News for the month of December 2004

News for the month of December:

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31. December
1st Sant Baba Bhag Singh Memorial Football Tournament - Padhiana village, Punjab - Final Punjab Armed Police 1-0 CRPF, Jalandhar

Note-1: Yesterday evening the traditional Sikkimese wedding of India captain Baichung Bhutia and Madhuri Tipnis came to an end with a traditional Sikkimese gala reception with over a 1000 guests present at Tinkitam, a south Sikkim village where Baichung was born.

30. December
San Miguel International Cup, Kathmandu, NEPAL - Semifinal: Nepal BLUE 0-1 East Bengal Club - Goal: 0-1 Paolo Roberto da Silva (71').
NEPAL BLUE: 1-Bikash Malla,3-Subash Lama, 17-Ram Kumar Bishwas, 14-Anjan KC, 5-Pralaya Rajbhandari, 13-Bishan Gauchan, 7-Santosh Sahukhala, 18-Jumanu Rai, 10-Yugal Kishor Rai, 9-Raju Tamang (84' 16-Birat Thapa).
EAST BENGAL: 1-Sangram Mukherjee, 15-Douglas da Silva, 17-Surya Bikash Chakraborty (74' 27-Gurpreet Singh), 5-Habibur Rahman Mondal, 16-Selwyn Fernandes, 8-Shasti Duley, 28-Shylo Malswam Tulunga, 30-Climax Lawrence, 9-Alvito D'Cunha, 10-Paulo Roberto da Silva, 25 -Bijen Singh (32' 14-Chandan Das).

5th Bodoland Martyrs Gold Cup - Kokrajhar, Assam - Final: Mohammedan Sporting Club 3-3,7-6 Assam Rifles [penalties] - Goals: 1-0,3-1 Felix Chimaokwu (5',71'), 1-1,3-2 Ajith Kumar (8',85'), 2-1 Sheikh Habeeb Ali (14'), 3-3 SK Kipgen (90').

Note-1: The IFA (Bengal body) governing body met in Calcutta today. It took a wise and necessary decision not to allow any foreigners to play below the new Calcutta Premier League from next season onwards. This means only top division clubs could sign foreigners for local Calcutta engagements.
Currently a lot of foreigners, especially Nigerians, play for first division group A and even group B clubs. Often playing in key positions, thereby blocking places for youngsters.

Note-2: CHAK MALLAN edged out Kallewal Fattoo to capture the 24th Punjab Rural Senior Soccer Tournament. Chak Mallan registered a 2-1 win over their opponents in the final played at village Nangal Khilarian near Hoshiarpur today.
Both teams were locked 1-1 at the end of the first half. However, Chak Mallan team scored in the second half to clinch the title. Earlier, Chak Mallan defeated Bombeli while Kalewal Fattoo ousted three-time champions Langeri in the semifinals. Punjab Cabinet Minister Jasjit Singh Randhawa distributed the prizes to the teams.

29. December
The number of death's from the Tsunamis keep on rising, currently over 80.000 and it is feared that over a 100.000 could have been killed. This would be a good attendence for an East Bengal-Mohun Bagan match at the Saltlake Stadium in Calcutta. Just unbelievable to think that so many people are dead, killed by the water.
Donations are needed. You could send your donations e.g. to: UNICEF call for aid

Note-1: Mohun Bagan will play a charity match against Nigerian club Saro FC at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta on January 7 to raise money for thousands affected by the tsunami in India. Bagan would organise the match jointly with the West Bengal sports department and the entire proceeds would go to the Indian Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

Note-2: Calcutta giants East Bengal and Mohun Bagan are reacting to Cristiano's death on the field with medical expertise attached to the teams ahead of the NFL.
While East Bengal has put together a panel of six doctors to be headed by Dr. SR Dasgupta who would be with the team during matches and in practice, while Maidan rivals Mohun Bagan have named a doctors' trio - Rajib Seal, Jaideep Banerjee and Abhijit Roy Chowdhury, for the NFL home matches. A different doctor would be touring with the team.

Note-3: Chakmallan and Kalewal Fattoo have entered the finals of the ongoing 24th Punjab Rural Football Meet being held at Nangal Khilarian near Hoshiarpur. Chakmallan beat Bombeli 2-1 in the extra time, while Kalewal Fattoo beat former three-time champions Langeri 5-3 via tiebreaker.

28. December
The number of deaths across south and southeast Asia from the deadly Tsunamis keep on rising, especially in India and Sri Lanka. Currently the number of death's stand at over 33.000, but as one hears the news one can only fear that the numbers will rise further.
We at IndianFootball.Com will make a donation to a fund of an international organisation in the coming days and call on all of you to do the same. The people need our financial help!!!
So please make generous donations...
Further we at IndianFootball.Com are talking to contacts across Europe about charity matches for the people hit by the tragedy. We hope some will reply positively.

San Miguel International Cup, Kathmandu, NEPAL - Group B: Nepal BLUE 1-0 Tollygunge Agragami - Goal: 1-0 Ram Kumar Bishwas (43').
NEPAL BLUE: 1-Bikash Malla, 3-Subash Lama, 17-Ram Kumar Bishwas, 19-Sagar Thapa, 14-Anjan K.C., 5-Pralaya Raj Bhandari, 13-Bishan Gauchan, 15-Ananta Thapa (72' 9-Raju Tamang), 7-Santosh Sahukhala, 18-Jumanu Rai (84' 4-Sandip Rai), 10-Yugal Kishor Rai (78' 8-Jibesh Pandey).
TOLLYGUNGE: 1-Arindam Ghosh, 12-Chinmoy Sarkar, 23-Kabijit Khotel, 4-Debkumar Sahmal, 30-Soumik Dey, 5-Amitava Chanda, 22-Suley Musah, 19-Suman Ghosh, 16-Gouranga Datta, 20-Suman Datta, 14-Dinesh Swar, 11-Surojit Bose, 18-Tarif Ahmed (83' 27-Ramen Basak).
So log on to the >>INDIAN CLUBS IN ASIA SECTION for further details and pictures.

Note-1: Indian international and Mahindra United midfielder Shanmugam Venkatesh has been named as "Indian Player of the Year 2004" by the AIFF. Venkatesh, called "Venky" by his teammates, was born on November 23, 1979 and had captained INDIA in their 2006 World Cup qualifier against Singapore in October.
Venkatesh has been a key player in Mahindra's NFL campaign last season, which the team ended as third in the league, their best ever finish.
Congrats Venky from IndianFootball.Com!!!

Note-2: Indian minister of irrigation and water resources Priya Ranjan Das Munshi has been reelected as AIFF president unopposed until 2008 in the capital New Delhi. The five vice-Presidents: Praful Patel (Maharashtra - West), P Atuo Mezhur (Nagaland - North East), Sanjay Singh (Uttar Pradesh - North), Subrata Dutta (IFA - East), CR Vishwanathan (Tamil Nadu - South) the treasurer: Shivanand Salgaocar (Goa), and the 10 executive committee members: S Nasir Ali (Delhi - North), Inder Singh (Punjab - North); Hardev Jadeja (Gujarat - West), SR Dev (Madhya Pradesh - West); Tempo Bhutia (Sikkim - East), Ejaz S Hussain (Bihar - East); AR Khaleel (Karnataka - South), KMI Mather (Kerala - South); B Diengdoh (Meghalaya - NorthEast), Ankur Dutta (Assam - NorthEast), were all elected unopposed like the president. Alberto Colaco became the first appointed general secretary and was also named NFL chairman. Wing Commander M Baladitya (Services Sports Control Board) was inducted into the executive committee, while the All-Manipur FA would nominate a female representative for the executive committee.
The AIFF president talked with the media after the AIFF executive meeting and informed of the following.

the 9th National League would kickoff on January 12, 2005 with a Calcutta derby between champions East Bengal Club and former champions Mohun Bagan AC. The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been requested to inaugurate the tournament, but no answer has come so far positive or negative.
The NFL fixtures would be discussed with the participating clubs in Delhi on January 4, 2005
The opening match and the two Dempo-Mohun Bagan matches would be held to raise funds for the family of deceased Dempo's Brazilian striker Cristiano Junior.

Further the AIFF seems to have woken-up that medical facilities need to be in place at ground for matches. The local organisers need to ensure that a fully-equipped ambulance is at the ground and that a tie-up is in place with the hospital closest to the venue. Also all NFL clubs will be instructed to have a doctor accompany the team for away games.

Das Munshi also announced as a result of the Subroto Pal/Cristiano collision that all clubs will have to sign an undertaking to ensure fair play at all AIFF-run tournaments. Das Munshi said that clubs that refuse to sign it will be dealt with severely and might have to play home matches a neutral venues.

A newly formed three member committee (Subrata Dutta, IFA; Savio Messias, GFA; and B Diengdoh, Meghalaya FA) would work out a calendar for 2005 and submit it to the AIFF by January 4.

The executive committee would meet again on January 11 in Calcutta, a day ahead of the NFL opening. Amongst other things one point of discussion would be if foreign players would only allowed to play in the NFL or all tournaments, as these foreigners disturb the development of Indian talent.

The fate of national coach Stephen Constantine would be decided before January 12 after studying his contract and other legal aspects. "The matter has been left to me and the secretary to decide by the executive committee," Das Munshi said. It looks likely that Stephen's days are numbered.
At the media briefing Mr. Das Munshi said, "We are planning a step-by-step and orderly growth of professional football to enable us to find a place in the World Cup between 2010 to 2014."
If this is true great, but we will only believe this when steps are taken to implement professionalism in Indian football administration. In the past we have been too disappointed...

Note-3: In a traditional Sikkemese wedding Indian captain Baichung Bhutia and longtime girlfriend Madhuri Tipnis tied the nuptial knot at Baichung's parential home in Tinkitam in south Sikkim. The wedding was a private affair with only family members, close relatives and friends attending the ceremony. Both Baichung and Madhuri where wearing traditional Sikkimese dress' (Bokku). The main wedding reception will be held on Thursday, after the two got married according to Marathi tradition on Sunday.
Congratulations to Madhuri and Baichung from the IndianFootball.Com!

Note-4: At a function in Guwahati tonight Indian international Renedy Singh was given the Dinesh Goswami Award as the best player of the NorthEast by the Assam Sports Journalist Association for his performences on the international and national level.
Assam State Electricity Board striker Sanjiva Rongpi received the Dr S Dasgupta Award as Assam footballer of the year.

27. December
San Miguel International Cup, Kathmandu, NEPAL - Group A: East Bengal Club 2-1 Farashganj Sporting Club, BANGLADESH - Goals: 1-0 Chandan Das (59'), 2-0 Alvito D'Cunha (71'), 2-1 Masud Khan (89').
EAST BENGAL: 1-Sangram Mukherjee; 33-Syed Rahim Nabi (46' 8-Shasti Duley), 5-Habibur Rehman Mondal, 15-Douglas da Silva, 17-Surya Bikash Chakraborty; 9-Alvito D'Cunha, 14-Chandan Das (78' 32-Bhola Prasad), 30-Climax Lawrence, 29-Subhas Chakraborty; 28-Shylo Malswam Tulunga, 25-Bijen Singh.
FARASHGANJ: 1-Mohammad Pruszzaman, 2-Khaled Hossan, 4-Abu Faysal Ahmed (81' 6-Rony Islam), 5-Amir Khan, 3-Anupam Barua (20' 12-Asraful Karim), 14-Mostara Wnowar Parbez, 9-Masud Khan, 7-Kabir Hossan (81' 13-Mohammed Nur Hossan), 8-Amirul Islam, 10-Walid Khan, 11-Mahadi Hossan.
So log on to the >>INDIAN CLUBS IN ASIA SECTION for further details and pictures.

