30. January
IndianFootball.Com, India's Premier Football Site, is supporting the efforts being made by our partners from theInder.net and Whatyaar Entertainment to help the victims of the Tsunami disaster in organising a charity event.
We are jointly organising the MAHANAGAR LOUNGE on February 5, 2005 in Cologne, Germany to raise funds for children effected by the Tsunami in southern India.
Detail on the Event are available at the >>IndianFootball.Com Mahanagar Lounge.

9th Assam Club Championship - Final: Oil India Limited 0-1 Assam State Electricity Board - Goal: 0-1 Utpal Basumatary (67').
Fr. McFerran Trophy, Chennai - Final: Indian Bank 2-0 Bangalore District FA XI - Goals: 1-0 R Amulraj (75'), 2-0 VK Harish (76').

Note-1: Referee Mohammed Naseeb from Delhi died of his injuries suffered in a car accident last week. Nafeeb was being treated at the Ram Manohar Lohiya Hospital for severe head injuries, even undergoing brain surgery. He was 47 and is survived by wife and two daughters, aged 15 and 10. The Delhi Soccer Association expressed their condolences for the referee who had officiated in the NFL, Federation Cup and other national level tournaments.
Naseeb had been a former state level footballer and he was an official of Delhi's Moonlight Club.

Note-2: Calicut (Kozhikode) is experiencing a revival of interest in football amongst the people and city officials, who also see top class football return to the city. The main reason behind this is that the Municipal Corporation Stadium will be reopened on Tuesday with the NFL match between SBT and East Bengal.
The Kozhikode Corporation has already spend Rs 115 million on the stadium and needs another Rs 150 million to complete all work necessary to have a complete stadium with a grand stand, floodlights and a synthetic track among the list of things to do.
In an important announcement for football in Calicut, Kerala and the whole of south India, it was announced that Calicut would reactivate the Sait Nagjee Trophy after a gap of a decade. But when the Sait Sagjee Trophy would be held this year wasn't announced. In the last trophy held in 1995 JCT Mills had beaten Dempo SC for the title.

29. January
9th National League - Goa: Churchill Brothers SC 1-2 Mohun Bagan AC - Goals: 1-0 Yakubu Yusif (19'), 1-1 Sunil Chetri (53'), 1-2 Roberto Mendes Silva (89').
A late goal from Brazilian striker Roberto Mendes Silva earned Mohun Bagan AC a 2-1 away victory against Churchill Brothers in a 9th National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. Churchill Brothers remain in the relegation zone with only a point, while Mohun Bagan moved closer to the top of the league with seven points from four matches.
Churchill Brothers made a positive start into the match and the induction of Vanlal Rova as the second striker besides Ghanian Yakubu Yusif worked well as the duo were a constant threath. In the 19.minute a combined move between Rova and Roque Baretto from the middle saw Roque passing the ball of a Bagan defenders deflection to Yakubu and the Ghanian shot the ball into the far corner of the net to give Churchill Brothers the lead and also mark his first goal of this NFL campaign. But Bagan regrouped after falling back, but they could get onto the scoreboard in the first half. That changed in the 53.minute when substitute Sunil Chetri headed in a freekick taken by Dharamjit Singh from the right. Churchill coach Shabbir Ali wanted to win the match and brought-in IM Vijayan, but his boys forgot to defend their own goal in search of the winner and had to pay the price. A minute before the end Mehtab Hussein moved up on the left played a pass to Brazilian striker Roberto Mendes Silva, whose shot beat keeper Vinay Singh.
ONGC Man of the Match Award: Eduardo Chacon Coelho Lacerda (Mohun Bagan).
Detailed information and pictures are available at the >>IndianFootball.Com NFL Special.

9th National League - Ludhiana: JCT Mills 3-1 Salgaocar SC - Goals: 1-0 Hardeep Singh Gill (54'), 2-0 Sukhjinder Singh (74'), 2-1 Bernard Pires (86'), 3-1 Surjit Singh (89').
JCT Mills marked their home debut in the 9th National League with a 3-1 win against Salgaocar SC at the Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana. Both teams now have six points after four matches have won and lost two matches each with Salgaocar ahead of JCT on goal difference.
Salgaocar made some good moves in the first half, but couldn't score of their chances, the best of them coming after two corners. JCT had their best chance just before the breather when midfielder Baldeep Singh played a parallel pass to Nigerian defender Julius Akpele infront of goal, but Akpele couldn't connect the ball.
After surviving some anxious moment in the first half JCT went into the offensive, upped their pace in the second half, which paid rich dividends. In the 54.minute Baldeep Singh collecting the ball into the middle kicked the ball forward which Hardip Singh Gill headed into the goal past a charging Salgaocar keeper Juje Siddi. Thereafter JCT got some good chances to double the lead, but they missed the mark with captain Ram Pal twice being the culprit. In the 74.minute JCT did double the lead of a counter attack, a solo effort from Sukhjinder Singh who would beat the whole Goan defence to score a superb goal. But Salgaocar wasn't beaten yet as they did try to reduce the deficit. In the 86.minute KV Dhanesh brought down Samson Singh and the referee showed to the spot. Midfielder Bernard Pires walked-up to the spot and reduced the deficit. But JCT ensured their victory a minute from the end when a Manjit Singh shot was blocked by keeper Juje Siddi, but as he couldn't hold on to the ball and substitute Surjit Singh standing nearby, Surjit grabbed the chance with a lob over the keeper to score.
After the match JCT coach Sukhwinder Singh said, "This win has lifted our morale and is bound to boost our players."
JCT: Mansuru Mohammed, Daljit Singh, Harpreet Singh, Julius Irabor Akpele, KV Dhanesh, Baldeep Singh (Surjit Singh), Sukhwinder Singh, Sukhjinder Singh, Ram Pal, Hardip Singh Gill (Jaswinder Singh), Harvinder Singh (Manjit Singh).
SALGAOCAR: Juje Siddi, Prashant Jaggi, Roberto Fernandes, Bello Rasaq, Rocus Lamare, Bernard Pires, Micky Fernandes, Felix Andrade, A Jyothi Kumar, Samson Singh, Felix Ibrebru.
ONGC Man of the Match Award: Sukhjinder Singh (JCT).
Detailed information and pictures are available at the >>IndianFootball.Com NFL Special.

40.Dr BC Roy (under-19) Trophy - North Zone Qualifiers - Group B: Delhi 2-0 Jammu&Kashmir
40.Dr BC Roy (under-19) Trophy - North Zone Qualifiers - Group B: Chandigarh 1-0 Punjab

Note-1: Champions East Bengal Club arrived in the football crazy city of Calicut in Kerala from Goa last night. And Calicut is looking forward to hosting the State Bank of Travancore Vs East Bengal Club NFL tie as the local organising committee is expecting a capacity crowd at the renovated Municipal Stadium.

Note-2: The injured Sporting Clube de Goa who had been admitted to Suraksha hospital in Calcutta have been released and they flew home to Goa today in the afternoon.

28. January
9th National League - Calcutta: Tollygunge Agragami 0-0 Dempo SC - Goals: none.
Tollygunge Agragami held Federation Cup champions and league leaders Dempo SC to a goalless draw in a 9th National League match at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. Dempo now have 10 points after dropping their first points in four matches, while Tollygunge are on five.
Tollygunge not only held Dempo to a goalless draw, but were closer to a win than the early NFL pace-setters from Goa. The young Tollygunge side aided by their three Africans played a tactically clever game, always there to either block the Dempo offence or themselves seek the initiative but poor finishing did them in. Dempo also had problems to play their free-flowing game with a heavy rain shower disturing their style of play.
Tollygunge was the team who had the chances early on. In the 7.minute Dempo keeper Satish Kumar saved a shot from Tolly midfielder Gouranga Datta, while in the 18.minute an Akeem shot missed the target. Inbetween in the 14.minute Nigerian striker Ranty Martins Soleye header was saved by Arindam Ghosh, who was back in the Tollygunge goal. In the 59.minute Dempo players appelled for a penalty when RC Prakash appeared to have been brought down by Tolly's Nigerian defender Isiaka Awoyemi, but referee S Suresh denied them claim.
TOLLYGUNGE: Arindam Ghosh, Kabijit Khotel, Isiaka Awoyemi, Suley Musah, Debkumar Sashmal, Saumik Dey, Chinmoy Sarkar, Gouranga Datta, Dinesh Swar, Surajit Bose, Akeem Abul Alem.
DEMPO: VP Satish Kumar, Valeriano Rebello, Stanley Colaco, Majekodumni Bolaji, Melwyn Rodrigues, Sameer Naik, Jose Colaco (78' Mario Soares), Riston Rodrigues, Johnny D'Cruz (87' Ishfaq Ahmed), RC Prakash, Ranty Martins Soleye.
REFEREE: S Suresh (Tamil Nadu).
ONGC Man of the Match Award: Isiaka Awoyemi (Tollygunge).

9th National League - Goa: Fransa FC 2-0 State Bank of Travancore - Goals: 1-0 Benjamin Owusu Ansah (31'), 2-0 Jules Alberto Dias (71').
In a match of the two promoted NFL teams, Fransa FC prevailed 2-0 over State Bank of Travancore in a 9th National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. Fransa now have seven points from four matches, while SBT have four out of four.
SBT made a good start into the match having a bigger share of the action in the first half. SBT strikers Mohammed Aslam and Mohammed Harris were a worrying factor for the Fransa backline, but a strong display by AS Firoze and Louis Aniweta at the centre of defence took care of most of the attacks and if the SBT strikers got through keeper Kalyan Chaubey was there to clear the danger. Against the run of play Fransa took an opportunistic lead in the 31.minute, when a Santa Saikhom Singh corner was headed into the goal by Ghanian striker Benjamin Owusu Ansah. Only a couple of minutes later Sebastiao Endro could have doubled the lead, but his shot missed the goal.
In the second half the picture changed. SBT actually thought to continue their attack in search of an equaliser, were pushed back by Fransa who got more and more control of the match. The result was that Fransa doubled the lead in the 71.minute of a excellent 40 yard long-range effort from Jules Alberto Dias which beat SBT Harshal Rehman. SBT only had one real chance in the second half just after the hour mark, when a Mohammed Aslam header went past the goal.
ONGC Man of the Match Award: Jules Alberto Dias (Fransa).

9th Assam Club Championship - Semifinal: Oil India Limited 3-1 2nd Assam Special Reserve Force
Fr. McFerran Trophy, Chennai - Semifinal: Indian Bank 6-0 Coastal FC, Thiruvananthapuram

Note-1: In an interesting bit of information that IndianFootball.Com has received from the Pacific island of Fiji is that the Fiji FA has been negotiating with the AIFF for quite some time now about a possible tour of the Indian national team to Fiji. But according to the infos the AIFF does not seem too be interested to play the 137th ranked Fiji, four places behind India.

