration. The principal charge against him is related to the subject of withholding payment of footballers.
Mitra came to the CSJC armed with more than 100 club members and officials. Whenever any controversial question came up, Mitra either bypassed it or passed the buck. One such question led his men, who totally outnumbered 30-odd scribes present on the occasion, to charge towards the journalists. They used abusive words and some even rampaged through chairs, allotted for the scribes. The club officials, including Mitra, remained silent, allowing their members to run riot inside the CSJC tent for about 20 minutes.
Mitra later apologised. "I'm sorry for what has happened here. As you have seen, they didn't listen to my pleas," the official said. When asked why he had come with so many people at a press conference, he reasoned they had turned up out of "their love for the club!"
During the press meet, Mitra only wanted to present his facts and figures, and as usual, a large part of his accusation was hurled against the current officials running football matters.
He insisted Jose Ramirez Barreto was paid Rs 4 lakh in the 2003-2004 season, but turned back completely when asked about the Brazilian's letter to club assistant secretary denying receiving any such money.
Mitra, however, maintained he would go by the decision of the UB Group, sponsorers of the club, about releasing money with regard to players' payments.
The official, however, claimed the Isa Musah case would have been handled more efficiently had he been given the charge. FIFA barred the club from recruiting foreigners untill payment to Musah was released within a certain period of time.

16. December
At a press conference in New Delhi the AIFF president Das Munshi announced today that the soft drink multinational "Coca-Cola" would be the title sponsor of the current National League and the upcoming season with the possibility of a contract extension until 2007. As had been announced earlier Kingfisher and Tata's would be the NFL co-sponsors.
Also the TV deal finally seems to have been sorted, as Doordarshan would show matches live and deferred from January, while a weekly show on Ten Sports was being worked on but hasn't been finalised as of yet.
Meanwhile, worried about a clash of dates between the World Cup qualifiers, AFC Cup and National League, the AIFF president Das Munshi said a rescheduling of the ongoing NFL is on the cards. "We have decided to call an urgent meeting with the clubs. The NFL may not conclude by March 31 and may go beyond that date," Mr Dasmunshi said.
As has been reported by indianfootball.com the 2006 World Cup qualifiers will be played on a home-&-away format. The opening match would be on February 18, 2004 away to Singapore.
Mr. Das Munshi said, "Japan tried to persuade us to play both the matches in Japan but we said no." Discussions on this are said to have taken place in Kuala Lumpur at an AFC meeting. Surprising is that FIFA had said that qualifiers around the world should be played home-&-away, exceptions would be political or financial restrictions.
The AIFF wanted to get the schedule to be modified a bit to fit into the Indian season and has requested the AFC to schedule India's last match against Japan at home instead of against Oman as per the present draw.
Also a reschedule of the NFL fixtures was needed as NFL champions East Bengal and Federation Cup champions Mahindra United would take part in the continental AFC Cup, starting on February 11, 2004. The Asian calendar with World Cup qualifier and continental club Cup matches is becoming more and more like Europe. Maybe in India we will have to wake-up to that fact. A rhythm like saturday-wednesday-saturday could be on the cards for Indian internationals...
Mr. Das Munshi also announced announced that the Vision Asia conference would be held in New Delhi from January 5 to 12, 2004. "The AFC president and secretary will attend the conference and we will also lay the foundation stone of Football House (the to be built AIFF headquarters) on January 9," he said.

8th National League - Goa: Dempo SC 1-0 Sporting Clube de Goa - Goal: 1-0 Sunday Seah (34').
Dempo continued their good run in the National League with a 1-0 victory against debutants Sporting Clube de Goa at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. Dempo's Liberian striker Sunday Seah scored the winner in the 34.minute with a right-footed effort into the far corner of the net, off a Stanley Colaco freekick. Tempers were running high in the Goan derby, which sometimes was even rough but the contest wasn't of a quality expected from the two sides.

8th National League - Calcutta: East Bengal Club 2-1 Churchill Brothers SC - Goals: 0-1 Yakubu Yusif (4'), 1-1 Cristiano Junior (45+'), 2-1 Baichung Bhutia (90+').
An injury-time winner from Baichung Bhutia gave East Bengal Club a much needed 2-1 victory against Churchill Brothers in a National League match at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta, their first of this NFL. After the match East Bengal coach Subhas Bhowmick termed the match as "a turning point for the team."
But the match began as has become typical for East Bengal lately as Churchill Ghanian sharpshooter Yakubu Yusif shot his team into the lead in the 3.minute after a Mahesh Gawli blunder. Thereafter Tiken Singh could have doubled the lead for the Goans but he didn't. Then in stoppage time East Bengal's new Brazilian recruit Cristiano Junior header hit the hand of Churchill defender Osumanu Husseini resulting in a penalty. Junior made no mistake to equalise. In the second half East Bengal took control of the match, especially the introduction of seasoned Tushar Rakshit after an hour strengthened East Bengal's midfield. But it wasn't before deep into injury time that East Bengal scored the winner as Baichung Bhutia pushed the ball into goal.
EAST BENGAL: Sandip Nandy, Suley Musah, Mahesh Gawli, M Suresh, Surkumar Singh (Malswam Tulunga), Subhas Chakraborty (Sasthi Duley), Baichung Bhutia, Debjit Ghosh (Tushar Rakshit), Alvito D'Cunha, Mike Okoro, Cristiano Junior.
CHURCHILL: Mark Mascarenhas, Roque Pereira, SA Firoze, Osumanu Husseini, Rajesh Meetei, Alfonso Xavier Francis, Noel Wilson, Riston Rodrigues, Hardip Singh Sangha (Santa Singh), Yakubu Yusif, Tiken Singh (Nitin Pradhan).

