indianfootball.com joint editor-in-chief Chris P. Daniel will be in Kerala (close to Trivandrum) from April 14 to 23, 2004. If you would to get directly in touch with Chris when down in Kerala, send Chris a mail .

31. March
2006 World Cup Qualifiers - Asia Zone - Group 3 - Nehru Stadium, Kochi: INDIA 1-5 Oman - Goals: 0-1 Imad Ali Suleiman (11'), 1-1 Renedy Singh (13'), 1-2,1-3 Mohammed Mubarak (26',49'), 1-4,1-5 Badr Mubarak Al Maiman (59',88').
INDIA's hopes of maybe making it into the second stage of the Asian qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup were given a bashing as INDIA were beaten 5-1 by a strong Oman side at the near capacity Nehru Stadium, Kochi. But all isn't over yet as it was only match 2 of the six preliminary round matches but now come the two tough matches away and then at home against Japan, who at the moment are winning their matches more with luck than through their class, and maybe INDIA today lost against the strongest team of Group 3. But that doesn't make the defeat any better. All isn't lost yet but our team would have to regroup for the next match and Stephen Constantine will surely work harder than he already does for the right tactics, physical fitness of the team and other things needed for the match against Japan on June 8.
INDIA: 1-Sangram Mukherjee; 2-Muttath Suresh, 4-Debjit Ghosh, 16-Deepak Kumar Mondal (74' 3-Satish Kumar Bharti), 14-Mahesh Gawli; 8-Renedy Singh, 7-James Singh (53' 18-Jatin Singh Bisht), 10-Alvito D'Cunha (34' 6-Shanmugam Venkatesh), 5-Climax Lawrence; 15-Baichung Bhutia, 9-Abhishek Yadav.
OMAN: 26-Ahmed Al Khatri, Said Al-Shoon (77' Khalifa Ayil), Nabeel Ashoor, R Al-Noobi, H Youssouf, Aiyman Suroor, Fouzi Basheer, 12-Mohammed Mubarak, Ahmed Hadid, Hashim Saleh, 10-Imad Ali Suleiman (39' 16-Badr Mubarak Al Maiman).
Referee: Danny Ong Kim Heng (Malaysia)
Attendence: 57,000.
more details at the indianfootball.com 2006 FIFA WORLD CUP section

Statements from coaches:
India chief coach Stephen Constantine at the press conference: "I just want to apologise to all our supporters for the poor performance that my boys came up with tonight. It was quite a dreadful show, the worst through the last two years in which I have been in charge of this side. I have absolutely no excuses to offer. Too many players were under par today. We didn't do enough, gave the ball away very easily. Those were absolutely schoolboy mistakes. And every single mistake we made was punished. Only one or two players were able to look me in the eye after the match. They had a very bad day. Oman played well. They were fast. Shows how far we have to go to catch up with the best in Asia."
Oman's coach Milan Macala: "Nice to win but I'm not hundred per cent satisfied. It is true that we won easily tonight. But we also made many mistakes, though the side is quite a young one and we are preparing for the future."

30. March
9.SAF Games Football Tournament - Group A - Rawalpindi: INDIA U20 1-0 Pakistan U23 - Goal: 1-0 Debabrata Roy (70').
The INDIA U20 team scored an important lone goal victory against hosts Pakistan in a Group A match of the SAF Games at the Army Stadium, Rawalpindi to keep our chances alive to qualify for the semifinals. The winning goal for our youngsters came from TFA midfielder Debabrata Roy in the 70.minute of the match. With this win India now have four points from two matches, and will play Afghanistan on Thursday to ensure our passage into the last four stage.
The India-Pakistan rivalry spilled over onto the football field today with India winning once more but the India U20 and the Pakistan under-23 teams didn't take the match to any great heights. India started well into the match but they were denied an early goal by Pakistan goalkeeper Jaffar Khan on a number of occasions. Later in the first half most of the action was restricted to the midfield. After the breather the INDIA boys enhanced their endeavour to attack and score but the Pakistani defence used rough tactics to destroy any constructive play. Still our boys continued their attempts and in one such attack midfielder Malswam Tulunga was brought down in the penalty area. Debabrata Roy scored the winner of the resultant penalty but thereafter the Indian boys went into a defensive shell, only wanting to keep the result. Pakistan got some chances late in the match but Subashish Roy Chowdhury proved his class.
India U20 coach Aloke Mukherjee's first reaction on the victory against Pakistan: "It's nice to win the match. But I'm not happy the way we played today. My boys simply could not play to their potentials."
INDIA U20: 1-Subashish Roy Chowdhury; 2-Gurpreet Singh, 3-Habihur Rahman Mondal, 15-Manju Nanjangud Shivananju; 6-Gouramangi Moirangtem Singh, 10-Malswama, 5-Debabrata Roy, 17-Jerry Zirsanga, 18-Shylo Malswam Tulunga; 7-Sutang Marlanki, 16-Vimal Pariyar.
PAKISTAN: 1-Jaffar Khan,8-Burhan Ali, 5-Muhammad Zahid, 6-Naveed Akram, 4-Ejaz Ahmed, 7-Zahid Hameed (14-Abdul Aziz), 16-Attique ur Rehman,13-Mudassar Saeed, 17-Nasir Iqbal, 11-Muhammad Essa, 12-Qamar Zaman (10-Adeel Ahmed).
thanks to our friends from footballpakistan.com for infos!

Note-1: India chief coach Stephen Constantine this morning announced the final 18 member squad for the match tomorrow against Oman. Three new faces have been included in Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Prasanta Dora, Mahindra midfielder James Singh and Vasco midfielder Krishnan Ajayan. The 18 member squad is made-up of two goalkeepers, five defenders, eight midfielders and two strikers.
Sameer Naik and Naseem Akhtar, were first ruled out due to injury while Tomba Singh was not considered due to poor form after his return from injury.
Six players were dropped from the probables camp. They were Sandip Nandy, Selwyn Fernandes, Subhas Chakraborty, Steven Dias, Sheikh Sanjib and Bijen Singh.
INDIA: GK: Sangram Mukherjee (East Bengal), Prasanta Dora (Mohun Bagan). DF: Deepak Kumar Mondal, Mahesh Gawli, Debjit Ghosh, Muttath Suresh (all East Bengal), Satish Kumar Bharti (Mohammedan Sporting Club). MF: Shanmugam Venkatesh, James Lukram Singh (both Mahindra), Jatin Singh Bisht, Climax Lawrence (both Salgaocar), Alvito D'Cunha (East Bengal), Renedy Singh (Mohun Bagan), Jo Paul Ancheri (JCT Mills), Krishnan Nair Ajayan (Vasco). FW: Baichung Bhutia (East Bengal - CAPTAIN), Ashim Biswas (Mohun Bagan), Abhishek Yadav (Mahindra United).

With the INDIA squad announced today, the only question remaining is who will play in the first eleven tomorrow?
INDIA coach Stephen Constantine is likely to retain most of the team which beat Singapore, with the only surity being that Sameer Naik will have to be replaced as he is out injured. Sangram Mukherjee will do duty under the bar, as he has overcome his back problems. In defence the East Bengal trio Deepak Mondal, Debjit Ghosh and Mahesh Gawli are likly to do duty, with teammate Muttath Suresh and Satish Bharti ready if needed. Renedy Singh, Alvito D'Cunha, Jo Paul Ancheri and Climax Lawrence are likely to man the midfield but as Sameer is missing someone else will have to fill his place in the team. Likely candidates are Shanmugam Venkatesh and local lad K Ajayan, if Ajayan comes in then the midfield would have to be moved around a bit. Upfront Baichung Bhutia looks to be in top form and as sharp as ever and Ashim Biswas is likely to partner him upfront. Abhishek Yadav is likely wait on the sidelines to make a mark on the match.

Note-2: An oHerald report: Baichung Bhutia and company will find full-throated Goan support from the stands when they attempt to muzzle Oman, a team ranked 72 places above India, here on Wednesday, March 31. Goan football enthusiasts have arrived in hordes at Kochi and are here not merely to make up the numbers. "We have not come here to see India lose. Apart from an eloquent contest, we want to see India pick all three points at stake," Goa FA secretary Savio Messias told Herald.
At Kochi, the GFA secretary is joined by Vasco SC patron Noel da Lima Leitao and former GFA president Vinod Parkkot. "I have a hunch that India will have the last laugh here. Football needs surprises and I guess we will see one tomorrow. The team is looking good and a fiery contest is in the offing," said Noel da Lima Leitao who saw India create the biggest upset in the World Cup qualifier when they scored a solitary goal win over UAE, at Bangalore, three years ago.
"Several other football enthusiasts have descended on Kochi for the World Cup qualifier executive committee members and football fanatics are arriving tomorrow," Messias informed this including a group of 14 foreigners, now based in Calangute.
Santan Rodrigues from Taleigao, a die-hard football fan, has also come here along with eight of his friends. "I just hope India can win the match and then we can really go all out against Japan. I understand Oman are tough opponents and are highly-ranked but India are playing at home and are familiar with the conditions," said Santan. His friend Anthony Sequeira, however, put things in proper perspective. "Oman are really tough opponents. They held Japan to draw until the dying minutes of the match and that too in their own den. Realistically, India should be happy with a draw while a win will be a big, big bonus," he maintains.
It's not only officials who have descended on Kochi. Eleven journalists from Goa arrived here yesterday, ostensibly on a Study Tour - funded by the Sports Authority of Goa - but are expected to sample India's World Cup encouner. "Who can afford to give football a miss in Kochi," asked Sharad Naik of the UNI and who is leading the sports delegation.
"I am sure India will turn the heat on Oman. You can be rest assured, we will all be at the Nehru stadium and will not hide our support for India," added Sharad, who is also the president of the Sports Journalists Association of Goa.

Note-3: East Bengal coach Subhas Bhowmick appeared infront of the IFA executive committee today to explain his so-called "derogatory remarks" on the IFA and why he couldn't appear infront of the body on December 13. Bhomwick explained that he had criticized the IFA on certain issues - Super Division championship playoff final and One-Day tournament, which he saw weren't good in the interest of football. But later he had complemented the IFA, when some of the steps were taken back or others implemented in the interest of the game. Bhowmick then explained why he couldn't appear infront of the committee on December 13 as he had just returned from a bad away trip with his team and the scenario was soo serious that he was on the bring of being fired. Bhowmick hoped that the IFA understood that whatever he did was in the interest of the game. Now it was upto the IFA to decide what ban would be right for Bhowmick.
The IFA executive committee would meet again to decide, if the two year ban would be kept or changed into something else. What decision would be taken isn't clear at the moment.

Note-4: The draw for the AFC U-19 Women's Championship, China 2004 was made on Sunday in the Chinese city of Suzhou. The AFC U-19 Women's Championship, China 2004 will commence from May 26 to June 6 in the cities of Suzhou and Wuxi. The first edition of the champions were held in India in 2002. Our Indian girls have been drawn in Group B along with losing finalists Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), Singapore and Hongkong. With the group winners and runners-up moving into the quarterfinal knockout stage, Taiwan are sure favourites to win the group; while India would have to fight Singapore and Hongkong for the second place, which is surely possible but it depends on the preparations that our girls get.

29. March
Yesterday the indianfootball.com Website crossed the 300.000 HITs barrier !!!
indianfootball.com started on April 10, 1998 but we only started with the counter on the site in 1999 and we had crossed the 100.000 barrier on May 9, 2002 and the 200.000 barrier on July 18, 2003. Sadly we have to add that the counter hasn't always worked, so we actually will have crossed the 300.000 mark a few days ago.
Right from the start until today, indianfootball.com is the only site, which tries to look at as many aspects as possible in Indian football, which are quite diversified, and are getting more as the game progress' in India.
indianfootball.com is India's Premier Football Website and the success of the site also proves for us that our hard work and dedication pays off with the return of the visitors/users in search of Indian football news and results. And we happily see that we are getting more and more HITs!
Await another special on wednesday, as we will have live updates from the INDIA-Oman match and also will meet in the chatroom to keep uptodate with happenings at Kochi's Nehru Stadium.

Note-1: An oHerald report: The AIFF is in favour of reviving the Nehru Gold Cup international tournament, which until its abrupt interruption in 1997, was India's most popular and prestigious international football tournament, attracting both teams and players of repute.
The Kerala FA has offered to host the prestigous international tournament for five years - beginning next year - and are confident that they have the magic and the majesty - in abundance - to strike it big. "The Kerala FA is interested in hosting the tournament. The AIFF wants to have one international tournament in India, every year, and the Nehru Cup will fill that void," AIFF secretary Alberto Colaco told Herald.
India's last international tournament was the ill-fated and jinxed Sahara Millennium Cup, in 2001 where the organisers "Studio 2100" suffered huge losses.
Kerala seems to be the obvious choice to host the prestigious tournament as no State state association in Indian football has, or can undertake, the conduct of a major event, with the durable confidence of ending up with a profit as can the Kerala FA.
"Nehru Gold Cup brings to mind quality football and tremendous interest. We have an emotional attachment with the Nehru Cup," KFA president KM Mather informed Herald, before continuing, "We will have the Nehru Cup in the grandest manner possible and put everything back on track. We are waiting for AIFFs nod."
The AIFF, in the meanwhile, is waiting for a written proposal from the KFA which will be presented before the executive committee for sanction. "Kerala has offered to host the tournament, verbally. They need to put pen to paper," Colaco maintained.

Note-2: The Tata Football Academy will release their current batch of players at the fifth TFA convocation ceremony at the SNTI auditorium, Jamshedpur on April 13. The current senior batch is seen as especially talented, with 12 of the boys currently representing India at the SAF Games. The junior batch would continue to be at TFA for another two years, while a new batch of 13/14 year old boys would be inducted into TFA this summer. The last round of trials would be held on April 3/4 and after that it would be known which 20 to 22 boys would be inducted into TFA. 40 boys have made it into the final round selection trials and after the trials the names would be released, though some boys from the India under-14 team might also be inducted. What could be new at TFA is that on the release day of the senior batch, the new batch would be taken into the Academy and introduced. Maybe a good step, as the boys could see what they could be like four years on, when they get released by TFA.

Note-3: East Bengal Club have given the okay to their fourth goalkeeper Jiju Chetri to return on loan to his home club Oil India Limited, Duliajan in Assam for the rest of the 2003/04 season. Jiju has been having family problems back home, so he wanted to return home plus he nearly got no chance at all to play for East Bengal with internationals Sangram Mukherjee and Sandip Nandy plus seasoned Arpan Dey infront of him in the picking order. For Oil India Limited meanwhile the return of Jiju means a strengthening of their squad ahead of their start into the 2.Division National League on April 10 in Shillong.