Note-2: A couple of days ago Sporting Clube de Goa was lucky to get away with no death's on the Calcutta roads but still they suffered some major injuries to officials and players. Now the injuries to players are to affect Sporting Clube's NFL campaign, not to forget the possible psychological effects.
As off today it looks like that five Sporting Clube players will be out for quite some time, some likely out completely from this edition of the NFL. Amongst the quintett - Peter Pereira, Joseph Pereira, Sandeep Colaco, Ajay Diwadkar, John Barreto - except John Barreto all are key players to the orange-and-white. Currently the club doesn't know how they will be able or be allowed by the AIFF to replace their injured players.
We from IndianFootball.Com wish Sporting Clube de Goa - the officials, trainers and players all the best. We hope all get well soon.

Note-3: At the Global Indian Film Awards 2005 in Dubai yesterday, a Bollywood football match was held with Salman Khan's team winning 7-5 against Sohail Khan's team. Salman had along with him John Abraham, Arbaaz Khan and Sajid Nadiadwala against Sohail's team which also had Arjun Rampal, Upen Patel and Aftab Shivdasani. John Abraham displayed good skills, was top scorer and received the Man of the Match award.

Note-4: After a training camp in Duliajan, upper Assam, the final 22 member squad of the Assam U19 team has been finalised for the U19 Nationals NorthEast Zone qualifiers to kickoff on February 1 in Aizawl, Mizoram. The team is being coached by Babul Phukan.
ASSAM U19: GK: Alistair Borgoyari, Karuna Boro, Debajit Dihingia. DF: Achinta Basumatary, Palash Deori, Dinesh Basumatary, Joy Kumar Bramha, Dharani Chetia, Bhirugesh Rava. MF: Dwipen Rabha, Majid Musahari, Suraj Sonar, Jit Kumar Thapa, F Wary, Umesh Dowari. FW: Tinku Handiq, Isaq Tirki, Abin Gayari, Bhaskar Phukan, Prasanta Choudhury.

Note-5: A 14 member Meghalaya U13 boys would leave Shillong for Calcutta tomorrow to take part in the first-ever U13 Football Festival.

27. January
9th National League - Goa: Vasco SC 0-3 East Bengal Club - Goals: 0-1 Selwyn Fernandes (31'), 0-2 Climax Lawrence (74'), 0-3 Baichung Bhutia (90+').
Champions East Bengal scored a convincing 3-0 away victory against Vasco SC in a 9th National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. With the second win in a row East Bengal now have eight points from four matches, while Vasco are bottom of the table with only a point.
East Bengal seem to have refound their touch to score goals when they matter most in the second half. Earlier on in the first half East Bengal had everything under control as the team went ahead through a goal from defender Selwyn Fernandes in the 31.minute off a pass from Malswam Tulunga. For Selwyn it was a special match playing against his former club and also picking-up the "Man of the Match" award. But on one occasion East Bengal seemed lucky to get away as in the 21.minute Syed Rahim Nabi looked to have brought down Brazilian Sidney Santana Rodrigues in the area, but the referee didn't give Vasco a penalty.
After the breather Vasco came out with the urge to get the equaliser, but though their new Brazilian duo of Sidney, back from suspension, and Fabio Xavier Soares, playing his first match for Vasco, were working hard they just couldn't score a goal. Twice the woodwork was in the way. First Sidney was denied in the 47.minute, then K Aseem hit the crossbar of a pass from Fabio. Inbetween in the 74.minute Climax Lawrence had backheaded a Chandan Das corner into the net. After being two goals down Vasco still tried to get onto the score board, but luck wasn't on their side. Meanwhile luck seemed to have come back to India captain Baichung Bhutia who scored East Bengal's third goal in injury time, when he intercepted a Agnelo Colaco back pass and beat keeper Ramos to score into the open net. For Baichung it was the first goal since April 28, 2004 against Indian Bank in the last NFL.
VASCO: Rogerio Ramos da Solio, Nicolau Colaco (K Aseem), Agnelo Colaco, Seby Dias, Kamal Thapa, Dennis Cabral, Sushanth Mathew, Menino Fernandes, Vinu Jose (Alex Ambrose), Sidney Santana Rodrigues, Fabio Xavier Soares.
EAST BENGAL: Rajat Ghosh Dasdidar, Syed Rahim Nabi, Selwyn Fernandes, Debjit Ghosh, Douglas da Silva (Habibur Rehman Mondal), Surya Bikash Chakraborty (Bijen Singh), Malswam Tulunga, Climax Lawrence, Chandas Das, Earnest Jeremiah, Baichung Bhutia.
ONGC Man of the Match Award: Selwyn Fernandes (East Bengal).

9th Assam Club Championship - Semifinal: Assam Police Blues 2-3 Assam State Electricity Board
40.Dr BC Roy (under-19) Trophy - North Zone Qualifiers - Group B: Punjab 0-0 Delhi
40.Dr BC Roy (under-19) Trophy - North Zone Qualifiers - Group B: Chandigarh 1-0 Jammu&Kashmir
Fr. McFerran Trophy, Chennai - Semifinal: Bangalore District FA XI 4-1 ADE, Bangalore

Note-1: The AIFF reacting to the road accident of the Sporting Clube de Goa team yesterday in Calcutta has postponed the Round 4, 5 and 6 matches of the Goan side against Mahindra United, Churchill Brothers and Dempo SC indefinitely. After getting the medical reports the AIFF will reschedule the matches.
Meanwhile in Calcutta still four Sporting Clube players - John Barreto, Ajay Diwadkar, Peter Pereira, Joseph Pereira - are undergoing treatment at the Suraksha clinic at Saltlake with Peter and Joseph seriously hurt with head injuries. Teammate Sandeep Colaco was released from the Apollo Gleneagles hospital.
The driver of the bus, 27 year old Debandranath Mahato, has been arrested by the police for speeding in the New Town area of Calcutta.

Note-2: In a move to improve the quality of refereeing in Asia, the Asian Football Confederation has brought together a group of 42 referees to AFC House in Kuala Lumpur for a 3-day course. These referees would be the only ones to officiate in official AFC competitions.
In the list of Asian referees is only one Indian referee, Rizwan-ul-Haq from Delhi. Rizwan is following in the footsteps of his father the late Ikram ul-Haq who had been a FIFA referee.

Note-3: The INDIA U17 boys will be playing in the AFC U17 Championship Qualifiers Group G against Pakistan and Tajikistan in November 2005 and the AIFF is starting long-term training and exposure for the boys. Selection trials will be held at four centres (Shillong Feb 16-22, Calcutta Feb 19-25, Goa Feb 16-22, Chandigarh Feb 14-20) and details of the selection trials have been circulated to all state FAs. The selected players would then be splitted into two groupd and come together for coaching camps to be held in Calcutta and Goa, which would be followed by inter-camp competitions before the 30 players are chosen for the long-term preparations for the U17 qualifiers.
Good to see that the AIFF is taking steps to enable the boys to develop into a unit before going into the qualifiers later in the year. As we have done in the past, IndianFootball.Com will offer help here in Germany to the AIFF.

Note-4: It looks like Calcutta giants East Bengal and Mohun Bagan have both finalised their third and final foreign signing.
While new Brazilian Juliano has joined the East Bengal team in Goa a few days back, Paolo Roberto da Silva was released by East Bengal today. Juliano's ITC clearance was awaited.
Mohun Bagan seem to have sorted the transfer modalities for Nigerian defender Ajibade Babalade with his club Shooting Star FC, Nigeria. The ITC is awaited, then the defender would be signed, though around the club rumours were making the round that the club would rather look for a striker as the defence looked okay, but upfront the team seemed to have problems.

Note-5: On February 1 Dempo SC host Mohun Bagan AC in a 9th National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. The two sides will be meeting again after the last encounter, the final of the Federation Cup 2004 in Bangalore on December 5, 2004, had ended in tragedy with the death of Dempo Brazilian striker Cristiano Junior just after scoring his teams second goal.
Mohun Bagan have requested the AIFF for special security arrangements in Goa for the match. The AIFF meanwhile has passed on this request and has asked the Goa FA, the local organiser, to make the necessary arrangements for higher than usual security arrangements at the Bagan team hotel, training ground and especially at the Nehru Stadium on matchday.

Note-6: The Tata Football Academy currently isn't too happy with it's junior cadets. Of those 15 boys who had joined TFA in May 2004, two are on their way out. The names of the two haven't been released so far, only it is known that they aren't upto standard. As the junior batch now only has 13 boys, upto five boys could be inducted
TFA are now preparing a fresh round of selection trials and their coaches are scouting for talent across India for the trials to induct some new boys for their junior batch. If not happy with the trialists the search for new boys will continue.

Note-7: Tamil Nadu has named it's 16 member team for the first-ever U13 Football Festival to be played in Kalyani, near Calcutta from February 2 to 8. The team would be coached by K Rajamurugan, while JM Fernando is the manager.
TAMIL NADU U13: S Kamalakannan, M Charles Selvamani, Sylvester J Mennie, AL Senthilkumar, JM Prabhakaran, K Kathiravan, S Selvam, S Rajiv, R Kirubanandan, Ishaan Achanta, A Charlie, A Alas Kuttan, U Sachin Kumar, K Aravind, M Prabhakaran, P Mohamed Abdul Kareen.

26. January

Dakshin Kolkata Krira Utsab - Final: East Bengal U16 3-2 Friends of the Stadium U16

Note-1: In a tragic incident in Calcutta today, the bus bringing the Sporting Clube de Goa team to the Calcutta Airport on their way back to Goa after playing their NFL match against Mohun Bagan yesterday, overturned injuring coach Clifford Chukwama and ten players. According to the police the incidence took place in Jatragachi in Rajarhat, northeast suburb of Calcutta, when the bus skidded off the road and overturned as the driver tried to avoid a collision with a motorcycle.
Six players were admitted to a nearby nursing home, while the coach and four player players were taken to a private nursing home in Saltlake. Chukwama and nine of the players needed minimal medical treatment, but one unknown players state is said to be serious.
11 members of the Sporting Clube team later left Calcutta on a Mumbai-bound flight.

Note-2: It is finally confirmed, Calicut will host the first three of State Bank of Travancore's home matches in the NFL - on February 1 against champions East Bengal, February 6 vs Tollygunge Agragami and on February 12 vs Churchill Brothers. Depending on the condition of the pitch and the organisation of the matches, the eight following home matches could also be held in Calicut.
The Calicut Municipal Stadium can host upto 25.000 spectators and had been renovated for nearly eight long years.
Tickets in Calicut will be available at the Dhanalakshmi Bank branches in Calicut and Malappuram districts from January 29 and at the stadium from January 30.