15. December
INDIA has moved-up one place in the latest FIFA world rankings. In the latest December 2003 ranking published today, India are now ranked 127th in the world but remain the 23rd ranked nation in Asia.
Our opponents in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers are ranked 29th - Japan, 62nd - Oman and 106th - Singapore.
Also today the latest Women's rankings were released by FIFA and our Indian girls remain 57th in the world.

8th National League - Calcutta: Mohun Bagan AC 3-0 Indian Bank - Goals: 1-0,2-0,3-0 Ashim Biswas (6',21',52').
A hattrick from youngster Ashim Biswas propelled Mohun Bagan to a convincing 3-0 victory against Indian Bank in a National League match at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. Ashim's hattrick was the first of this seasons NFL and also his first-ever in the league. Bagan missed their Brazilian superstar but it was a team effort today with young Ashim being the highlight with his goals and with the return of captain Renedy Singh also the left flank was again alive, unlike in their earlier match against Tollygunge.
Ashim Biswas opened the scoring in the 6.minute with a header from a Mehtab Hussain back-volley after a Renedy corner. Ashim doubled the lead in the 21.minute with another header from a Renedy corner, which Edu flicked on. Ashim completed his his hattrick seven minutes into the second half, when Ashim's weak shot was let in by Indian Bank keeper Felix Edward.
But Mohun Bagan coach Aloke Mukherjee has another worry to think about as defender Debkumar Sashmal fractured his left elbow in the first half and will be out for quite some time. With Sanjeev Kumar Maria already out injured the weak Bagan defence is further weakened and Aloke will have to think about alternatives.
MOHUN BAGAN: Prasanta Dora (Imran Khan), Babun Kar, Debkumar Sashmal (Palash Karmakar), Harpreet Singh, Rishi Kapoor, Mehtab Hussain, Leonardo Monorat de Almeida, Hardeep Singh Gill, Renedy Singh (Hardeep Singh Saini), Eduardo Rebeiro, Ashim Biswas.
INDIAN BANK: Felix Edward, Joseph Anandavasan, S Sudhakar, Anthony Noel, AV Willy, Amjad Hussain, M Sudheesh (Amulraj), Mahendra Mani, Prahlad Singh Rawat (Hamilton Bobby), KG Joseph (Mohammed Bin Hassan), Syed Shabir Pasha.

Note-1: The India U17 team has received an invitation from Thailand to take part in a youth tournament on the Thai island of Phuket from February 3-8, 2004. Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have confirmed their participation, while also Nepal and Bhutan had been invited. If the AIFF gives it's okay, then the tournament could become part of the preparation of the U17 team for the Asian U17 finals in September 2004 in Japan.

14. December
8th National League - Calcutta: Mohammedan Sporting Club 0-0 Vasco SC - Goals: none.
Mohammedan Sporting Club and Vasco SC played a drab goalless draw in a National League match at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. In their fourth NFL match Mohammedan Sporting picked-up their first-ever NFL point but today they could or maybe should have walked home with their first three points. But Sporting strikers Dipendu Biswas and Chidi Edeh missed a number of chances, especially Edeh being a culprit while Dipendu didn't come to the stage to finish. What lacked Sporting was the link between midfield and attack but today had a stable defence with Hussain Mustafi and Satish Kumar Bharti controlling the back line. Vasco today played a game out of a strong defensive unit relying on counter-attacks but their offensive doesn't have the quality of their attack of last season.
MSC: Gumpe Rime, Hussain Mustafi, Satish Kumar Bharti, Madhab Das, Amjad Ali Khan, Amandeep Singh, Syed Rahim Nabi, Khalid Siddique, Shahnawaz Iqbal Khan (Zaheer Abbas), Dipendu Biswas, Edeh Chidi.
VASCO: Rogerio Ramos, Agnelo Colaco, Seby Dias, John Dias, Kamal Thapa, Menino Fernandes (Sukhwinder Singh), Sushanth Matthew, Dennis Cabral, Edson de Castro, Amaechi Nwabunwanne Tochukwu, Levy Coelho (Agnelo Gomes, Anthony Fernandes).

8th National League - Ludhiana: JCT Mills 1-0 Salgaocar SC - Goals: 1-0 IM Vijayan (17').
JCT Mills scored a hard fought 1-0 victory against Salgaocar SC in a National League match at the Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana. The good Sunday crowd saw a fast-paced match, where both teams went into attack to score from the word go. The only goal of the match came in the 17.minute when JCT's star player IM Vijayan standing outside the box vollyed home a floater from Jagjit Randhawa past the surprised Salgaocar keeper Rajat Ghosh Dastidar. Thereafter both sides had their chances but especially JCT keeper Mohammad Mansuru continued with his impressive form under the bar, saving his team on at least four occasions from an equaliser.

1st Girls U17 National Football Championship, Udhagamandalam, Tamil Nadu - Final: Manipur 1-0 Orissa

Note-1: Might Mohun Bagan players tomorrow boykott their clubs National League match against Indian Bank?
It could really happen as the club hasn't paid any salaries to their players for the last three months. Something unbelievable as most of the players are professionals and their living is the salary they get from their clubs.
Also the team and coach Aloke Mukherjee want goalkeeping coach Atanu Bhattacharjee to return and have made a plea with the clubs management.

13. December
Note-1: The AFC Champions League has been modified after only one season of existence as it takes too long to hold and the standard of teams from Asia aren't of a similar level.
Under the new Vision Asia plans of the AFC the continental club championships have been divided into a three tier competition. The top tier will be the AFC Champions League, followed by the AFC Cup and the AFC Presidents Cup being the lowest level of Asian club competition.
THE draw for the AFC Cup was made on Friday at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The competition is for clubs from "developing" national associations as categorised by the AFC's Vision Asia. The draw should have been for 28 teams from 14 countries, but Jordan, DPR Korea and Myanmar pulled out, while Hong Kong and Oman only entered one team (instead of two).
The teams have been split into five groups (three from the west, south & central Asia; two from the east) with tournament being played on a home and away basis, kicking off on February 11.
While National League and ASEAN Club champions East Bengal have been drawn into a comparitive weaker eastern Asian group, while Federation Cup champions Mahindra United get a tougher West Asian group.
Group B: MAHINDRA UNITED, Al Wahda Sanaa (Yemen), Al Wahda (Syria), Dhofar (Oman).
Group E: Negri Sembilan (Malaysia), EAST BENGAL CLUB, Geylang United (Singapore), Island FC (Maldives).