28. March
9.SAF Games Football Tournament - Group A - Rawalpindi: INDIA U20 0-0 Bangladesh U23 - Goals: none.
In the end India U20 had to settle for a goalless draw against Bangladesh in their first Group A match of the 9th SAF Games, about which the coaches and the boys weren't happy about. The young Indian team, playing against an under-23 Bangladesh side, needed time to settle down in the match but by that time the match was well into the second half. Bangladesh had their chances in the first half to score, with Ashraful Quader and Firoj Mahmud Hossain both missing headers. The lack of height of the Indian players showed especially against the Bangladeshi defenders but with getting better into the match, the technical skills and speed of the Indians worked. The creative midfield today didnt work and made major problems for the Indians as Malswama didn't have a good day in office, while Jerry Zirsanga has just coming back from an injury. Jerry twice was able to play the ball into the danger zone from the right but there were no takers in the middle. Also the uneven pitch at the Army Stadium in Rawalpindi didn't help the Indian game.
India U20 coach Aloke Mukherjee's first reaction on the goalless draw against Bangladesh: "Though the first match is always a tough proposition whoever may be the opponents, my boys are capable of producing much better soccer. Compared to the rivals, my boys are comparatively junior, the ground is also a little uneven and the match was held in the morning. Considering all these factors, the result is not too bad. But I'm not happy as today our upfront wasted chances to score."
INDIA U20: 1-Subashish Roy Chowdhury; 2-Gurpreet Singh, 3-Habihur Rahman Mondal, 15-Manju Nanjangud Shivananju; 6-Gouramangi Moirangtem Singh, 10-Malswama (8-Chitrasen Chandam Singh), 11-Babin Biswas (5-Debabrata Roy), 17-Jerry Zirsanga, 18-Shylo Malswam Tulunga; 7-Sutang Marlanki (23-Naduparambil Pappachan Pradeep), 16-Vimal Pariyar.
BANGLADESH: 20-Mohammad Atiqul Islam Tariq, 2-Firoj Mahmud Hossan Titu, 13-Mohammad Asrafu Karim (Mehedi Hasan), 3-Mohammad Masud Parvez Kaiser, 6-Mostofa Anowar Parvez (Zahid), 9-Mohammad Monwar Hossain (Rashed Ahmad), 5-Mohammad Sujan, 7-Mohammad Abdulla Al Parvez Sala, 14-Mohammad Akram Hossain, 19-Yousuf Ali Khan, 12-Ashraful Quader Monju.
thanks to our friends from footballpakistan.com for infos!

37th All-India Ballarpur Industries Limited Trophy - Final: Gorkha Brigade 0-0,1-0 BEG, Roorkee (golden Goal)
Gorkha Brigade, Lucknow defended their title won in December 2002!

2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Final: Manipur 0-0,3-4 Assam (on penalties) - Goals: none.
Assam defended their title against hosts Manipur in a penalty shootout.

13.Dutta Ray Trophy (Under-21) Trophy - North Zone Qualifiers - Final: Punjab 1-0 Haryana

Note-1: Oman coach Milan Macala announced his squad for the India match. The major handicap for chief coach Milan Macala is the non-availability of the main goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi, who left for Norway due to club duty.
We are very happy at indianfootball.com to have informed the Indian squad about the good news for us from Oman camp!
more details at the indianfootball.com 2006 FIFA WORLD CUP section

Note-1: Tollygunge Agragami today at their executive committee meeting decided to take disciplinary action against own midfielder Amit Das. Amit has been suspended for 365 days, for one year, by his club, which Tollygunge would inform the IFA about in the coming days.
Amit has been banned as he according to the club was staying away from training for an injury which he didn't have and when asked to prove his injury, he showed documents, which weren't accepted. But the player claims that he is injured and was advised by East Bengal doctor Shanti Ranjan Dasgupta to consult a colleague in Baruipur, south of Calcutta. Amit didn't know what he can do to prove his innocence.

27. March
Here the latest from the INDIA camp in Kochi:
East Bengal defender Debjit Ghosh yesterday had to leave the camp for Calcutta as his ailing wife will have to undergo an operation in Calcutta on Monday. Debjit is expected back at the camp on Monday itself and he himself is said to be fit to play on wednesday against Oman. Meanwhile Salgaocar SC midfielder Climax Lawrence had to miss yesterday's practice sessions due to a mild fever but Climax might return to the training pitch today evening itself. Until matchday Climax will surely be fit to play.

2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - 3rd Place Playoff: Nagaland - SAI Red, Guwahati

Note-1: Our friends from footballpakistan.com informed us today that the SAF Games organisers shifted the India U20 - Bangladesh match from Peshawar to Rawalpindi. Now the match would be held at the Army Stadium, Rawalpindi. The organisers have given no reason behind the move, but the organisers said it was not due to a request from India or Bangladesh nor had it to do with any terrorist threats as some quarter rumour.
Meanwhile the young Indian squad arrived in Pakistan ahead of their first match on Sunday. What we can expect from our boys isn't clear but from the way I know the boys, they will give their best, fight until the end to make India proud. India is fielding a young developmental squad of mainly Tata Football Academy players, with many still eligible to play under-18 internationals. Coach Aloke Mukherjee strengthened the team by calling-up East Bengal midfielder Malswam Tulunga and Mohun Bagan striker Sunil Chetri. And with the experiences of having played in Germany, the UAE, the UK and Thailand; most of the boys have some useful international experience but this is the highest level of competition they will have played for India so far, as the SAF Games are from this edition an under-23 tournament.
Coming to speak of strength's and weaknesses. Goalkeeping is a area of worry as actual No.1 junior keeper Subroto Pal from TFA hasn't been with the squad for two month's, so his understudy at TFA and the Indian juniors Subhashish Roy Chowdhury is the No.1 keeper but understudy Machindra Singh had to be left out of the final squad as the keeper tried to cure himself of a thumb injury and the medicine he used is a banned substance. The last time something similar happened was in 2002 ahead of the Asian Games, when Arun Malhotra had to be left out of the final squad. The defence looks settled with Manju Nanjangud Shivananju, Habibur Rehman and Gurpreet Singh. If needed defensive midfielders Gouramangi Moirangtem Singh and Debabrata Roy can fall back, otherwise they will try to stop the opposition in midfield and be creative whenever possible. Otherwise the creative bit should be taken care of the Mizoram wingers, Malswam Tulunga on the right and Malswama on the left plus Jerry Zirsanga in the middle. Upfront the coach can chose among Sunil Chetri, Sutang Marlanki and Vimal Pariyar, though others could also play. What could be a worrying factor is the height of the boys. Only captain Mangi is taller than 6 feet (1,80 m), while the others range around 5 feet 8 inch (1,70 m). But our biggest strength is the technical skill of the boys. So lets hope our boys start tomorrow with a win against Bangladesh!!!

Note-2: JCT Mills star striker and former Indian international IM Vijayan is confident on India's chances against Oman. The morale of the Indian team should be on a high after their 1-0 victory over Singapore said the Kerala footballer during a press conference in Kochi. Commenting on the strength of the Oman team he said: "Oman is a strong side. They have shown it in their match against Japan. Indian players will have to fight hard."
But IM Vijayan was holding a press conference for a different reason, to launch his Boxer Sports Goods Company Private Limited. The reason behind the formation of the company is Vijayan's desire to promote the game after his retirement from international football last autumn. Through this venture, he could fulfil his desire by providing quality football and other accessories at a very attractive price, which even villagers could afford, the veteran footballer said.
Vijayan said he had entered the business after conducting a survey on the manufacturing feasibility, quality, pricing and distribution network. As the results were highly favourable, he started a factory in Thrissur along with two friends - Itteera Kavungal and Tomy Pengiparambil. He said they had plans to appoint select experts like coaches as district ambassadors in a bid to bring to the spotlight, quality players from the bottom level. Company Managing Director Itteera Kavungal, who was also present, said they would start Boxer sports clubs in every Kerala district to discover young talents.

26. March
Here some great news for Indian football fans! The AIFF today informed in a press release that DD Sports will telecast the India-Oman 2006 World Cup qualifier match live from Kochi on March 31. The DD Sports telecast would start at 17.45 IST, at the time of the kickoff.
The latest news from Kochi is that there is high demand for the match tickets to see India in action but the organising Kerala FA in consultation with the AIFF will not sell tickets to the actual capacity of the stadium. But the with the Nehru Stadium in Kochi the question always is, what is the actual capacity of the stadium? As the numbers vary from 60.000 to 100.000. INDIA will have a strong, vocal, partisan crowd at the ground to support our team!!!
Here some examples to tell you some instances on how fast tickets are selling. In the football crazy district of Malappuram tickets sold out in two days, while in Manjeri town the allotted 300 tickets were sold our in just an hour.

2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Semifinal: Manipur 0-0,1-0 Nagaland (golden Goal) - Goals: 1-0 Kanta Singh (98').
2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Semifinal: Assam 2-1 SAI Red, Guwahati - Goals: 0-1 Mathew Thangjom (28'), 1-1,2-1 Sanjeeva Rongpi (68',74').

Note-1: Before leaving for the SAF Games in Pakistan, the India U20 team had to leave goalkeeper Machindra Singh behind, as he tested positive for a banned substance. Singh failed the mandetory dope test conducted by SAI before leaving for an international engagement. What the substance is, isn't known yet.

Note-2: The 2.Division National Football League will finally get underway on April 10 across India. In the preliminary qualifier round 18 teams have been divided into three groups of six teams each, which would kickoff in Srinagar, Shillong and Bangalore simultaneously on April 10. Only the group winners move on into the Phase 1 of the 2DNFL.
Group I - Srinagar: Rail Coach Factory (Punjab), Indian Air Force (Delhi), Jammu&Kashmir Bank, Uttar Pradesh Police, Raj Milk FC (Bihar) and club from Madhya Pradesh.
Group II - Shillong: EverReady Association (West Bengal), Oil India Limited (Assam), Lajong SSC (Meghalaya), Neroca SC (Manipur), club from Sikkim and club from Tripura.
Group III (Bangalore): Fransa FC (Goa), Controllerate of Inspection Electronics (Karnataka), Kerala State Electricity Board (Kerala), Integral Coach Factory (Tamil Nadu), Haywards 2000-Holi Family (Maharashtra) and Gujarat Police.

Note-3: Mohun Bagan had their request to the AIFF turned down to postpone their Round 17 National League match against Vasco SC on April 8. Bagan had asked for a postponed as their coach Aloke Mukherjee is on AIFF duty with the India U20 team at the SAF Games and could likely only return on matchday, which would mean difficulty in choosing a team on matchday without the chief coach. Bagan have made a fresh appeal to the AIFF to reconsider their earlier decision.

25. March
Will the INDIA-Oman World Cup qualifier next wednesday be shown live on TV?
It isn't sure at the moment but what Novy Kapadia informed indianfootball.com about is that DD Sports would show the INDIA-Oman match, be it live or deferred. The decision will be taken in the coming days. Sadly Novy wouldn't be available to be the match TV commentator as he would be doing TV commentary at the 9.SAF Games in Islamabad for the TWI production there.
For football fans willing to watch the India U20 team or all football matches from the 9.SAF Games on TV live or deferred, you have some options. You could watch the matches on PTV World, JEO channel and/or NRP Pak cable channel. According to Novy NRP Pak cable channel is the best bet. Ask your cable TV operator if none of the named channels are shown on our TV, as you should be able to watch one of them. You should watch the India U20 matches, if possible as the production will be high-class with 13 different cameras at floodlit matches.
But also Doordarshan is sending a commentary team to the SAF Games, but they will be only Hindi commentators. DD will be showing daily SAF Games highlights and whenever the India U20 play, there will be 15 minutes highlights.

2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group A: Tripura 2-0 Arunachal Pradesh - Goals: 1-0 Bir Singh Jamatia (34'), 2-0 Satyajit Debaroy.

Note-1: The AFC-Cup match dates for clubs from emerging nations have been set by the Asian Football Confederation for all group matches before the tournament started. So any change in date would would be penalised with a USD 20,000 fine. Indian champions East Bengal Club are supposed to host Singapore club Geylang United on May 5 at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta but security cover for the match seems to have become a problem. The police personnel across West Bengal will be gearing up for general elections on May 10 in West Bengal, so they aren't able to take care of security at the stadium. East Bengal fearing the AFC penalty and maybe other sanctions, have asked the Indian Football Association (Bengal body) for their help so that the match can be held as planned. East Bengal and the IFA had contacted the West Bengal sports minister Subhas Chakraborty and asked for his help so that the match can take place on May 5 as planned. The minister has assured to look into the matter and ensure that the match takes place on May 5.

Note-2: Tollygunge Agragami medio Amit Das a few years ago was seen as one of the most talented midfielders in India but somehow he never made it, though he represented India at a young age and even won the 1997 SAFF Cup in Nepal. Amit has played for all top four clubs in Calcutta and ended this season at Tollygunge. Now Amit hasn't been going to his teams training for weeks claiming to have an injury but his doctors certificate doesn't seem enough or to be correct for the Tollygunge team management. Now on Sunday at Tollygunge's executive meeting the club would discuss, if to suspend Amit for being non-committal to the club.

24. March
A lot of people have been asking us at indianfootball.com why India dropped a place in the FIFA rankings this month, though we beat Singapore last month in a World Cup qualifier. Earlier I had given my explanation why this happened but we asked FIFA to clarify. Below the FIFA answer to the question all of us want to get officially answered.
India's decline after the win over Singapore is in fact difficult to understand. It is mainly due to the fact that the ranking does not only take into account the latest results but the result of the 8 preceeding years which are continously "devalued". Thus, there are always two processes at work: winning points by winning games and loosing points due to the devaluation of older games. As a result the ranking becomes in some cases somewhat "sluggish". In India's case, the one win against Singapore after only two wins in the previous year against weaker teams has not yet had a decidedly positive effect but has mainly counteracted the effect of the current devaluation of earlier games. However, should India continue to win it will make progress in the months to come.

37th All-India Ballarpur Industries Limited Trophy - Pre-Quarterfinals: BEG, Roorkee 1-0 Punjab SC, Faridabad - Goal: 1-0 A Bhardwaj (5').
2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group B: Assam 2-1 Nagaland - Goals: 0-1 Vizorii (4'), 1-1 Bhupen Gogoi (72'), 2-1 Padum Rabha (90+').
2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group B: SAI Blue, Imphal 1-0 Sikkim - Goal: 1-0 L Ratan Singh (40').

Note-1: The draw ceremony for the SAF Games 2004 football tournament was held at the Pakistan Sports Board Conference Hall, Islamabad yesterday evening. The India U20 national team have been drawn in the tough Group A and will gave to face Bangladesh (March 28), Pakistan (March 30) and Afghanistan (April 1). Group B is an easier group as it consists of Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. The tournament kicks-off on March 27 with Nepa facing Bhutan, while the knockout stage starts with the semifinals on April 3, while the final will be held on April 5.
All matches except two will be held in Islamabad. The two Group A matches on March 28 between India-Bangladesh and Pakistan-Afghanistan will be held in Peshawar.