Note-3: The Goa FA would like to organise NFL matches in the evening under floodlights, but only if the lights capacity of 60% is improved. Currently the matches kickoff at 16.15 IST and the matches are partially played under lights, but if the Sports Authority of Goa set everything in order, then by end of February matches could kickoff even later, enabling working fans to come to the ground.

25. January
We, Chris and myself, had an interesting afternoon/evening at the German Tsunami Charity match between Germany and an International Bundesliga Allstars XI at the Arena AufSchalke. To say the least, it was freezing in the arena under a closed roof, temperatures well below zero inside.
The greatest feeling for both of us today was a handshake and a short exchange of words with the German football legend Franz Beckenbauer in the production container of German TV channel ZDF, while we were there to talk about Indian football and IndianFootball.Com.
We also saw an enjoyable match for a good cause, though the match never reached any great heights. It ended two-all and more than 4,6 million Euros (around USD 6 Million ) of money raised.
Detailed information are available at >>IndianFootball.Com LIVE.

9th National League - Goa: Fransa FC 0-1 JCT Mills - Goals: 0-1 Baldeep Singh (70').
Promoted Fransa FC lost by a lone goal against former champions JCT Mills in a 9th National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. After three rounds Fransa remain on four points, while JCT got their first points of the NFL season.
Fransa today weren't as good as they had been against champions East Bengal and with Louis Aniweta missing in defence due to a card suspension, the team was weakend at the back. Meanwhile JCT put together a much better performance than in their earlier matches and just deserved to win. The lone goal came of midfielder Baldeep Singh, later named "Man of the Match", in the 70.minute, when he received a pass from captain Ram Pal, moved past two Fransa defender and beat keeper Kalyan Chaubey.
Early on JCT had two chances through Nigerian striker Alexander Jebba and defender KV Dhanesh, while the Fransa frontline didn't click as in earlier matches.
FRANSA: Kalyan Chaubey, Anbalath Suliman Firoze, Sanjeev Kumar Maria, Cressan Antao, Peter Rodrigues (Savio Mascarenhas), Remedios Barreto (Marlanki Suting), Jules Alberto Dias, Santa Saikhom Singh, Benjamin Owusu Ansah, Joseph Toochukwu Ogor (Hardip Singh Saini), Sebastiao Endro.
JCT: Mansuru Mohammed, Taranjit Singh, Harpreet Singh, Jules Irabor Akpele, KV Dhanesh, Baldeep Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, Shivraj Singh, Ram Pal, Alexander (Hardip Singh Gill, Jaswinder Singh), Manjit Singh.
REFEREE: Komaleeswaran Shankar (Tamil Nadu).
ONGC Man of the Match Award: Baldeep Singh (JCT).

9th National League - Calcutta: Mohun Bagan AC 1-0 Sporting Clube de Goa - Goals: 1-0 Roberto Mendes Silva (6').
Mohun Bagan earned their first win of the 9th National League with a 1-0 victory against Sporting Clube de Goa at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. Both teams now have four points from three matches.
Bagan earned a hard-fought and somewhat lucky first NFL win against a Sporting Clube side, who can only blame themselves for the defeat. Teenager Jerry Zirsanga was a constant treath to the Sporting Clube goal early on, even though he played as a midfielder today, and in the 6.minute he was brought down by defender Philip Gomes in the area resulting in a penalty. Brazilian Roberto Mendes Silva walked upto the spot and scored his teams first NFL goal. Thereafter Sporting Clube went in search of the equaliser, but the modus-operandi was always the same - moves up the flank, then high crosses into the area for strikers Dudu MacPherlin Omagbemi and Chidi Edeh, but Bagan's Brazilian defender Eduardo Chacon Coelho Lacerda had a very strong day in office, to later win the "Man of the Match" title.
In the 73.minute Sporting Clube got their penalty when substitute Palash Karmakar, who had just come on, brought down Chidi Edeh, but Dudu's penalty was saved by Prasanta Dora, who had a strong day in the Bagan goal.
MOHUN BAGAN: Prasanta Dora, Dulal Biswas (46' Manitombi Singh), Eduardo Chacon Coelho Lacerda, Noel Wilson, Mehtab Hussein, Dharamjit Singh, Basudeb Mondal, Jerry Zirsanga (88' Rishi Kapoor), Sunil Chetri (72' Palash Kamarkar), Ashim Biswas, Roberto Mendes Silva.
SPORTING CLUBE: Luis Xavier Barreto, CK Jiteesh (30' Ajay Diwadkar), Philip Gomes, Vincent Pires, Bibiano Fernandes, Nongmaithem Rajesh Meetei (84' Peter Pereira), Adebayo Adewusi, Wilton Gomes (70' Joe Rodrigues), Joseph Pereira, Chidi Edeh, Dudu MacPherlin Omagbemi.
REFEREE: P Bhaskar (Tamil Nadu).
YELLOW CARDS: Dulal Biswas (30' Mohun Bagan); Wilton Gomes (36' Sporting Club).
ONGC Man of the Match Award: Eduardo Chacon Coelho Lacerda (Mohun Bagan).

9th Assam Club Championship - Quarterfinal: Assam Police Blues 3-1 Discovery Club, Kokrajhar
43rd Principal Harbhajan Singh Memorial Football Trophy, Mahilpur - Final: JCT Mills B 1-1,4-3 Border Security Force [penalties]

Note-1: The Jammu&Kashmir State Football Championships would be held next month by the JKFA at three different venues across Jammu city - Mini Stadium Parade ground, GGM Science College grounds, University of Jammu campus. In all 30 clubs from across the state would take part.

24. January
9th National League - Mumbai: Mahindra United 1-2 Dempo SC - Goals: 1-0 Flavio de Oliveira Rodrigues (12'), 1-1,1-2 Ranty Martins Soleye (28',61').
In a clash between two NFL title candidates, Dempo SC came out as the winners with a 2-1 away victory against Mahindra United in a 9th National League match at the Cooperage Ground, Mumbai. For Dempo it was the third win in as many matches and they will be on top of the NFL standings when Round 3 ends, while the Mumbai Jeepmen lost their first match in this seasons NFL and remain on four points from three matches.
Dempo have lived up to the expectations of those people who had them up there as title contenders, at least from the start of the season. In their first two matches in the NFL they exhibited there professionalism by picking up two consecutive 1-0 wins. Today they showed tremendous character and resolve to come from a goal down, to beat their fellow supposed title-contenders, and star-studded Mahindra United, 2-1, and then showed the composure at keeping the hapless Jeepmen at an arm's distance, using boxing terminology, at most times, once they had taken the lead.
Although the initial expectations of Dempo as title-contenders would have partly taken into account the late Cristiano Junior's presence as an attacking weapon, his tragic passing away has probably only brought the team closer together, and made it a more tight-knit group, for as we all know, that teamwork is the most important foundation required for a team to be successful. We all know Greece at Euro 2004. Even for today's match, each and every member of the Dempo contingent wore a black armband, in memory of their late striker. There was also a two minutes' silence observed at the ground before the start of the second half, which was impeccably observed by all and sundry present at the ground.
Dempo began the match at a furious pace, harrying the Jeepmen at every opportunity. Hence, although Dempo too were unable to link up many passes for a meaningful attack, Mahindra seemed to react by looking for defence splitting passes, or cross-field balls, that were inevitably intercepted by the Dempo players.
Mahindra opted for a 4-3-1-2 formation, with their new recruit, the Brazilian Flavio, operating in the 'hole' behind the front two of Fellow Brazilian Rodrigo, and Abhishek Yadav. Dempo on the other hand, came out with a standard 4-4-2 formation, with a flat back four defence, and the four midfielders too lining up across the breadth of the field. Now as Dempo's two central midfielders were vary of competing with the narrower Mahindra trio, they often did not track back on Flavio. Moreover, the two Dempo central defenders too had to keep their eyes on the dangerous Mahindra striking duo. This enabled Flavio with a lot of room to work with, and he often had the luxury of a few touches on the ball, before being closed down. Hence, the timing and method of the first goal, scored by the Jeepmen on 12 minutes, should not have been much of a surprise. Dempo, with their pressing, were caught high up the pitch, and when finally a quick overhead pass caught the Dempo centre-backs flat-footed, and the full-backs in no position to cover, it was Flavio for Mahindra, who with all the space he was being granted with, chased down the ball, and while avoiding a tackle from the back-tracking Dempo centre-back, who slipped, Flavio delicately toe-poked a lobbed goal into the net just before the onrushing Satish Kumar could intercept. It was a dream goal, for a dream start to Flavio's goal-scoring account for Mahindra, with the goal being matched by a Ronaldinho-esque celebratory Brazilian Carnival Dance performed by Flavio, much to the complete delight of the spectators.
Buoyed by the goal, Mahindra grew in confidence, and resultantly, their passing and build-up play improved thereon, with them creating the larger and better opportunities than their rivals. But as Flavio was not giving the defenders any help in his role as a centre-forward, when Dempo was on the ball, the Jeepmen decided to interchange Abhishek Yadav with Flavio in their formation, with Yadav, now filling in the centre-forward's role behind the front two, while Flavio moved up as striker instead. Probably Mahindra decided to get a more defensively minded, now that they had the desired lead. The move, however, backfired to a certain extent. As Yadav dropped further back to help out his midfielders, Dempo did not need to worry as much as before in defence. The result of that too was quite sudden. Within five minutes or so of Mahindra having made this adjustment, thought they seemed to have got more solid in midfield, the lessening of fear for Dempo meant that when the opportunity arrived, with Mahindra's right-back Surkumar being caught out of position on the left flank, and their right-central midfielder Steven Dias not positioned to provide emergency cover, Dempo had all the time to put in low measured cross into the Mahindra box from the left. The centre-centre backs of Mahindra, who conjured up among them to lose track of Ranty Martins Soleye in the penalty box, could not recover in time. Ranty had enough time to afford a bad trapping touch, recover, swivel on his left-foot 270 degrees, and hammer a low right footed shot into the net, to the hapless Sandip Nady's bottom right corner of the goal. 1-1, with 28 minutes gone. And now Dempo were back in it. They showed the confidence that they believed in their abilities to score a second, and win the tie from there on.
Mahindra seemed too fazed to recover their composure for long periods of time. They could never repeat the continued possession and build-up of play they had had before Dempo's equaliser. Though Dempo attempted a lot of long range-shots, with most being off target, you got the feeling that they would be the team more likely to score, rather than the Jeepmen.
Dempo got their deserved reward for their endeavours, albeit that the means seemed a bit controversial. Ranty received the ball at the left-edge of the penalty box, and with there seeming not much danger for the Mahindra goal from Dempo, and with Ranty with his back to goal and going away form it, was clumsily nudged by the Mahindra right-back Surkumar, who used his elbow and arms for no visible reason. Although Ranty did go down quite easily, some might say, others would point out that the Mahindra defender had no business using his arms the way he did. Whatever you might think, referee MK Roy from Assam was quite emphatic in his decision to award Dempo a spot-kick, which Ranty himself duly converted, with some typical nonchalance, and African Swagger, low past the correctly diving Sandip Nandy's left. 2-1 Dempo, with 61 minutes of the match gone. Dempo had displayed spunk and fighting spirit, and had their just reward. Now they only had to hold on for another half an hour or so.
But Dempo did need some luck to do so. They say, the harder you work, the luckier you get. That saying probably was responsible for the luck to follow Dempo's way. The ball broke to Mahindra's Flavio on the left, outside the penalty box. He dribbled a bit into the box, and though the run down the touchline and a subsequent pull back seemed the more inviting and more appropriate option, Flavio decided to test the hesitant flat-footed defender, and cut-inside on his favoured right-foot. The Dempo full-back went in to tackle, and got nothing of the ball, and quite a lot of Flavio, who fell to the ground, and the referee was again pointing to the spot, now at the other end, only a few minutes from the last spot-kick. Flavio, though, was unlucky, and conspired to hit the ball past Satish Kumar's left post, with Satish having guessed the right way.
After that too, Dempo created the better chances, with their strikers often finding themselves with not much left to do to score, but still did not. Naturally, Mahindra were attacking all-out, and so further left themselves vulnerable. One could notice tiredness settling in among most player around the 75 minute mark, which resulted in more space for people to play in, and more back and forth action. However, by 85 minutes, most seemed too tired to conjure up that momentary burst of acceleration required to score a goal, and the match petered out to the final whistle from then on. During the closing stages, specially when Mahindra were looking for the equaliser, Majekodumni Bolaji was domineering enough, and strong enough, to scupper most Mahindra attacks, and his partneship with fellow centre-back and captain Stanley Colaco helped maintain Dempo's defensive organisation, to further thwart the Mahindra attack's fruitfulness.
All in all, Dempo were deserved winners. They along with East Bengal seem the early favourites, but maybe it is a bit too early to say that. But Dempo have shown all the qualiteas necessary for success, and as long as they maintain them, and play to their many strengths, they could be in for their first NFL title this time around. Mahindra showed sparks and periods of brilliance, but they will need to be more consistent over the match period, and gel further as a team. Buth they too have the capabilites as a team, and the experience and positive guidance of their coaching/managerial staff to improve them much more. This Round three match, though not a classic, was quite entertaning and interesting. Thus hoping that for the next game at the Cooperage Ground, the crowd exceeds todays healthy one of an estimated approximate 1500-2000.
Plus, I would like to lastly mention, that the pitch was in good condition, and all the fears some people had about its state for the match due to the function held there just two days ago, were proved baseless. The offiicials did as good a job as possible in ensuring that the stalls were quckly and properly removed, and had not resulted in any damage. And thankfully, Dempo's victory meant that they too had no cause to complain, for as we heard, they were unable to train at the ground the previous day.
MAHINDRA: Sandip Nandy, Surkumar Singh, Arun Malhotra, Covan Lawrence, Debabrata Roy, Steven Dias (Khalid Siddique), Jatin Singh Bisht, Shanmugam Venkatesh, Abhishek Yadav, Flavio de Oliveira Rodrigues, Rodrigo Calisto de Almeida (Manju Nanjangud Shivananju).
DEMPO: VP Satish Kumar, Valeriano Rebello, Stanley Colaco (Mario Soares), Majekodumni Bolaji, Melwyn Rodrigues, Sameer Naik, Jose Colaco, Riston Rodrigues, Johnny D'Cruz, Ranty Martins Soleye, RC Prakash.
REFEREE: Mrinal Kanti Roy (Assam).
ONGC Man of the Match Award: Ranty Martins Soleye (Dempo).