Note-2: The Mohun Bagan team management was trying to do a face-saving act today as everyone was asking why goalkeeping coach Atanu Bhattacharjee had been fired or rather released as the club said. If the clubs claims are right, then this could only be a temporary measure and Atanu back with the team A weird punishment for sitting on the teams bench as goalkeeping coach. But it also surfaced today that a much more serious problem is being fought in the team management. Coach Aloke Mukherjee is on one side and Brazilian physical trainer Robson on the other, a clash of egos between the two as the Brazilian wants more say in the team. The club management today came together with Aloke and Robson plus Jose Barreto present to sort out differences. After the meeting it was said all problems were sorted.

Note-3: The IFA (Bengal body) has asked East Bengal coach Subhas Bhowmick to explain his derogatory remarks regarding the association over the last few month's, where among other things the coach mentioned ground conditions and match scheduling. The IFA has set up a five-member committee on the issue to come to a decision on the punishment.

12. December
If the rumours and murmurs are right then the AIFF will have one of it's worries in regard to the National League of it's problem list. The AIFF is said to soon sign a set of contracts in regard to the telecast rights of the National League with Doordarshan, Ten Sports and ESPN-Star Sports which would start from January 2004.
Doordarshan is set to make a come back as the key broadcaster of the NFL with live and deferred telecast of matches on DD Sports, while Ten Sports would have a weekly NFL highlight show as they did towards the end of last season. Meanwhile ESPN-Star Sports would cover the NFL in their daily sports news programmes.
If and when the deals are signed, which is expected to happen in the coming days, then the chances to get a title sponsor for the NFL rises. The AIFF is looking at something between 50 to 80 million Rupees, with a sum of around 60 million realistic at this moment.

8th National League - Goa: Churchill Brothers SC 3-1 Sporting Clube de Goa - Goals: 1-0 Riston Rodrigues (18'), 2-0 Osumanu Husseini (47'), 2-1 MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi (65'), 3-1 Tiken Singh (70').
Churchill Brothers SC beat a fighting Sporting Clube de Goa 3-1 in a National League Goan derby at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. Churchill Brothers went into the lead in the 18.minute when striker Riston Rodrigues scored. Ghanian defender Osumanu Husseini consolidated the lead two minutes into the second half with a perfectly taken freekick but thereafter Sporting took control of the match to at least get a point but their sharp shooter MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi was only able to reduce the margin in the 65.minute. But Churchill Bros' Tiken Singh scored five minutes later to make sure of the victory for his team.

Note-1: Were East Bengal Club officials to sack coach Subhas Bhowmick today or in the coming days, ahead of the teams next National League match against Churchill Brothers?
Brazilian midfielder Douglas da Silva, sensing that trouble was looming large in and around the club, took the initiative to get the team together to discuss the current senario and the team made it clear to the club's management that they would like to continue to work under coach Subhas Bhowmick and do not want a change in the head coach's position.
This prompted the top brass to make it clear to the press that they would also like to continue to work with Subhas Bhowmick until the end of the season. Backpaddling from their earlier stand, where the sacking of Subhas Bhowmick had been a topic, while the team was on it's way home from Ludhiana.

Note-2: Mohun Bagan have fired their goalkeeping coach Atanu Bhattacharjee. But the reason behind the sacking is really absurd. Atanu Bhattacharjee was fired as he sat inside the enclosed arena during Wednesday's National League match against Tollygunge Agragami. One has to question how Atanu could sit in the enclosed arena without the consent of his club.

11. December
The first of the interviews we made at the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification draw ceremony last Friday is now online in our 2006 World Cup section.
The interview was with Manuel Quaresma, the Portuguese Football Federation general-secretary, whom we talked about the link the AIFF talked about a few weeks ago which had been set-up with Portugal. Surprisingly Mr. Quaresma nor any of the other PFF officials knew about such links except something they had read in the papers...
For the interview click here

8th National League - Mumbai: Mahindra United 4-3 Mohammedan Sporting Club - Goals: 0-1 Amjad Ali Khan (9'), 1-1 Felix Aboagye (23'), 2-1 Raphael Patron Akakpo (50'), 3-1 Khalid Jamil (60'), 3-2 Chidi Edeh (70'), 4-2 Abhiskeh Yadav (73'), 4-3 Dipendu Biswas (80').
It was a goalrush at the Cooperage Ground today, where Mahindra United won 4-3 against Mohammedan Sporting Club in a National League match. Infront of a partisan crowd with more support for Sporting, Mahindra were lucky in the end to get away with a victory. Mohammedan Sporting stunned Mahindra and went into the lead in the 9.minute when right wingback Amjad Ali Khan scored of a ball from Syed Rahim Nabi but only 14 minutes after Ghanian Felix Aboagye equalised through a header. It remained even until halftime but after the break five more goals were to come. Mahindra scored two goals in the next quarter, when Togo's Raphael Patron Akakpo and captain Khalid Jamil scored. But Sporting weren't beaten yet as Nigerian Chidi Edeh reduced the deficit in the 70.minute but only three minutes later the two goal advantage for Mahindra was restored again by substitute Indian international striker Abhishek Yadav. But still there was one more goal to come as Mahindra keeper Kalyan Chaubey brought down Syed Rahim Nabi and Dipendu Biswas scored of the resultant penalty 10 minutes from time. Then late in the match Sporting substitute striker Sheikh Sanjib had two chances to equalise but he missed. Mahindra now have six points from three matches, while Sporting are still waiting get their first point in the NFL to remain at the bottom of the league.
MAHINDRA: Kalyan Chaubey, Sanjay Parte, Arun Malhotra, Covan Lawrence, Odartey Lawson, Rauf Khan, James Singh (Shanmugam Venkatesh), Khalid Jamil, Jules Alberto, Raphael Akakpo, Felix Aboagye (Abhishek Yadav).
MSC: Bibhas Ghosh, Amjad Ali Khan, Hussein Mustafi, Satish Kumar Bharti, Madhab Das, Amandeep Singh, Syed Rahim Nabi, Klahid Siddique (Zaheer Abbas), Shahnawaz Iqbal Shanaz, Dipendu Biswas (Sheikh Sanjib), Chidi Edeh.