23. March
The INDIA camp kicked-off yesterday in Kochi and their are some new and old faces back at the INDIA camp.
Mahindra United youngster Steven Dias is the rookie (newcomer) at the camp ahead of the second World Cup qualifier against Oman, while Vasco's Krishnan Ajayan and East Bengal's Bijen Singh are back with the INDIA team, Vasco's Selwyn Fernandes was a stand-by in the first match, while Mahindra's James Singh was back at the camp after he had to leave the probables camp ahead of the Singapore match due to an injury.
But the INDIA team also has some injury worries. While right winger Sameer Naik of Dempo SC is injured, Salgaocar's "Indian Footballer of the Year" Tomba Singh hasn't recovered from an injury yet and both aren't at the camp. At the camp a few players have some minor injuries or bruises from which coach Constantine hopes they will recover from. On the watch list are No.1 keeper Sangram Mukherjee and defensive midfielder Jo Paul Ancheri.

37th All-India Ballarpur Industries Limited Trophy - Round 1: Punjab SC, Faridabad 0-0,3-1 Army Eleven, Pathankot (on penalties)
37th All-India Ballarpur Industries Limited Trophy - Round 1: BEG, Roorkee 2-0 City Young, Dehra Dun - Goals: 1-0 S Malik (37'), 2-0 A Bhardwaj (83').
2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group A: Manipur 3-2 Tripura - Goals: 0-1 Sabyasachi Ghosh (23'), 0-2 Satyajit Debroy (25'), 1-2 I Nilakumar Singh (40'), 2-2,3-2 Bany Chiru (54',68').
2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group A: Meghalaya 0-1 SAI Red, Guwahati - Goal: 0-1 Thomson Langthasa (73').

Note-1: The AIFF today announced a 21-member India U20 squad for the SAF Games 2004, which will be held in Islamabad, Pakistan from March 29 to April 5. Surprise last minute inclusions were East Bengal midfielder and former India junior international Malswam "Mama" Tulunga and Mohun Bagan striker Sunil Chetri, who will make is debut for India.
SQUAD: GK: Subashish Roy Chowdhury (Tata Football Academy), Machindra Singh (Punjab), Amit Nandy (Bengal). DF: Habihur Rahman Mondal, Gurpreet Singh, Warundeep Singh, Subhas Mondal (all Tata Football Academy), Manju Nanjangud Shivananju (DYS, Karnataka). MF: Gouramangi Moirangtem Singh (Captain), Malswama, Jerry Zirsanga, Debabrata Roy, Chitrasen Chandam Singh (all Tata Football Academy), Shylo Malswam Tulunga (East Bengal), Babin Biswas (Calcutta Customs), Naduparambil Pappachan Pradeep (Kerala). FW: Vimal Pariyar, Vanlal Rova (both Tata Football Academy), Sunil Chetri (Mohun Bagan), Sampathkumar Kuttimani (Indian Telephone Industries), Sutang Marlanki (Fransa FC, Goa)
Officials: Coach: Aloke Mukherjee (Bengal). Assistant Coach: Satheevan Balan (Kerala). Goalkeeping Coach: Virender Singh (Punjab). Manager: Rakesh Kumar Bakshi (Chandigarh).

Note-2: The AIFF today released the 8th National League fixtures for the Rounds 17 to 20 to be played in April. The last match of Round 16 was played on March 19, and the league restarts after a 15 day break on April 4 with Churchill Brothers - Mohammedan Sporting and the last Round 20 match between Vasco - Mahindra United would be played on April 30. Currently the NFL is taking a break for India's World Cup qualifier on March 31 against Oman. With the Santosh Trophy scheduled to be played between May 1 to 15 in Kochi, Kerala; the two final rounds of the NFL would be held in the second half of May.

22. March
37th All-India Ballarpur Industries Limited Trophy - Round 1: BILT - Ballarpur Industries Coaching Centre, Yamunanagar 2-0 Diamond Club, Kalka - Goals: 1-0,2-0 Laddi (19',52').
2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group B: Assam 1-0 SAI Blue, Imphal - Goal: 1-0 Sanjeeva Rongpi (40').
2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group B: Mizoram 2-2 Sikkim - Goals: 1-0 C Lalthlengliana (13'), 1-1 Leezang Lepcha (32'), 1-2 Tsetten Bhutia (40'), 2-2 Lalhriatzuala (83').
13.Dutta Ray Trophy (Under-21) Trophy - North Zone Qualifiers - Group B: Punjab 2-0 Uttar Pradesh
13.Dutta Ray Trophy (Under-21) Trophy - North Zone Qualifiers - Group B: Chandigarh 2-1 Uttaranchal

Note-1: East Bengal coach Subhas Bhowmick pointed out, that India might face some disadvantages against Oman as the match will be played under floodlights. Bhowmick: "Tactically, it might not be all that good. Yes, I do want domestic matches in cool temperatures and am happy that the Indian Football Association has fallen in with my plea for National League games in Kolkata to be put back by some while but for the Kochi game to be won, it's absolutely vital that we come by conditions that suit our boys rather than the visitors. And, since Oman, like most West Asian countries, would be comfortable playing in the evening, we should consider scheduling the game for the afternoon."

21. March
The ticket prices for the India-Oman match on March 31 have been set and released. The match tickets have been priced at Rs. 20 for gallery, Rs.50 for chair, and Rs. 100 for VIP chair. The tickets will be sold through the branches of the State Bank of Travancore.
indianfootball.com received the info from Stephen Constantine today that the camp would start tomorrow after the boys and coaches all arrived over the weekend. So 10 days to go ahead of the match against Oman. And an interesting scenario for us, then with a win India would travel with 6 points to Japan in June, and with Japan favoured over Singapore a battle for the top spot in the group could be in the reckoning. But first bring on Oman and we need to show the world that we are better than 140th in the world!!!
A lot of Indian football fans were disappointed when the latest FIFA rankings came out this week as we dropped a spot, though we beat Singapore 31 places above in the rankings. Sadly it looks like Palestine gained more points than us and we lost some old points as well, to lose a spot instead of moving up a few. But things can change very very fast. Lets take Oman as an example. Oman were ranked a lowly 117th in July 2003 but with some good wins in the 2004 Asia Cup qualifiers, among them a win against World Cup semifinalists South Korea, they were suddenly ranked as high as 62nd in November 2003. Oman lost against Japan 0-1 due to a last minute goal and if they had won, they could have closed in on the top 50 rankings. Another example needed. Take Singapore, who were a top 100 team sometime last year, so India needs to win a few World Cup qualifying matches and then we can easily get back into the 120s or even higher, if we can score a shock defeat against Japan later this year. It is all possible in today's football world. But as said earlier, lets bring on Oman first. Ranking-wise a win against Oman would be similar to the 1-0 win on April 8, 2001 in Bangalore against then 64th ranked UAE. What a day it was to be in Bangalore then! One of my greatest Indian football moments to remember...
Lets all pray, to whoever we pray to, for an INDIAN win!!!

2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group A: Arunachal Pradesh 3-5 SAI Red, Guwahati - Goals: 0-1 Debaram Basumatary (4'), 0-2,0-3 Tinku Handique (7',14'), 0-4 Anupam (16'), 1-4,3-5 Orin Lengo (33',89'), 2-4 Techi Tada (36'), 2-5 Lajumic Daothi.
2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group A: Manipur 3-1 Meghalaya - Goals: 1-0 Kanta Singh (24'), 2-0 W Ajit Singh, 3-0 I Nilakumar Singh, 3-1 Birendra Thapa (80').

Note-1: Several Indian players and officials arrived in Kochi and joined the AIFF delegation which is already in the city. AIFF secretary Alberto Colaco and chief coach Stephen Constantine were able to welcome 17 players and 2 officials.
The Indian players who have already arrived includes Kerala players Jo Paul Ancheri, Krishnan Nair Ajayan and Muttath Suresh, as well as Satish Kumar Bharti, Sheikh Sanjeeb, Prasanta Dora, Selwyn Fernandes, Jatin Singh Bisht, Climax Lawrence, Mahesh Gawli, Abhishek Yadav, Renedy Singh, Debjit Ghosh, Steven Dias, Alvito D'Cunha, Deepak Kumar Mondal and James Lukram Singh. Assistant coach Mauricio Alfonso and goalkeeping coach Rogerio Ramos arrived yesterday.
Former Indian international and the Kollam FA vice president KK Gopalakrishnan is the Indian team's local manager, while Ravindran and Alphonse Jose will be the Liaison Officers.

20. March
From today the 8th National League takes it's second break for the Indian national team. As India play Oman in a World Cup qualifier on March 31, the NFL has been halted to give national coach Stephen Constantine approximately 10 days to prepare his boys for the international match. The National League would restart in April but the AIFF has not scheduled the Rounds 17 to 22 matches as of now, which are left to be played. The NFL would have to finish by end-April, as on May 1 the 59th Santosh Trophy kicks-off in Kochi, Kerala.
As per league standings after Round 16 defending champions East Bengal Club lead with 34 points, and could become the first club to retain their NFL title. Their closest rivals are Goan sides Dempo SC (31 pts) and Churchill Brothers (29 pts), while Mumbai giants Mahindra United have lost too much ground on 27 pts and can at the most look for a top 3 finish. At the other side of the table Chennai's Indian Bank are virtually relegated on only two points from 16 matches and no win at all in this NFL. But who the second qualifier will be is unsure at the moment. The second relegation spot is currently occupied by promoted Mohammedan Sporting with 15 points but four other clubs could be in contention for relegation as they are a maximum five points away. 10th are Tollygunge Agragami with 17 pts but then come three teams, who no one would have thought to be so close to disaster. 9th on 18 pts are preseason NFL title contenders Salgaocar, 8th three-time champions Mohun Bagan on 19 pts, while established NFL side Vasco have 20 pts.
On the top scorers front a known face is once more at the top. Churchill Brothers Ghanian sharpshooter Yakubu Yusif lead the pack of goal scorers with 13 goals and if he continues to strike as he has done throughout this NFL campaign, then he could be the NFL's top scorer for a third season running. A record for the record books. But Yakubu has to watch out as East Bengal's top Brazilian import Cristiano Junior is a close second on 10 goals but what makes the heart of Indian football fans go into joy is that India captain and football superstar Baichung Bhutia is a joint third with eight goals, along with Sporting Clube de Goa striker Dudu MacPherlin Omagbemi. And more good news is that international Abhishek Yadav along with oldie IM Vijayan plus two more players are joint sixth with six goals.

2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group B: Assam 6-0 Mizoram - Goals: 1-0,3-0,5-0,6-0 Bhim Kanta Sonowal (15',27',50',86'), 2-0 Sanjeeva Rongpi (20'), 4-0 Birjab Mushahary.
2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group B: Nagaland 0-0 SAI Blue, Imphal - Goals: none.

19. March
Yesterday the AIFF secretary Alberto Colaco and chief coach Stephen Constantine arrived in Kochi and one of their first tasks was to make a ground inspections of Kochi's Nehru Stadium, whose quality had been questioned in the last few weeks to host a World Cup qualifier. After the inspection Constantine said the groundsman had done a tremendous job to make the ground beautiful. "It looks a good surface. One or two areas needs a little bit of patch work, but nothing major," he said.
On the Indian team's preparation, Constantine said "the boys would arrive here in the next couple of days. Once everyone arrives there will be a medical check-up," he said and hoped that the players would be in good shape. The first training session for the Indian team would probably start on March 22, he added.

8th National League - Calcutta: East Bengal Club 3-0 JCT Mills - Goals: 1-0 Baichung Bhutia (45+'), 2-0 Mike Okoro (51'), 3-0 Cristiano Junior (60').
Defending champions East Bengal Club scored a fluent 3-0 victory against JCT Mills in a National League match at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. East Bengal now have 34 points to stay clear at the top of the current NFL after 16 of the 22 matches, while the Millmen from Phagwara remain on 25 points and fifth in the league.
East Bengal, who had been held goalless in their last match by title rivals Dempo goalless, showed their will to score and win the match from the beginning. Especially the return of Brazilian striker Cristiano Junior from a card suspension gave the East Bengal attack more teeth. While midfielders Alvito D'Cunha and Nigerian Mike Okoro played the suppliers, India captain Baichung Bhutia and Junior were the recipiants but just couldn't score in the first half as JCT keeper Ghanian Mansuru Mohammad had an outstanding day in office as he alone denied five sure goals. When it looked that the teams would go into the lemon break goalless, East Bengal did take the lead. In injury time of the first half Okoro moved up the right undisturbed by any JCT player, crossed the ball into the area and Baichung headed the ball into the far corner of the net. East Bengal doubled the lead in the 51.minute, when Okoro volleyed home a Douglas da Silva freekick. But then for a few minutes East Bengal seemed too complacent and JCT had two chances through Harvinder Singh but the youngster didn't score. It was East Bengal who then scored their third goal on the hour mark, when Junior made his way through the JCT defence and shot past keeper Mohammad.
EAST BENGAL: Sandip Nandy, Surkumar Singh (Subhashish Roy Chowdhury), Deepak Kumar Mondal, Douglas da Silva, M Suresh, Malswam Tulunga, Mike Okoro, Mahesh Gawli (Anit Ghosh), Alvito D'Cunha (Bijen Singh), Cristiano Junior, Baichung Bhutia.
JCT MILLS: Mansuru Mohammad, Taranjit Singh, Jaspal Singh, KV Dhanesh, Daljit Singh, Baldeep Singh, Sukhjinder Singh, Jo Paul Ancheri (Manjit Singh), Harvinder Singh, IM Vijayan (Charanjit Singh), Stephen Abarowei (Jaswinder Singh).

2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group A: Meghalaya 7-1 Arunachal Pradesh - Goals: 1-0 Perry Pde (5'), 2-0 Birendra Thapa (8'), 3-0 Kitkupar Kharshiing (15'), 4-0,6-1 William Umwi (32',63'), 5-0 Wansuk Ryambai (52'), 5-1 Koj Tatung (59'), 7-1 Rubu Nabing (76' - own Goal).
2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group A: Tripura 0-0 SAI Red, Guwahati - Goals: none.