Note-1: The AIFF disciplinary committee met today in the capital New Delhi to discuss the case of Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Subroto Pal. Subroto has been given a two month suspension for the Bangalore Federation Cup final incidence.
The disciplinary committee headed by Hardev Jadeja (Gujarat FA secretary) and comprising NA Khan (J&K, executive committee member), LR Natarajan (former FIFA referee), Mohan Raj (Karnataka State FA secretary) and Rakesh Bakshi (Chandigarh FA secretary), examined all aspects of the issue and also meet Subroto Paul, who had been placed under suspension after the controversial death of Dempo's Brazilian striker Cristiano Junior in the Federation Cup final on December 5, 2004. Member Mohan Raj wasn't present due to poor health, while the AIFF president Das Munshi came into the four hour long meeting for a while. The Disciplinary Committee had also summoned match commissioner MG Suvarna, referee SM Balu and assistant referee Rizwan-ul Haq.
The committee look a "lenient view taking into account the age of the player", Subroto wasn't fined anything and also Subroto's "misbehaviour" during the Durand Cup was not taken into account.
Talking to PTI after the meeting, committee chairman Hardev Jadeja said, "The committee after watching the video tape of the match came to the conclusion that the intention was not to hurt him (Junior). But there was some collision (between Pal and Junior)."
Mr. Jadeja added the decision was unanimous. "Pal is not guilty of Junior's death and should not be blamed for the incident. But his off-the-ball challenge was not in the true spirit of the game and could be construed as violent conduct."
The two month ban would start on January 1, 2005 and last until February 28. But against this decision Subroto's lawyer Sushil Salwan said Mohun Bagan would file an appeal on Wednesday, as according to the club the ban should have started on December 6, the day after the match. Bagan would make another appeal for Subroto to play in the two matches against East Bengal and Dempo as tribute to Cristiano.
That there was contact between Subroto and the Brazilian striker could be seen on TV pictures and photos, but knowing Subroto I will surely say that he didn't do it intentionally. But hopefully these difficult days ending with a ban will help Subroto to control himself better in difficult situations in the future and make him an even better keeper. There is no doubt that Subroto is one of our most talented young keepers. And Subroto was surely lucky to come away with a shorter ban than one would have expected...

Note-2: Here a worrying oHerald report from Goa:
Lack of adequate medical facilities at football venues came to the fore again after the goalkeeper of Mundvel SC, Alex Fernandes collapsed on the pitch during an encounter against ABC Benaulim in the GFA's Second Division football league played at Varca grounds on Sunday. Tension was palpable around as Alex lay unconscious on the ground for around five minutes with players and officials trying hard to regain his consciousness. It was only after sustained mouth-to-mouth resuscitation - in the absence of any medical facilities - that Alex gained consciousness, much to the relief of his anxious team mates, officials and the spectators. Alex was later rushed to a doctor at Orlim where his condition was reported as stable. The incident occurred 10 minutes into the match when the goalkeeper and ABC's midfielder went in for an aerial ball. It is believed that the midfielder's elbow hit the goalkeeper, throwing him on the ground. The incident highlighted the absence of medical facilities made available at football matches, more so at tournaments and league matches organised by the Goa FA. Information revealed that the GFA made no arrangements for a medical team at the venue. GFA's famous medical duo - comprising of a retired sanitary inspector and the office boy - were also conspicuous by their absence at Varca grounds yesterday. Nor was there any ambulance stationed around the venue, throwing up questions whether only prestigious tournaments such as the National League deserves medical facilities. A GFA official admitted that Sunday's incident is indeed an eye opener for the football body coming as it does close on the heels of the tragic death of Dempo's Cristiano Junior, adding the Association ought to give a deep though to the medical requirements during matches. "We spend quite an amount on the refrees and the Match Commissioner to supervise a match. Requisitioning the services of a doctor on match-basis would not make much difference," he opined. Incidentally, the GFA had discussed at its meeting held soon after the death of Junior to explore the possibility of imparting first aid training to club officials, but no concrete action has come from the sporting body since then, sources added.

26. December
Like everyone else around the world we at IndianFootball.Com are shocked at the underwater earthquake in the Indian ocean which triggered huge Tsunamis to hit southern India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Myanmar, killings over 11.000 across south and southeast Asia. Our prayers are with the families of those killed, we hope that people missing are found and the survivors are taken care off.

San Miguel International Cup, Kathmandu, NEPAL - Group B: Hannam University, SOUTH KOREA 3-0 Tollygunge Agragami - Goals: 1-0 Jo Hyung Jae (10'), 2-0 Kin Jun Tae (81'), 3-0 Park Min (82').
HANNAM U: Min Keong, Kim Hae, Choi Kesak, Chen Je Hun, Bae Dong (Moon Wan), Kim Jun Tae, Kin Min Soo (Hang Jong), Lee Sung Min, Jo Hyung Jae (Park Min), Ko Jung Bin, Mo Sung.
TOLLYGUNGE: 1-Arindam Ghosh, 23-Kabijit Khotel, 4-Debkumar Sashmal, 30-Soumik Dey, 5-Amitava Chanda (12-Chinmoy Sarkar), 16-Gouranga Datta (29-Ramu Adhikary), 22-Suley Musah (8-Nilava Chakraborty), 20-Suman Datta, 14-Dinesh Swar, 11-Surojit Bose, 18-Tarif Ahmed
So log on to the >>INDIAN CLUBS IN ASIA SECTION for further details and pictures.

All-India Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh Memorial Football Tournament, Fatehgarh Sahib - Final: Border Security Force 1-0 Rail Coach Factory - Goal: 1-0 Santosh Kujur (43').

25. December

!!! THE IndianFootball.Com TEAM WISHES YOU ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!

The final results are finally out! The names of the winners in the five categories of the IndianFootball.Com Awards 2004 have been made public by the IndianFootball.Com team.
So log on to the >>IFC AWARDS SECTION for the details.

San Miguel International Cup, Kathmandu, NEPAL - Group A: Nepal RED 1-0 East Bengal Club - Goal: 1-0 Basanta Thapa (78').
RED CARD: Paulo Roberto da Silva (41').
NEPAL RED: Upendra Man Singh, Lok Bandu Gurung, Rakesh Shrestha, Janak Singh, Narottam Gautam,Rajesh Shahi,Pradeep Maharjan,Bijaya Gurung,Srendra Tamang,Basabta Thapa,Hari Khadka.
EAST BENGAL: 24-Rajat Ghosh Dastidar, 33-Syed Rahim Nabi, 23-Madhab Das, 16-Selwyn Fernandes, 27-Gurpreet Singh, 14-Chandan Das, 15-Douglas da Silva, 30-Climax Lawrence, 9-Alvito D'Cunha, 10-Paulo Da Silva, 25-Bijen Singh.
So log on to the >>INDIAN CLUBS IN ASIA SECTION for further details and pictures.

Note-1: Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Subrata Pal left Calcutta for the capital Delhi ahead of his hearing infront of the AIFF disciplinary committee on Monday. Pal had been suspended by the AIFF after his collision with Dempo's Brazilian striker Cristiano Junior.

Note-2: From January 15 the India U17 girls coaching camp would start at the SAI Bangalore centre for the Asian Junior Girls' Championship to be held in Thailand from April 6 to 27. Moirnagthem Ratankumar Singh of Manipur has been named chief coach of the girls team and he would be in charge of the camp.

24. December
IFC AWARDS 2004
In the IndianFootball.Com Awards 2004 section you were able to vote for the best performers in five different categories of the concluded 2003/04 season. Sadly IFC was unable to host an awards evening this year, but we will announce the winners today night - Christmas Night - at 24.00 CET / 23.00 GMT / 04.30 IST. The winners will be announced at the IFC AWARDS SECTION.
Log on to the >>IFC AWARDS SECTION

2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Final: Manipur 4-0 Orissa - Goals: 1-0 Lalvarmoi Hmar (10'), 2-0,3-0,4-0 Bala Devi (20',29',36').
The Manipuri girls defended their title with a convincing 4-0 victory, all goals coming in the first half itself. With this win Maniour continues its dominance as the best state in the women's game in India.

23. December
48th Churachand Singh Invitation Football Trophy - Final: Tiddim Road Athletic Union 2-0 Youth Welfare Club - Goals: 1-0,2-0 L Bisheshore (51',71').

Note-1: In a laudable gesture Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today donated Rs 50,000 to the family of former Brazilian footballer Cristiano Junior, who had died in the Fed Cup final earlier this month. At an art exhibition of Ms. Banerjee's paintings at Swabhumi in Calcutta, she sold three of her paintings, fetching Rs 230,000. From this sum she donated the Rs 50,000.
Cristiano, who died while playing for Goans Dempo SC, was a hero on the Calcutta Maidans after only half a season with East Bengal Club, winning them the National League with his goals.

Note-2 At the final of the 48th Churachand Singh Invitation Football Trophy in Imphal today Manipur's state player of the year, male and female, where also named. H Noren Singh of Manipur Police SC received a cash prize of Rs 5,000 as the male player of the year, while Na Bala Devi of NYThC, Okram Chuthek received Rs 2,000 as the female player of the year.

22. December
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Semifinal: Manipur 10-1 West Bengal
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Semifinal: Tamil Nadu 1-3 Orissa - Goals: 1-0 V Kokila, 1-1,1-3 Sasmita Malik (13',90+'), 1-2 Sangita Patra (55').

Note-1: The Maidan Sports Welfare Association in Calcutta has put together a memorandum asking for and demanding adequate medical facilities and insurance policies at football stadiums and grounds in India. The memorandum has been sigend amongst others by former internationals Sailen Manna and Sahu Mewalal, and would be send to AIFF president Das Munshi.

Note-2: The "Men in Black", the referees, are a heavily criticised lot in India. Players, club officials, fans and media alike criticise the men in the middle for poor supervising and/or wrong decisions. The IFA would like to now try to change this with the first referee's academy in India to start functioning in January 2005.
The academy would come-up in Kalyani, outside Calcutta, were 24 trainees would undergo a year long training in the skills to become referees. Former international and national referees Milan Dutta, Pradip Nag and Sumanto Ghosh would train the upcoming referees, while the academy would be supervised by the Calcutta Referees Association

21. December
20th Airlines Gold Cup - Final: Mohun Bagan AC 3-0 George Telegraph SC - Goals: 1-0,2-0 Ashim Biswas (10',20'), 3-0 Sunil Chetri.
48th Churachand Singh Invitation Football Trophy - Semifinal: Southern Sporting Union 0-1 Youth Welfare Club - Goal: 0-1 Lunminlal Khongsai Rama (7').

20. December
In the latest FIFA rankings released today INDIA have moved-up eight places to 132nd in the December rankings, which is also the year ending ranking. In Asia INDIA is now 24th, up four places.
After some heavy defeats and a slump in the rankings earlier, INDIA's good performances against Kuwait and Oman in November helped us regain some lost round. What makes it interesting is that we won against Kuwait, now 55th, in an international friendly and drew Oman, 56th, in a World Cup qualifier. This shows the potential of the INDIA team...

48th Churachand Singh Invitation Football Trophy - Semifinal: Tiddim Road Athletic Union 3-1 Citizens' Club - Goals: 1-0,3-0 N Olenkumar (9',71'), 2-0 R Vashum (46'), 3-1 M Romi.
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Group B: Tamil Nadu 7-0 Uttar Pradesh
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Group B: West Bengal 1-1 Tripura
16th Lal Bahadur Shastri Cup - Final: Bengal Mumbai FC 0-2 Tata Football Academy - Goals: 0-1 Pachuau Lalam Puia (28'), 0-2 Vimal Pariyar (62').

19. December
The following will be something many of you will not believe if it cannot be proven. But we can as IndianFootball.Com has a couple of video clippings online.
The clips are from the press conference of the Temptation Tour 2004 in Duesseldorf on Friday, on the event that took place last night in Dortmund.
The main attraction was Shah Rukh Khan, who is known to be a big football fan. Arunava was at the press conference as an theInder.net reporter and actually asked Shah Rukh Khan about Indian football, with the Bollywood Star answering the question about Indian football in detail and with real interest. He made a very interesting statement about an Indian pro football league with involvement of Bollywood actors. But to read the whole story go to the:
>>IndianFootball.Com LIVE section

20th Airlines Gold Cup - Group A: Mohun Bagan AC 2-0 Mohammedan Sporting Club - Goals: 1-0 Roberto Mendes Silva (42'), 2-0 Eduardo Chacon Coelho Lacerda (52').
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Group A: Manipur 3-0 Haryana
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Group A: Jharkhand 1-5 Orissa

Note-1: In the last few days it seemed like everyone with some authority in India was trying to organise a charity match for Cristiano Junior's family. It is great to see that, but an organised approach would make more sense in the interest of the sum raised for Cristiano's family.
The AIFF they want two make two NFL ties matches in remembrance for Cristiano, the IFA made it's pledge, the government of West Bengal also had an idea, then Mohun Bagan want to play a Foreigners in India XI and finally East Bengal a Brazilian XI.
After talks in Calcutta today, the government of West Bengal has shelfed it's plans and wants the AIFF and IFA to take the lead. This came out of a meeting which was attended by WB sports minister Subhas Chakraborty, IFA secretary Subrata Datta, East Bengal official Swapan Bal and former Indian international Chuni Goswami as WB sports council representative.
Through the IFA secretary the WB government would make a request to the AIFF that the National League kicks-off with an East Bengal-Mohun Bagan derby at the Saltlake Stadium with all proceeds of the match going to Cristiano's family. If not possible, it would be requested to keep the derby as early as possible in the schedule.
The WB government hoped to raise around Rs 1 million from the match for Cristiano's family which would be more than US-Dollar's 20,000. A worthy sum.
This would be one of the topics when AIFF officials meet IFA and Goa FA officials in New Delhi.