8th National League - Goa: Dempo SC 2-0 Indian Bank - Goals: 1-0 Sunday Seah (15'), 2-0 Mohammed Gafari (38').
Dempo SC came to an easy 2-0 victory in the National League against Indian Bank at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. While Dempo became temporary league leaders; Indian Bank languish at the bottom of the league with their third defeat in as many matches without scoring a single goal. Something even more worrying for coach VP Sathyan.
Dempo went into the lead on the quarter hour mark when Clifford Miranda passed to Liberian striker Sunday Seah who volleyed the ball into the net. Then Dempo's new Nigerian central midfielder Mohammed Gafari scored a class goal seven minutes from the breather. Dempo could have increased their tally but missed some chances, while Indian Bank's main weakness remains it's midfield as seasoned striker Syed Shabir Pasha didn't get useful support.

Note-1: Former Mohun Bagan player Haradhan Banerjee died yesterday night at a south Calcutta nursing home. Banerjee had played for Mohun Bagan AC in the 1930s. He was 94.

10. December
IRAN international and Hamburger SV (Germany) forward Mehdi Mahdavikia was named the AFC Player of the Year for 2003 tonight, becoming the third player from his country to claim the honour since it was inaugurated in 1994.
Japanese sensation Yoshito Okubo claimed the Young Player of the Year award, while Iraq won the the National Team of the Year in other awards presented in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Following a stellar season with German club Hamburg, Mahdavikia has been crowned the continent's best footballer of 2003, beating out Thailand's Therdsak Chaiman, of BEC Tero Sasana, and Uzbekistan's Dynamo Kiev striker Maksim Shatskikh for the prestigious award. In effect, he emulated the feats of compatriots Ali Daei and Khodadad Azizi, who captured the prestigious award in 1999 and 1996 respectively.

8th National League - Goa: Salgaocar SC 0-1 Vasco SC - Goal: 0-1 Amaechi Nwabunwanne Tochukwu (77').
A late goal from Nigerian on loan striker Amaechi Nwabunwanne Tochukwu enabled Vasco SC to stun early league leaders Salgaocar SC in a National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. Goa witnessed a fast paced derby with honours even as both sides tried to contain the other sides attacks, which often led to counter-attacks. The only goal of the match came in the 77.minute and was made possible by Salgaocar keeper Rajat Ghosh Dastidar who came out of his charge to intercept a long ball from Vasco defender Agnelo Colaco, which he couldn't get his hands on or fist out as striker Amaechi Nwabunwanne Tochukwu headed the ball over Rajat into the empty net.

8th National League - Goa: Tollygunge Agragami 0-0 Mohun Bagan AC - Goals: none.
A fighting Tollygunge Agragami held a struggling Mohun Bagan AC goalless in a Calcutta derby in the National League at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. Initially Mohun Bagan had their chances - Hardip Singh Gill, Ashim Biswas and new Brazilian recruit Eduardo Rebeiro missing cheaply but Bagan's problem was that their star player Jose Barreto was tightly marked by Shamshi Reza, who did his job to perfection. Reza marked Barreto so well, not even giving him space to breathe that Barreto lost his temper and got his second yellow card in the league, due to which he will miss the next match. With Bagan also missing captain Renedy Singh due to injury the team didn't have anyone in the middle to control affairs or also make use of wingplay and with Barreto taken out of the match it just didn't work for them today. The main aim of the young Tollygunge team today was to contain Bagan and if chances come their way score. Captain Akeem worked hard upfront but didn't have any big support as the team was mostly defending. With this draw, Tollygunge's third in three NFL matches, they remain the only unbeaten side from Calcutta, something no one would have thought of when the NFL started two weeks ago.
TOLLYGUNGE: Chinmoy Banerjee, Kabijit Khotel, Isiaka Awoyemi, Ebi Bar Bar, Amitava Chanda, Gauranga Dutta, Sandip Das, Shamshi Reza, Amit Das (Manik Barman), Jiten Rai, Akeem Abul Alem.
MOHUN BAGAN: Prasanta Dora, Manitombi Singh (Babun Kar), Harpreet Singh, Leonardo Monorat de Almeida, Palash Karmakar, Mehtab Hossain, Rocus Lamare (Basudeb Mondal), Hardeep Singh Gill (Sunil Chetri), Jose Barreto, Eduardo Rebeiro, Ashim Biswas.

6th Shaheet-e-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh Memorial Football Trophy - Final: Border Security Force 2-1 Punjab Police

Note-1: As they did with the organisers of the Durand Cup, Doordarshan have now asked the Subroto Cup school football tournament organisers to pay Rs 100,000 to telecast the U14 and U17 finals of the tournament live. Doordarshan has shown matches from the tournament in the past but as in the case of the Durand Cup for the first time this year asked for money cover the production costs of the coverage.