18. March
The Indian team suffered a major blow ahead of their 2006 World Cup qualifier against Oman on March 31 when injured Salgaocar SC midfielder and "Indian Player of the Year" Tomba Singh was not considered for selection. National coach Stephen Constantine had no choice but to leave out the talismanic midfielder who has struggled with his fitness ever since the inaugural match of the National League against East Bengal late last year.
A total of 24 probables have been summoned for the national camp, starting Friday, March 19, at Kochi with Dempo SC's Samir Naik and Mahindra United goalkeeper Naseem Akhtar being the other casualties due to injury. The AIFF, however, has indicated that both players could be summoned later, if they regained full fitness.
East Bengal striker Bijen Singh, Vasco SC midfielder Krishnan Ajayan and Mahindra United's Steven Dias are the three new faces summoned by India coach Stephen Constantine to select the final squad.
Mahindra's upcoming medio-cum-striker Steven Dias has been rewarded for his consistent performances in the National League. Though not a starter for the Mumbai giants, young Steven has done enough to impress Constantine, who has a hawk's eye for outstanding talent as he has shown in the past.
Sangram Mukherjee, Sandip Nandy (both East Bengal) and Prasanta Dora (Mohun Bagan) are the three goalkeeping probables who will train under the watchful eyes of Brazilian goalkeeping coach Rogerio Ramos. Mahindra United goalkeeper and former India junior captain Kalyan Chaubey continues to fail to impress the selectors and continues to miss the bus. He was among the probables for the Singapore tie but an unforunate injury in the AFC Cup match against Oman's Dhofar FC meant he could not be counted among India keepers.
James Singh of Mahindra United has been recalled to the Indian side after coming back from injury.
PROBABLES: GK: Sangram Mukherjee, Nandy Sandip (both East Bengal), Prasanta Dora (Mohun Bagan). DF: Deepak Kumar Mondal, Debjit Ghosh, Mahesh Gawli, Muttath Suresh (all East Bengal), Satish Kumar Bharti (Mohammedan Sporting), Selwyn Fernandes (Vasco SC). MF: Shanmugam Venkatesh, Lukram James Singh, Steven Dias (all Mahindra), Alvito D'Cunha, Subhash Chakraborty (both East Bengal), Jatin Singh Bhist, Climax Lawrence (both Salgaocar), Renedy Singh (Mohun Bagan), Jo Paul Ancheri (JCT Mills), K Ajayan (Vasco). FW: Baichung Bhutia, Bijen Singh (both East Bengal), Abhishek Yadav (Mahindra), Ashim Biswas (Mohun Bagan), Sheikh Sanjeeb (Mohammedan Sporting).

8th National League - Chennai: Indian Bank 0-1 Dempo SC - Goal: 0-1 Clifford Miranda (46').
Dempo SC scored an important lone goal away victory against bottom of the table Indian Bank in a National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Chennai. With this win Dempo now have 31 points from 16 matches, the same as NFL leaders East Bengal, but Dempo have played a match more and await tomorrow's East Bengal-JCT Mills result. For south India's only NFL representative, Chennai's Indian Bank their catastrophic season continued with their 14th loss in 16 matches to remain on only two points.
Dempo had more of the proceedings in the first half which often had to be stopped due to fouls. Dempo lost their captain Stanley Colaco close to halftime due to an offensive, which the referee saw. Stanley handled the ball at the top of the box and was given marching orders. After a shock at the stroke of halftime the second half started perfectly for Dempo's, as in the 46.minute Dempo playmaker Nigerian Mohammed Gaffar send Liberian striker Sunday Seah free on the right flank, who lobbed the ball into the centre where Clifford Miranda ran in from the left and headed the ball into the goal. But thereafter it was Indian Bank all the way. The Bankmen tried their best to get at least a draw from the match and put together their best performance of this NFL campaign but their problems to score goals surfaced again and in the end Dempo even had the chance to increase the lead through counter attacks.

8th National League - Goa: Vasco SC 3-1 Salgaocar SC - Goals: 1-0 Marcos Pereira (19'), 2-0 Agnelo Colaco (43'), 3-0 Kamal Thapa (45+'), 3-1 Climax Lawrence (46').
Vasco SC scored a 3-1 victory against Goan rivals Salgaocar SC in a National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. For Vasco the much needed win took them to 20 points from 16 matches and away from the relegation places, while Salgaocar remain on 18 points from the same number of matches and only three points away from a relegation spot. A dangerous scenario for former champions Salgaocar, who have only earned one point from their last five matches. Much too little for a club, which many experts at the start of the NFL saw as title contenders.
Vasco played a strong first half against a Salgaocar side, who looked weak. Vasco took the lead in the 19.minute when Brazilian Marcos Pereira scored, after he had received a cross from Brazilian Edson de Crasto. And then before the breather Vasco enhanced the lead with a double strike in three minutes. First Agnelo Colaco scored Vasco's second goal in the 43.minute off a cross from Kamal Thapa, while in injury time of the first half Kamal Thapa himself scored for Vasco after receiving a pass from Marcos Pereira. Salgaocar came out of the lemon break with more urgency, and directly reduced the margin in the first minute after the breather, when Indian international Climax Lawrence scored of a pass from substitute striker Jules Aliba from Chad. Salgaocar had more of the game in the second half thereafter but couldn't score any more goals.

2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group B: Nagaland 3-1 Sikkim - Goals: 1-0 M Francis (10'), 2-0 Renthungo (24'), 3-0 Visakholie (45+'), 3-1 Sushi Rai (84').
2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group B: Mizoram 1-1 SAI Blue, Imphal - Goals: 0-1 L Danny (23'), 1-1 F Lalnuanhlua (41').

39.Dr BC Roy (under-19) Trophy - Final: West Bengal 2-0 Karnataka - Goals: 1-0 Suraj Mondal, 2-0 Lal Kamal Bhowmick.
West Bengal win their 17th Dr BC Roy (under-19) Trophy in Giridih, Jharkhand by beating the defending champions Karnataka in the final.

Note-1: World football governing body FIFA yesterday took an important decision in regard to who is allowed to represent a national team or not. Here in Germany in the last three weeks the story of Bundesliga top scorer Ailton from league leaders Werder Bremen along with Borussia Dortmund captain Dede and his brother Leandro, all Brazilians by birth, had received an offer from the Qatar FA to repreent their national team, so that they could qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The players would have been paid in millions for representing the Qatari national team like mercenaries and as it made headline news around the world, it forced FIFA to react and amend it's constitution quite fast as Ailton&Co could have represented Qatar for the first time on March 31.
The FIFA Emergency Committee met and stated afterwards that such practices to be in contravention of the aim and object of the FIFA Statutes. To protect the aim and object of the above-mentioned statutory provision, the FIFA Emergency Committee has ruled that for a player to be eligible to play for another Association's national team, he must fulfil at least one of the following conditions:
a) the player was born on the territory of the relevant Association;
b) his biological mother or biological father was born on the territory of the relevant Association;
c) his grandmother or grandfather was born on the territory of the relevant Association;
d) he has lived continuously for at least two years on the territory of the relevant Association.
These conditions ensure that a player has a clear connection with the country in question. As the cases are similar from a factual point of view, the Emergency Committee has applied the same conditions that govern the eligibility of players who are theoretically eligible to play for several Association teams on account of their nationality.
A good and fundamental decision taken by FIFA.

17. March
In the latest FIFA ranking published today, INDIA are now ranked 140th in the world, down a spot from their last rankings in February. The win against Singapore in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers had no positive effect whatsoever on our rankings as we also lost a place in Asia as we are now only 28th among Asian football playing nations. The reasons behind the slump aren't current ones but the effects from not playing enough internationals especially in the late-90s, so we lost more points than we sadly gained from the win against Singapore. So now INDIA's only aim can be to beat Oman (!) and then we will surely see a considerable rise in our ranking.

8th National League - Calcutta: Mohammedan Sporting Club 1-5 Mahindra United - Goals: 0-1 Raphael Patron Akakpo (9'), 0-2,1-3,1-4 Felix Aboagye (40',69',74'), 1-2 Dipendu Biswas (59'), 1-5 Madhab Das (76' - own Goal).
Debutants Mohammedan Sporting Club suffered a 1-5 humiliating home trashing at the hands of Mumbai's Mahindra United in a National League match at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. Sporting's off-field problems with the players and non-payment of dues spilled over to the playing pitch as the Mahindra forward duo of Ghanian Felix Aboagye and Togo's Raphael Patron Akakpo used the chances that came their way. Mohammedan Sporting remain 11th in the table with 15 points from 16 matches, a relegation spot; while Mahindra move on to 27 points from as many matches and keep their chances for a top NFL finish open.
The story of the match is fast told. Sporting made too many mistakes at the back as there seemed to be no understanding between defence and their goalie, and to add to their misery Sporting lost international defender Satish Kumar Bharti early in the match due to injury with his replacement at the back Nigerian Abu Baker Godwin being a further problem at the back. Mahindra took the lead in the 9.minute when James Singh send forward Felix Aboagye free on a flank and the Ghanian ran as far as the goalline and his low cross was headed in by the other Mahindra forward Raphael Patron Akakpo. Five minutes from the breather it was Felix Aboagye who played a one-two with Shanmugam Vekatesh before heading in the ball. Syed Rahim Nabi had Sporting's best chance before the breather when his shot hit the crossbar and after the breather Sporting had a spell of 10 minutes of good football with chances and in the 59.minute Dipendu Biswas reduced the margin with a header but hopes of a possible draw were crushed by Mahindra. Mahindra took the match out of Sporting's reach with three goals in quick succession. Felix Aboagye scored two goals in the 69. and 74.minute to complete his hattrick and then in the 76.minute Sporting defender Madhab Das scored an own goal as he tried to clear a James Singh cross ahead of Felix.
MSC: Amar Deb, Syed Hussain (Chidi Edeh), Madhab Das, Satish Kumar Bharti (Bungo Singh), Amandeep Singh, Abu Baker Godwin, Bhuvan Krishna Joshi, Khalid Siddique (Okoli Onyeka Odofa), Syed Rahim Nabi, Sheikh Sanjib, Dipendu Biswas.
MAHINDRA: Kalyan Chaubey, Odartey Lawson, Covan Lawrence, Peter Siddique, Sanjay Parte, Khalid Jamil (Jules Alberto), Shanmugam Venkatesh, James Singh, Steven Dias (Rauf Khan), Raphael Patron Akakpo, Felix Aboagye (Abhishek Yadav).

2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group A: Manipur 4-0 SAI Red, Guwahati - Goals: 1-0 W Ajit Singh (22'), 2-0 Anil Golmei (42'), 3-0,4-0 Bany Chiru (52',80').
2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group A: Meghalaya 4-1 Tripura - Goals: 1-0 Kitkupar Kharshiing (25'), 2-0,4-1 Building Pungrope (31',81'), 2-1 Monoj Ekka (56'), 3-1 William Umwi (74').

Note-1: After the Mohammedan Sporting-Mahindra United National League match in Calcutta today, Sporting football secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed claimed that Sporting players Khalid Siddique, Zaheer Abbas and Arjan Ali were cheering for Mahindra after their own team were two goals down. The official went on to call it sabotage as the payment dues issue isn't completely solved.

Note-2: A meeting was held between the players and club management at Mohun Bagan's Maidan Tent in Calcutta today to discuss the slump in form and dangerous league position of the team in the last few weeks. The players were given hot ears by the officials, who were more than just unhappy with the recent performances. But the officials alos listened to grievances of players and they all said to focus on the work on hand. Not present were captain Renedy Singh, Ashim Biswas and Mehtab Hussain.

16. March
8th National League - Calcutta: Mohun Bagan AC 0-1 Tollygunge Agragami - Goal: 0-1 Akeem Abul Alem (83').
Underdogs Tollygunge Agragami scored a lone goal victory against Calcutta rivals and Maidan giants Mohun Bagan AC in a National League match at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. For Tollygunge these three points can be crucial in their fight for survival in the NFL, while Bagan sadly seems to be unwantedly dragged into the relegation race, something one wouldn't expect from a three-time NFL champion. Mohun Bagan remain on only 19 points from 16 matches, while Tollygunge leave the relegation places with now 17 points from as many matches. And suddenly established NFL sides like Bagan, former champions Salgaocar (on 18 points) and Vasco (17 points) have to watch out not to finish in 11th spot, which would mean relegation to Division 2.
The story of the match is told quite fast. Mohun Bagan had more of the ball and more of the chances in the first half but the young striking duo of Ashim Biswas and Sunil Chetri once more missed all chances or were denied by the opposition. Disappointing once more it was to see how Indian internationals Ashim Biswas and captain Renedy Singh performed, with Renedy even being substituted early in the second half. Only a month ago Renedy was India's hero in the 1-0 victory against Singapore - he took all corners and freekicks but that touch seems suddenly lost. In the second half Tollygunge left it's defensive shell to try it's luck with counter attacks and get the three points, and seven minutes from time oppurtunistic Nigerian striker Akeem Abul Alem scored the winner for the Moore Avenue Club. Amitava Chanda floated the ball into the area, which Bagan defenders Harpreet Singh and Brazilian Leonardo Monnerat D'Almeida couldn't clear and Akeem took a right-footer with landed in the goal.
MOHUN BAGAN: Prasanta Dora, Babun Kar, Harpreet Singh, Leonardo Monnerat D'Almeida, Lolendra Singh (Palash Karmakar), Mehtab Hossain, Noel Tafadzwa Kaseka, Rocus Lamare, Renedy Singh (Basudeb Mondal), Ashim Biswas, Sunil Chetri (Akum Ao).
TOLLYGUNGE: Chinmoy Banerjee (Samit Debnath), Kabijit Khotel, Isiaka Awoyemi, Ebi Bar Bar, Amitava Chanda, Napoleon Singh (Temjen Kibang), Sujit Neogi, Sandip Das, Gautam Debnath (Sheikh Habeeb Ali), Gouranga Dutta, Akeem Abul Alem.

8th National League - Goa: Sporting Clube de Goa 1-1 Churchill Brothers SC - Goals: 1-0 Jerose Oliveira (20'), 1-1 Yakubu Yusif (49').
Churchill Brothers' charge for the top spot of the National League was denied today by Goan rivals and NFL debutants Sporting Clube de Goa with a one-all draw at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. With a win today Churchill Brothers would have moved to 31 points, the same as defending champions and current league leaders East Bengal but with the draw Churchill Brothers now have 29 points from 16 matches; while Sporting Clube now sit safe on 23 points from 16 matches.
Churchill Brothers started the match with trust but it was Sporting Clube who took the lead in the 20.minute of a counter attack. While Churchill Brothers were moving forward Sporting Clube's Nigerian striker Dudu MacPherlin Omagbemi snatched the ball from AS Firoze on the left, played a perfect pass into the middle which an advancing Jerose Oliveira shot home. Churchill Ghanian strikers Yakubu Yusif and Benjamin Ansah continued with their raids but they paid no results. Four minutes after the breather Churchill's Ghanian defender Osumanu Husseini lobbed a ball into the area, which Yakubu connected. It was Yakubu's 13th goal of this NFL campaign.

2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group B: Assam 3-0 Sikkim - Goals: 1-0 Pempa Tshering Bhutia (34' - own Goal), 2-0,3-0 Sanjeeva Rongpi (67',90').
2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group B: Nagaland 3-1 Mizoram - Goals: 1-0 Bendang (28'), 2-0 Yapang (30'), 3-0 Vizakie (32'), 3-1 Jonathan A (42').
39.Dr BC Roy (under-19) Trophy - Semifinal: West Bengal 5-0 Kerala
39.Dr BC Roy (under-19) Trophy - Semifinal: Karnataka - ?