Note-2: The recently newly elected Assam FA held it's first governing body meeting in Guwahati today. Top on the agenda was the preparation of the Assam state team for the 2005 National Games to be held in the state. The aim of the team would be a medal and that should be achieved through a four stage plan. This was disclosed by the AFA president Hemendra Brahma and secretary Ankur Dutta.
In stage one the seven zones across Assam would be divided into three coaching camps. The best talents from the districts would undergo a 12 day trial to find the best talent across the state. The camps would be held in Jorhat, Nagaon and Kokrajhar, where the coaches after an initial period choose the best 22-25 players and work with them.
In stage two the selected players from the three camps would be joined by players who have represented the state in the Santosh Trophy. Through the AIFF the AFA would invite two national-level coaches to oversee the coaching.
In stage three the selected 25 to 28 players would be either send to Calcutta or Goa for exposure, be it for friendlies or tournaments.
Stage four would be a final camp which would start 25 days before the start of the National Games.
To implement this whole project the AFA has put together a budget of Rs 1,175 million and they hoped to raise this money through a sponsor.

18. December
20th Airlines Gold Cup - Group B: EverReady SA 2-2 George Telegraph SC
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Group B: Tamil Nadu 5-1 Tripura
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Group B: West Bengal 1-0 Uttar Pradesh - Goal: 1-0 Sapna Guria.
16th Lal Bahadur Shastri Cup - Semifinal: Titanium XI 0-1 Tata Football Academy - Goal: 0-1 Bimal Minz (57')
Shirui Lily Football Trophy - Final: Eastern Sporting Union 1-0 YSWA, Utlou - Goal: 1-0 Rohen Singh (32').

Note-1: The AIFF has made a suggestion that the entire gates sales of two National League matches be given to the family of the Brazilian footballer Cristiano Junior. This proposal has been made by the AIFF president Das Munshi in a letter to the IFA. The matches would be Mohun Bagan-Dempo SC and Mohun Bagan-East Bengal. The AIFF has asked the IFA to get the opinion from the Maidan big two and only then could a final decision be taken.
Meanwhile the AIFF has called a meeting on December 20 in Delhi with the Goa FA and the IFA (Bengal body) to discuss the situation arising from the death of Cristiano ahead of the National Leagu enext month. The AIFF realises from past experiences of bad blood that especially when Mohun Bagan travel to play in Goa, the situation could be tense, especially if Subroto Pal plays in goal. This meeting is intended to defuse possible tension and look at ways on how to best conduct matches in such a prevailing atmosphere. Crowd trouble is a fear of the AIFF.
Later a meeting with all participating NFL clubs would be held to discuss pending issues.

17. December
20th Airlines Gold Cup - Group A: Mohammedan Sporting Club 1-0 Peerless SC
20th Airlines Gold Cup - Group B: Tollygunge Agragami 1-2 George Telegraph SC
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Group A: Manipur 15-0 Jharkhand
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Group A: Haryana 0-1 Orissa - Goal: 0-1 Sasmita Malik.
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Group B: Uttar Pradesh 0-0 Tripura - Goals: none.
16th Lal Bahadur Shastri Cup - Semifinal: Bengal Mumbai FC 1-0 Mohammedan AC - Goal: 1-0 M Sagar Thapa (65').

Note-1: Congratulations from the IndianFootball.Com team to Fransa FC midfielder Jules Alberto Dias for becoming a father of a healthy son today!!!

Note-2: The AIFF disciplinary committee will meet in Delhi on December 27, 2004 to discuss the case of Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Subroto Pal. Subroto or his representative would have to be present.

16. December
20th Airlines Gold Cup - Group A: Mohun Bagan AC 2-0 Peerless SC - Goals: 1-0,2-0 Roberto Mendes Silva (29',80').
20th Airlines Gold Cup - Group B: Tollygunge Agragami 0-0 EverReady SA - Goals: none.
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Group B: Tamil Nadu 2-0 West Bengal - Goals: 1-0 V Kokila (50'), 2-0 R Suganya (54').
16th Lal Bahadur Shastri Cup - Group A: Mohammedan AC 1-0 Titanium XI - Goal: 1-0 Ari Benjamin Hmar (11').
16th Lal Bahadur Shastri Cup - Group B: Tata Football Academy 2-0 Jammu&Kashmir Bank - Goals: 1-0 Robert Lalthalma (47'), 2-0 Vimal Pariyar (53').

Note-1: According to reports in the oHerald newspaper from Goa, Cristiano Junior was laid to rest yesterday in his home town of Taguatinga about 30 km from Brasilia, hours after his body returned from India. The funeral was said to be well-attended with two Brazilian senators, a representative from the CBF, footballers and many others present.
Before the body was buried a second autopsy was carried out in Brazil. The results will be out soon and lets see if they match the Bangalore findings.

Note-2: Aheibam Borchand Singh, the secretary of the All-Manipur Football Association, died yesterday morning at his residence at Lalambung Soram Leirak in Imphal. He was 62 and leaves behind wife, three daughters and two sons.
Borchand has over the last three/four decades been one of the driving forces of football in Manipur, first as a referee and then as an administrator. He was founding secretary of the AMFA in 1976, then as an active referee. He has been attached as manager to the Indian U16 national team and also the women's national team over the years, also being secretary of the North-Eastern Football Development Forum.

15. December
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Group A: Manipur 2-0 Orissa - Goals: 1-0 Bala Devi (3'), 2-0 Lalvar Moihmar (28').
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Group A: Haryana 1-0 Jharkhand - Goal: 1-0 Manpreet Kaur (90').
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Cluster D: Uttar Pradesh 4-0 Delhi
16th Lal Bahadur Shastri Cup - Group A: DFA, Varanasi 1-2 South-East-Central Railway - Goals: 1-0 Ayazh Ahmed (13'), 2-0 Abdul Khalique (75'), 2-1 Karan Singh (88').
16th Lal Bahadur Shastri Cup - Group B: Bengal Mumbai FC 5-1 City College Old Boys - Goals: 0-1 Mohammed Maozam (26'), 1-1,3-1,5-1 Innocent (35',64',85'), 2-1 Nagesh Swamy (57'), 4-1 Kennedy Kalunga (82').

Note-1: The India Youth Soccer Association under technical director Bill Adams and secretary Arup Das is doing a lot of good work in Delhi to get kids from all walks of life to play football, be it through it's school leagues and soccer programm's for poorer children. Currently the IYSA has 4 programs running with over a 1000 children playing every week.
On December 5, Youthreach and IYSA started the 2nd Soccer Program (Coaching and League) for children from NGO's like Salaam Baalak Trust, Karam Marg, Vidya and Deepalayay with AIS Glass being the sponsor. It will run 3 times a week for 6 months with the majority of the program being run on Sunday afternoons at the Vasant Valley School in Vasant Kunj.
This year 168 children are part of the programm, much more than the 60 children last year. There are 24 teams in 4 age divisions from age 6 this year up to age 14.
The league is organized with Mini Soccer rules, age appropriate teams, balls, pitches and goals for children to develop in the right way and have fun at the same time. It gives these children an opportunity to play and be coached in modern football standards.
More infos on the Indian Youth Soccer Association Website .

14. December
Calcutta Super Division: Mohun Bagan AC 2-1 Tollygunge Agragami - Goals: 1-0,2-1 Roberto Mendes Silva (19',86'), 1-1 Tarif Ahmed (83').
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Cluster B: West Bengal 13-0 Andhra Pradesh
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Cluster D: Tamil Nadu 4-0 Uttar Pradesh
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Cluster F: Chattisgarh 4-4 Kerala
16th Lal Bahadur Shastri Cup - Group A: Mohammedan AC 0-2 DFA, Varanasi - Goals: 0-1 JP Singh (65'), 0-2 Jayendra Yadav (90+').
16th Lal Bahadur Shastri Cup - Group B: Tata Football Academy 4-1 City College Old Boys - Goals: 1-0,4-1 Pachuau Lalam Puia (28',89'), 2-0 Robert Lalthalma (30'), 3-0 Vimal Pariyar (44'), 3-1 MD Maozam (49'),

Note-1: We had some infos on the candidates for the AIFF elections yesterday and the confirmed news out today is that none of the 17 posts up for graps will have any contest. President Das Munshi is set for his fifth term as president and the elections will only have a formal character under such circumstances. Under the reformed constitution, which only took effect on November 22, the AIFF would have a president, five vice-president (one from each zone), a treasurer and 10 executive committee members (two from each of the five zones), all elected. The secretary meanwhile would no longer be elected, but would be appointed by the newly elected AIFF top brass.
Returning officer Lalit Bhanot released a list of 17 valid nominations. The last date for withdrawals is December 17.
The NOMITEES - President: Priya Ranjan Das Munshi; Vice-Presidents: Praful Patel (Maharashtra - West), P Atuo Mezhur (Nagaland - North East), Sanjay Singh (Uttar Pradesh - North), Subrata Dutta (IFA - East), CR Vishwanathan (Tamil Nadu - South). Treasurer: Shivanand Salgaocar (Goa). Executive Members: S Nasir Ali (Delhi - North), Inder Singh (Punjab - North); Hardev Jadeja (Gujarat - West), SR Dev (Madhya Pradesh - West); Tempo Bhutia (Sikkim - East), Ejaz S Hussain (Bihar - East); AR Khaleel (Karnataka - South), KMI Mather (Kerala - South); B Diengdoh (Meghalaya - NorthEast), Ankur Dutta (Assam - NorthEast).

Note-2: INDIA is amongst the six countries who have submitted bids to host the next edition of the Asian U20 Youth Championships in 2006. As with the senior Asia Cup, also the youth events will be rotated amongst the different regions in Asia. In 2006 it is the turn of Central and South Asia to host the event. Along with INDIA there are five other bidders in Iran, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Tajikistan.
So one would think INDIA's chances in hosting a continental championships are quite good as also the AFC would see more of INDIA at the top level in Asia.

Note-3: Following the the death of Cristiano Junior in Bangalore, the organisers of leagues and tournaments across India are trying to improve their medical facilities.
The organisers of the ongoing Lal Bahadur Shastri Cup in Delhi have done their bit to ensure medical aid can be given if needed, having tied-up with Jai Prakash Narayan hospital across the road at the Ambedkar Stadium with two equipped ambulances at the stadium. Something new in Delhi.
In Calcutta meanwhile the IFA medical committee has made a set of proposals on what would be needed to ensure basic medical facilities for next season. Already the IFA has decided to get the service of an ambulance which is fully-equiped for Calcutta league matches.

13. December
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Cluster A: Manipur 22-0 Rajasthan
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Cluster C: Haryana 3-1 Bihar
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Cluster D: Delhi 5-0 Jammu&Kashmir
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Cluster E: Orissa 9-0 Punjab
16th Lal Bahadur Shastri Cup - Group A: Mohammedan AC 1-0 South-East-Central Railway - Goal: 1-0 Rana Guha (17').
16th Lal Bahadur Shastri Cup - Group B: Tata Football Academy 1-2 Bengal Mumbai FC - Goals: 1-0 Vimal Pariyar (25'), 1-1 Amarjeet Singh (31'), 1-2 Nagesh Swamy (74').