9th National League - Goa: Vasco SC 0-0 State Bank of Travancore - Goals: none.
Vasco SC were held to a goalless draw by State Bank of Travancore in a 9th National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. With this draw Vasco earned their first point of this NFL campaign, while SBT now have four points from three matches.
Vasco had the chances to win the match, but their striker failed to score and the team was only able to get a point of the match. SBT were happy to defend to take a point of the match.
Vasco striker Anthony Fernandes could have been the days hero had he scored of the two good chances he got in the 25. and 30.minute. SBT defender Paul Anthony made a goalline save in the 34.minute of an Alex Ambrose try. Vasco had further chances and late in the match their medio Satish Minz fell in the area with contact with SBT'S Prince Paulose, but the referee A Arjunan didn't show to the spot.
ONGC Man of the Match Award: Vinu Jose (Vasco).

9th Assam Club Championship - Quarterfinal: Oil India Limited 5-0 Radial Club, Nagaon
2nd U16 Chandigarh Junior Challenge Football Cup - Final: Chandigarh Football Academy Red 7-0 Mehar Football Academy, Kurali

23. January
The IndianFootball.Com Editors-in-Chief based in Germany, Chris and myself Arunava, will be at the German Bundesliga Tsunami Charity match on Tuesday, January 25 at the Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, where the German national team would take on an Bundesliga Foreigners Allstars. We have been accredited by the organisers and have been asked to represent India and Indian football at the event, besides doing our journalistic work in coming the event from an Indian prespective.
Detailed information are available at >>IndianFootball.Com LIVE.

IndianFootball.Com Editorial Team information:
Sadly over the last few days the IndianFootball.Com Editorial Team has been depleted mainly due to the workload of the editors and the correspondents in their personal life.
Editors Rohit Goyal and Trinanjan Sengupta, and correspondents Goutam Mukherjee and Chandan Banerjee have left us.
IndianFootball.Com would like to thank all of them for their work for our site!
Information on the editorial team are available at >>IndianFootball.Com Editorial Team Page .

9th National League - Goa: Churchill Brothers SC 0-2 East Bengal Club - Goals: 0-1 Malswam Tulunga (8'), 0-2 Alvito D'Cunha (38').
Champions East Bengal Club registered their first win in the 9th National League, a 2-0 away victory against Churchill Brothers SC at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. With the win East Bengal now have five points from three matches, while Churchill Brothers have only a point on their tally.
The match made a fast start. Churchill's Ghanian sharpshooter Yakubu Yusif could have shot his team into the lead in the 5.minute but East Bengal keeper Rajat Ghosh Dasdidar was there to punch the ball away. Just three minutes later East Bengal's Malswam Tulunga scored with a right footer past keeper Mark Mascarenhas. Thereafter Churchill Bros went out to score the equaliser bringing in IM Vijayan and Mohammed Najeeb, but the East Bengal midfield was able to penetrate the gaps left open by their rivals. One such situation resulted in East Bengal's second goal in the 38.minute. Midfielder Climax Lawrence send Alvito D'Cunha through who ran down the left flank before taking a left footed shot which went into the far corner of the net. But soon thereafter referee Manuel Pereira send off Alvito for a second bookable offence as he handled the ball after a through-in for Churchill Bros, leaving his team a man short for over 50 minutes. Baichung Bhutia was then in the thick of the action as he first missed a chance after getting past Churchill defenders Osumanu Husseini and Ryan D'Souza. Then just before the breather Baichung collided with Churchill keeper Mark Mascarenhas in a one-to-one situation with Mascarenhas having to be taken to the hospital with a head injury. He was replaced by Delhi keeper Vinay Singh, who had impressed in the Santosh Trophy, and he did so again today. The keeper kept this goal clean in the second half, though East Bengal had some good chances to score more goals.
ONGC Man of the Match Award: Climax Lawrence (East Bengal).

2nd U16 Chandigarh Junior Challenge Football Cup - Semifinal: Chandigarh Football Academy Red 7-0 Sanjay Public School, Sector 44
2nd U16 Chandigarh Junior Challenge Football Cup - Semifinal: Mehar Football Academy, Kurali 0-0,4-3 Chandigarh Football Academy Blue [penalties]
Seshan Memorial Football Tournament, Chattisgarh - Final: Assam Rifles 0-0,4-3 Signal Training Centre, Goa [penalties]

Note-1: The Assam FA has been forced to postpone their first phase zonal camps in preparation of the National Games taking place later this year in Assam. As the U19 boys would be busy with the U19 Nationals NorthEast Zone qualifiers in early-February and the NorthEast Sports Festival would be held in the second week of February, the planned zonal camps for end of January would now take place after the end of the NorthEast Sports Festival.

22. January
9th National League - Goa: Salgaocar SC 5-1 Tollygunge Agragami - Goals: A Jyothi Kumar (17'), 2-0,4-1 Felix Ibrebru (20',53'), 2-1 Suley Musah (27'), 3-1 Francis Andrade (41'), 5-1 Bernard Pires (69').
Salgaocar SC trashed an in-form Tollygunge Agragami 5-1 in a 9th National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao today. With this win Salgaocar moved to the top of the NFL standings at the beginning of Round 3 with now six points, while Tollygunge remain on four.
Former champions Salgaocar made a strong start with a double strike in the 17. and 20.minute which dented the new found confidence of the young Tollygunge team. The first goal was a result of Tollygunge keeper Sudip Sarkar not able to collect a Felix Ibrebru shot, with A Jyothi Kumar tapping in the rebound. Nigerian Felix doubled the lead of a Samson Singh cross. But Ghanian Suley Musah had another good game for Tollygunge and he reduced the margin in the 27.minute of a counter-attack when he scored of a long ball from Gouranga Datta which beat Salgaocar keeper Juje Siddi. Salgaocar got their two goal cushion back four minutes before the breather as Francis Andrade scored with a long range effort.
After the breather Salgaocar went in search for a fourth goal as they will have remembered what a remarkable late comeback Tolly had made against Sporting Clube in their opening match which had ended 3-3. In the 53.minute Felix got his second goal of a pass from Bernard Pires, while Pires himself scored in the 69.minute with a shot around 20 metres out.
ONGC Man of the Match Award: Bernard Pires (Salgaocar).

9th Assam Club Championship - Quarterfinal: SAI, Golaghat - 2nd Assam Special Reserve Force
9th Assam Club Championship - Pre-Quarterfinal: Discovery Club, Kokrajhar - Nabarun Club, Nalbari
2nd U16 Chandigarh Junior Challenge Football Cup - Quarterfinal: Chandigarh Football Academy Red 3-0 Coaching Centre, Nawanshahr
2nd U16 Chandigarh Junior Challenge Football Cup - Quarterfinal: Chandigarh Football Academy Blue 2-0 DAV School, Kurali
2nd U16 Chandigarh Junior Challenge Football Cup - Quarterfinal: Sanjay Public School, Sector 44 4-0 Coaching Centre, Ambala
2nd U16 Chandigarh Junior Challenge Football Cup - Quarterfinal: Mehar Football Academy, Kurali 3-2 DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8

Note-1: A Tsunami charity match at the Saltlake Stadium in Calcutta played between a Saurav's XI against a Artists' Forum XI raised close to Rs 1,2 million today. Around 35.000 spectators were at the ground bringing in Rs 800.000, while another Rs 350.000 were raised through collections made at the ground and bigger contributions from the Artists' Forum and Calcutta industrialist Harsh Neotia. Further money is set to be raised from Calcutta film distributors and sponsors.
The Saurav's XI lead by Indian Cricket captain Saurav Ganguly won 2-0 against the Artists' Forum XI lead by bollywood star Mithun Chakraborty. The first goal was scored by East Bengal midfielder in the first half, while Saurav Ganguly scored of a penalty.
"Nothing... just people all around the world are contributing. So we decided to host this Artists Forum versus Saurav XI. They wanted me to participate. So I am happy to be a part of it," said Ganguly.
Mithun Chakraborty said though the proceedings were not enough they would hold more such programmes to raise funds. "Though so many people have come here and collected funds but I feel it is like a drop in the ocean. It is good that we came together to participate in collecting money," said Chakraborty.