Note-1: It is final now: Kochi's Nehru Stadium has been confirmed as the venue for the India-Oman 2006 World Cup qualification match on March 31!!!
The preparations are going on in full swing and AIFF secretary will be in Kochi from Thursday to oversee that all preparations go to plan. The India probables start arriving from Saturday.

Note-2: Mohammedan Sporting Club's fears that it's players might not tak the field tomorrow against Mahindra United were sorted out today. The club management and the players sat down today, after the players had arrived at the clubs Maidan tent but declined to train unless given assurances that they would get their payment soon. Afterwards it was made public that Sporting would clear all dues in the next 22 days and the players assured that they would give their best in the interest of the club. Major absentees today were Nigerians Chidi Edeh and Okoli Onyeka Odafa, though all said the duo would take the field tomorrow.

15. March
8th National League - Goa: Vasco SC 0-1 JCT Mills - Goal: 0-1 IM Vijayan (64').
JCT Mills rode on a strike from seasoned substitute striker IM Vijayan to win 1-0 away against Vasco SC in a National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. Vasco remain on 17 points from 15 matches only three points away from a relegation spot, which Tollygunge Agragami holds as 11th with 14 points; while JCT Mills move to 25 points from 15 matches into fourth position.
Vasco looked more threathening early on in the match with Brazilian Marcos Pereira having the best chance in the 20.minute when he received a pass from Nigerian Amaechi Nwabunwanne Tochukwu and his shot hit the crossbar. Amaechi had another good chance but Vasco's initial foreys didn't last as the match got longer due to inacurate passing. JCT had their best chance before the lemon break just minutes before the break as Baldeep Singh fumbled before the Vasco goal and a following Jo Paul Ancheri shot missed the goal. After the breather former international striker IM Vijayan came on for Ram Pal and this tilted the match in JCT's favour. Vijayan once more proved though he has retired from the national team and has become slower, he technically is able to do things, which nearly no one else can do on the Indian circuit. Vijayan scored the winner in the 64.minute when he snatched the ball from Vasco defender Selwyn Fernandes and took a 30-yard shot on goal which beat Vasco keeper Rogerio Ramos, who was out of position. Then six minutes from time JCT youngster Manjit Singh had the chance to make sure of the victory, when he curved past keeper Ramos but shot the ball into the side netting. This miss nearby became a costly one for the Phagwara Millmen, as three minutes from time Vasco striker Levy Coelho had a chance, which was cleared by the JCT defence.

2.Dr. T. Ao Football Trophy - Group A: Manipur 8-0 Arunachal Pradesh - Goals: 1-0,7-0 W Ajit Singh (8',79'), 2-0,4-0 I Nilakumar Singh (29',42'), 3-0 Anil Golmei (34'), 5-0 Senjam Manglemjao Singh (64'), 6-0,8-0 Bany Chiru (77',81').
28th All-India Major Port Meet - Calcutta - Final: Marmugao Port Trust 4-0 Vishakhapatnam Port Trust

Note-1: India football chief coach Stephen Constantine could summon new faces for the camp to select the Indian squad for the World Cup qualifier against Oman, at Kochi, on March 31.
"Probably a couple (of players) could get a look," Constantine said in Goa while sampling JCT's solitary goal win over Vasco SC, at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, this evening.
Mahindra United's upcoming striker Steven Dias is heavily tipped to be among Constantine's probable list of 24 players while his Mumbai teammate James Singh, in all certainties, would get a recall.
Constantine, however, is keeping his cards close to his chest and remains noncommittal about the possible changes.
The camp will commence on Saturday, March 20, at Kochi with the probables arriving a day earlier.
Much of Constantine's concerns prior to the World Cup qualifier centres around both, niggling and major injuries. In what is seen as a major blow, Dempo SC midfielder Sameer Naik is ruled out due to an ankle injury. East Bengal and India's number one goalkeeper Sangram Mukherjee injured himself during yesterday's NFL encounter against Dempo SC while Mahindra United goalkeeper Naseem Akhtar required stitches after clashing with Baichung Bhutia on the field, at Calcutta.
Jo Paul Ancheri, in the meanwhile, is not in pristine form, even though he played a crucial role in JCT's laboured win. "He is looking tired," admits Constantine.
Despite the body blow, Constantine is unfazed and in his own words remains cautiously optimistic. "We've got to remain positive. Oman is a tough side, much more stronger than Singapore. But, we are ready for them," Constantine maintained.
Constantine has seen Oman play twice in the Kuwait Cup and know what to expect from the Sultanate with a wealth of petrol reserves; a large appetite for the beautiful game, and a decidedly eye-catching football team to go with it.
The Kochi encounter is slated for a 17.45 start and with rising temperatures in Kochi, things could understandably be uncomfortable for the Milan Macala-trained Oman.

Note-2: While the club is fighting for survival in the National League, the Mohammedan Sporting Club players went on a strike today at the teams morning training session due to non-payment of salaries for month's. Sporting coach Jamshed Nassiri pleaded with the players to train but the 19 players present today declined, as in their view the clubs management had broken its word as earlier it had been said that the players woud get their dues by the first week of March. The club meanwhile says that the players couldn't be paid anything in advance and that the dues of some players had been cleared and the others would get their money soon. If the club would take any action isn't clear yet.

Note-3: George Telegraph SC who this season gained promotion back into the Calcutta Super Division 2004 for next season, have found a sponsor in the UCO Bank. The club would be from now on called UCO Bank George Telegraph SC. The deal is initially of one year duration and is worth Rs. 500,000. This was announced at a press conference in Calcutta today, where George Telegraph secretary Subrata Dutta (who is also IFA secretary) and UCO Bank executive director BK Dutta were present. With this deal the UCO Bank today became the first national bank to sponsor a football club.

14. March
8th National League - Calcutta: East Bengal Club 0-0 Dempo SC - Goals: none.
National League champions East Bengal Club drew goalless against Dempo SC at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta; who with this draw remain one of East Bengal's most dangerous rivals in their quest to become the first NFL champion to defend it's title. Also East Bengal couldn't take revenge for the 2-3 loss away in Goa earlier in the season. East Bengal remain clear at the top with now have 31 points from 15 matches, while Dempo remain second with 28 points from the same number of matches.
After having put up so many good performance over the last few weeks today's performance of the NFL champions can go down as a weaker one. East Bengal missed a number of regular due to injury and their Brazilian hitman Cristiano Junior due to card suspension. East Bengal tactically played a slow and layed back game, allowing Dempo's to regroup in defence whenever needed. Only in the middle of the first half East Bengal had a period were they pressured the Goans. First Alvito D'Cunha's hot sailed over the bar, then a Baichung Bhutia header missed the target and finally Deepak Mondal hitting the ball off target. Dempo had their best chance of the first half in the 40.minute, when a Clifford Miranda freekick was shot goalwards by Liberian striker Sunday Seah but it missed the goal. Then East Bengal had the easiest of chances to score but Mahesh Gawli, playing today in defensive midfield, showed why he is a defender as he inside the box couldn't place the ball in the goal as the ball was saved by Dempo keeper Abhijit Mondal, who had another day under the bar. The second half remained mainly confined to the midfield with East Bengal going all out for the winner in the last five minutes but they couldn't score. Ending the match goalless, a deserving score for both sides.
EAST BENGAL: Sangram Mukherjee (Sandip Nandy), Surkumar Singh, Deepak Kumar Mondal, Debjit Ghosh, M Suresh, Sasthi Duley, Mike Okoro, Douglas da Silva (Malswam Tulunga), Mahesh Gawli, Alvito D'Cunha (Bijen Singh), Baichung Bhutia.
DEMPO: Abhijit Mondal, Raju Singh, Majekodumni Bolaji, Stanley Colaco, Melwyn Rodrigues, Savio Mascarenhas (Wilton Gomes), Mohammed Gaffar, Nacimento Silveira, Clifford Miranda, Sunday Seah (Alex Ambrose), RC Prakash.

39.Dr BC Roy (under-19) Trophy - Quarterfinal League Group A: West Bengal - Maharashtra
39.Dr BC Roy (under-19) Trophy - Quarterfinal League Group A: Karnataka - Manipur

13. March
8th National League - Calcutta: Mohammedan Sporting Club 1-1 Tollygunge Agragami - Goals: 1-0 Syed Rahim Nabi (11'), 1-1 Gouranga Datta (60').
The National League's fight for survival match between the Calcutta rivals Mohammedan Sporting Club and Tollygunge Agragami ended in a one-all draw at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. For both sides the draw wasn't the hoped step away from the relegation zone, so things remain the way they had been before the match. Mohammedan Sporting Club have 15 points from 15 matches, while Tollygunge Agragami on a point less have 14 points to stay 11th, a relegation spot.
Mohammedan Sporting took the lead in the 11.minute when a Syed Hussain cross was curiously not intercepted by Tollygunge defender Kabijit Khotel and Syed Rahim Nabi lurking at the other end of the goal, got the ball and shot past keeper Samit Debnath, who tried to save. But in the second half Tollygunge came back strongly in their quest for the equaliser. In the 51.minute Tollygunge seemed to have equalised through Nigerian striker Akeem Abul Alem as the ball was in the net and referee Walter Pereira showed to the middle but the ball had actually entered the net through a hole in the side-netting. Pereira had to be made aware of his mistake by the Sporting players and his assistant S Suresh. But on the hour mark Tollygunge got their deserving equaliser, when Akeem send Gouranga Datta free on the left and Gouranga scored a class left-footed volley goal.
MSC: Amar Deb, Syed Hussain (Sheikh Sanjib), Madhab Das, Satish Kumar Bharti, Amandeep Singh, Abu Baker Godwin, Okoli Onyeka Odofa (Amjad Ali Khan), Bhuvan Krishna Joshi, Syed Rahim Nabi, Chidi Edeh, Dipendu Biswas (Bungo Singh).
TOLLYGUNGE: Samit Debnath, Kabijit Khotel, Awoyemi Isiaka, Ebi Bar Bar, Amitava Chanda, Napoleon Singh (Ajay Kumar Singh), Sandip Das, Shamshi Reza (Sujit Neogi), Jiten Rai (Sheikh Habib Ali), Gouranga Dutta, Akeem Abul Alem.

Note-1: Ahead of the start of the 8th National League the Indian Reliance Industries Group were one of the front-runners tipped as potential title sponsor of the NFL but a deal couldn't be brokered then. But now after month's of negotiations Reliance Infocom, a Reliance Industries Group company, has signed a one year contract with the AIFF as a co-sponsor and the deal was made possible by the AIFF's makreting agents Strata Sports. The deal is of one year duration and is said to be worth Rs 5 million. Reliance Infocom is one of three co-sponsors besides Kingfisher and Tata's, who are also co-ponsors of the Federation Cup and the Santosh Trophy.

Note-2: The Group III of the 2.Division National League qualifiers could be a really close affair. The favourites are Goan representatives Fransa FC but Bangalore Super Division champions CIL and aspiring Mumbai club Haywards 2000-Holy Family can be tough opponents for them. And the venue for the one-leg matches can be decisive due to home advantage. By March 20 the interested state FAs have to infrom the AIFF about their willingness to play hosts. Goa, Mumbai and Bangalore all have shown interest, so the AIFF will have to decide who can host the Group III.

Note-3: An oHerald report: The Goa FA committee inquiring into incidents on Black Monday - 118 goals in two 2.Division League matches - have already started compiling their report. The three-member panel consisting of advocate E O Mendes, retired police officer DySP Joe D'Souza and former International footballer Oscar Rebello cross-questioned several Club officials and players today from 9.30 to 16.30 and for the next two hours sat down to compile the report, at GFA headquarters, in Panjim.
GFA secretary Savio Messias confirmed the committee had started compilations but was tightlipped on the investigations. "The panel is independent and free from any GFA influence. I don't even talk to them about the investigations," Messias told Herald this evening.
Dona Paula SC president Francis Gonsalves, GFA observers Juliao Rodrigues, Gokuldas Nagvenkar, Lavinio Jude Rebello, FIFA asst referee Benjamin Silva and Junior International Marcelino Dias were among those who deposed today before the three-member panel inquiring in the unusually high scoring 2.Division playoff matches at Chinchinim and Duler, on February 16.
The panel has time uptil April 15 to submit the report but indications are that the report will be submitted to the GFA much before the deadline.
Marcelino Dias, Goa's only junior International, was asked to depose for the second time probably because of his earlier statement wherein he mentioned that he walked out of the field, after the referee told him that the match was fixed.
The referee officiating the Sangolda Lightning versus Curtorim Gymkhana, at Chinchinim was also summoned for a second deposition.

12. March
8th National League - Calcutta: Mohun Bagan AC 1-2 Sporting Clube de Goa - Goals: 0-1,1-2 Dudu MacPherlin Omagbemi (20',68'), 1-1 Sunil Chetri (49').
Mohun Bagan AC suffered a surprise 1-2 defeat at the hands of debutants Sporting Clube de Goa in a National League match at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. For Bagan it was an unnecessary defeat as their attack couldn't use chances galore, while Sporting Clube scored when it was needed through their Nigerian sharpshooter Dudu MacPherlin Omagbemi. Mohun Bagan remain on only 19 points from 15 matches, while Sporting Clube now have 22 points and jump into fifth position. With this win Sporting Clube has brought enough gap between themselves and the relegation places, to ensure a stay in the NFL; while for Bagan the six point gap to 11th placed Tollygunge Agragami could be reduced at least to five points tomorrow. So survival is the aim for the red-and-maroon brigade instead of a top three finish, which coach Aloke Mukherjee had talked about unrealistically a few matches ago.
Sporting Clube, who are playing their first NFL season, showed no respect to the three-time champions as they played an organised and systematic game with short passes and used their speed to upset the Bagan defence. Sporting Clube took the lead in the 20.minute, when a Bibiano Fernandes cross from the right was stopped by Dudu MacPherlin Omagbemi, shielding the ball from Bagan defender Sanjeev Kumar Maria and he shot in with his right foot. Bagan made a substitution on the half hour mark, bringing in seasoned Basudeb Mondal for Akum Ao. And Basudeb didn't disappoint as the seasoned midfielder took control of proceedings, especially the Bagan midfield to feed the lone striker upfront Ashim Biswas. But Ashim's bad patch in the NFL continued today as he missed a 100% chance in the 38.minute with only Sporting Clube keeper Felix D'Souza to beat and he messed-up further chances during the matches. Also totally off-colour was Bagan captain Renedy Singh. But after the breather Bagan came back into the match, when substitute Sunil Chetri equalised in the 49.minute and thereafter Bagan went out for a win. But it was Sporting Clube who against the run of play scored the winner in the 68.minute, when another Bibiano Fernandes cross from the right wasn't cleared by Rishi Kapoor and Dudu scored of another left-footer.
MOHUN BAGAN: Prasanta Dora, Manitombi Singh (Sunil Chetri), Sanjeev Kumar Maria, Leonardo Monnerat D'Almeida, Rishi Kapoor (Harpreet Singh), Mehtab Hossain, Rocus Lamare, Noel Tafadzwa Kaseka, Renedy Singh, Ashim Biswas, Akum Ao (Basudeb Mondal).
SPORTING CLUBE: Felix D'Souza, Vincent Pires, Mehraj Din Wadoo, Venacio Gonsalves, Kamal Suleiman, Francis Andrade (Agnelo D'Costa, 53), Bibiano Fernandes, Jerose Oliviera, Joseph Pereira (Alvito Rodrigues), Dudu MacPherlin Omabgemi, Abdullatif Seriki.