Cristiano's death - Events of the Day:

In the morning Dempo players and officials, officials and players from other clubs, and many football fans bid a tearful farewell to Cristiano Junior at the Dempo Club House in Goa. Cristiano's teammates wearing their Dempo jersey's wrapped the coffin in a Dempo flag, before taking the coffin into the hearse van, which took the body to Dabolim airport accompanied by he convoy of cars, bikes and scooters. The body was then flown in the afternoon to Mumbai and then in the early hours of the morrow will be flown to Brasilia, Brazil.

The sentence of the day came from Dr. Susana de Souza, the Director of Youth Affairs, when she spoke to the Dempo players, "Let Junior be your inspiration to play hard. He lived and died for the game, let him be the reason for you all to play to win."

This afternoon the AIFF got the results of the CT scan and immediately send it to FIFA Chief medical Officer Prof. Jiri Dvorak, who is looking into the case for FIFA. A copy was given to the widow of Cristiano Junior, who will hand the copy to the FIFA observer at the second autopsy in Brazil.

In Brazil a second autopsy will most probably be carried out later this week with FIFA medical officials flying over from Zurich. The organs which are still in Bangalore, are likely to be released after clearing all legal hurdles.

In another tragedy for Dempo SC their fitness consultant Lancy Sequeira died in the afternoon after a massive heart attack at the Campal ground while training. Sequeira, the SAI athletic coach, had in the morning paid his last respect to Cristiano at the Dempo Club House.

Note-1: The AIFF elections are round the corner with just over two weeks to go. And the posts in the reorganised AIFF topbrass are up for grabs. The one or the other change is in store, but it looks unlikely that the AIFF will witness a battle for control as four years ago.
One post is set to be changed after over two decades. Goa FA president Shivanand Salgaocar has filed his nomination for the post of AIFF treasurer, unopposed, to replace AR Khaleel the Karnataka State FA president, the organisation under pressure after the Bangalore Federation Cup incidence. But Khaleel is along with Kerala FA president KMI Mather the south zone candidates for the new executive committee. From Gujarat secretary Hardev Jadeja and from Madhya Pradesh SR Dev are the west zone candidates. It was further known that Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel is the only candidate from the west zone for one of the vice-president's posts.
Out of the AIFF executive committee from west zone is GFA secretary Savio Messias, whose name had been proposed by the GFA executive committee, but with Salgaocar's late entry there was no place for him left and his nomination had to be withdrawn.

Note-2: The often rescheduled 20th Airlines Gold Cup will finally be held from December 16 to 21, 2004 at Burnpur and Durgapur. Taking part would be Mohun Bagan AC, EverReady SA, Tollygunge Agragami, Mohammedan Sporting Club, George Telegraph SC and Peerless SC divided into two groups. The final on December 21 will be held in Durgapur.

12. December
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Cluster B: Maharashtra 7-0 Andhra Pradesh
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Cluster D: Tamil Nadu 11-0 Delhi
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Cluster D: Uttar Pradesh 8-0 Jammu&Kashmir
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Cluster F: Tripura 7-0 Chattisgarh
16th Lal Bahadur Shastri Cup - Group A: Titanium XI - DFA, Varanasi - Goals: 1-0 Ebin Rose, 2-0,3-0 K Ranjith, 4-0 Raffy Jacob, 4-1 Jagdamba Prasad.
16th Lal Bahadur Shastri Cup - Group B: Jammu&Kashmir Bank 0-0 Bengal Mumbai FC - Goals: none.
4th Tamil Nadu State Ranking Tournament - Final: Indian Bank 1-0 Madras Sporting Union - 1-0 Syed Shabir Pasha (58').

Cristiano's death - Events of the Day:

Cristiano Junior's stay in India is finally to end tomorrow. Cristiano body will first be shifted to the Dempo Club House at Tonca at 11.00 IST. An hour later as a mark of respect the Dempo players will carry Cristiano's coffin to the Tonca crossing before the body will make it's way to Dabolim Airport to be flown first to Mumbai, and then fly to Brasilia via Europe. Until Mumbai the coffin will be accompanied by Dempo coach and secretary Armando Colaco, while the whole journey will be made by widow Juliana and a personal friend.

As per directives of the FIFA medical department a CT scan examination of the skull and vertebral column was carried out tonight with Anil Kamat representing the AIFF and Salgaocar midfielder Marcos Pereira representing the widow Juliana during the testing.

It is likely that Mohun Bagan keeper Subroto Pal will send his answers to the AIFF show-cause notice tomorrow. A draft copy was prepared today, which claims the innocence of the keeper. It will also be mentioned that he didn't touch Cristiano and he had no motive to harm the Brazilian.

Note-1: The start of the National League is set to be delayed by a further week according to infos from sources. At the earliest it will now kickoff on January 14, 2005. This is the result of Cristiano's death, where now medical issues would have to be discussed between the AIFF and the clubs, but there are also other issues like sponsorship and the AIFF office bearer elections on December 28.

11. December
Does the name Nevin Saroya say anything to you Indian football fans?
Those of you following the game through IndianFootball.Com over the years will have come across the name in the past in our "Players of Indian Origin" section, though he has disappeared from this section. Nevin was once regarded as a potential prospect to make it into the professional game in England.
Nevin is a former Academy player at League One club Brentford FC, who released him in summer 2001 ahead of Brentford's match against INDIA in late-July. But now Nevin is back in the news, not as a pro-player, but for his current club, non-League side Yeading FC from Middlesex. Small Yeading next month face Premier League giants Newcastle United in the English FA-Cup and Nevin might face the toughest job as a defender in his career so far as he is likely to face internationally renowned strikers Alan Shearer and Dutchman Patrick Kluivert.
It's a big chance for Nevin as a good performance against these strikers might get him closer to a dream, which he had nearly stopped dreaming about a few years ago - a professional contract at an English League side.
Talking about Nevin, here a story which not many know about. In summer 2001 Nevin along with Ebbie Kodiattu were at the INDIA camp in England for a training session under then national coach Sukhwinder Singh. I along with the help from friends organised that the duo could train a day with the INDIA team. Sadly on that day, Sukhi decided to have only one morning session, so these boys couldn't show what they are capable of. Especially Nevin through being a tall defender could have been an asset to the INDIA team. Who knows, he is still young, so it might happen in the future, but for that to happen Nevin will have to get back into the professional game.
All the best Nevin from us at IndianFootball.Com!!!

2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Cluster A: Jharkhand 19-0 Rajasthan
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Cluster C: Bihar 5-0 Chandigarh
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Cluster E: Orissa 8-0 Uttaranchal
16th Lal Bahadur Shastri Cup - Group A: Titanium XI 2-1 South-East-Central Railway - Goals: 0-1 P Santosh Kumar (3'), 1-1 Ebin Rose (53'), 2-1 Raffy Jacob (80').

Cristiano's death - Events of the Day:

PTI reports that reverting his decision to order a second post-mortem on the body, the Sub Divisional Magistrate(SDM) of North Goa on Saturday said his court did not "have the required jurisdiction" to take such a decision. Official sources here added that with this, any order issued in the past became irrelevant.
The order issued on Saturday said that Junior's body parts, which had been stored in Bangalore would have to be brought to Goa if a second post-mortem was to be conducted and pointed out that a Goa court did not have the jurisdiction for such a request. The order further asked the complainant (Juliana) to approach the Karnataka authorities if she wanted another post-mortem done.
The SDM had, on Friday issued orders asking for a second post-mortem be conducted on Junior's body and kept it under suspension without serving it on anyone. The fresh order rejecting the request was issued late on Saturday evening.
The SDM had on Friday issued orders asking for a second post-mortem be conducted on Junior's body and kept it under suspension without serving it on anyone.
The fresh order rejecting the request was issued late this evening, sources said.

Feed-up with Indian bureaucracy Juliana has withdrawn her request for a second post-mortem and will get a second post-mortem done in Brazil. One has to fear that she has also lost faith in Indian authorities, who are not really trying to help in finding the cause of Cristiano's death. Cristiano's body will be flown to Brazil on Monday. If the taken out organs will be part of the coffin flown to Brazil is an unanswered question, as otherwise no full repost-mortem can be carried out.

The private HOSMAT Hospital whose services were used for the Federation Cup in Bangalore came out with a statement to late last night to make their position in the incidence clear with heavy criticism of the local organisers.
HOSMAT Hospital director Thomas Chandy heavily criticised Dempo SC for not having an own doctor, match referee SM Balu for not realising the situation and especially hosts KSFA.
According to a statement by the hospital Friday night, on Dec 5 referee Balu delayed medical aid to the striker for seven crucial minutes as he was under the impression that players were celebrating the winning second goal scored by Cristiano against Mohun Bagan.
On entering the field, physiotherapists Mathew Abraham and Aditya Lobo were initially prevented by some players and officials from carrying out CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) on Cristiano, the hospital alleged.
"When Cristiano was being taken to the ambulance, Dempo officials, who were aware of the hospital's location and the estimated time to travel the distance, could have told the driver to rush the player into the nearby Mallya Hospital," Chandy said in the statement.
"Even if he went to the nearest hospital, it was unlikely Cristiano could have been saved as 13,5 precious minutes had passed by then. His body was cold from the beginning, without a heart beat or breathing."
The director claimed the hospital ambulance was well equipped with a ventilator, emergency drugs and ECG, but only an experienced doctor could have fitted the ventilator on Cristiano.
"Not a single team had its own doctor, though it is essential as per the rules," Chandy said.
Referring to Hosmat's involvement with the Federation Cup, Chandy said Bangalore District FA secretary BT Bhoopal met him Nov 22, two days before the championship began, for enlisting its services, including an ambulance, a physio and a couple of stretcher boys.
"When we told him the fee for a senior doctor would be Rs.1,000 a day, Bhoopal said the association could not afford it but agreed to pay Rs.500 a day for the ambulance and two physios.
"Our team went to the stadium and checked for medical facilities, which were absent. There was no medical room at the stadium," Chandy claimed.
Incidentally, six days before the tragic end, Cristiano was taken to Hosmat with a bump on his face and forehead following a collision during a league match. The CT scan of his head and face was normal, but the striker was asked to visit the hospital the following day for an expert opinion by a neurosurgeon. But he did not turn up for the subsequent tests, the hospital said.

According to Mohun Bagan assistant secretary Balaram Chowdhury in Calcutta today Subroto Pal's hand did not touch Cristiano Junior. This is a result of a private screening in Calcutta, where Chowdhury, Bagan coach Subrata Bhattacharya, Bagan's two court appointed special officers GN Roy and Shyamal Sen, former IFA secretary Ranjit Gupta and ex-FIFA referee Laxmi Narayan Ghosh saw a replay of the incident. Another screening is said to be held with three former Olympians on December 15.
It is somewhat bizarre to come to such a conclusion, when there are even pictures of evidence showing the contact.

Note-1: As our friends from FootballPakistan.Com informed us has the tour of the INDIA team to Pakistan been postponed. The AIFF has told their Pakistani counterparts of the PFF that they will not be able to send the INDIA team in February due to domestic commitments. As a new date for the tour the month of June 2005 is being envisaged.
Also as per PFF officials the 6th SAFF Cup would not be held in February 2005, but now in December 2005 due to clash of international and domestic interests of the participating nations.

10. December
The Asian Football Confederation has been holding it's yearly meeting with it's 45 member national FAs being present besides handing away awards and the executive committee meeting.
The groupings for the qualifiers for the AFC U17 and U20 Championships were carried out. The new zonal format, where Asia is divided into four Zones, was used. INDIA are now always in the Central & South Asia Zone.
In the U17 category INDIA have been placed in Group G along with archrivals Pakistan and Takikistan.
The U20 boys are also in Group G along with southwestern neighours Sri Lanka and Turkmenistan, the team against whom our U20 boys last time got eliminated.

Calcutta Super Division: East Bengal Club 1-2 EverReady Sports Association - Goals: 0-1 Emmanuel Thomas Oshogwe (35'), 0-2 Satyajit Bose (60'), 1-2 Douglas da Silva (67').
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Cluster B: West Bengal 15-0 Maharashtra
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Cluster D: Tamil Nadu 19-0 Jammu&Kashmir
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Cluster F: Tripura 4-0 Kerala
16th Lal Bahadur Shastri Cup - Group B: City College Old Boys, Hyderabad 0-3 Jammu&Kashmir Bank - Goals: 0-1 Deepak Sangral (33'), 0-2 Musibayo Adebayo (66'), 0-3 Rizwan Sheikh (78').
4th Tamil Nadu State Ranking Tournament - Semifinal: Madras Sporting Union 6-0 AGORC - Goals: 1-0,4-0 Nathaniel (45+',70'), 2-0,6-0 Venkatesan (53',?'), 3-0 Bharath (59'), 5-0 Rubin Stellus.