9. December
8th National League - Ludhiana: JCT Mills 0-0 East Bengal Club - Goals: none.
JCT Mills held defending National League champions East Bengal Club to a goalless draw at the well filled Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana. JCT had more chances in the first half and early on after the breather but as the match moved on, East Bengal got more and more chances but as in earlier matches, Mike Okoro and Baichung Bhutia missed chances galore. On JCTs side seasoned IM Vijayan along with the returning Jo Paul Ancheri lead the young turks at JCT well. Especially Vijayan looked in good knock as he set-up a number of chances for his team but none went in. Late in the match Baichung and Okoro could or rather should have scored but their bad patch continued, as the strikers missed their chances. After the match coach Subhas Bhowmick once again said that how could a team win, if the strikers don't score. Yes a sad reality but in such situations maybe the midfielders and defenders have to do the work until the strikers get their touch back. Meanwhile JCT coach Sukhwinder Singh was happy with the score and the point as they still were playing against East Bengal.

Note-1: Three matches into the new National League season and is India's most successful coach of the last season - East Bengal's Subhas Bhowmick - under treath to lose his job? If the signs around the East Bengal Club tent on the Maidan in Calcutta is to believed than that is possibly on the cards. Since their ASEAN Club Cup title in July East Bengal have only won the Calcutta Super Division league title but lost in the finals of the IFA-Shield, Durand Cup and Super Cup.
A list of achievements other clubs in India or elsewhere in the world would be happy about but at the "Real Madrid of India", as East Bengal are being called lately, the pressure has been building over the last few weeks and the team hasn't been playing what it is capable off, as the internal pressure and problems seem to rub off on the team.
Now the pandora's box has been opened at the club, not by the team management but rather by members, as names of potential replacements for Subhas Bhowmick are being discussed. The favourites are said to be former Mohun Bagan coach Subrata Bhattacharjee and former East Bengal and India coach Syed Nayeemuddin. But that would surely be a too many steps back, if one of those two coaches would be signed. If East Bengal have to fire Bhowmick, they should look to move-up a step further and that would mean to look for a foreign coach. Maybe they should have a thought but the best option would be to give Subhas Bhowmick and his boys time to regroup.

Note-2: Goan club Churchill Brothers SC have been sporting the Coca-Cola logo on their jersey's since the start of the 8th National League. Today Churchill Brothers president Churchill Alemao official announced the sponsorship deal from Coca-Cola for his club.
At a press conference Mr. Alemao said, "The contractual formalities have been completed and Churchill Bros will avail Coca-Cola sponsorship for the next three years based on performance."
Mr. Alemao explicitly thanked AIFF president Das Munshi for making the contract possible and also helping the club come out of the financial contraints it has been under lately.

8. December
Note-1: An interesting article from the "Times of India" written by Nilanjan Datta:
After the successful Milk Cup campaign in Northern Ireland earlier this year, more exposure trips await India's junior footballers. The Subroto Mukerjee tournament committee has received an official invitation from Australia's Soccer Canberra to send the Under-17 and Under-14 Subroto Cup champions for the famous Kanga Cup.
"We've have extended an invitation to the organisers of the Subroto Cup for the Under-17 and Under-14 champions to play in the international Kanga Cup which will be held in Canberra from July 4 to 11 next year," Phil Hopkins, event's tournament director told TNN from Canberra on Sunday.
"The Kanga Cup is an age-group tournament for Under-11s to Under-19's, the biggest of its kind in the southern hemishpere. We would like to invite the junior Indian national team too," Hopkins informed, adding, "For that we need to speak to the AIFF and Soccer Australia . We also hope to host the senior Indian national team in Canberra for a series."
Subodh Bhatnagar, the organising secretary of the Subroto Cup confirmed that the champions of the respective age groups would indeed play in the Kanga Cup. "The Subroto committee will bear all expenses for that," he said.
Hopkins also informed that Soccer Canberra intended to send a team during the ongoing Subroto Cup to offer technical expertise. "We're still awaiting an official letter from the Indian High Commission."
TNN also spoke to Ramakrishna Kukkila, the regional manager of the Australian Trade Commission who informed: "Soccer Canberra wants to analyse the massive organisation effort of the Subroto Mukerjee committee which has been conducting the tournament for the past 43 years without fail. They feel there may be a few lessons for them in it."

Note-2: His name has been makings rounds around the East Bengal tent for some weeks, now Brazilian striker Christiano Junior is to arrive in Calcutta on wednesday to join the NFL champions. The player would come to India initially on a two month contract and depdning on his papers he would be signed as soon as possible.

Note-3: Mohun Bagan captain Renedy Singh will be out for another week due to injury problems. Renedy missed the Mahindra United match last Thursday and will now also miss wednesday's match against Tollygunge Agragami.

7. December
8th National League - Goa: Salgaocar SC 3-0 Mohammedan Sporting Club - Goals: 1-0 Bello Rasaq (59'), 2-0 Samson Singh (77'), 3-0 Felix Ibrebru (90').
Salgaocar SC scored a convincing 3-0 victory in the National League against promoted Mohammedan Sporting Club at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. Salgaocar needed nearly an hour to score their first goal against an ultra-defensive Mohammedan Sporting, whose aim was to take a point home to Calcutta from this match. But a Bello Rasaq header in the 59.minute ended the stalmate. Substitute striker Samson Singh's left footer doubled the lead 13 minutes from time, while Nigerian striker Felix Ibrebru's header of a Dharamjit Singh cross just before the end of the match sealed the match. Had Salgaocar striker Ibrebru and Freddy Mascarenhas utilised their chances, then the score could have been even higher for Salgaocar. With this win Salgaocar head the NFL table with two wins, while promoted Mohammedan Sporting remain on nil points and nil goals after two matches.