8th National League - Goa: Churchill Brothers SC 2-1 Salgaocar SC - Goals: 1-0 Yakubu Yusif (1'), 1-1 Prashant Jaggi (17'), 2-1 Noel Wilson (44').
Churchill Brothers SC scored a vital 2-1 victory against Goan rivals Salgaocar SC at the Nehru Stadium, Margao to remain in the hunt for their first-ever National League title. Churchill Brothers now have 28 points from 15 matches, two behind leaders East Bengal; while for Salgaocar the miserable season continued as they remain on only 18 points from 15 matches. Salgaocar so far have been the disappointment of the NFL as before the season they were seen as one of two/three teams which could give East Bengal a fight for the title and now they have to watch out for the relegation zone, which is only five points away. Injuries and card suspensions have done their bit.
Churchill Brothers took the lead seconds into the match as Ghanian striker Yakubu Yusif scored his 12th goal of this NFL campaign off a pass from Rajesh Meetei. But 17 minutes into the match Salgaocar defender Prashant Jaggi equalised of a freekick, which deflected of the Churchill wall past keeper Mark Mascarenhas. Churchill regained the lead a minute from the breather when Noel Wilson scored with a long-ranger.

39.Dr BC Roy (under-19) Trophy - Quarterfinal League Group A: West Bengal 0-0 Manipur
39.Dr BC Roy (under-19) Trophy - Quarterfinal League Group A: Maharashtra - Karnataka

Note-1: The West Bengal district of Chandannagore won the inaugural Bengal State League!
In the final match of the final round league of four teams, Chandannagore drew goalless against Hooghly. Both Chandannagore and Hooghly finished on five points from three matches but Chandannagore won the league on their superior goal difference.

11. March
8th National League - Calcutta: East Bengal Club 1-0 Vasco SC - Goal: 1-0 Cristiano Junior (43').
National League leaders East Bengal Club scored an important lone goal victory against Vasco at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. With this win today East Bengal Club now have 30 points from 14 matches, three ahead of their closest rivals Dempo SC; while Vasco remain on 19 points from the same number of matches. Before the match East Bengal coach Subhas Bhowmick had said that Vasco would be a real test for his team and a potential obstacle, and he more than proved right but his team came through.
Unlike in their last few matches East Bengal couldn't pressure their opponents in the first quarter as Vasco's defence saoked in the pressure, marked the strikers and closed the wings, not allowing East Bengal the space to set-up their successful game. Coach Bhowmick by the half hour realised he had to make a change to strengthen his midfield and took-off Bijen Singh to bring on Alvito D'Cunha. Alvito and Nigerian Mike Okoro jointly took control of the middle third and things seemed to get better. And the result was the lead for East Bengal in the 43.minute. Alvito sent Mike Okoro clear on the right, who crossed the ball into the middle for reliable Brazilian striker Cristiano Junior to nod in. The Vasco offside trap didn't work on this occasion as East Bengal Brazilian midfielder Douglas da Silva was in a passive offside position, therefore the goal was given. After the break East Bengal's found rhythm seemed lost as Vasco, down by a goal, left it's defensive shell to look for the equaliser. Their main player was Brazilian Marcos Pereira who controlled the midfield and Marcos feed the strikers but they either failed or Sangram Mukherjee showed why he is currently India's No.1 international keeper.
EAST BENGAL: Sangram Mukherjee, Surkumar Singh, Mahesh Gawli, M Suresh, Malswam Tulunga, Sasthi Duley, Mike Okoro (Kalia Kulothungan), Douglas da Silva, Bijen Singh (Alvito D'Cunha), Baichung Bhutia (Debjit Ghosh), Cristiano Junior.
VASCO: Rogerio Ramos, Seby Dias, Selwyn Fernandes, Agnelo Colaco, Kamal Thapa, Sushanth Mathew, Vinu Jose, Gregory Clark (Dennis Cabral), Menino Fernandes (Krishnan Ajayan, Levy Coelho), Marcos Parreira, Amaechi Nwabunwanne Tochukwu.

Note-1: Leicester City FC's academy head coach Jon Rudkin said the club is holding talks with the AIFF to host a fortnight-long camp for the India U17 national team prior to their AFC U17 Championship in Japan in September 2004. Rudkin is currently in Calcutta to supervise the training and selection process of the India U17 at the SAI Eastern Region complex. Rudkin: "Talks are on with the AIFF to organise a fortnight-long camp for these boys in our academy sometime this summer." Rudkin also has plans to prepare a detailed training format and structure for the Indian colts. Though satisfied with the level of commitment and discipline of the Indian youngsters, Rudkin said they need better coaching and training facilities and age-group domestic tournaments in the country to grow up to their potential. The City academy coach was accompanied by India's chief coach Stephen Constantine and senior officials of AIFF.
Good to see that the AIFF wants to give exposure to the U17 boys. Last time ahead of the Asian finals in 2002, the India U17 team had come to Germany in August 2002 for a training camp at the sports school Hennef. That esposure trip had been organised by the indianfootball.com chief editors Arunava Chaudhuri and Chris P. Daniel.

Note-2: India probable Vinu Jose of Vasco SC vomited blood at the end of the match against East Bengal today and had to be rushed to a nursing home. Nursing home officials informed the player has regained consciousness but still his pulse rate was very low. In a coincidence of sorts, Vinu was the Vasco player today who after the match had to go to the dope testing.

Note-3: Oh, oh. A potential new problem was created today at Mohun Bagan.
Today at the Bagan Maidan Tent after the morning practice session, journalists were talking to inform Brazilian defender Leonardo Monnerat D'Almeida, when a Bagan official rushed to the player telling him that his salary would be deducted and when the Brazilian asked why, he got an answer that talking to the press was something only for the captain and coach. Leonardo said he was unaware, the official replied that they don't care. Leonardo, who kept cool until then, went off saying do whatever you want to. Then someone else who actually wanted to intervene, assistant coach Satyajit Chatterjee, go silencent by Bagan officials, who said that Satyajit should do his work and not interfer with the management work.
A dangerous way to handle matters...

Note-4: An oHerald report: The Goa FA is considering the feasibility of contracting a State coach who will supervise all the State teams for National Football Championships in various categories, both men and women.
First mooted by Youth Development Committee chairman and former GFA secretary Anthony Botelho, the suggestion was instantly lapped-up by the powers that be. Though still in its infancy stage, the GFA is expected to act no sooner the season culminates.
"It will not be ethical to approach a coach mid-way into the season," GFA secretary Savio Messias told Herald. "Perhaps at the end of the season we could do a check and see who is available. The final decision will rest with the executive (committee)," Messias added.
Contrary to what the GFA suggests, Herald understands that the GFA infact had talks with a top coach, currently training a NFL outfit. The initial interest shown both by the coach and GFA fizzled out due to what was later described as a "communication gap."
Much of GFA's enthusiasm in appointing a State coach stems from the fact that Goan football - minus the clubs - does not have much to show in terms for trophies. The cupboard has been bare for a long time and the future does not appear to be all that rosy.
The last National championship Goa won was four years ago when the Peter Vales-trained under-21 squad won the National Championship for the Dutta Ray Trophy in Assam.
The less said the better about National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy where Goa, time and again, has lost out in the finals. The last triumph was in 1990 when Goa got the better of Kerala 2-0, on a rainy afternoon at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda.
For this year's Santosh Trophy - to be held in Kochi (Kerala) - in May, the GFA is contemplating sending a three-member technical team consisting of NFL coaches, who would act as back-up to coach Peter Valles.
The State coach, to be appointed by GFA at the start of the season will select his own team of assistants and physical trainers for the different categories, right from the under-l0 age group to the senior category. The under-21 and under-23 squads which do not come under the scope of the Youth Development Committee will also come under the wings of the State coach.

Note-5: The IFA met the officials of Calcutta Super Division clubs today. And a number of issues were discussed at the meeting, especially about signing players. The IFA would write to the AIFF in the interest of the Calcutta clubs to abolish transfer fees for inter-state transfers, which are in place only in certain states. Also the IFA would ask for a change in the "on loan" rule, which has been in place since this season. At the moment, if a player is taken on loan his service would be until the end of the season. The IFA proposal says that the on loan period should be a minimum of two months and the length of the lien deal would be discussed and then signed among the clubs.

10. March
8th National League - Calcutta: Tollygunge Agragami 1-2 Dempo SC - Goals: 0-1 Clifford Miranda (68'), 1-1 Gouranga Datta (73'), 1-2 Wilton Gomes (77').
Tollygunge Agragami suffered a 1-2 home defeat against Dempo SC in a National League match at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. Tollygunge suffered an unwanted and unneeded defeat, which keeps them in the relegation zone; while for Dempo the victory today meant a return to winning ways for the Goans, who had remained winless in their last five NFL matches. Tollygunge remain on 13 points from 14 matches and 11th in the league table, while Dempo move to 27 points from 14 matches to tie with league leaders East Bengal on points, who have played a match less.
The first half was a drab affair with loads of useless midfield action but after the lemon break the complexion of the match changed as both teams suddenly played a fast-paced match but it surprisingly also became quite dark in the stadium. In the 68.minute Dempo went into the lead but due to a mistake in the Tollygunge defence. A Stanley Colaco cross from the right was pushed towards the Tollygunge goal by Liberian striker Sunday Seah, which Tollygunge keeper Raj Narayan Mukherjee didn't clear properly and it reached Temjen Kibang but Temjen didn't clear the ball properly and then an inform Clifford Miranda used the chance to shot Dempo into the lead. Urgency set into the Tollygunge attacks with coach Krishnendu Roy making a golden substitution to bring on Gouranga Dutta in the 72.minute and only a minute later the youngster scored of a sharp left-footer. It had been dark for a while now, but now the skies opened with a heavy non-seasonal shower. But Dempo seemed not disturbed by the weather, continued to press for the win and in the 77.minute Dempo substitute Wilton Gomes's close range right-footer sealed the match for Dempo. Thereafter the Tollygunge coach Roy and his players asked the referee and the fourth referee outside to call-off the match as water puddles were all over the pitch but the match continued until the end.
TOLLYGUNGE: Raj Narayan Mukherjee, Temjen Kibang, Isiaka Awoyemi, Ebi Bar Bar, Amitava Chanda, Biman Mondal (Gouranga Dutta), Sandip Das, Shamshi Reza (Sujit Neogi), Napoleon Singh, Sheikh Habeeb Ali (Laltu Das), Akeem Abul Alem.
DEMPO: Abhijit Mondal, Raju Singh, Stanley Colaco, Philip Gomes, Melvyn Rodrigues, Mohammed Gaffar (Jose Colaco, Mario Soares), Clifford Miranda, Savio Mascarenhas (Wilton Gomes), Nacimento Silveira, RC Prakash, Sunday Seah.

39.Dr BC Roy (under-19) Trophy - Quarterfinal League Group A: West Bengal 5-0 Karnataka
39.Dr BC Roy (under-19) Trophy - Quarterfinal League Group A: Maharashtra 1-1 Manipur
13.Dutta Ray Trophy (Under-21) Trophy - NorthEast Zone Qualifiers - Final: Manipur 4-0 Assam

Note-1: The renovated dressing room was opened at Mohun Bagan's Maidan Tent today. The dressing room has been named after one of Bagan's alltime greats, former Olympian Sailen Manna. At a function today evening, famous Bengali singer Manna Dey inaugurated the dressing room.

Note-2: The 13th Inter-School Nivia Football Tournament will be held at the Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi from April 10 to 30.

9. March
8th National League - Calcutta: Mohun Bagan AC 0-0 Mahindra United - Goals: none.
Former champions Mohun Bagan and title contenders Mahindra United played out a dull and lacklustre draw in a National League match at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. Bagan missed a chance to move closer to the top 5 of the league, while Mahindra United missed a chance to move closer to league leaders East Bengal. Mohun Bagan now have 19 points from 14 matches, while Mahindra now have 24 points from 15 matches.
The Mumbai Jeepmen had the first chance of the match in the 3.minute, when Shanmugam Venkatesh moved-up the left and then lobbed the ball into the box but striker Abhishek Yadav failed to touch the ball but that was it for Mahindra attacks in the first half. Meanwhile Bagan's midfielders and forwards looked not to know what the other was doing. Captain Renedy Singh moved-up the left flank and Mehtab Hossain did the same on the right but the strikers Eduardo Ribeiro and Ashim Biswas didn't seem to be informed what was coming, again and again. And in the second half things didn't seem to get better, though there was some more action. Bagan striker Ashim Biswas had the best chance of the match in the 55.minute, when Ashim got a Mehtab Hossain cross from the right and with Mahindra keeper Kalyan Chaubey at his mercy, Ashim in a hurry shot the ball past the goal.
MOHUN BAGAN: Prasanta Dora, Manitombi Singh, Sanjeev Kumar Maria, Leonardo Monnerat D'Almeida, Rishi Kapoor, Mehtab Hossain, Rocus Lamare (Basudeb Mondal), Noel Tafadzwa Kaseka, Renedy Singh, Eduardo Ribeiro (Hardeep Singh Gill; Akum Ao), Ashim Biswas.
MAHINDRA: Kalyan Chaubey, Jinto Jose, Sanjay Parte, Covan Lawrence, Peter Siddique, Odartey Lawson, Jules Alberto (James Singh), Khalid Jamil, Shanmugam Venkatesh, Abhishek Yadav (Mongba Aby Samson), Raphael Patron Akakpo.

60th Inter-Railway Trophy - Final: South-Eastern Railway, Calcutta 0-1 Eastern Railway SC, Calcutta - Goal: 0-1 Archisman Biswas (78').
60th Inter-Railway Trophy - 3rd Place Playoff: Western Railway, Mumbai 3-0 South-East-Central Railway, Bilaspur

Note-1: The draws for the AFC Youth Championship - Malaysia 2004 and AFC U-17 Championships - Japan 2004 were carried out today at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia today. While the India U20 team hasn't qualified for the finals, the India U17 boys have been drawn in an interesting Group C along with Iran, Kuwait and Malaysia. If the performance in the qualifiers last December against Nepal and Afghanistan are an indicator, then the Indian boys will have a very tough tournament. But currently the U17 coaches are scouting and testing players to strengthen the Indian team ahead of the AFC U17 Cup finals. At the last AFC U17 Cup in 2002 the very talented India U17 team reached the quarterfinals and lost 1-3 against the to be champions South Korea.