7th Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh Memorial Football Tournament - Final: Border Security Force 0-0,0-0 Punjab Police - Goals: none.
BSF and Punjab Police were declared joint winners after scoring no goals in regulation and extra-time .

Cristiano's death - Events of the Day:

A six page final post-mortem report was finally made pulic today. According to the report Cristiano died of cardiac arrest as a result of functional cardiac disturbances consequent upon over-exertion and excitement after scoring his second goal in the 78.minute. This confirms earlier assumptions made from preliminary reports. The result comes following the chemical examination and histopathology reports carried out at the Forensic Science Laboratory of the Victorial Hospital, Bangalore.
The report also said that Cristiano was clean - so no use of stimulants, drugs or anything else.
But the report is not to the liking of Dempo officials, friends and his wife. They suspect a cover-up going on in Bangalore.

With the results from the post-mortem out, the Bangalore police is likely not to follow the complaints from Dempo coach and secretary Armando Colaco against the organisers KSFA and keeper Subrata Pal.

The Goa government isa said to have ordered a second post-mortem over the death of Cristiano Junior. This follow Cristiano's widow meeting high Goa officials yesterday.
A police source said, "The sub divisional magistrate has issued orders to the effect that a second post-mortem be conducted on the body. This will be done under section 174 of CRPC by a team of doctors at the Goa Medical College soon."
But such a second post-mortem hasn't been decided on according to sources in Goa, yet. Though such a decision is likely after the results from Bangalore.

The referee of the illfated Federation Cup final, Karnataka's Sundarraj Maheswaran Balu, has all his upcoming asignments "freezed" by the AIFF.
Talking to reporters in Delhi AIFF president Das Munshi said, "Referee Maheswaran Balu's report mentioned it as a routine affair and he was late to react. So the AIFF has decided to freeze all his assignments till the referee board meets to decide his fate." He added, "It was his duty to call doctors and stretcher when the player fell down. My impression from whatever I saw on television is that he was late to reach the spot and the delay proved costly."
It sadly looks like the AIFF is desparately looking for persons to put the blame of Cristiano's death on and after keeper Subroto Pal, it is now the referee.

In a somewhat surprising statement the AIFF president Das Munshi said, "There was a well-equipped ambulance around and a medical team headed by Dr Matthew. But the referee was late to react and when Junior was brought to the hospital, the doctor announced him brought dead."
That the local organisers have committed mistakes was one of the facts which seemed to have been noted, but now it looks like the AIFF sees this differently.

Some statements from Mohun Bagan officials in the last few days haven't been very clever, but now India's oldest club has come forward with a great gesture to play two exhibition matches against foreigners playing in Calcutta to raise money for Cristiano Junior's family. The matches would be held either at the end of this year or early next year.

Note-1: BPL Mobile under it's nationwide 'wirefree excellence' campaign to promote sport talents in various fields presented a cash award of Rs. 200,000 to the Kerala state football team for winning the Santosh Trophy in Delhi in October this year. The team manager CC Jacob received the cheque in the name of the team, which was also fecilitated on the occasion in Calicut.

Note-2: The Assam Club Championship 2004/05 will be held at Gossaigaon from December 27, 2004. The champions from every affiliated district have been asked to file their entries along with a fee of Rs 100 by December 22. The champions and runners-up will qualify to participate in the 2.Division National League.
The new elected Assam FA governing body will hold it's first meeting on December 19.

9. December
The IndianFootball.Com team thanks all of you, who so far have left a message in the Cristiano Junior' book of condolence!
Those of you who haven't you still can leave your messages in the online condolence book. We would send it to Dempo SC, who would also make it available to Cristiano's wife Juliana.
Dempo SC president Shrinivas V.Dempo got in touch with us at IndianFootball.Com for our message of condolences and added "I have noted your goodwill gesture of putting together a special on Cristiano and you may send it to Dempo Sports Club for penning our feelings on paper."
We have been receiving mails over the last few days asking us if this was the only death of a footballer on the pitch in India or if there are other cases in the past. Sadly I have to say, this was not the first instance and there have been two death's earlier, not one as most of the Indian media is reporting.
The known case is from that 1993 of Sanjib Dutta playing for Railways against Andhra Pradesh in the Santosh Trophy at Kannur, Kerala.
The other one is the forgotten story of Nigerian Charles Ocheaga Esheku who died on July 14, 2001. Charles was play his first match for Bengal Mumbai FC against Income-Tax in the opening match of the Mumbai Harwood League at the Cooperage Ground, when in the 42.minute in an off the ball incident, the Nigerian collapsed and fell flat on his stomach. Charles tried to get-up but was too weak by then and had to be taken in a "taxi" to the Bombay Hospital, where he was declared dead shortly after being admitted.

Harsha Bhogle is a star amongst the Indian sports commentators. He is a Cricket expert, not really into football but for the Indian Express he wrote his views on the problems football is facing, harshly shown through the tragic death of Cristiano Junior. Here the football-related excerpt from "Cristiano is dead, don't kill Paul" article.
Football, hockey too, should let in the light and cure the ills it exposes
Subroto Paul did not kill Cristiano Junior, nor did he intend to. It is unfathomable, and indecent, for people to suggest that. Paul fouled Junior, it was a ghastly foul but only a foul. Far worse intent has been displayed on and around a football ground. He may be a bad goal keeper, a terrible human being, a fiend on the ground, an extreme example of McGrath-like white line fever, or he may be none of those and nobody should care.
He committed a foul on the field of play and should be penalised according to the laws of football. To do more would be akin to banning a fast bowler for hitting a tailender with a bouncer. Had the same foul been committed on another player, it may not have attracted any attention at all. It should have but may not have. That is the point Bhaichung Bhutia is making and I am amazed that referees have allowed Paul to get away in the past; indeed in this match as well.
In a lawless society, even the honest man is tempted to go astray. So it seems in our football which attracts money and a downward slide in rankings simultaneously. In any organised sport, there is a system of justice, of appeals and redressals; people view evidence and take action. Indian football seems immune to that reality.
I read a great line from the Bible (John, I: 1-14) that seems especially appropriate, not just for football but for all Indian sport: And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
A lot of Indian sport is stuck in darkness and - either through intent or ignorance, I suspect intent - cannot recognise the light around them. It is there but they choose to live without it for the light might illuminate their negligence. Now I fear a mob mentality might take over. Junior is sadly dead but we must not kill Paul.

Cristiano's death - Events of the Day:

A preliminary version of the autopsy report has been send from Bangalore to Goa, which reiterates the cardiac arrest version of the cause of death, but this is not being believed in Goa by family, friends and the club.

Sadly it looks like Cristiano's widow Juliana will have to fight to get to know the real cause of the death of her husband. More and more fears are surfacing that the autopsy in Bangalore could be influenced and fixed. Therefore Juliana met some important and influencial persons in Goa. Juliana along with an official from the Brazilian embassy and a lawyer met the Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Chief Secretary Dev Singh Negi and DIG Muktesh Chander, the acting police chief of Goa. Amongst the issues discussed was a possible second autopsy in Goa, if needed, which is allowed by Indian law. But it was also known today, if the post.mortem wasn't clear on the cause, then in Brazil also a post-mortem could be held.

Referee SM Balu was questioned today by the Bangalore police on the on-field incidence from last Sunday.

Mohun Bagan keeper Subroto Pal was back with his team for practice for the first time today after Sunday's deadly incidence in Bangalore. And he made it clear to the waiting journalists that he would never leave the game he loved "so dearly" and would convince his parents if needed to allow him to continue playing.
Subroto told the media, "I had no intention to hurt Junior. Only God knows it. But I'm not going to leave soccer under any circumstances. I have loved this game and grew up loving it. It is my life."

The East Bengal president Pranab Dasgupta has urged the AIFF to give the entire gate collection from the next Federation Cup match or the opening match of the National League to the family of Cristiano Junior.

2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Cluster A: Manipur 12-0 Jharkhand
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Cluster C: Haryana 8-0 Chandigarh
2nd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships - Cluster E: Punjab 9-0 Uttaranchal
4th Tamil Nadu State Ranking Tournament - Semifinal: Indian Bank 2-0 Integral Coach Factory - Goals: 1-0 Mike Chinedu Obi, 2-0 Syed Shabir Pasha.

Note-1: The 16th Lal Bahadur Shastri memorial football tournament kicksoff tomorrow at the Ambedkar stadium, Delhi. The tournament has been revived after a gap of six years to mark the birth centenary year of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. In the opening encounter City College Old Boys, Hyderabad take on Jammu&Kashmir Bank in Group B at 14.00 IST. What makes the tie interesting is that City College Old Boys make a return to the capital after a gap of 40 years!
Eight will be participating in this years edition, divided into two groups of four teams each. In Group A Mohammedan Sporting Club; Titanium XI, Kerala; South-East-Central Railway, Bilaspur (Chhatisgarh) and DFA, Varanasi face each other, while Group B consists of Tata Football Academy, Jamshedpur; Bengal Mumbai FC; Jammu&Kashmir Bank and City College Old Boys, Hyderabad.
The winners will be richer by Rs 20,000 the runners-up gets Rs 15,000, while the losing semifinalist will receive Rs 5000.

8. December
The following is the condolence message send by by FIFA president Joseph S. Blatter to AIFF president Das Munshi, which has been made available by FIFA to IndianFootball.Com:
Dear Mr President,
It is with sadness in my heart that I write to you today, having learned of the tragic accident on the pitch that resulted in the death of Dempo SC's talented Brazilian striker, Cristiano S. De Lima Junior.
Although Cristiano Junior only arrived to play in the National Football League in 2003, his sparkling performances made him an instant favourite as he led his first team, East Bengal Club of Calcutta to the championship, while picking up the league's Golden Boot title as well.
His impact at Dempo SC was equally impressive as he continued to be an inspiration to his new team. The fact that this terrible tragedy occurred as he was leading his team to victory in the Federations Cup through his two goals says volumes about his character and his love for the beautiful game.
On behalf of FIFA and the worldwide family of football, I wish to extend our deepest condolences to you, to everyone at the All India Football Federation and club Dempo SC, and, most importantly, to Cristiano Junior's family, friends and loved ones.
Please let them know that today the worldwide football community stands by their side. We would hope that in some way, our words of support may help bring a little bit of peace and solace to you all in this moment of sadness.
Yours respectfully,
Joseph S. Blatter

The following is the condolence message send by by the AFC general secretary Dato' Peter Velappan to AIFF president Das Munshi, which has been made available by the AFC to IndianFootball.Com:
Dear Mr. President,
It is with deep shock and sorrow that we learnt of the tragic death of Dempo SC's Brazilian striker, Cristiano S. De Lima Junior. This is indeed a tragic accident resulting in the death of a Brazilian player who came to India to seek a living in professional football.
On behalf of Mr. Mohamed Bin Hammam - AFC President and the Asian football family, I wish to extend our deep condolences to the bereaved family of Cristiano as well as the Indian football family and specially to Dempo SC members.
AFC stands by the side of such tragic accidents resulting in the loss of lives. May Cristiano find peace in his next life.
Dato' Peter Velappan

Cristiano's death - Events of the Day:

The post-mortem is still pending as histopathological examination and chemical analysis have been asked for by Dr KH Manjunath, Professor of Forensic Medicine, Bangalore Medical College's Victoria Hospital. The cause of the death has not been 100% proven yet, though it looks like cardiac arrest being the most likely reason.

Cristiano's death was also a topic in the lower House of Indian parliament, the Lok Sabha, today. The parliamentarians showed grief over the sudden death and CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta asked for an inquiry into why basic medical facilities and personal were missing at the venue.