6. December
8th National League - Chennai: Indian Bank 0-1 Churchill Brothers SC - Goal: 0-1 Yakubu Yusif (70').
An oppurtunistic strike by Ghanian striker Yakubu Yusif was enough for Churchill Brothers SC to beat Indian Bank in an away match of the National League at the Nehru Stadium, Chennai. Indian Bank still without their foreign recruits from Sri Lankan, who were busy with World Cup qualifying engagements played a defensive game against a superior opponent. Churchill Brothers had their chances throughout the match to go ahead but poor finishing and a solid performance by Bank-keeper Felix Edward kept the Bankmen in the game. A faulty clearance by AV Willy in the 70.minute gave Yakubu Yusif the chance to score and the top scorer of the last two NFLs made amends for his earlier misses. Only a minute later Yakubu had another chance as the ball landed on the crossbar.
INDIAN BANK: Felix Edward; Rajesh Kumar Pandey, S Sudhakar, Anthony Noel, AV Willy, Amjad Hussain, Mahendra Mani, J Anandavasan, Mohammed Bin Hassan, KG Joseph, Syed Shabir Pasha.
CHURCHILL: Marc Mascarenhas, Roque Pereira, AS Firoze, Osumanu Husseini, Mir Farooq Hyder, Riston Rodrigues, Maclubugwo J Kingsley, Santa Singh, Ratan Singh, Yakubu Yusif, Tiken Singh.

8th National League - Goa: Dempo SC 1-1 Tollygunge Agragami - Goals: 1-0 Francis Silveira (85'), 1-1 Akeem Abul Alem (90').
Dempo SC were held to a one-all draw by Tollygunge Agragami in a National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. Dempo had control of the match right til seconds to the end but that wasn't enough as Tollygunge got a late equaliser. Dempo themselves only took the lead five minutes from time when substitute striker Francis "Pocket" Silveira scored but Tollygunge's Nigerian captain Akeem Abul Alem scored of a spectacular side-volley from a cross from Bar Bar.

5. December
Our INDIAN national team will have to fight it out in Group 3 against last World Cup co-hosts Japan, Oman and Singapore for a place in the final Asian round qualifiers for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. India were in the third of four pots of eight teams, which make-up the 32 team Asian qualifiers to the 2006 World Cup. First came Singapore into Group 3, then our own INDIA and then Oman. So far the group looked workable but then came one of the toughest possible opponents from the first pot into Group 3: Japan. The 2002 World Cup co-costs Japan are surely the favourites to win the group, though any of the three other teams could cause problems, if Japan do not play upto their potential. Oman are the toughest opponent for the Japanese, especially after their Asia Cup qualifiers win against South Korea but one should not count out Stephen Constantine and his boys.
The first match is likely to be in February 2004 against Singapore.

Asian Sub-Junior Cup 2004 Qualifiers - Group 4 - Calcutta: India U17 4-0 Afghanistan U17 - Goals: 1-0,3-0 L Vanchhawng (5',68'), 2-0 OT Lepcha (14'), 4-0 Tete A Tlau (87').
The India U17 boys won convincingly 4-0 against an inexperienced Afghanistan side at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta to qualify for the AFC Sub-Junior U17 Championships to be held in Japan in September 2004.
India who were held to a 1-1 draw by Nepal in the opening match of the Group 4 qualifiers played a much better match today and looked focused towards their target to qualify for the Asian finals. India needed at least a victory by a three goal margin and they made sure to qualify.
India's main asset was midfielder OT Lepcha, who controlled the midfield and made sure that the strikers got their chances to score. Striker L. Vanchhawng opened the scoring in the 5.minute of a pass from OT Lepcha, who himself doubled the lead 14 minutes into the match. Thereafter the Indian boys missed numerous chances, before L. Vanchhawng once again scored in the 68.minute. India made sure to qualify for the Asian finals when Tete A Tlau scored the teams fourth three minutes from time.
INDIA: Souvik Mondal, Lalthanpuia Hnamte, Chanchal Saha, Poibiang Poshna, Somnath Mitra, Robert Lalthlamuan, Tete A Tlau, OT Lepcha, B Ralte, L Vanchhawng (Hiroito Elangbam), Lalawmpuia Pachuau (Ashim Das).
AFGHANISTAN: Yama Yahiazada, Suhrab Niazi, Farid Ahmedi, Ali Ahmedi, Zahit Hussaini, Shikib Faizi, Akmal Hussaini, Mohammed Atal Y, Ali Noori (Ghulam Murtaza Ali), Ali Jawad Rezaki (Feriz Ahmed Azizi), ZR Hashmatullah (Mohammed Omar).

8th National League - Goa: Sporting Clube de Goa 4-1 JCT Mills - Goals: 1-0 MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi (16'), 1-1 IM Vijayan (18'), 2-1,3-1 Abdullatif Seriki (28',42'), 4-1 Avinash Thapa (67').
Debutants Sporting Clube de Goa scored an impressive 4-1 victory against JCT Mills in a National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. Sporting Clube had complete control of the match. They went into the league in the 16.minute, when Nigerian recruit MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi scored but the lead lasted only two minutes, as seasoned IM Vijayan equalised for the Millmen. But then Nigerian Abdullatif Seriki, signed ahead of the NFL, scored to goals - 28. and 42.minute to give Sporting Clube a good lead. Avinash Thapa's goal in the 67.minute completed the rout.