Note-2: State Bank of Travancore is set to host their 9th National League home matches in Calicut (now called Kozhikode), Kerala. The Corporation stadium has been found fit by the inspections held by the AIFF representative Shaji Prabhakaran last week and Kerala FA representative Michael Andrews today.
An official announcement of Calicut as the host city for SBT will likely be made on Monday by the KFA.

Note-3: The Himachal Pradesh FA has chosen a 20 members team at it's trial camp in Chamba for the U19 Nationals North Zone qualifiers to be held in Bassi, Uttar Pradesh from January 27 to February 6. The team will be coached by Prem Bhushan, while Pardeep Chona will accompany the team as the assistant manager.
HIMACHAL PRADESH U19: Niraj Thapa, Sumit Thakur, Lakhwinder Singh, Sumit, Vikas Kumar, Dinesh Kumar, Dinesh Kumar, Yogesh Sharma, Kapil Chouhan, Bhaskar Prashar, Balbir Singh Rawat, Ankush Kumar, Vikrant, Arun Mahajan, Anshul Pant, Gaurav, Kishore, Deepak, Raja, Rohit Thakur.

21. January
9th National League - Goa: Sporting Clube de Goa 2-0 JCT Mills - Goals: 1-0 Adebayo Adewusi (19'), 2-0 Chidi Edeh (77').
Sporting Clube de Goa won their first match in the 9th National League, a 2-0 victory against JCT Mills from Phagwara at the Nehru Stadium, Margao today. Sporting Clube now have four points from two matches, while JCT conceeded their second defeat.
Sporting Clube can thank their Nigerian connection for the victory as they scored both the goals, but it wasn't captain MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi as one would expect, the goals were scored by midfielder Adebayo Adewusi and the other striker Chidi Edeh, still Joseph Pereira won the "Man of the Match" for a credible display. Meanwhile JCT looked a weak lot today.
Sporting Clube took the lead in the 19.minute through a well-taken long-ranger from Adebayo Adewusi past JCT keeper Mansuru Mohammed. Around the half hour mark the Goans could have doubled the lead through Joseph Pereira but his shot missed the goal. JCT's best chance came six minutes before the breather, but Sukhwinder Singh's shot was cleared by Sporting Clube keeper Luis Xavier Barreto.
After the breather Sporting Clube had more chances to enhance their lead, but they were able to score only of one of them in the 77.minute when Chidi Edeh shot past Mansuru.
ONGC Man of the Match Award: Joseph Pereira (Sporting Clube).

9th Assam Club Championship - Pre-Quarterfinal: Tengapukhuri Club, Nazira 0-0,4-2 Silchar Town Club [pen]
9th Assam Club Championship - Pre-Quarterfinal: Radial Club, Nagaon -walkover- Sadiya United Town Club

Note-1: As we had reported last month at IndianFootball.Com the Indian participants NFL champions East Bengal Club and Federation Cup champions Dempo SC have been given tough groups in the AFC Cup 2005.
East Bengal are in Group A, where they would face Al Faisaly, JORDAN; Nebitchi FC, TURKMENISTAN and Mukhti Joddha KC, BANGLADESH and would open their campaign with a Calcutta-Dhaka home derby against Mukhti Joddha KC, BANGLADESH.
Dempo SC are in the three team Group B along with west Asian sides Al Ahed, LEBANON and Al Hussein, JORDAN.
Now the match schedule has been officially released by the AFC. Here the Indian Clubs AFC CUP schedule:
March 9: East Bengal Club - Mukhti Joddha KC, BANGLADESH; Al Ahed, LEBANON - Dempo SC
March 16: Nebitchi FC, TURKMENISTAN - East Bengal Club
April 6: East Bengal Club - Al Faisaly, JORDAN; Dempo SC - Al Hussein, JORDAN
April 20: Al Faisaly, JORDAN - East Bengal Club; Al Hussein, JORDAN - Dempo SC
May 11: Mukhti Joddha KC, BANGLADESH - East Bengal Club; Dempo SC - Al Ahed, LEBANON
May 25: East Bengal Club - Nebitchi FC, TURKMENISTAN

Note-2: The Navhind Times in Goa reports on complaints about the alleged "re-sale" of NFL match tickets at Nehru stadium, Fatorda, which had been reported to the Goa FA secretary Savio Messias.
Mr Messias informed The Navhind Times that some of the security guards deployed near the ticket booth at Gate No 3 (East stand) had brought to his notice that some tickets were allegedly being resold at the counter which is manned by personnel of the ticket-selling agency. The security personnel also informed that some spectators were forcefully entering into the stadium without tickets while others entered with old tickets. "The holders of such full tickets have been using the same tickets match after match without the counter-foil being torn and this has to be immediately stopped," disclosed Mr Messias.
Moreover,it is also learnt that complimentary tickets issued to outstation teams were being sold by some unscrupulous persons. "This way these persons make a fast buck at the expense of outstation teams," added Mr Messias. During NFL matches the GFA issues 25 complimentary tickets each to the teams while the home club gets an additional 10 VVIP tickets per match.
When asked whether there were complaints about ticket-duplication, Mr Messias replied in the negative.
The sale of tickets has been entrusted to the contractor on the basis of the tender document with tickets being stamped by the SAG. Mr Messias advised that one must insist on a full ticket from the ticket-seller with the counter-foil and not accept tickets without counterfoil or torn half-tickets. Besides, tickets must be purchased only from the ticket-booths, he added. "Malpractices, if any, could be nipped in the bud by the cash-customers themselves as part of civic duty," Mr Messias stated. In any case, he appealed to the fans for cooperation in stopping such cases of miscondut and to bring to his notice any irregularities.

Note-3: The All-Manipur FA has named a 20 member squad for the U19 Nationals NorthEast Zone qualifiers to be held in Aizawl, Mizoram from February 1 to 11, 2005. The boys are being coached by Akhuba Kabui since today at the Khuman Lampak practice ground, Imphal.
MANIPUR U19: Holkholen Lupho, Benjamin Kamson, H Dewan, K Pourallung Kabui, S Manimohan, Ibochouba Singh, K Premjit, Lungminlal Khongsai (Rama) (all IEDFA); Hanggoulal, N Indrakumar, L Bisheshore, Charan Rai, Gaichungam Kamson, Ollen Singh, Vashum Reisangmi, N Jimmy (all IWDFA); S Piba (DFA-Tbl); H Bulkhankhual (DSA-Ccpur); Lokesh Singh (DSA-Bpr); Thangminlal Haokip (DSA-Kak).

20. January
In the latest FIFA World Rankings released yesterday by world football governing body FIFA, INDIA have lost a place and are now ranked 133th in the world amongst 205 ranked nations and territories. In Asia INDIA remain 25th.

9th National League - Goa: Fransa FC 0-0 East Bengal Club - Goals: none.
New entrants Fransa FC not only held champions East Bengal Club to a goalless draw, but had the better chances to win the 9th National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao today. After two matches for both teams, Fransa are on four points while East Bengal have only two from two goalless draws.
Fransa were the more active of the two sides, while East Bengal were often happy to defend and wait for chances for counter-attacks. Fransa for the first time today played with their three Africans - Nigerian defender Louis Aniweta, Nigerian midfield Joseph Ogar and Ghanian attacking midfielder Benjamin Owusu Ansah and all three made a positive impact on the side. For Aniweta, who was after the match named "Man of the Match", is was a special match as he had been released by East Bengal in September as he was found unfit for the Calcutta giants. He played a strong match, marking striker Baichung Bhutia closely, but he also picked-up a yellow card his second of the league and will have to sit out the next match.
There wasn't much of action in the first half. Fransa had good chances through a shot from striker Sebastiao Endro and a freekick from Jules Alberto Dias, but keeper Rajat Ghosh Dasdidar was there to clear the danger. East Bengal's best chance came from Nigerian striker Earnest Jeremiah, but he couldn't finish a move set-up for him by Baichung.
In the second half there was more action. Baichung could have been his teams hero with two good chances, but one could see that Baichung has been out injured for some time as he didn't show his class to finish of the chances. Fransa could have scored on a number of occasions. In the 67.minute a Benjamin Ansah corner was headed goalwards by Aniweta but Selwyn Fernandes made a goalline save for East Bengal. Five minutes later Sebastiao Endro's long-ranger was kept out by Rajat with an acrobatic save and Rajat denied Endro to score the winner once more just minutes before the end.
After the match both coaches, Fransa's Norbert Gonsalves and East Bengal's Subhas Bhowmick, were happy with the one point.
FRANSA: Kalyan Chaubey, Louis Aniweta, Anbalath Suliman Firoze, Cressan Antao, Sanjeev Kumar Maria, Santa Singh, Jules Alberto Dias (Marlanki Suting), Benjamin Owusu Ansah, Joseph Ogor, Peter Rodrigues, Sebastiao Endro.
EAST BENGAL: Rajat Ghosh Dasdidar, Syed Rahim Nabi, Muttath Suresh, Habibur Rehman Mondal, Selwyn Fernandes, Douglas da Silva, Malswam Tulunga, Bijen Singh (Climax Lawrence), Alvito D'Cunha, Earnest Jeremiah (Bhola Prasad), Baichung Bhutia.
ONGC Man of the Match Award: Louis Aniweta (Fransa).