Keeper Subroto Pal has been suspended on the basis of video footage and photographs of the Federation Cup final, the AIFF has informed Pal's club Mohun Bagan. It was a reply on clarification's Bagan sought from the AIFF.
AIFF Secretary Alberto Colaco had replied that the suspension was put to effect based on the "video and photographic evidence, which clearly shows Subroto Paul (Pal) hitting the player of Dempo SC with the ball being nowhere close to either of the players."
The suspension was in accordance with article 102.3 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which permits audio and video recordings as evidence.
The letter further stated that the Chairman of the disciplinary committee was empowered to take action as per art 84a, which is also inscribed as, "a) suspend a person for one (1) or two (2) matches/for a period of upto two months." The showcause was hence valid and the AIFF expected a reply in time as stipulated in the letter, Mr Colaco stated.

Subroto Pal was back with his team in Calcutta late tonight by train and one could see the difficult times the young keeper is going through. Subroto pleaded innocence in the death of Cristiano, "I never intended to hurt him, but only went for the ball. I'm also terribly shocked at his death."

East Bengal midfielder Douglas da Silva, a personal friend of Cristiano and the man who brought him to India last season to East Bengal, said the authorities are more to blame than Subroto Pal.
"I don't think the goalkeeper had any intention to kill him (Junior) though he jumped on the player and not for the ball. But there were numerous mistakes committed by the AIFF and Karnataka Football Association that led to the tragic death," the Brazilian, the key person behind bringing Junior to India, told PTI here.

Chuni Goswami, a former Indian football great, has come out in support of Subroto Pal saying, "I strongly believe that Pal is being victimised for the tragic incident. He is being made a sacrificial lamb." He added, "Nobody plays football to kill some other player. When I played the game, I also never wanted to cause injury to or kill anybody. A footballer's mindset is such that he will never indulge in such thoughts even," Goswami said.
Goswami further said that the lack of medical facitilies should be looked into more deeply as this is the real cause of the death.

7. December
Speculations here. Speculations there. Speculations everywhere - Allegations. Counter-allegations.
Indian football is moving into chaos due to often unwanted, unneeded comments and statements being made by too many people at the moment and the real question into the cause of the death and the surrouding circumstances sometimes taking a back seat.
The harsh and hard reality into what was the cause of the death and what all went wrong on Sunday needs to be found out. Only then Cristiano's soul can rest in peace...
It has to be ensured that such an incidence can be avoided in the future. I am writing "avoided" on purpose as a 100% insurance can never be given, but possible mistakes (negligance) have to be eliminated.

A PTI report: The AIFF has promised stern action if it is found that lapses by officials led to the death of Brazilian striker Cristiano Junior, and also announced a memorial trophy in the name of the brilliant footballer.
Expressing shock and grief about the tragic end of Junior, AIFF president Priya Ranjan Das Munshi said the federation is determined to take "firm and appropriate decision if any lapses are detected on any part of the organisation officials, hospital management etc".
He said a competent committee, if required, might be constituted to enquire and give its findings into the incident, which would determine the ultimate action.
The AIFF secretary has been asked to collect crucial documents, like reports of the match commissioner and referee, the report of the medical committee, the attending doctor; the post mortem report, the report of the police commissioner of Bangalore as well as a statement from Mohun Bagan custodian Subrata Pal and the team's manager and coach, Das Munshi said in a statement.
The AIFF chief was critical of the match referee for being very casual about the incident, which led to Junior's death.
"The referee's report should have been more appropriate, in detail along with the match commissioner's report and I gather from the secretary that the referee's report mentioned it as an incident in routine manner," Das Munshi said.
He said that after collecting all relevant documents the federation might consider appropriate investigation by any competent agency, including football's world governing body, FIFA.
"If any neglect or dereliction of duties and accountability at any part are identified, transparent and objective decision shall be taken without any compromise to any quarter," he said.
He also said FIFA's medical committee is in touch with the federation secretary to collect information.
He, however, urged all not to indulge in any blame game before firmly ascertaining the reasons of the entire episode.
Das Munshi said the AIFF has decided to dedicate a 'Junior Memorial Award', which would be presented to the most outstanding footballer in the Federation Cup every year.
The federation has also decided to immediately contribute Rs 300,000 to the family of Junior and also appealed to all the state football associations in the country to contribute to a welfare fund which would be given to Junior's family before the National football league.

Cristiano's death - Events of the Day:

FIFA are following developments in India very closely through the AIFF and other independent sources.

The Confederacao Brasileira do Futebol, Brazil's FA, alerted through the Brazilian press has asked FIFA to thoroughly look into the death of Cristiano.

The final post-mortem report is expected to be finished by tomorrow.

Dempo coach and club secretary told the oHerald, "If we are not convinced by the post mortem report (from Bangalore), we will press for another post mortem. For that, we will have to rush to Bangalore to get the necessary police clearance." Brazilian Embassy in Delhi closely following developments.

Cristiano's body will not be flown to Brasilia, Brazil tomorrow evening as originally planned due to legal reasons and the unfinished port-mortem report.

After not feeling well Juliana Pereira de Lima, wife of Cristiano, was admitted to SMRC hospital, Chicalim today.

Dempo SC president Srinivas Dempo has assured to honour the full six month contract of Cristiano, which is worth more than Rs. 2 million, though he only played four matches and just over a month for the club. Mr. Dempo told the oHerald, "We will honour his contract. There are no two ways about it." He added, "We will also pay all the expenses towards his body being taken to Brazil, tickets for those accompanying him and also his funeral. If there is something more to be done, we will not hesitate."

After being already banned by the AIFF, now Subroto Pal has received a show-cause notice from the national association. By December 20 Subroto Pal should explain his view on what happened on Sunday, only thereafter the AIFFs disciplinary committee will take a decision. Under the chairmanship of Hardev Jadeja, the disciplinary committee will ensure a fair hearing to the young keeper. The committee would also review the referee's, match commissioner's, police, medical and FIR reports before taking a final decision. The process would have to be finished before December 28, as the elections for the new AIFF office-bearers would be held.

Subroto Pal is still said to be in a state of shock. His father went to an extent to say that he would not allow his son to play football anymore.y

Baichung Bhutia finally explained and relativated his harsh criticism of Subroto Pal. Baichung said it was nothing personal against Subroto, but rather against Subroto's way of unsporting behaviour and that he needed to control himself more in such situations. Baichung told the Indian Express, "Players ought to be corrected, else a bad example is set. And that could lead to more tragedy..."

Mohun Bagan coach Subrata Bhattacharya heavily criticised Baichung Bhutia today for Baichung's criticism against Bagan keeper Subroto Pal, even blaming the keeper for the death of Cristiano. Subrata angrily said, "If Bhutia's accusation against Subrata Pal takes a serious turn, he would be solely responsible. I fail to understand why Bhaichung Bhutia is making such statement."

In an unwanted and inapproprate statement, Subrata Bhattacharjee questioned if Cristiano used to dope.

East Bengal coach Subhas Bhowmick demanded in Calcutta today that AIFF president Das Munshi and secretary Alberto Colaco resigned owning moral responsibilities for the events on Sunday in Bangalore.

Note-1: All focus at the moment in Indian football is on the tragic death of Cristiano Junior, but sadly life has to go on and at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today the draws for the Asian Champions League and AFC Cup 2005 draw were carried out. The Indian representatives will once again play in the AFC Cup, the second tier of the Asian club competition for "developing national associations". In 2005 India will be represented by NFL champions East Bengal Club and Federation Cup champions Dempo SC. East Bengal have been drawn in Group A along with Al Faisaly of Jordan, Mukti Joddha KC of neighbours Bangladesh and the Turkmenistan league winners. Dempo, who weren't named in the draw but as the India Cup winners should be representing India, have been drawn in the tougher Group B along with Al Ahed FC from Lebanon and Al Hussein of Jordan.

Note-2: The second Under-17 Girls National Championships kickoff on Thursday at the newly built Didigul Distric Stadium, Tamil Nadu. 19 teams including defending champions Manipur will be playing in the championship divided into six clusters with the group winners and the two best second-placed teams moving into the quarterfinal league. The final has been set for December 24.
Cluster A: Manipur, Jharkhand, Rajasthan. Cluster B: West Bengal, Maharshtra, Andhra Pradesh. Cluster C: Chandigarh, Bihar, Haryana. Cluster D: Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Jammu&Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh. Cluster E: Orissa, Punjab, Uttranchal. Cluster F: Kerala, Tripura, Chattisgarh.

6. December
I still cannot believe that Cristiano Junior is no more. I slept over all the impressions I got yesterday through TV pictures, photos and reports, and when I woke-up this morning I hoped all this was just a bad dream. But sadly when I checked IndianFootball.Com, my own site, I had to see all was true what had happened yesterday. And the same feelings can be said about the whole IndianFootball.Com team.
We at IndianFootball.Com have put together a tribute to Cristiano Junior and have opened a book of condolences for you to leave your messages.
>>cristiano junior tribute

Cristiano's death - Events of the Day:

The body of Cristiano Junior was flown by Indian Airlines from Bangalore to Goa this morning. The body was accompanied by Dempo coach Armando Colaco and his assistant Mauricio Afonso. The body reached Dobalim Airport with Cristiano's wife Juliana, personal friends and Dempo officials there to great the body along with many others. The body was then taken to Dempo Club House for an hour and half, before being shifted to the Goa Medical College morgue. The body will be flown to Brazil on wednesday.

The post-mortem was conducted late last night at the government-run Victoria Hospital in Bangalore, but it will take a few days before the report would be finished and hopefully give a cause to the death

Dempo SC has lodged a police complaint against the Karnataka State Football Association for "negligence" in extending timely treatment for Cristiano Junior yesterday. Dempo coach Armando Colaco had lodged the complaint, who believes that if Junior had been taken to the nearby Mallya Hospital rather than the 2 km away Hosmat Hospital, he could have been saved.
A case has been filed under Section 304 (a) of IPC relating to negligence against KSFA.

Complained filed against AIFF, Subrata Pal and HOSMAT Hospital.

AIFF secretary Alberto Colaco informed that the AIFF would announce an ex-gratia for Cristiano's family.

AIFF to have a high-level inquiry into the incident and it's aftermath. The AFC has asked for a complete report on the incident as soon as possible, likewise also FIFA.

The Karnataka State FA and Karnataka state government will hand a Rs. 100,000 ex-gratia to the family of Cristiano.

East Bengal, Cristiano's former club, will donate Rs. 100,000 to Cristiano's wife Juliana through their Goan players Alvito D'Cunha. At their Maidan tent, the East Bengal flag was flying at half mast.

The Goa government announced a compensation of Rs. 100,000 through the Sports Authority of Goa.

KSFA president AR Khaleel has defended the medical facilities and preparations at the ground yesterday, defending the organisers against Dempo claims of negligence on part of the ogranisers. Khaleel questions Dempo's being professional as the team didn't have a doctor of their own.

India captain Bhutia holds Bagan keeper Subrata Pal responsible for the death of Cristiano and demanded Pal's immediate suspension for "unsporting play". Baichung quotes earlier unsporting play incidences involving Pal.

According to infos from Bangalore, Cristiano is said to have died of a cardiac arrest, though final post-mortem report will only be out in a few days. Preliminary post-mortem report says that there were no external or internal injuries, which would speak for Subrata Pal that he might have had no involvement in Cristiano's death.

AIFF has immediately, indefinitely suspended Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Subrata Pal. His case will be dealt with by the AIFFs disciplinary committee.

As a mark of respect, Dempo SC will retire the No. 10 shirt of Cristiano Junior.

Keeper Subrata Pal is said to have gone in hiding with no Bagan official or player knowing where he is, as he is untraceble/unreachable.

Reaction in Brazil:
There was shock and disbelieve in Brazil after the news of Cristiano Junior death in India reached the record World Cup winning nation. It reminded the football crazy nation about the death of Serginho of Sae Caetano only about a month ago, who also had died during a football match in Sao Paolo. And it was the third incidence involving a Brazilian footballer in just over two years.
In the days of internet and eMail, worldwide communication has changed and only hours after the incidence in Bangalore, Brazil knew what had happened with reports from international news agencies and also coming to us here at IndianFootball.Com.
What had been transported to Brazil mainly questions the medical facilities at the ground in Bangalore. Something we the Indian football fans are asking us as well. We all hope to get an answer.