Note-2: Finally the format for the 2.Division National League 2003/04 has been released today.
The 2DNFL will be held in a three stage format. In the Qualification Phase, 18 nominated teams from State FAs will vie for the three available slots to move into Phase I. Then in the Phase I 15 teams, inclusive of the three qualifiers, will vie for a slot in the final round. The two relegated NFL sides - Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC and Indian Telephone Industries (both Bangalore), plus the 10 teams who had qualified for the Phase I of last seasons 2DNFL. The first and second placed team from each group (Phase I) will qualify for the Phase II of the competition, which will consist of six teams. The six teams will then play a single leg league with the first two teams securing a berth in the National League 2004/05.
The 2.Division National League will commence in the last week of March and is expected to continue till early-May. The venues for the League, however, has not been announced by the All India Football Federation.

Note-3: Going strictly by the Goa Pro League standings, the Goa FA will nominate Fransa FC as Goa's entry in the 2.Division National League, slated to start March-end, at venues yet to be announced by the AIFF.
Fransa FC, however, will need to perform an act of legendary heroism if they are to overcome the hurdles and swell Goa's representation in the elite NFL to six, presuming none of the Goan clubs get demoted, in the 8th edition.
The Betalbatim-based outfit, owned by Sports Minister Francisco "Mickky" Pacheco, will be among 18 nominated teams from State FAs, who will vie for the three available slots to move into the next round.
Trained by the talismanic Shabbir Ali, Fransa has been slotted in Group III alongside teams from Maharashtra (Haywards 2000-Holy Family), Kerala (KSEB), Tamil Nadu (Chennai Customs/ICF), Karnataka (CIL) and Gujarat. The group winner will qualify for the next round. And after that anything is possible...

8. March
8th National League - Calcutta: Mohammedan Sporting Club 1-1 Salgaocar SC - Goals: 0-1 Jatin Singh Bisht (42'), 1-1 Syed Rahim Nabi (74').
Debutants Mohammedan Sporting Club came from a goal down to score a one-all draw against former champions Salgaocar SC in a National League match at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. Sporting now have 14 points from 14 matches, while Salgaocar have 18 poinst from 14. A draw was something both coaches, Sporting's Jamshed Nassiri and Salgaocar's Savio Madeira, didn't look for before the match but something they had to settle for. Salgaocar controlled the match in the first half and took deservingly the lead, but after the breather Sporting came back strongly and equalised.
Salgaocar had the first chance of the match in the 21.minute when a Climax Lawrence shot was blocked by Sporting keeper Amar Deb. Only three minutes later new Salgaocar striker Jules Aliba from Chad. The Salgaocar lead came in the 42.minute when a Bernard Pires cross from the right was shot home by Jatin Singh Bisht as Sporting defenders Satish Kumar Bharti and Syed Hossain looked on. In the counter attack Sporting had a chance to equalize but they failed. After the break Sporting had chances through Syed Rahim Nabi and Okoli Onyeka Odafa but they continued to falter infront of goal or Salgaocar keeper Rajat Ghosh Dastidar was in the way. But it was a mistake from Rajat Ghosh Dastidar which allowed Sporting to equalise as he couldn't hold on to a Okoli Onyeka Odafa shot and Syed Rahim Nabi scored of the rebound.
MSC: Amar Deb, Syed Hossain (Sheikh Sanjib, Hamza Zaheer Abbas), Madhab Das, Satish Kumar Bharti, Amandeep Singh, Abu Baker Godwin, Okoli Onyeka Odafa, Bhuvan Krishna Joshi, Syed Rahim Nabi, Chidi Edeh, Dipendu Biswas (Amjad Ali Khan).
SALGAOCAR: Rajat Ghosh Dastidar, Remus Gomes, Roberto Fernandes, Prashant Jaggi, Anthony Perreira, Ragui Singh (Samson Singh), Bernard Pires, Jatin Singh Bisht, Climax Lawrence, Dharamjit Singh; Jules Aliba (Freddy Mascarenhas).

13.Dutta Ray Trophy (Under-21) Trophy - NorthEast Zone Qualifiers - semifinal: Manipur 2-0 Meghalaya
60th Inter-Railway Trophy - Semifinal: South-Eastern Railway, Calcutta 0-0,5-4 South-East-Central Railway, Bilaspur (on penalties) - Goals: none.
60th Inter-Railway Trophy - Semifinal: Eastern Railway SC, Calcutta 3-1 Western Railway, Mumbai - Goals: 0-1 Roshan Lal (22'), 1-1 D Majumdar (53'), 2-1 Fareed Ali Mollah (89'), 3-1 Archisman Biswas (90').

Note-1: The current 8th National League is still running but the teams are already starting to plan for the new 2004/05 season, on which players to sign or release.
The most spectacular move is expected from Mohun Bagan as they want to sign players from East Bengal Club. This would be in defiance of a rule set by common sponsors the United Breweries Group that East Bengal Club and Mohun Bagan AC couldn't sign players of the other club. Only this season Baichung Bhutia as a free agent switched from Mohun Bagan to East Bengal. Bagan show interest in Nigerian Mike Okro and Sasthi Duley.
Salgaocar SC, who have the best Indian midfield in the NFL, might soon loose two of their key midfielders Climax Lawrence and Jatin Singh Bisht. Salgaocar are in Calcutta to play NFL matches, and the recruiters from East Bengal and Mohun Bagan held initial talks with both Climax and Jatin. So a Calcutta switch is possible.
East Bengal meanwhile are working to sign another top Indian midfielder. Mahindra United captain Khalid Jamil is now set to be a target of the red-&-gold brigade for the new season.

Note-2: Those of you, who have been to the Saltlake Stadium in Calcutta know what a chaos there is surrounding the stadium before and after matches, as the traffic around the stadium breaks down. Maybe by 2013 that problem could be solved. I know it sounds far away but still a relief could be on the cards. The Government of West Bengal is planning an East-West Metro Rail corridor from Howrah to Rajarhat across Calcutta and an initial project study is being prepared at the moment. The first route would leave the Saltlake Stadium aside, but the WB transport minister Subhas Chakraborty, who is also sports minister, has suggested that the route take a deviation in the Saltlake area. The deviation would take the route along the Saltlake Stadium/ EM ByPass and could potentially make the travelling for fans from other parts of the city to and from the ground easier. But according to the plans, the route would be completed only by 2013. Lets see what happens...

7. March
8th National League - Ludhiana: JCT Mills 1-3 Sporting Clube de Goa - Goals: 0-1 Jerose Oliveira (2'), 1-1 Harvinder Singh (16'), 1-2,1-3 Abdullatif Seriki (60',69').
JCT Mills suffered a surprise 1-3 home defeat at the hands of debutants Sporting Clube de Goa in a National League match at the floodlit Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana. For Sporting Clube it was the second big win against JCT Mills in this NFL, as in the match in Goa they had beaten the Millmen 4-1. JCT Mills remain on 22 points from 14 matches, while Sporting Clube now have 19 points from the same number of matches to move away from the relegation zone.
Sporting Clube took a very early lead in the 2.minute when midfielder Jerose Oliveira moved past JCT wingback and captain Daljit Singh to shot home past JCT keeper Mansuru Mohammad. But JCT shot back when young Harvinder Singh equalised in the 16.minute off a rebound. But disaster struck after halftime for JCT with Sporting Clube scoring two goals in the 60. and 69.minute to seal the match and it came with a double strike from Nigerian striker Abdullatif Seriki, a former striker at JCT Mills, whose efforts were helped by JCT keeper's Mansuru Mohammad mistakes. Thereafter both sides were reduced to ten men as their Nigerian defenders - JCT's Musa Aliu and Sporting Clube's Louis Aniweta got into a fight. JCT Mills tried hard to reduce the deficit with especially Harvinder Singh and Indian international Jo Paul Ancheri working hard but success eluded them.

13.Dutta Ray Trophy (Under-21) Trophy - NorthEast Zone Qualifiers - semifinal: Nagaland 2-2,0-1 Assam (extra time)

Note-1: A day after Holi (the festival of colour) was celebrated in India, it was the turn of the footballers to play Holi in Calcutta. And it was an interaction and a great instance of harmony as it didn't matter what club the players were from. The Salgaocar team were practicing at the Howrah Municipal Stadium but then a bunch of players (among them Bagan captain Renedy Singh, and East Bengal players Mahesh Gawli, Alvito D'Cunha, Bijen Singh, Kulothungan, and more) came-by, dragged the Salgaocar team off the field and then spread them with gallons of coloured water. That must have been fun!!!

6. March
13.Dutta Ray Trophy (Under-21) Trophy - West Zone Qualifiers - Final: Goa 5-1 Gujarat
60th Inter-Railway Trophy - Quarterfinal: Rail Coach Factory 1-1,3-5 South-Eastern Railway, Calcutta (on penalties)
60th Inter-Railway Trophy - Quarterfinal: Western Railway 3-0 South-Central Railway, Secunderabad - Goals: 1-0 Roshan Lal (31'), 2-0 Inam-ul Haque (47'), 3-0 Subhas (75').
60th Inter-Railway Trophy - Quarterfinal: Integral Coach Factory 1-1,5-3 Eastern Railway SC (on penalties)
60th Inter-Railway Trophy - Quarterfinal: Central Railway 0-1 South-East-Central Railway, Bilaspur - Goal: 1-0 Dushyant Yadav (89').

Note-1: The 59th Santosh Trophy final round will be held in Kochi, Kerala from May 1-15, later then the originally planned April 15-30. Due to the World Cup qualifying matches and the thereby caused delay in the end of the 8th National League the Santosh Trophy dates had to be pushed back. The preliminary rounds would be held across Kerala from the middle of April, though the venues haven't been announced yet.
Kochi was chosen as the final round venue in Kerala ahead of other contenders Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam as Kochi's Nehru Stadium has the required floodlights facilities to host evening matches plus had all other facilities ready or are being upgraded for the India-Oman World Cup qualifier.
This means that bigtime football returns to Kerala, where no clubs play in the National League though the people in Kerala (Malayalis) are football loving!!!
The Santosh Trophy meanwhile returns to Kerala for the ninth time with Kochi hosting their fourth Santosh Trophy. The last Santosh Trophy in Kerala was held in March/April 2000 in Thrissur.

Note-2: The camp for the Indian U20 team, which will represent the country at the 9th SAF Games later this month in Pakistan, has been shifted from the Chandigarh Football Academy complex to to the National Institute of Sports, Patiala and will kickoff on March 12.
India's Group B will now be a three team affair as the Maldives pulled out leaving India to face Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Group A is also a three team affair, where hosts Pakistan face Nepal and special invitees Afghanistan.

5. March
8th National League - Calcutta: East Bengal Club 2-0 Mahindra United - Goals: 1-0 Cristiano Junior (35'), 2-0 Baichung Bhutia (87').
Defending champions East Bengal Club continued their win streak with a 2-0 victory against National League title opponents Mahindra United at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta to stay top of the NFL after Round 13. The clash between the two strongest Indian club sides on paper turned out to be an interesting an entertaining match. East Bengal Club strengthened their position on top of the NFL as they now have 27 points from 13 matches, while Mahindra United remain on 23 points from 14 matches.
Mahindra United had the initial midfield control but the East Bengal defence bottled-up the Mahindra attacks. Mahindra United had to substitute their keeper Naseem Akthar due to injury in the 30.minute with Kalyan Chaubey and then the completion of the game changed in the 35.minute, when Mahindra's defender Arun Malhotra brought down East Bengal's Brazilian striker Cristiano Junior in the area. The referee directly showed to the spot and also gave Arun Malhotra marching orders. Cristiano himself took the resultant spotkick to score his eight goal in the NFL. Thereafter both sides had their chances to score but they didn't until three minutes from time, when India captain Baichung Bhutia received a pass from Anit Kumar Ghosh to score East Bwngal's second as he shot past substitute Mahindra keeper Kalyan Chaubey.
Today East Bengal proved once more it has the best bench strength in India with five regulars out injured and coach Subhas Bhowmick's tactical finesse and the players class with Surkumar Singh as central defender and Malswam Tulunga as left-half, were both utilised in unusual positions.
EAST BENGAL: Sandip Nandy, Mahesh Gawli, M Suresh, Surkumar Singh, Malswam Tulunga, Alvito D'Cunha (Bijen Singh), Chandan Das (Anit Kumar Ghosh), Mike Okoro, Surya Bikash Chakraborty, Cristiano Junior (Douglas da Silva), Baichung Bhutia.
MAHINDRA: Naseem Akhtar (Kalyan Chaubey), Arun Malhotra, Covan Lawrence, Odartey Lawson, Falguni Dutta, Rauf Khan, Shanmugam Venkatesh, Khalid Jamil, Stephen Dias (James Singh), Abhishek Yadav (Raphael Patron Akakpo), Felix Aboagye.

8th National League - Goa: Churchill Brothers SC 4-1 Indian Bank - Goals: 1-0,2-0,4-1 Yakubu Yusif (3',15',17'), 2-1 Kasun Nadika Jayasuriya (30'), 3-1 Sukhdev Arwade (65').
Goans Churchill Brothers SC trashed Indian Bank 4-1 in a Round 14 National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao, where Yakubu Yusif's hattrick was the day's highlight. The Ghanian sharpshooter Yakubu Yusif, the NFL's top scorers of the last two editions and after today leading with 11 goals this season again, scored two goals early in the match. Yakubu opened the scoring in the 3.minute through a penalty after Indian Bank defender Rajesh Kumar Pandey had brought him down in the area and in the 15.minute Yakubu volleyed a Somatai Shaiza cross into the goal. But if one thought Indian Bank was beaten by then, you thought wrong and the Bankmen from Chennai went out to score a goal. their efforts brought results as in the 30.minute Sri Lankan striker Kasun Nadika Jayasuriya reduced the deficit. Only after the breather Churchill Brothers came back with the right attitude as they played for the decider. Substitute striker Sukhdev Arwade scored Churchill's right with his head from a Ratan Singh corner but Arwade needed a second attempt as his first attempt rebounded of the crossbar. And then in the 75.minute Yakubu Yusif rounded off the tally and completed his hattrick. For Indian Bank it meant another defeat, their 13th in 15 matches; while for Churchill Brothers SC the win meant at least for a few days second spot with 25 points from 14 matches.

13.Dutta Ray Trophy (Under-21) Trophy - NorthEast Zone Qualifiers - Group B: Assam 0-1 Manipur

Note-1: The most asked question in Kerala is: Will the India Vs Oman match be played in Kochi yes or no???
The AIFF will do a second inspection of Kochi's Nehru Stadum before March 15 and then take a final decision on India's World Cup qualifier against Oman.
The inspection is most likely to take place on March 12 and if the AIFF is not satisfied, the match will be shifted to Chennai's Nehru Stadium, AIFF secretary Alberto Colaco informed from his office.
The AIFF's aim was to hold the three World Cup qualifying matches spread across the country - east (Calcutta), west (Goa) and south (Kochi). Therefore the Oman match wouldn't be held in Goa and Chennai has come in as an alternative venue. No idea why Bangalore has disappeared as an alternative venue, though it would also be in the south.