9th Assam Club Championship - Round 1: Discovery Club, Kokrajhar 10-1 Radhabari Club, Bokakhat
9th Assam Club Championship - Round 1: Nabarun Club, Nalbari -walkover- Navajyoti Club, Marigaon
2nd U16 Chandigarh Junior Challenge Football Cup: Chandigarh Football Academy Red 8-0 Shivalik Public School, Sector 81
2nd U16 Chandigarh Junior Challenge Football Cup: DAV School, Kurali 5-0 GMSSS-10
2nd U16 Chandigarh Junior Challenge Football Cup: Coaching Centre, Ambala 7-0 GMSSS-20
2nd U16 Chandigarh Junior Challenge Football Cup: St Peter's School, Sector 37 3-0 GMSSS-46

Note-1: The first-ever AIFF Under-13 Football Festival would be held from February 2 to 8, 2005 in Calcutta.
Manipur, one of the strongest teams when it comes to the state level, have named their 16 players to be coached by Joy Kabui. The final camp would start tomorrow at the Eastern Sporting Union ground, Wangkhei.
Manipur U13: Rakesh, L Rajesh, Th Becker, N Pritam, Riteshkumar Bora, K Malennganba (all IEDFA); O Shomanjit, P Angouba, Th Johnychand (all DFA-Tbl); N Priyokumar, S Bijen (both DSA-Kak); TH Thangminlun (DSA-Ccpur); WNG Loungam (DSA-Cdl); K Karnajit (DSA-Bpr); LD Markholen (DS-Spt); Th Boris (IWDFA).

19. January
IndianFootball.Com has been in touch with world football governing body FIFA on the Tsunami Relief matches that they are said to be planning and organising worldwide, but as off now concrete plans have been worked out for a match or matches in India.
FIFA sources told us that FIFA has received a proposal in that sense from the AIFF and will examine it. But, for the time-being, FIFA are focusing on the "Football for Hope" match which will take place on February 15 at the Camp Nou in Barcelona.
Meanwhile in Calcutta AIFF president Das Munshi said that the Asian Football Confederation Tsunami task force would meet at the AFC headquarter in Kuala Lumpur on January 31. So far it hadn't been decided where the FIFA/AFC Tsunami match would be held with India in the running besides Sri Lanka and Indonesia. The AIFF had named Calcutta and New Delhi as the Indian options.
This sounds totally different then earlier statements from the AIFF president Das Munshi and the West Bengal sports minister Subhas Chakraborty were it only sounded like fixing a date and getting the stars to India.

9th National League - Goa: Dempo SC 1-0 State Bank of Travancore - Goal: 1-0 Ranty Martins Soleye (6').
Dempo SC won 1-0 against State Bank of Travancore in a 9th National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. Dempo with their second 1-0 victory now have six points and are top of the NFL, while SBT who started with a surprise 4-3 victory against Salgaocar were brought back to reality with today's loss.
Dempo made a perfect start when Nigerian striker Ranty Martins Soleye headed in a perfect cross from Clifford Miranda in the 6.minute to score the only goal of the match, but Ranty could have been an even bigger hero on the day had he scored of the few chances he had. Twice he was denied by the woodwork and once by a strong SBT keeper PV Harshal Rehman. SBT meanwhile couldn't play a free-following match as against Salgaocar as their attack was well taken care off by Dempo defenders Majekodumni Bolaji and Valeriano Rebello. Dempo should have ensured victory by the time Asif Saheer came on late in the match, but it was only a one goal lead and Saheer did bother the Dempo defence, but then there was keeper Satish Kumar in the way to deny the striker and his team a goal.
ONGC Man of the Match Award: MA Abdul Hakkim (SBT).

9th Assam Club Championship - Round 1: Radial Club, Nagaon 2-1 Young Star Club, Tinsukia
9th Assam Club Championship - Pre-Quarterfinal: SAI, Golaghat 2-0 Salbagan SC, Gossaigaon

Note-1: East Bengal Club's successful coach Subhas Bhowmick could be in for trouble, as the AIFF has issued a show-cause notice against Bhowmick for making 'derogatory' statements against the National body, the local organiser (IFA) and the match commissioner on the inaugural day of the 9th NFL in Calcutta.
The letter was issued yesterday by AIFF general secretary Alberto Colaco and has been addressed to the East Bengal Club secretary and a copy has also gone to the IFA, Bengal governing body.
In the letter the AIFF seeks explanation why the coach wanted to enter the field while the inauguration lead by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was in progress, while further the coach threathened to pull out his team.
Bhowmick has been given 15 days to reply to the show-cause notice and if he doesn't reply within the stipulated time the matter would be send to the disciplinary committee.

Note-2: Calcutta side EverReady Sports Association yesterday received an AIFF circular on the participation and format of the 2.Division National League. As a big surprise to the EverReady officials the club hasn't been given a direct entry into the 2.Division, but would have to play the qualifiers, if they play in the 2.Division, while other clubs like Air-India, Punjab Police, Hindustan Club and Tata Football Academy have been given direct entry.
EverReady had finished a credible fourth in last seasons 2.Division NFL and this season finished third in the Calcutta Super Division, so they are the first team to be called-on to represent Calcutta into the 2.Division.
Now EverReady officials have prepared a letter which is being send to the AIFF through the IFA in which they ask the national body about clarification of their participation in the 2.Division.

18. January
9th National League - Goa: Churchill Brothers SC 1-2 Tollygunge Agragami - Goals: 0-1 Surajit Bose (2'), 0-2 Dinesh Swar (47'), 1-2 IM Vijayan (87').
Churchill Brothers SC suffered a surprise 1-2 defeat at the hands of Tollygunge Agragami in a 9th National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. With this win the young Tollygunge team moved at least temporarily to the top of the NFL table with four points from two matches, while Churchill Brothers stay on one point from two matches.
Tollygunge took an early second minute lead when teenager Surajit Bose reacted fasted to slot home an open ball after his fellow striker Akeem Abul Alem and a Churchill defender had fought over the same. The early lead for Tollygunge put the home team under pressure to get the equaliser and the main culprit of Churchill Bros not getting the equaliser was Mohammed Najeeb who missed two good chances. At the other end an Akeem shot missed the goal by a whisker. Before the breather Tollygunge keeper Sudip Sarkar twice denied Ghanian striker Yakubu Yusif from scoring the equaliser.
Two minutes into the second half midfielder Dinesh Swar headed in a Kabijit Khotel cross to double Tollygunge's lead. Churchill substitute IM Vijayan made his pressence felt with a good shot which just went past the post. Churchill Brothers coach Shabbir Ali had carried out his substitutions before the 65.minute, when defender Venancio Gonsalves had cramps in a leg and had to leave the field. But still Churchill Brothers tried to reduce the deficit and three minutes from time IM Vijayan scored a spectacular goal of a bicycle kick from a cross from Godwin Diego Franco. But the equaliser eluded then.
ONGC Man of the Match Award: Surajit Bose (Tollygunge).
Detailed information and pictures are available at the >>IndianFootball.Com NFL Special.

9th National League - Calcutta: Mohun Bagan AC 0-1 Mahindra United - Goal: 0-1 Flavio de Oliveira Rodrigues (87').
Mumbai's Mahindra United needed a late penalty to earn an important away victory against Calcutta giants Mohun Bagan AC in a 9th National League match at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. Mahindra now have four points from two matches, while Mohun Bagan remain on one.
Mohun Bagan can mainly blame themselves for not winning this match as the young strikers Ashim Biswas and Jerry Zirsanga missed a number of chances though the hardworking midfield created numerous openings. But Mahindra keeper Sandip Nandy also denied the strikers on numerous occasions as he had a strong day under the bar.
Bagan had their first opportunity of Ashim in the 17.minute but he was denied by Sandip Nandy, while nine minutes later Ashim didn't get to a through ball from Tomba Singh.
After the breather the woodwork first denied Mahindra the lead of a Flavio long-ranger, while a Dharamjit Singh freekick also hit wood. Bagan went more and more into attack the longer the match lasted also introducing a third striker in Brazilian Roberto Mendes Silva 'Beto', but they also weakened their own defence enabling Flavio to bother them. The all important goal came three minutes from time, when Mahindra's new Brazilian striker Flavio de Oliveira Rodrigues scored of a penalty. Flavio himself had been brought down in the area by Bagan's Mehtab Hussein and Eduardo Chacon Coelho Lacerda.
MOHUN BAGAN: Prasanta Dora, Manitombi Singh, Mehraj Din Wadoo, Eduardo Chacon Coelho Lacerda, Rishi Kapoor, Tomba Singh (Roberto Mendes Silva), Noel Wilson, Mehtab Hussain, Dharamjit Singh, Jerry Zirsanga, Ashim Biswas (Basudeb Mondal).
MAHINDRA: Sandip Nandy, Surkumar Singh, Covan Lawrence, Arun Malhotra, Debabrata Roy, Jatin Singh Bisht, Khalid Jamil (Hekmat Singh), Vijith Shetty (Steven Dias, Jinto Jose), Shanmugam Venkatesh, Flavio de Oliveira Rodrigues, Abhishek Yadav.
ONGC Man of the Match Award: Flavio de Oliveira Rodrigues (Mahindra).

9th Assam Club Championship - Round 1: Tengapukhuri Club, Nazira 1-1,5-3 Harisinga Sports Association [pen]
9th Assam Club Championship - Round 1: Sadiya United Town Club -walkover- Assam Jyoti Club, Charaideo

17. January
9th National League - Goa: Vasco SC 0-1 Salgaocar SC - Goals: 0-1 Felix Ibrebru (90+1').
Salgaocar SC scored a lone goal victory against Goan rivals Vasco SC in a 9th National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. While Salgaocar gained their first three points of this NFL, Vasco remain pointless after their second loss.
Referee S Suresh from Tamil Nadu was in the thick of action with two expulsions and five bookings over the duration of the match. Vasco lost their Brazilian midfielder Sidney Santana Rodrigues for a second booking in the 34.minute, while Salgaocar's midfielder also earned his second yellow card of the day for a foul on Menino Fernandes in the 79.minute.
Salgaocar had a good chance two minutes into the match when medio Jerose Oliveira's shot went wide off a pass of Jyothi Kumar. Jyothi Kumar made a good effort himself but it went over the goal. Vasco's Sidney came down in the area, if it was penalty wasn't sure. After being reduced to ten men Vasco strengthened their defence and relied on counter-attacks, while Salgaocar looked for the winner until they also lost a man in Micky Fernandes. In injury time Salgaocar scored the winner when the deflected shot from midfielder Rocus Lamare was tapped in by Nigerian striker Felix Ibrebru past Vasco keeper Rogerio Ramos.
YELLOW-RED CARDS: Sidney Santana Rodrigues (Vasco); Micky Fernandes (Salgaocar).
ONGC Man of the Match Award: A Jyothi Kumar (Salgaocar).

9th Assam Club Championship - Round 1: Salbagan SC, Gossaigaon 8-3 Mudaibari Jawglawry Club, Mangaldoi

Note-1: Might Calcutta soon see Zizou or Becks in action at the Saltlake Stadium???
According to statements made by West Bengal sports minister Subhas Chakraborty in Calcutta today the FIFA Tsunami relief match in Calcutta could be held in the second week of February with international stars like Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham to be seen in action.
This statement comes after statements last week from the AIFF president Das Munshi that two matches would be played in Calcutta and Delhi to raise money for the FIFA/AFC Tsunami relief fund.
If such a match could be held at all at such a date in India needs to be seen as FIFA and UEFA are jointly organising a fund raising match in Barcelona on February 15 with the world's best players likely to be seen in action.
But one would hope that such a high-profile match comes to India...