Reactions/Statements/Comments on Cristiano's death (from different sources):

Alberto Colaco (AIFF secretary): "It's most tragic. Dempos slogged all these years, came up with their best today and captured what eluded them. But in their moment of greatest joy, the biggest-ever tragedy struck, with the hero of the final breathing his last in most unfortunate circumstances. This is the worst and saddest thing to have happened on the playfield." (Navhind Times)

Srinivas V Dempo (Dempo Group of Companies chairman and President of Dempo SC): "He is a real hero, for he gave his precious life for the game. However, it is not characterised with happiness for me, as the untimely death is distressing. It is very difficult to express the feelings at this moment as it is a terrible happening. We will do everything for the family, we will provide full support... anything, no matter what needs to be done, after all, he is the one who gave us the trophy which eluded us all this time. He made the ultimate sacrifice. His untimely, shocking death is a real loss to Goa and Goans." (Navhind Times)

Armando Colaco (Dempo coach): "Whatever we do, we cannot get back Cristiano now. We have to take the body to his wife (in Goa) and then send it to Brazil." (New Indian Express)

Samir Naik (Dempo captain): "He was a very disciplined player. He was not the one for partying. For him, all that mattered was the game, and his wife," he said. Tears welling up in his eyes, he then added: "We don't want this trophy. We want him." (Deccan Herald)

Dempo teammates: "He was a wonderful human being. He was never the one to show off his calibre and he was always at hand to motivate and guide the rest." (the Hindu)

Randy Martins Soleye (Dempo's Nigerian striker): "He was a great friend. He had the potential to be one of the best strikers and he was coming along nicely as a player. It's tragic." (Times of India)

RC Prakash: (Dempo striker): "He was an excellent player and a very good person as well. I knew him only for a month or so, but he had adjusted very well with his club in a short period of time." (Deccan Herald)

Subhas Bhowmick (East Bengal coach): "A positive striker and a wonderful human being. Please, I will not be able to say anything more, I am not in a proper state of mind." (Telegraph)

Baichung Bhutia (India captain; East Bengal striker): "The news came as a shock. It is a great loss. He was a good friend and we had some great time on the field. He was a wonderful person too. He was one of the finest foreign players I have played alongside. But often there are lapses in preparation, a not so right attitude from the authorities. Often referees are not alert during games. Moreover, the medical attention provided are rather poor. It's time the authorities woke up." (Telegraph)

Douglas da Silva (East Bengal midfielder, he brought Cristiano to India): "I am not really in any condition to comment, but I also died today. My heart is broken. It's very shocking. He was a very good friend of mine. I know everybody has to pass away one day, but in this way... I had a talk with Junior's wife and condoled her as far as I could. I am leaving for Bangalore Monday. (Telegraph)

Debjit Ghosh (East Bengal defender): "I remember the collision I was involved in, during the ASEAN Cup match in Jakarta. I was attempting a header and fell unconscious on the field after the collision. I woke up two hours later at the hospital and felt severe pain all over my body. It was only later, while going for the scan, that I vaguely remembered the collision. I am indebted to Dr Shanti Ranjan Dasgupta (the East Bengal team doctor) and Douglas da Silva for providing the necessary onfield treatment.
I can surely identify with Junior's tragedy. He was a wonderful human being, besides being a good player. However, it is time the authorities should wake up.
They didn't do so when Sanjib Dutta died. Nothing was done after I suffered the injury and now there's Junior. Hope his death brings some sense to the administrators of the game. Then the next player may be saved."

Savio Messias (Goa FA secretary): "In Indian football, this is the worst-ever tragedy. It is just unimaginable that at one moment you score, you go on to become a hero and in this case a legend and at the very next you drop dead. It's cruel and one needs to find out the exact cause of his death and also if there were adequate medical facilities including an oxygen cylinder in the ambulance unit on the ground." (Navhind Times)

Sailen Manna (former football Olympian): "It is shocking. The soccer fraternity needs to take immediate measures because we can't allow recurrence of such tragedies in a combative game like football. Ensure that the players fielded are fully fit to take on the heat and also given adequate rest to recover." (Times of India)

An unknown fan: "If it's God's will that he had to go, so be it. But we could have saved his life if there was proper medical aid. They should have taken him to Mallya hospital which is just a two-minute walk from the ground." (New Indian Express)

The Telegraph spoke to some high level doctors involved with Indian football, in the past or currently.

Dr Kalyan Mukherjee: "When Sanjib Dutta, the Railways player died in 1993 after colliding on the pitch, a two-member inquiry commission was set up to investigate the matter and suggest steps. I, with Dr Darshan Tandon were entrusted with the job. We had presented a three-part suggestion: Firstly, we said, referees should be well versed with first-aid. They must attend such a course, because Fifa guidelines do have this. Doctors should be present at every ground, with necessary equipment. Secondly, no important match should be held in any place farther than 1km from a hospital so an injured player can be quickly rushed. And lastly, that while a match is on progress, nearby hospitals should be alerted about it and a two-way communication should be kept open. That no suggestion of mine was carried out is for everybody to see. The report we prepared was not even published.

Dr Shanti Ranjan Dasgupta (East Bengal vice-president and team doctor) - He was the one who brought Debjit Ghosh back life, so to say, with timely intervention with Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation, or CPR): "The CPR needs to be administered within three minutes. Pressure needs to be given at the 'sternum' and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation needs to be given. But I feel it was not implemented properly Sunday. Basic training on this should be imparted to players, coaches and match officials to deal with such a crisis, but nothing has been done till date. We enjoy their game but at the risk of the players' lives.

Dr Nisith Ranjan Chowdhury (a doctor associated with the AIFF): "Football is a body-contact game. A trained sports medical expert should accompany a team, not only for national and international matches, but also for local matches. Cardio-resuscitation units with oxygen should be ready at hand. Fifa's statutory rule for a stadium is that a medical unit is a must along with a doping unit. But, unfortunately awareness in our country is zero. Hope the authorities wake up."

5. December
Dempo SC's Brazilian striker Cristiano S De Lima Junior died on the pitch after scoring his teams second goal against Mohun Bagan AC in the 26th Federation Cup final.
The IndianFootball.Com team, the IFSC-International and in the name of all our sites visitors we pass on our sincere condoloncences to the Family of Cristiano Junior, his current club Dempo SC, his former club East Bengal Club and all friends and the fans of the great striker, who made a lasting impression during his time in India. Our thoughts and our prayers are with all.
We will not forget you Cristiano...

The incidence:
In the 78.minute of the match Dempo striker Cristiano Junior was chasing a long throughball, he placed the ball past Bagan goalkeeper Subrata Pal and then the two collided with a strong impact with Cristiano tumbling before falling to the ground. Some say there was no contact between Cristiano and Subrata but TV pictures clearly show that they touched each other, but if the contact caused the eventual death cannot be clearly said. Only a post-mortem (autopsy) can most probably say, why Cristiano had to die so young.
After Cristiano fell to the ground his striking partner Randy Martins Soleye was the first to be there and his gestures clearly showed that there ws something wrong, teammate RC Prakash was the next to come, then more players from both sides joined in. Bagan forward and Cristiano's close friend, Roberto Mendes Silva, immediately offered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation as doctors of Hosmat Hospital at the ground came and took over, before all came from the benches, officials from the galleries, police officials and ball boys.
An ambulence came and took Cristiano to the Hosmat hospital, but at the hospital the doctors said he was brought dead and cardiac arrest might be the possible cause. The body was later shifted to the Government Bowring Hospital, where the post-mortem would be conducted tomorrow.
Players of both the teams rushed to the hospital after the match to pay their last respects to the departed footballer as they still could not understand what had happened.
Dempo officials said afterwards that the body would be shifted to Goa tomorrow after the post-mortem, where also Cristiano's wife would receive the body.
After today's incident a lot of questions remain open and they need to be answered in the coming days...

26th Federation Cup - Final: Dempo SC 2-0 Mohun Bagan AC - Goals: 1-0,2-0 Cristiano Junior (42',78').
Dempo SC finally got their hands on the Federation Cup trophy with a 2-0 victory against Mohun Bagan AC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore, but the club - officials, players and fans - will be in no mood to celebrate their maiden title triumph as their match hero Brazilian Cristiano Junior died on the pitch after scoring his teams second goal in the 78.minute. It was such a tragedy which no one could understand, the game of football and the final of India's premier knockout tournament became totally irrelevant as the man who gave Dempo the title with his two goals today died after scoring his second goal. Dempo captain Samir Naik summed it up after the match, "We don't want this trophy. We want him."
Mohun Bagan had initial control of the match and looked like they knew what it took to win the title for the 12th time. Bagan even found the net in the 40.minute through Brazilian striker Roberto Mendes Silva off a Rishi Kapoor freekick but he was ruled offside. Only two minutes later Dempo took the lead, as a Riston Rodrigues high cross was headed in by Cristiano with Bagan keeper Subrata Pal only getting his fingertips to the ball as it crossed the line. Bagan came out of the lemon break to try and get the equaliser, but Dempo sustained the little pressure that they came under. And then Bagan's Noel Wilson was given marching orders by the referee for retaliating after being fouled himself. And then came the tragic moment that changed everything in the 78.minute. Cristiano was chasing a long throughball, he placed the ball past keeper Subrata Pal and then the two collided with a strong impact with Cristiano tumbling before falling to the ground. And then came the minutes of uncertainly, but the match continued after a break. The match had become meaningless, but that Cristiano was already no more was not known to the players as they played out the last few minutes. Bagan striker Roberto Mendes Silva was pushed in the area by Melwyn Rodrigues, but a penalty was not given by referee Balu.
When the time came for Dempo to celebrate the title, the news that Cristiano was no more had reached the stadium. It will be a title which Dempo would give back for the live of Cristiano.
REFEREE: Sundarraj Maheswaran Balu (Karnataka).

4. December
Tomorrow's final between Dempo SC and Mohun Bagan AC will be shown live on Doordarshan Sports from 15.30 IST.
The final will mark another Bengal Vs Goa match at the current 26th Federation Cup, the eight in 15 matches showing the domination of the two states in Indian club football. So far Goa has won four, while Bengal three of these matches.
Both sides will be desparate to get their hands on the Fed Cup, but for different reasons. Record champions Mohun Bagan, having won 11 of the 25 editions losing only in three final but the last final loss was in 1985 in Bangalore. The green-and-maroon have been trophy starved for a couple of years, so need to win tomorrow to please their fans at the strife-torn club. The club just survived in last seasons National League and this year have had the chance to put their hands on three trophies, but didn't win one of them.
Dempo meanwhile finally want to win a Fed Cup final. The Goans had lost to Bagan in the 2001 final in Chennai as a then 2.Division NFL club and in the summer of 1996 against East Bengal. And what a transformation they have made in the last few years. From a club that seamed to be close to closure, an NFL relegation and then getting back into the top tier, Dempo have put together a team this season which could beat anyone else in India.
Now to the match. What can we expect? Bagan will have to wairy of Dempo's firepower upfront with Brazilian Cristiano Junior and Nigerian Randy Martins Soleye striking a deadly partnership already with the duo scoring all eight of Dempo's goals in the Fed Cup. The Bagan defence will have its task cut out and Subrata Pal, showing his potential and talent as a keeper so far in the season, might have to face a busy day in office. But on the other side Bagan have a good midfield with Tomba Singh, Mehtab Hussain, Basudeb Mondal and Jerry Zirsanga worth a special mention and Brazilian striker Roberto Mendes Silva showed his class in patches.
So it could be an interesting afternoon of football instore from Bangalore.

9th Mayanglambam Chittamani Memorial Winners Cup - Final: Manipur Police Sports Club 2-1 TRAU, Tiddim Road - Goals: 1-0 Deshkumar Singh (12'), 2-0 Nilakumar Singh (71'), 2-1 K Duidang (87').

Note-1: The 20th Airlines Gold Cup will finally be held from December 12 to 18 in West Bengal. The tournament will be hosted by Burnpur United Club and Durgapur Town Club at their home grounds in Burnpur and Durgapur. Taking part would be Mohun Bagan AC, EverReady SA, Tollygunge Agragami, Mohammedan Sporting Club, George Telegraph SC and Peerless SC divided into two groups.
Originally the tournament was supposed to have been held in October, but due to clashing of dates with the Durand Cup and Santosh Trophy it had been postponed.