4. December
indianfootball.com will tomorrow be bringing to you live the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying draw ceremony from Frankfurt, Germany. It will start at 17-05 CET (21.35 IST).
And how? It's quite simple as the 2006 World Cup will be held in the country where two of indianfootball.com's editors I myself (Arunava) & Chris live - GERMANY. And now over two-and-a-half years in advance the qualifying draw will be carried out. Among the participating teams in the qualifiers - our own INDIAN national team in the Asian qualifying draw.
Lets hope that India get a group from where we have the chance to progress to the final round Asian qualifiers. Last time we missed out by only one point against the UAE and were tied second with Yemen. So it isn't impossible with the right group.
We also hope to talk with the important figures of world football, be it FIFA president Sepp Blatter or with former football greats like Franz Beckenbauer and Pele. But we will also spread the word about Indian football and it's only real website indianfootball.com !!!
Go to for complete coverage on the 2006 world cup qualifying draw

8th National League - Goa: Vasco SC 1-1 East Bengal Club - Goals: 1-0 Amaechi Nwabunwanne Tochukwu (82'), 1-1 Dipankar Roy (83').
Holders East Bengal were held to a one-all draw by Vasco SC in a National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. Vaco took the lead in the 82.minute, when their Nigerian striker Amaechi Nwabunwanne Tochukwu headed a Kamal Thapa corner into the net but only a minute later East Bengal equalised through substitute Dipankar Roy after a goalmouth melee. Vasco missed a big chance to beat the defending NFL champions but must also be thankful to their seasoned Brazilian keeper Rogerio Ramos that Baichung Bhutia and Mike Okoro didn't score for East Bengal. The weakness of his strikers and their loss of touch is a worrying factor for East Bengal coach Subhas Bhowmick.

8th National League - Mumbai: Mahindra United 2-1 Mohun Bagan AC - Goals: 1-0 James Singh (55'), 1-1 Jose Barreto (75'), 2-1 Felix Aboagye (79').
Mahindra United beat Mohun Bagan 2-1 in a National League match at the Cooperage Ground, Mumbai to pick-up their first three points in the NFL. Mahindra initially controlled the match as Bagan needed time to settle down but the jeepmen couldn't utilise their chances. Mahindra went into the lead in the 55.minute when James Singh curled in a freekick from the left, after an overlapping Sanjay Parte had been brought down. Brazilian Jose Barreto scored another class goal today to equalise in the 75.minute, when youngster Rocus Lamare sent Barreto free on the left, he shoke-off his marker and then unleashed a spark left-footer which zoomed past Mahindra keeper Kalyan Chaubey. The winner came of a mistake by Manitombi Singh, as his backpass to keeper Arindam Ghosh was intercepted by Ghanian striker Felix Aboagye, who then made no mistake to score 11 minutes from time. A much needed win for Mahindra, from whom a lot is expected in this league, while Bagan would have to be no more so open in defence.
MAHINDRA: Kalyan Chaubey, Sanjay Parte, Covan Lawrence, Arun Malhotra, Odartey Lawson, Rauf Khan, James Singh (Steven Dias), Kamil Jamil, Jules Alberto (Shanmugam Venkatesh), Felix Aboagye (Abhishek Yadav), Rafael Patron Akakpo.
MOHUN BAGAN: Arindam Ghosh, Manitombi Singh, Harpreet Singh, Leonardo Monorat de Almeida, Mehtab Hussain, Lorendra Singh (Rishi Kapoor), Hardip Singh Gill (Hardip Singh Saini), Rocus Lamare (Basudeb Mondal), Ashim Biswas, Jose Barreto, Eduardo Ribeiro.

3. December
Asian Sub-Junior Cup 2004 Qualifiers - Group 4 - Calcutta: Nepal U17 2-0 Afghanistan U17 - Goals: 1-0,2-0 Niranjan Khadka (81',83').

Note-1: Mohammedan Sporting's Nigerian midfielder John Ugwo might soon be released by his club, as he needs surgery on his injured knee, which could keep him out of action for month's and make him miss most of the National League. Just ahead of the NFL Ugwo had been named vice-captain of the MSC team.

2. December
Good news for talented young Indian footballers!
The AIFF will soon sign a MoU with the Portuguese sporting community - consisting of the Portuguese Olympic Committee, the Portuguese Football Federation, the University of Porto and Vitória Sport Clube. According to the plans three Indian junior players (aged 15 to 17) and a coach would spend two months at Vitória Sport Clube from March 2004 to soak in football at that level. The AIFF would pay the travel expenses, while the Portuguese authorities would bear all costs in their country. And this would be then a yearly exercise. Furthermore technical staff from the Portuguese FF would visit India for technical support and assistance.
The deal was struck during a recent visit of the Portuguese Olympic committee president and Club Victoria heads to Goa.
So far it is undecided which kids would go to Portugal but national coach Stephen Constantine has been given the task to scout for boys: These boys could come from the India U17 team and/or boys playing at the ongoing Subroto Cup.

52nd Bordoloi Trophy - Final: Oil India Limited 0-3 Assam Regimental Centre - Goals: 0-1,0-3 Seiminthang Chongloi (40',90+'), 0-2 Laldingliana (90').

Note-1: An IANS report: They have classy football kits, Reebok boots and also coaches. For some Indian street children, a unique soccer league has kicked off all this and more!
Launched by the India Youth Soccer Association, Street Kids Soccer League kicked off at the National Stadium here Sunday. About 60 children in two age groups will play matches every Sunday afternoon for the next 15 weeks.
A group of coaches, including IYSA secretary Arup Das, will guide the children who have been chosen from among those under the care of NGOs Salaam Balak Trust and Karam Marg. Each child taking part in the league has been given a Reebok kit, including football boots.
"The kits are specially made from a 'play dry' material that absorbs sweat quickly - the same from which jerseys of the East Bengal Club are made," Das told IANS.
"We just have to ensure that they keep coming back every Sunday for their matches," added Das, son of CII secretary-general Tarun Das and one of the three co-founders of the IYSA.
The league, launched in association with Youthreach and sponsored by Asahi India, will be divided into two groups of eight teams, of boys aged eight-nine years and 10-12 years. There will also be eight girls taking part, added Das.
The IYSA has been coaching street children of Salaam Balak Trust for a year, and 11 of these boys are currently playing in the IYSA Mini Soccer League alongside school children.
Children, particularly the poor ones, will be helped to join Soccer Street, a scheme that aims to rope in underprivileged kids from metros as well as the larger villages of the country.
Meanwhile, the popular third IYSA Soccer League is currently on, with about 450 children from different schools, aged 7-14, playing matches in Delhi and nearby Gurgaon Sunday mornings.
The nearly 400 children are given coaching every week at the Super Soccer academy, which is a part of the IYSA.
The IYSA also runs an advanced academy for the top 20 players. An exclusive league for girls is set to begin next month.