Note-2: We reported a few days ago that the Goa FA and the IFA (Bengal body) would sign a Memorandum of Understanding for a youth exchange programme. Now the GFA has approved the the MoU, which would allow Goa and West Bengal to send two youth teams across to the other state for exposure by playing the other states youth team or top youth sides. A very good step forward for youth development in India!

4. March
8th National League - Calcutta: Mohun Bagan AC 1-0 Salgaocar SC - Goal: 1-0 Eduardo Ribeiro (51').
Mohun Bagan AC stopped their downslide in the NFL table with a 1-0 victory against Salgaocar SC to get three vital points in the National League at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. Who would have thought before the start of the NFL that the former champions Mohun Bagan AC and Salgaocar SC would play in Round 13 to move away from the relegation zone, rather than fight for the title. For Bagan the win meant they now have 18 points from 13 matches, now placed sixth in the league; while Salgaocar SC remain on 17 points.
Salgaocar controlled the midfield and the match in the first half and one didn't see that the team missed three key players, Nigerians Bello Rasaq and Felix Ibrebru due to red card suspensions and Indian international Tomba Singh due to injury. Bagan started upfront besides Ashim Biswas with new on loan Naga striker Akum Ao, who has joined them from Assam Rifles, but the big stage seemed to big today, so he was replaced 10 minutes before halftime with Brazilian striker Eduardo Ribeiro. After the break the complexion of the match changed as Bagan coach Aloke Mukherjee seemed to have found the right words. In the 51.minute the match winner came, as Mehtab Hussein's cross from the right was headed-in by Eduardo Ribeiro as everyone watched the action. Who would have thought that Eduardo would once score an important winner for Bagan, the man everyone called a failure. Thereafter Bagan had chances to score more but Salgaocar keeper Rajat Ghosh Dastidar was blocking all shots that came his way from his former club. In the end Salgaocar could have taken a point home had substitute striker Samson Singh's shot not sailed over the goal.
MOHUN BAGAN: Prasanta Dora, Manitombi Singh, Leonardo Monnerat D'Almeida, Sanjeev Maria, Rishi Kapoor, Mehtab Hussain, Rocus Lamare, Noel Tafadzwa Kaseka, Renedy Singh, Akum Ao (Eduardo Ribeiro), Ashim Biswas.
SALGAOCAR: Rajat Ghosh Dastidar, Remus Gomes, Roberto Fernandes, Prashant Jaggi, Anthony Pereira (Ragui Singh), Bernard Pires, Jatin Singh Bisht, Climax Lawrence, Dharamjit Singh (Samson Singh), Jules Aliba, Freddy Mascarenhas.

13.Dutta Ray Trophy (Under-21) Trophy - West Zone Qualifiers - semifinal: Goa 2-0 Madhya Pradesh
13.Dutta Ray Trophy (Under-21) Trophy - West Zone Qualifiers - semifinal: Gujarat 2-1 Maharashtra
13.Dutta Ray Trophy (Under-21) Trophy - NorthEast Zone Qualifiers - Group A: Meghalaya 0-2 Nagaland
60th Inter-Railway Trophy - Preliminary League - Group A: South-Eastern Railway, Calcutta 5-0 Southern Railway, Chennai
60th Inter-Railway Trophy - Preliminary League - Group A: Integral Coach Factory 2-0 North-Western Railway, Jaipur - Goals: 1-0,2-0 Sri Kumar (5',55').
60th Inter-Railway Trophy - Preliminary League - Group B: North-Eastern Railway, Gorakhpur 1-0 Metro Rail, Calcutta - Goal: 1-0 Abhey Singh (54').
60th Inter-Railway Trophy - Preliminary League - Group B: Western Railway, Mumbai 9-0 South-West Railway, Hubli
60th Inter-Railway Trophy - Preliminary League - Group C: Northern Railway, Delhi 2-0 South-Central Railway, Secunderbad - Goals: 1-0 Ashish Gandial (54'), 2-0 Jaspal (71').

Note-1: The AIFF today announced 28 probables for the 9th SAF Games camp to be held in Chandigarh from March 12. The SAF Games are an under-23 tournament but due to World Cup qualifiers commitment, India would send a U20 developmental team, some probables even being U18 eligible.
Aloke Mukherjee has been appointed coach but the okay from his club Mohun Bagan is awaited, while Rakesh Kumar Bakshi, of A.G. (Audit) Haryana, and Chandigarh FA secretary, has been named as team manager.
PROBABLES: GK: Bilifang Narzary (Mohun Bagan AC), Subashish Roy Chowdhury (Tata Football Academy), Amit Nandy (Bengal), Souvik Mondal (Bengal), Machindra Singh. DF: Gurjinder Singh, Warundeep Singh, Habihur Rahman Mondal, Subhas Mondal (all Tata Football Academy), Manju Nanjangud Shivananju (DYS, Karnataka), Alat K Kyanta (Langsning FC, Meghalaya), Gurpreet Singh. MF: Gouramangi Moirangtem Singh, Debabrata Roy, N Khemtang Paite, Chitrasen Chandam Singh, Malsawama, Jerry Zirsanga (all Tata Football Academy), Lekini Suting (Fransa FC, Goa), Babin Biswas (Calcutta Custom), Andrew S, Andrew, Karthik. FW: Vanlal Rova, Vimal Pariyar (both Tata Football Academy), Sampathkumar Kuttimani (Indian Telephone Industries), Marlanki Sutang (Fransa FC, Goa), Mahonar Dharani (515 Army Base Workshop, Bangalore).

Note-2: Jon Rudkin, who is Academy Director at English Premier League club Leicester City FC, will fly down to Calcutta next week to work with the coaches of the INDIA U17 team plus the probables, who are having a camp at the moment, and the coaching staff at East Bengal Club, if the National League schedule allows. Jon Rudkin will be in Calcutta from March 10 to 14. This is the first interaction between Leicester City FC, East Bengal Club and the AIFF after signing their partnership agreement last month in Calcutta.

Note-3: The Delhi Soccer Association will hold open trials-cum-coaching camp from Friday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium warm-up football ground to select the Delhi U21 team for the U21 Nationals - North Zone qualifiers. The qualifiers will be held at Ambala Cantonment, Haryana from March 19 to 28. A three-member selection committee, comprising chairman Nagender Singh, convenor Magan Singh Patwal and coach Julius Ceaser, will pick the team.
Players who are interested to take part in the trials should report at the Nehru Stadium on Friday between 14.30 and 16.30 along with their original date of birth certificate.

3. March
8th National League - Calcutta: Tollygunge Agragami 2-1 Sporting Clube de Goa - Goals: 0-1 Abdullatif Seriki (16'), 1-1 Sandip Das (45+'), 2-1 Sheikh Habeeb Ali (49').
Tollygunge Agragami came back from a goal down to score an important 2-1 victory against debutants Sporting Clube de Goa in a National League match at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. After today's win Tollygunge are placed 10th with now 13 points from 13 matches leaving the relegation zone, while Sporting Clube de Goa close-in on those as they remain on 16 points from as many matches. But after today's match certain clubs have come very close to the relegation zone, where we never thought they could come close to. Clubs like Salgaocar and Vasco are four points away and Mohun Bagan only two points away from the drop zone.
The first proper move of the match in the 13.minute brought the lead for Sporting Clube de Goa as Nigerian striker Abdullatif Seriki, a former Tollygunge player, headed in a Vincent Pires corner. Thereafter it looked as if Tollygunge wouldn't have the fighting spirit nor the firepower to get back into the match. But Tollygunge coach Krishnendu Roy brought in on loan striker Sheikh Habeeb Ali in the 35.minute and the game changed completely for the home team. Just before the breather in injury time Tollygunge equalised. A hard Amitava Chandra shot from the top of the box could not be controlled by Sporting Clube keeper Felix D'Souza and Sandip Das scored of the rebound. Only four minutes into the second half Tollygunge scored the winner when Sheikh Habeeb Ali connected with his head a Napoleon Singh cross. Thereafter Tollygunge could have increased the lead but their forwards missed the chances or Sporting Clube keeper Felix D'Souza was in the way. Sporting Clube meanwhile wasn't upfront as dangerous as usual as Tollygunge's Nigerian defenders Isiaka Awoyemi and Ebi Bar Bar kept the Sporting Clube's Nigerian strikers Dudu MacPherlin Omagbemi and Abdullatif Seriki under control.
TOLLYGUNGE: Chinmoy Banerjee, Kabijit Khotel, Isiaka Awoyemi, Ebi Bar Bar, Amitava Chanda, Napoleon Singh (Gauranga Dutta), Sandip Das, Shamshi Reza, Jiten Rai, Ajay Singh (Sheikh Habeeb Ali, Sujit Neogi), Akeem Abul Alem.
SCG: Felix D'Souza, Vincent Pires, Louis Aniweta, Ajay Diwadkar, Dennis George (Alvito Rodrigues), Angelo D'Costa, Bibiano Fernandes (Jerose Oliviera), Francis Andrade, Joseph Pereira, Dudu MacPherlin Omagbemi, Abdullatif Seriki.

13.Dutta Ray Trophy (Under-21) Trophy - NorthEast Zone Qualifiers - Group B: Manipur 1-0 Assam
60th Inter-Railway Trophy - Preliminary League - Group A: Southern Railway, Chennai 3-1 North-Western Railway, Jaipur - Goals: 1-0,2-0,3-0 Jebamani (48',52',73'), 3-1 Yunus Ahmed (86').
60th Inter-Railway Trophy - Preliminary League - Group A: Integral Coach Factory 7-0 Railway Board SC, Delhi
60th Inter-Railway Trophy - Preliminary League - Group D: Rail Coach Factory 1-0 Eastern Railway SC - Goal: 1-0 Manjinder Singh (85').
60th Inter-Railway Trophy - Preliminary League - Group D: West-Central Railway, Jabalpur 5-4 East-Central Railway, Hajipur - Goals: 0-1,2-2 Naveen Kumar (8',41'), 1-1 Faroque (18'), 2-1,3-2 Nilesh Kumar (32',47'), 4-2,5-3 Parveen (50',79'), 4-3,5-4 Nasir Ahmed (72',80').

Note-1: After the demonstration of football lovers infront of the Doordarshan Kendra Calcutta on February 23 it was the turn of Mumbai today. And it is a good sign to see that such a protest can take place elsewhere in India!
Among the demonstrators were Calcutta organisers, former internationals Subhas Bhowmick and Surajit Sengupta. Others who joined in were former internationals Gautam Sarkar and Henry Menezes plus other footballers, officials and fans. The Mumbai demonstration was coordinated by Bengal Mumbai FC officials.
Like in Calcutta a memorandum was handed over, this time to the Mumbai Doordarshan director Mukesh Kumar, who afterwards said that communication between all sides was the key to resolve the problem. Like his Calcutta counterpart Mukesh Kumar said that DD wasn't against showing football but it was upto getting in the production costs, which was another key factor. Also he said that the AIFF wanted money from DD to show football, which under the current market isn't feasable.

Note-2: A fortnight after Black Monday - a day when 118 goals in two Second Division League matches were scored - the Goa Football Association today appointed a three-member Inquiry Committee to investigate into the unusually high scoring play-off matches at Chinchinim and Duler, on February 16.
Advocate EO Mendes, retired police officer DySP Joe D'Souza and former international Oscar Rebello have been assigned the task of getting to the proverbial crux of the matter.
"The Inquiry Committee will excavate the truth after meeting with the players, officials and whosoever connected with the incidents," GFA secretary Savio Messias told oHerald.
The decision to appoint a three-member committee was taken during last night's executive committee meeting of the GFA, at Panjim, chaired by president Shivanand Salgaocar.
Significantly, no executive committee member of the GFA has been included in the inquiry committee. "It is being done to prevent any sort of influence. The inquiry panel is an independent body," explained Messias.
The panel will start their investigations from Saturday, April 6 and will submit its findings to the GFA in the second week of April.
Three players - Marcelino Dias, Reynold D'Costa (both Sangolda Lightning) and Mario Mascarenhas - have written to the GFA and have explained themselves. They are to later depose before the Inquiry Committee.
All four clubs involved in the unusually high-scoring game - Curtorim Gymkhana, Sangolda Lightning, Dona Paula SC and Wilred Leisure SC - have also replied to the GFA notice but have vehemently denied any match-fixing took place.
The clubs along with 20 officials and 70 players have been handed a year-long suspension by the GFA, after Goan football was rocked by match-fixing. Two matches, played simultaneously at Duler and Chinchinim produced an improbable 118 goals plummeting Goan football to the depths of despair.
Meanwhile, Curtorim Gymkhana general secretary and executive committee member of Goa FA Arnold Costa maintained that he is yet to be receive any letter of his suspension from the executive committee of GFA.
Costa was reacting to press reports publicising his suspension from the executive committee. GFA secretary Savio Messias, however, said Costa was suspended from all football activities (being secretary of Curtorim Gymkhana) and there was no need for a separate intimation. "The question of writing to Costa separately does not arise," Messias said.
In another important decision taken at yesterday's conclave, the GFA decided to offer the following incentives to young players attending India camps: Allowance during the camp and while traveling of Rs 50 per day; when on foreign tours 10 US Dollars per day and if the tournament is held in India Rs 250 per day.
The GFA will organise a D-Licence course for aspiring coaches from Bardez, Pernem, Bicholim, Sattari talukas in Mapusa, in May. Those interested in undergoing training have been asked to submit their applications to the GFA, latest by March 20.
The third D-Licence coaching course will be held in the last week of March, at Fatorda.

2. March
13.Dutta Ray Trophy (Under-21) Trophy - NorthEast Zone Qualifiers - Group A: Nagaland 2-0 Meghalaya
60th Inter-Railway Trophy - Preliminary League - Group B: Western Railway 1-0 South-East-Central Railway - Goals: 1-0 Inam-ul Haque (75').
60th Inter-Railway Trophy - Preliminary League - Group B: North-Eastern Railway, Gorakhpur 2-0 Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi - Goals: 1-0 Abhay Kumar (39'), 2-0 Ashwani Kumar (55').
60th Inter-Railway Trophy - Preliminary League - Group B: Metro Rail, Calcutta 3-0 South-West Railway, Hubli - Goals: 1-0 Laskar, 2-0 Shankar Sandhu, 3-0 Deepankar.
60th Inter-Railway Trophy - Preliminary League - Group C: East Coast Railway 0-0 Northern Railway - Goals: none.
60th Inter-Railway Trophy - Preliminary League - Group C: Central Railway 4-1 Chitranjan Locomotice Works, Calcutta - Goals: 1-0 Arshad Ansari (25',86',90'), 1-1 ? (50'