3. December
26th Federation Cup - Semifinal: Tollygunge Agragami 3-4 Dempo SC - Goals: 1-0 Surojit Bose (14'), 1-1 Cristiano Junior (27'), 1-2,2-3,2-4 Randy Martins Soleye (30',45',86'), 2-2 Suley Musah (40'), 3-4 Isiaka Awoyemi (89').
Dempo SC has reached the final of the 26th Federation Cup winning a 4-3 thriller against Tollygunge Agragami at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bangalore. The man of the match for the Goans was their Nigerian striker Randy Martins Soleye, scoring three of their four goals. It will be the third final appearance for the Goans on Sunday and they hope to be third time lucky and finally lift the Fed Cup.
Tollygunge surprised their opponents with their strategy today, not playing their usual wait-and-watch game but rather going into an open offensive battle. Tollygunge took the lead in the 14.minute when Soumik Dey floated a freekick into an area, Tarif Ahmed headed the ball on into the centre where Surojit Bose only had to slot the ball into an open net. But this tactical change and the lead only led to Dempo waking-up in time with their attacking machinery of Brazilian Cristiano Junior and Nigerian Randy Martins Soleye getting into the act with the duo getting useful help from midfielder Riston Rodrigues. Dempo got the equaliser in the 27.minute, when a Martins long range effort was only blocked by Tollygunge keeper Arindam Ghosh and Cristiano was there to pund on the rebound. Only three minutes later Dempo took the lead when Riston gave a perfect through ball to Martins whose shot beat Ghosh in the Tollygunge goal. But Tollygunge wasn't beaten yet lead by the strong Ghanian Suley Musah. It was Musah who brought Tollygunge the equaliser five minutes from the breather with a freekick from nearly 30 metres out. But before the breather Dempo took the lead again through another Martins long-ranger.
After the breather Dempo coach Armando Colaco reacted on the hour mark replacing not fully fit keeper VP Satish Kumar through Abhijit Mondal, while the match wasn't as exciting as before the lemon break. Just four minutes from time Martins ensured victory for Dempo, when substitute RC Prakash was brought down outside the area but Martins took the opportunity to score of the advantage his team got from the referee. But this still wasn't the end to the match as Tollygunge defender Isiaka Awoyemi scored of a Suman Datta corner with a minute to go on the clock but Tollygunge wouldn't get another chance to equalise.
TOLYGUNGE: Arindam Ghosh, Kabijit Khotel, Suley Musah, Isiaka Awoyemi, Debkumar Sashmal, Soumik Dey, Gouranga Dutta (Suman Dutta 59'), Dinesh Swar, Surajit Bose, Tarif Ahmed, Akeem Abul Alem.
DEMPO: VP Satish Kumar (Abhijit Mondal 60'); Melwyn Rodrigues, Dominic Noronha, Majekodumni Bolaji, Valeriano Rodrigues, Lazarus Fernandes, Jose Colaco, Riston Rodrigues (Mario Soares 78'), Samir Naik, Randy Martins Soleye, Cristiano Junior (RC Prakash, 82').
REFEREE: Rizwan-ul-Haq (Delhi).

26th Federation Cup - Semifinal: Mohun Bagan AC 0-0,1-0 Sporting Club de Goa [extratime] - Goal: 1-0 Tomba Singh (107').
Mohun Bagan AC reached their 15th final of the Federation Cup with a hardfought lone goal extratime victory against Sporting Club de Goa at the floodlit Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bangalore.
It was hardfought match with a lot at stake for both sides. Mohun Bagan still without a trophy this season wanted to get another chance at a title, while Sporting Clube wanted to finally make it into the final of a big national tournament.
Bagan had more of the match in the first half with Tomba Singh creating a number of openings for his strikers, but they couldn't utilise them as the Sporting Clube defence stood solid. The same has to be said of the Bagan defence too, where Mehraj Din Wadoo had an excentional game giving Sporting Clube dangerman MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi only one chance to show his class and that was as early as the 7.minute when his header missed an open goal. Bagan's best chance in regulation time came their way when Brazilian striker Roberto Mendes Silva's shot was cleared by keeper Luis Barreto.
Sporting Clube were waiting to substitute keeper Luis Barreto with Shibu Shanmugam due to an injury but maybe they waited too long. Two minutes into the second session of extratime Tomba Singh forced a mispass on Adebayo Adewusi, Tomba broke free on the right to take a fierce placed shot past a clueless Barreto. It marked the end of Sporting Clube's dream to make it to the final.
MOHUN BAGAN: Subrata Pal, Dulal Biswas, Mehraj Din Wadoo, Noel Wilson, Mehtab Hussain (T Roopesh 80'), James Agbo Ugwu; Basudeb Mondal (Mani Tombi Singh 49'), Tomba Singh, Jerry Zirsanga, Sunil Chetri, Roberto Mendes Silva.
SPORTING CLUBE: Luis Barreto (Shibu Shanmugham 108'), Ajay Diwadkar, Philip Gomes, Vincent Pires, Nureni Ayodeji, Joseph Pereira, Adebayo Adewusi, Joe Rodrigues (Alvito Rodrigues 79'), Nicholas Rodrigues (Bibiano Fernandes 62'), Nicolas Borges, Macpherlin Dudu Omagbemi.
REFEREE; S Suresh (Tamil Nadu).

Note-1: A PTI report: East Bengal coach Subhas Bhowmick, became the first coach to come out in the open and slam the pitch at the Kanteerava stadium here as below par and "shorter in width than the standard specified by FIFA."
While all the teams playing in the Federation Cup here are complaining about the poor ground conditions in private conversations, Bhowmick became the first coach to go on record a day after East Bengal lost to Sporting Club de Goa in the Federation Cup.
"This is not an excuse for the defeat," he said. "We lost because the Goan club played better football. But the federation should do something about the ground. It is hard, uneven and patchy. Conditions are a clear disadvantage for better teams and ball players." Bhowmick said he was sure the width of the ground is lesser than the required standard. "One should measure it," he said.
"For the third consecutive season, the AIFF has allowed the Federation Cup to be staged on sub-standard grounds. First Chennai, then Kolkata and finally here. It's amazing. Why can't they give us a better platform?" Bhowmick wondered.
Later, former national coach Sukhwinder Singh supported Bhowmick's views.
Ironically, the AIFF secretary, Mr Alberto Colaco himself expressed apprehensions about the ground conditions a day before the tournament started.

2. December
To make a prediction ahead of tomorrow's semifinals at the 26th Federation Cup in Bangalore on who will meet in the final on Sunday is difficult, nearly impossible.
In a knockout tournament anything is possible and this has been proved more than once so far in this tournament, otherwise Tollygunge Agragami and Sporting Clube de Goa wouldn't be playing tomorrow in the semifinals. While Tollygunge face Dempo SC; Sporting Clube face 11 time champions Mohun Bagan AC. So two Calcutta Vs Goa match-ups in a never ending question on who is currently better. Bengal or Goa? Even if two Calcutta or Goa sides make the final that question cannot be answered.
In the Sporting Clube Vs Mohun Bagan match the eyes will be on the strikers of both teams. While Sporting Clube's Nigerian MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi has made a name for himself over the last few years in India as a reliable and dangerous forward his main opponent will be Bagan's latest Brazilian striker Roberto Mendes Silva called Beto. Bagan have since the departure of Jose Barreto been searching for a replacement but till date no one could fill the void. Beto surely is a technically sound player but not of the class of a Barreto. So Bagan, which is missing Brazilian Eduardo Chacon Coelho Lacerda at the back, will have to keep a special eye on Dudu but also the midfield would have to work hard and be creative in setting-up chances for the strikers. The 4-1 win against JCT was rather based on the mistakes of JCT then the real strength of Bagan, which they still have to prove against a inform opponent, so a tight Sporting Clube defence and a dangerous attack could spell danger. Bagan are desperate to get their hands on a trophy and at the moment the Fed Cup is the best bet this season with their past track records, but Sporting Clube have just in the round earlier beaten archrivals East Bengal, so they will have to be careful. Also Sporting Clube want to go a round further than their most successful Fed Cup campaign in 2001, when they lost to Dempo in the semifinals.
Dempo surely will be favourites against a young Tollygunge team, but this is when Tolly is most dangerous. They will play defensively and wait for their chance to strike as they successfully did in the quarterfinals against Fransa FC. Dempo have made some clever signings to strengthen their attack in Nigerian Randy Martins Soleye and Brazilian Cristiano Junior. Both have scored a couple of goals each and are always a danger for any defence in the Indian curcuit, so Isiaka Awoyemi and Co will have to prove themselves once more. For Tollygunge it is a chance to create history by reaching the Fed Cup finals for the first time, while for Dempo it would be the third time they reach the final round.

Note-1: Michael Chopra of English Premier League club Newcastle United will stay at League One club FC Barnsley (third division from the top) until the end of the season. Chopra's initial three month loan spell has been extended to give the 20 year old more exposure to first team action. Chopra has hit form in the last few weeks scoring four goals in seven goals, after initially only scoring a goal in 11 matches. Currently Barnsley are 19th in the 24 team League One.

Note-2: The prize money for the Principal Harbhajan Singh Memorial Football Trophy has been hiked. The 43rd edition of the tournament would be held from January 20 to 25.
In the club category the winner would get Rs. 50,000, while the runners-up would win Rs. 40,000, an increase of Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 5,000 respectively.
The prize money for the College category has also been increased, while a school category would be introduced in the tournament from this edition.

1. December
16th Kohima Royal Gold Cup - Final: Nagaland Police 3-2 George Telegraph SC - Goals: 0-1 Achinta Saha (6'), 1-1 Alfred (33'), 2-1,3-2 Viza Seyie (50',73'), 2-2 Surojit Roy (60').

Note-1: The date for the final of the 26th Federation Cup has been finally set. As per infos from the Karnataka State FA president AR Khaleel the final would be held on Sunday, December 5. The date for the final had been kept open by the organisers, depending on the live telecast by Doordarshan. December 6 had been named as the alternative date.

Note-2: The only current Indian footballer who can speak his mind once in a while is India captain Baichung Bhutia and he did that again today in Bangalore, a day after his dream of finally winning the Federation Cup ended. Topic this time was the National League and the views from the players perspective.
Talking to PTI, the football star expressed the view that the number of teams as well as the matches in the NFL needed to increased.
However, he felt that the present NFL format was no doubt "very competitive" and "very good" from the players' perspective, and said he was only suggesting that it be improved upon.
On the role of the AIFF, Bhutia said: "They are doing their role but they need to do more. The System has to be reviewed."
"The standard of football in India is improving. From here it can only improve. But the sport was not getting the popularity and publicity it deserved," the East Bengal striker said.
What was lacking in India for football's promotion "is proper planning, system and infrastructure. Infrastructure facilities have to be improved," he stressed.
Bhutia said he expected to be 100 per cent fit by the time NFL started in January.
He also said that "at the moment" he had no plans to leave East Bengal and join some other club. The Sikkim player, who has played for second division English Club Bury FC and Malaysia's Perak, said he would sign a contract "if it's something worth." But it was not as if he was desperate to play for a foreign club. "I am happy with East Bengal," Bhutia said.
The soccer star was not perturbed that cricketers get more attention, recognition and encouragement.
"You have got to accept what it is. You have to get along. As a footballer, I know exactly we don't get it. But that does not mean that I make the change to Cricket. For me, you love the game (football). Whether I get attention or not, I am going to play football and carry on."
Bhutia said he would play as long as he enjoyed the game.

Note-3: Raia Sporting Club have won the Goa First Division League 2004 and have qualified thereby for the Goa Pro League 2005. During this seasons league Raia SC remained unbeaten.

Note-4: At the end of this month, on December 30 to be precise, India captain Baichung Bhutia will finally get married to longtime girlfriend Madhuri, but the two will not be able to go on a honeymoon directly after the wedding for the footballing commitments Baichung has. As in early-January the National League kicks-off, Baichung will have to postpone the honeymoon until later in the year.
"No, I am not going on a honeymoon as NFL is starting in January," the ace striker said on Wednesday in Bangalore.
The wedding would be held as a traditional Sikkimese ceremony and would be held in Calcutta, Baichungs second home.
The IndianFootball.Com team wishes Madhuri and Baichung all the best for their wedding!