1. December
Asian Sub-Junior Cup 2004 Qualifiers - Group 4 - Calcutta: India U17 1-1 Nepal U17 - Goals: 1-0 PC Lalam Puia (43'), 1-1 Shishir Adhikari (47').
A newlook young Indian U16 national team got of to a mixed start in the Asian Sub-Junior Cup 2004 Group 4 qualifiers at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta, where the team drew Nepal 1-1. A dangerous score as both sides now play Afghanistan with the goal difference likely deciding the group winners and who moves into the final round.
All three participating sides are under-16 national teams as the AFC U17 championships will only be held in September 2004 in Japan.
India was surely the superior side on display today against a defensive Nepal but also the Indian coach Johar Das used a defensive strategy, which backfired in the end. Not happy with the performance of striker Romeo Sukhlain, Das substituted him with PC Lalam Puia in the 42.minute and in the very next minute PC Lalam Puia shot India into the lead. But the lead wasn't to last long, as only two minutes after the break an oppurtinistic Shishir Adhikari scored the equaliser. For the rest of the match the Indian boys tried to score the winner but the woodwork was in the way plus their own inexperience.
Also it seemed the Indian coaches couldn't really influence their boys during the match due to lack of language skills. Something to worry about, as some Northeastern boys in this squad don't speak any English nor Hindi, especially those from Mizoram.
INDIA: Souvik Mondal, T Naoba Singh (RC Chandrashekar), Chanchan Saha, Poibiang Poshna, Somnath Mitra, Robert Lalthlamuana, Tete A Tlau, Laltanpuia Hnamte (OT Lepcha), Romeo Sukhlain (PC Lalam Puia), B Ralte, L Vanchhawng.
NEPAL: Sanjeev Sreshtha, Durga Lawat, Santosh Gurung, Dipesh Thapa Magar (Suraj Kharabuja), Sandeep Rai, Shishir Adhikari, KC Rojit, Krishna Lama (Bikash Chhetri), Nirajan Khadka, Santosh Shahukhala, Jeevan Sinkemana (Gyanandra Ale).

8th National League - Goa: Churchill Brothers SC 0-0 Tollygunge Agragami - Goals: none.
Churchill Brothers were held to a goalless draw by Tollygunge Agragami in a National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. Churchill had more of the match but couldn't utilse their openings with Tollygunge relying on a strong defence and using a counter attack strategy. And it worked new Tollygunge coach Krishnendu Roy and his boys. Churchill did score once midway in the first half but Ghanian striker Yakubu Yusif header was disallowed due to an infringement on Tollygunge keeper Chinmoy Banerjee.

8th National League - Chennai: Indian Bank 0-3 JCT Mills - Goals: 0-1 Stephen Abarowei (12'), 0-2 Sukhjinder Singh (19'), 0-3 Charanjit Kumar (68').
In the National League match where the NFL's southern representative hosted their northern counterpart, JCT Mills trashed Indian Bank 3-0 at the Nehru Stadium, Chennai to take home the three points with them to Punjab. JCT were in charge of the proceedings but if there was any danger from the Indian Bank forwards seasoned Syed Shabir Pasha and young Mahendra Mani, then there was JCT keeper Mansuru Mohammad to fall back on, an inspiration for his team. JCT took the lead in the 12.minute when Nigerian striker got the ball to shot home after a Ram Pal freekick. Seven minutes later IM Vijyan send young Sukhjinder Singh free who made no mistake to score. In the 68.minute substitute Charanjit Kumar headed in a Daljit Singh throw-in to give JCT a clear 3-0 lead and it stayed that way until the end.
INDIAN BANK: Felix Edward, Rajesh Kumar Pandey, DCJ Anthony Noel, S Sudhakar, Mohammed Bin Hassan, Amjad Hussain, Anandavasan (AV Willy), Prahlad Singh Rawat, Mahendra Mani, Syed Shabir Pasha, Aseem (KG Joseph).
JCT: Mansuru Mohammad, Jagjit Singh Randhawa, KV Dhanesh, Musa Aliu, Daljit Singh, Jaswinder Singh, Sukhjinder Singh, Harvinder Singh (Baldip Singh), Ram Pal, IM Vijayan (Charanjit Kumar), Stephan Abarowei (Manjit Singh).

Note-1: The uncertainly if Afghanistan would take part in the Asia U17 Cup qualifiers was cleared today as the team arrived in New Delhi today and would arrive in Calcutta by tomorrow to play Nepal the day-after and hosts India on Friday.

Note-2: Mohun Bagan's two new Brazilians Leonardo Monorat de Almeida and Eduardo Rebeiro were today registered for the National League at the IFA office after their International Transfer Clearance reached India today. The two will travel with the Mohun Bagan team to Mumbai for Thursday's match against Mahindra United and as coach Aloke Mukherjee hinted could most likely get a start, as Debkumar Sashmal remains injured, while Sanjeev Kumar Maria and Renedy Singh have joined the injury list. But the Bagan captain Renedy would travel with the team to Mumbai.

Note-3: It just wasn't a bad Sunday on the pitch for Fransa FC at the Bordoloi Trophy in Guwahati yesterday, as they were eliminated in the semifinals,but also their Nigerian recruit Adewusi Adeboyo had to be admitted to a nursing home due to acute appendicitis. Adewusi is said to be in stable condition but if he would be in a state to be transported back to Goa along with his teammates tomorrow isn't sure.