Note-2: Calcutta will witness a football match of a different kind to raise funds for Tsunami victims. A Saurav XI vs Film Stars XI will face each other at the Saltlake Stadium on Saturday, January 22. The match is being jointly organised by the West Bengal Artists Forum and Tetris Worldwide Limited.
The Saurav XI will be led by India cricket captain Saurav Ganguly with other cricketers MB Dhoni, Debashish Mohanty, Laxmi Ratan Shukla and Devang Gandhi being part of the team. Efforts are being made to rope in Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan and Gautam Gambhir.
The Film Stars XI would have leading Bengali film stars Prosenjit, Ranjit Roy and Chiranjeet as team members.
The tickets for the match have been priced Rs 20, 100 and 500, while there would be further money collections in the stands through stars.

Note-3: The Tripura FA today hosted a Tsunami charity match at the Umakanta Stadium, Agartala. Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club trashed a Tripura XI 4-0 infront of packed galleries in the northeast Indian state. It was an off-season fixture, but many had come to support the TFA in their efforts to raise funds for Tsunami victims and also watch some quality football from the foreign side.

16. January
9th National League - Goa: Dempo SC 1-0 JCT Mills - Goal: 1-0 Riston Rodrigues (63').
Dempo made a successful start into the 9th National League season with a lone goal victory against JCT Mills at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. For Dempo it was the first official match after the tragic death of their Brazilian striker Cristiano Sebastiao de Lima Junior on December 5, 2004 in the Federation Cup final and as a mark of respect the Goans wore black armbands.
For Dempo coach Armando Colaco and the club officials it was a match were they didn't knew how the team would react, but the team proved their class though Cristiano was missed on the field. Sadly Dempo will have to move on and find a suitable replacement for the NFL as they can't waste too many chances as they did today. Dempo strikers Nigerian Ranty Martins Soleye and RC Prakash could have, maybe should have scored a couple of goals.
Dempo had overall control of the match, while JCT played a defensive game with a strong performance by JCT keeper Mansuru Mohammed keeping his team in the game in the first. Dempo scored the only goal of the match in the 63.minute when midfielder Riston Rodrigues' long-range effort bulged the net. After going down by a goal JCT coach Sukhwinder Singh made some useful substitutions bringing on youngsters Manjit Singh and Bimanyu Bimal Birua who caused some trouble to the Dempo defence. The action intensified in the last 10 minutes of the match, but no more goals were scored.
ONGC Man of the Match Award: Jose Colaco (Dempo).

Note-1: India and East Bengal keeper Sangram Mukherjee was injured in a goalmouth melee in an Inter-Railway tournament match at the Kalyani Stadium, outside Calcutta while playing for Metro Rail, his employers, against South Central Railway. The East Bengal captain needed four stiches to his head.
Sangram afterwards said it wasn't anything serious and he hoped to travel to Goa for the upcoming NFL matches.

Note-2: Agartala will be hosting a Tsunami charity match tomorrow. A Tripura XI would host Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club from neighbouring Bangladesh to raise funds for Tsunami survivors.

Note-3: The 9th Assam Club Championships kickoff at the College ground in Gossaigaon with 18 clubs will be participating, amongst them defending champions Oil India Limited and the runners-up Assam State Electricity Board.

15. January
9th National League - Goa: Sporting Clube de Goa 3-3 Tollygunge - Goals: 1-0 Wilton Gomes (22'), 2-0 Chidi Edeh (53'), 2-1 Surojit Bose (63'), 3-1 N Rajesh Meetei (70'), 3-2 Suley Musah (90+1'), 3-3 Akeem Abul Alem (90+4').
Tollygunge Agragami staged a spectacular comeback in the second half injury time to score two goals and salvage a point in a 9th National League match against Sporting Clube de Goa, which ended in a three-all draw at the Nehru Stadium, Margao.
Sporting Clube strong forwardline of captain MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi and Chidi Edeh were a constant threat to the Tollygunge goal, though the Tollygunge backline didn't allow give them too many chances. Sporting Clube took the lead in the 22.minute when midfielder Wilton Gomes scored of a Dudu cross. Tollygunge had their chances but Akeem Abul Alem and youngster Surojit Bose couldn't utilise them. The Calcutta side had their best chance in the 36.minute but Chinmoy Sarkar's shot sailed over the crossbar.
Sporting Clube could have doubled the lead in the 50.minute through a Adebayo Adewusi freekick, but Tollygunge keeper Sudip Sarkar made a much-needed save. But only three minutes later Chidi Edeh made amends for earlier misses. But if one thought that Tolly had been beaten by know was wrong. Tollygunge could have reduced the margin only four minutes later when a Gouranga Datta freekick was headed goalwards by Suley Musah but the well-taken header only hit the crossbar. But in the 63.minute Surojit Bose reduced the deficit, only for Sporting Clube to get back into the act with N Rajesh Meetei scoring his teams third in the 70.minute. It all seemed over for Tollygunge with the match entering injury time and being two goals down, but it will be one of the most memorable matches for the Moore Avenue club in the NFL's history. In the 91.minute Ghanian Suley Musah's freekick sailed into the goal and in the 94.minute Nigerian striker Akeem Abul Alem equalised after a solo effort.
SCG: Luis Xavier Barreto, Nongmaithem Rajesh Meetei, Bibiano Fernandes, Philip Gomes, Anthony Pereira, Vincent Pires, Adebayo Adewusi, Joseph Pereira, Wilton Gomes, Chidi Edeh, MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi.
TOLLYGUNGE: Sudip Sarkar, Santosh Singh, Kabijit Khotel, Debkumar Sashmal, Isiaka Awoyemi, Soumik Dey, Chinmoy Sarkar, Suley Musah, Gouranga Datta, Surojit Bose, Akeem Abul Alem.
ONGC Man of the Match Award: Wilton Gomes (Sporting Clube de Goa).

14. January
9th National League - Goa: Salgaocar SC 3-4 State Bank of Travancore - Goals: 0-1,1-2 M Mohammed Rafi (5',50'), 1-1 Francis Andrade (35'), 1-3 Sylvester Ignatious (65'), 2-3 Samson Singh (70'), 3-3 Felix Ibrebru (72'), 3-4 Mohammed Aslam (82').
State Bank of Travancore made a successful return to the National League with a thrilling 4-3 away victory against former champions Salgaocar SC at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. In a match of attacking football the Keralites had more of the match and were able to score of their chances, but it could have gone the other way for the Goans.
Salgaocar had an early chance just seconds into the match to score when striker Francis Andrade was brought down by V Sivakumar, but Micky Fernandes penalty was saved by SBT keeper PV Harshal Rehman. It was SBT took the lead in the 5.minute when M Mohammed Rafi scored off a pass from MA Abdul Hakkim. In the next quarter hour Salgaocar had chances to equalise through Andrade and Nigerian Felix Ibrebru and SBT could have also doubled the lead through Rafi. It was Salgaocar who equalised in the 35.minute when Andrade scored off a pass from Rocus Lamare and they could have taken the lead before the breather had not SBT defender Paul Anthony made a goalline save of a Felix shot.
SBT came strongly out of the lemon break. Rafi headed SBT back into the lead in the 50.minute and seasoned striker Sylvester Ignatius made it 3-1 in the 65.minute. But the match was far from over. Salgaocar staged a strong comeback scoring twice in less then two minutes, first substitute Samson Singh reduced the deficit and then Felix Ibrebru equalised. Felix could have completed the turnaround only a couple of minutes later, but his shot hit the woodwork. It was SBT who came out victorious when Asif Saheer set-up Mohammed Aslam to score the winner in the 82.minute over an advancing Juje Siddi.
ONGC Man of the Match Award: M Mohammed Rafi (SBT).

9th National League - Mumbai: Mahindra United 0-0 Churchill Brothers SC - Goals: none.
Mahindra United and Churchill Brothers started their 9th National League campaign with a goalless draw at the Cooperage ground, Mumbai. The match was dominated by Mahindra, but the Jeepmen were not able to score the winning goal in an unspectacular tie.
Both teams started cautiously and it was the hometeam who had the first look at goal. Mahindra and India midfielder Shanmugam Venkatesh's shot following a freekick was well-stopped by Churchill goalkeeper Mark Mascarenhas. Churchill's best move came in the 27. minute when their teenage winger Chitrasen Chandam Singh's try off Yakubu Yusif's back pass hit the upright and rebounded harmlessly.
Five minutes before the breather forward Abhishek Yadav missed a great chance to give the hometeam the lead, while heading a lob by Venkatesh over the crossbar.
Mahindra increased the pressure, but missed several scoring opportunities through Venkatesh, Yadav, substitute Vijith Shetty and defender Debabrata Roy.
With just a minute to go for the final whistle, Yadav again missed a golden chance when his header following a free-kick sailed over the crossbar.
ONGC Man of the Match Award: Osumanu Husseini (Churchill Brothers).

Note-1: In a press release today the AIFF informed that at the AIFF emergency meeting on Tuesday decisions on the 2.Division National League for this season were taken.
The 2.Division National League would be held from March 1 and eight teams have been seeded into the final round of 12 teams, with four teams having the chance to qualify. Seeded into the finals have been NFL relegated Indian Bank, Mohammedan Sporting Club along with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Air-India, Border Security Force, Punjab Police, Hindustan Club and Tata Football Academy. How the six other teams have been selected was not known. Surprisingly Calcutta's EverReady SA was not amongst the eight teams, though they made the final round of the qualifiers last year and were third in the Calcutta Super Division
The 2.Division like in the past few years will start with qualifiers, where the local champions or the next best team not in the NFL, will try to qualify for the final round.

Note-2: The Goa parliament today condoled the death of Cristiano Junior in the house with the condolence motion saying: "this House condoles the death of Cristiano Junior and expresses its heartfelt condolences and conveys a deep sense of sorrow and sympathy to the bereaved family."

13. January
The "Football for Hope" benefit match to help victims of the Asian Tsunami will be played at Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium on February 15, FIFA and UEFA said in a joint statement on Thursday.
Football's world and European governing bodies said that one side would be led by World Player 2004 Ronaldinho, the other by European Footballer of the Year 2004 Andriy Shevchenko, with the other players involved to be named in due course.
The Brazilian's team will be jointly-coached by Brazil's World Cup winning-coach Carlos Alberto Pareira and Barcelona's Dutch coach Frank Rijkaard while Juventus boss Marcello Lippi and Arsenal's French manager Arsene Wenger will take charge of the Ukrainian striker's line-up.
All proceeds from the match will be donated to the FIFA/AFC Tsunami Solidarity Fund, which has been set up jointly by FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation.

9th National League - Goa: Vasco SC 0-2 Fransa FC - Goals: 0-1,0-2 Sebastiao Endro (30',90+').
Promoted Fransa FC made a winning debut in the 9th National League with a 2-0 away victory against Goan rivals Vasco SC. The Nehru Stadium, Margao today witnessed the first of 30 Goan derbies in this seasons NFL with Man of the Match Sebastiao Endro scored both the goals for the winners.
Vasco controlled proceedings initially with seasoned Dennis Cabral and new Brazilian recruit Sidney Santana Rodrigues marshalling the midfield creating opportunities for the strikers, but Fransa keeper Kalyan Chaubey was always in the way. Fransa took a surprise lead in the 30.minute when striker Sebastiao Endro scored past Vasco keeper Rogerio Ramos off a pass from Jules Alberto.
Fransa could have doubled the lead through Savio Mascarenhas in the 65.minute and Vasco could have equalised in the 81.minute through Levy Coelho, but his shot missed the goal. Fransa ensured their first-ever three NFL points in injury time when Sebastiao Endro's volley shot was deflected by Kamal Thapa into his own teams goal.
VASCO: Rogerio Ramos da Solio, Kamal Thapa, Agnelo Colaco, Seby Dias, Vinu Jose, Sushanth Mathew, Dennis Cabral, Satish Minz (K Aseem), Menino Fernandes, Sidney Santana Rodrigues, Anthony Pereira (Levy Coelho).
FRANSA: Kalyan Chaubey, Louis Aniweta, Anbalath Suliman Firoze, Cressan Antao, Sanjeev Kumar Maria, Santa Singh, Jules Alberto Dias, ? (Savio Mascarenhas), Marlanki Suting, Peter Rodrigues, Sebastiao Endro.
REFEREE: Rizwan-ul-Haq (Delhi)
YELLOW CARDS: Louis Aniweta, Peter Rodrigues (both Fransa).
ONGC Man of the Match Award: Sebastiao Endro (Fransa).

2nd Banarasi Dass Memorial Football Trophy, Jammu - Final: Border Security Force, Jammu Frontier 0-0,4-2 SRTC [penalties] - Goals: none.

Note-1: VIVA Kerala have won the Ernakulam District Senior Division Football League title in their debut season and thereby qualified for the Kerala State League.
VIVA Kerala won all their eight matches in the nine team league to top the standings just five month's into their existance. The team coached by seasoned TK Chathunny took the title from defending champions Indian Navy, who only finished fourth with 16 pts. Cochin Port Trust and Central Excise finished runners-up and third both on 18 points and a toss of coin decided the second spot.
Joint top scoring with five goals were Denson Devadas (VIVA) and CC Hanson (Central Excise).

Note-2: While people are thinking of ways on how to better promote football amongst youngsters in the Northeast and give them better and much-needed specialised training, one of the oldest Academies of the region is set to close shutters.
The Williamson Magor Football Academy based at the Monabari Tea Estate near Biswanath Chariali and run by the Williamson Magor Tea Group since 1991 is set to be closed. This news isn't officially out yet and this rumour has been making rounds across Assam and the entire Northeast, but the Assam FA can confirm this information now.
Why the Williamson Magor Tea Group is to close the academy is unknown at the moment, but finances could be one of the reasons, as the company has been taken over by the Eveready Industries India Limited.

12. January
9th National League - Calcutta: East Bengal Club 0-0 Mohun Bagan AC - Goals: none.
The inaugural match of the 9th National League between Calcutta archrivals East Bengal Club and Mohun Bagan AC ended in a goalless draw at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta. And it was one of the better goalless matches between these long-time rivals with a lot of midfield action for overall control in the match, but in the end the match couldn't keep with the inauguration momentum which had international class, the match was distinctly local, local Indian football.
The over 50.000 spectators came for a good cause today as the raised money would go to the family of the bereaved Brazilian striker Cristiano Junior, but would have liked their respective club to go home with the points.
The tale of the match is easily told, East Bengal started strongly had a chance as early as the second minute, the ball even went into the goal of a Syed Rahim Nabi header, but the referee saw an infringement, so he awarded a freekick for Mohun Bagan. The longer the match lasted the more of the chances Bagan had, but as for East Bengal, both sides lacked a quality striker today, while both goalkeepers had a good day in office, saving their respective teams from going behind on a number of occasions. Bagan had their best chances in the first half of Brazilian defender Eduardo's shot which went wide and a shot from Tomba Singh which was saved by Sangram Mukherjee. East Bengal's best chance before the breather was missed by Chandan Das in the 41.minute.
Ten minutes into the second half substitute Malswam Tulunga had the best for the champions when his volley shot was fisted away by Prasanta Dora. In the 65.minute East Bengal were reduced to ten men, when Chandan Das received his second yellow card and marching orders for a harsh foul on hard-working Noel Wilson. Though having a man more Bagan couldn't utilise this advantage and in the end both teams had to settle for a point.
EAST BENGAL: Sangram Mukherjee, Syed Rahim Nabi, Douglas da Silva, Habibur Rehman Mondal (84' Madhab Das), Selwyn Fernandes, Sasthi Duley (41' Shylo Malswam Tulunga), Chandan Das, Climax Lawrence, Alvito D'Cunha (89' Dipankar Roy), Earnest Jeremiah, Baichung Bhutia.
MOHUN BAGAN: Prasanta Dora, Dulal Biswas, Mehraj Din Wadoo, Eduardo Chacon Coelho Lacerda, Mehtab Hussein, Tomba Singh, Basudeb Mondal (79' Jo Paul Ancheri), Noel Wilson, Dharamjit Singh, Ashim Biswas, Roberto Mendes Silva (50' Jerry Zirsanga).
REFEREE: Komaleeswaran Shankar (Tamil Nadu).
YELLOW-RED CARD: Chandan Das (East Bengal).
YELLOW CARDS: Syed Rahim Nabi, Habibur Rehman Mondal, Douglas da Silva, Chandan Das (all East Bengal); Dulal Biswas, Mehraj Din Wadoo, Eduardo Chacon Coelho Lacerda, Dharamjit Singh (all Mohun Bagan).
ONGC Man of the Match Award: Syed Rahim Nabi (East Bengal).

6th Air India Millennium Cup, Mumbai - Final: Rashtriya Chemical and Fertilizers 2-2,6-5 Central Railway [penalties]

Note-1: Before the action started between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan at the Saltlake Stadium, the 9th National League was inaugurated by the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
At the inauguration the PM made a call to the players to strive for achieving excellence in the "beautiful game" and make India a major football power in the world, as "Football is a game which is played in every country of the world".
The PM officially kicked off the 9th NFL for the ONGC Cup, when he took a shot at goal in the Saltlake Stadium.
Earlier AIFF president Das Munshi had handed a cheque over Rs 1,5 million over to the PM for the Prime Minister's Relief Fund for aid of the Tsunami victims.
On the occasion also PK Banerjee received the FIFA centenary award from the PM.
Besides the PM also present at the Saltlake Stadium were the Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, West Bengal governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi, WB chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and ONGC chairman Subir Raha.

Note-2: Over the last couple of days some news has come out from the AIFF on what lies ahead for Indian football in 2005. Some news hadn't been covered by us so far. SO here is a list:

Note-3: For Mahindra United the 9th National League has not started, but they might face their first off-field problem. On January 24 Mahindra are supposed to face Dempo SC in a Round 3 NFL tie at the Cooperage Ground in Mumbai. But just two days before this crucial match, the Cooperage has been leased out to a wedding party. The host state FA, WIFA, had asked the AIFF to postpone the match, but as per schedule postponement is out of the question for the AIFF, who had said if WIFA is unable to host the match, the AIFF would hold the match at a neutral venue. WIFA has meanwhile assured Mahindra that the ground would be ready for the match on the 24th and it could be held without any problems.

Note-4: Manipur, who have won 10 of the 12 Women Nationals held so far, have been awarded to host the 13 Women Nationals. The tournament would kickoff on February 20 and run into March 2005.

Note-5: A Tsunami charity match would be held in Mizoram in the coming days. Amongst those seen in action would be four Tata Football Academy cadets - Pachau Lalam Puia, Robert Lalthalma, Sielphaw Henry Gangte and Lalrem Luha. For the Tsunami match the players have been allowed to stay a few days longer in their home state.

Note-6: The Indian sports minister Sunil Dutt has made a proposal to form a football team of players from the Tsunami hit Andaman&Nicobar Islands and play matches across the country to try and raise funds for the affected people.

11. January
The AIFF held an emergency meeting of it's executive committee in Calcutta a day ahead of the start of the 9th National League to take some pending decisions, but a decision on national coach Stephen Constantine wasn't taken.

NFL-Notes:
1. The inaugural match of the 9th National Football League between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan will kick-off at 15.30 IST at the Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta.
2. East Bengal roaring to go...
3. Mohun Bagan to miss several players...
Detailed news and infos are available at the >>IndianFootball.Com NFL Special.

A short NFL Preview:
Finally the 9th NFL for the ONGC Cup will kickoff tomorrow with India's biggest derby; East Bengal Club Vs Mohun Bagan AC.
And this edition of India's high-profile league seems to be higher profile than in the years before with a new title sponsor in ONGC paying the highest-ever single sponsorship in Indian football, proper TV coverage is on the cards and other features. One can only hope the NFL has ended it's sleep of a few seasons and regain the glory and pomp it started with.
The inauguration will surely be that way. After years of opening by someone or the other, tomorrow the NFL would be opened by the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, but due to the Tsunami disaster a couple of weeks ago as a mark of respect to the dead, the celebrations will not be big style, though they will take place.
The NFL will, at least for the time being, be held for the last time as a 12 team league with 132 matches played home-&-away. From next season onwards a 10 team NFL will replace the current one.
Unlike other times, we will take a look at the relegation threathened sides. It will be a fight for survival for a number of teams as there will be four relegated teams at the end of the NFL. Surely promoted Kerala side State Bank of Travancore are the no.1 candidate to go down again. As an institutional team with little finances and no foreign players, they would surprise almost all experts, if they stay in the league. But who could the others be? As it is a long league with 22 matches anything is possible and it looks likely that a number of teams would fight for survival until the last day. It could be upto six, maybe even seven clubs with the top club of the lot getting into the prize money bracket. It could hit one of the bigger clubs as bad patches with a number of losses or too many draws could be dangerous. Anyone could go down, if they somehow do not get the needed results.
Surely darkhorses Tollygunge would be a candidate for relegation, though they have somehow always survived. Which of the six Goan clubs could it hit? Fransa as the promoted side surely would be in danger, but also other clubs like Sporting Clube, Vasco, Salgaocar, Churchill Brothers or even Dempo? The young Punjabis of JCT could be in danger losing IM Vijayan and Ancheri as mentors to the youngsters.
So who are the title candidates? Defending champions East Bengal are surely to name as the most consistant performers on the Indian curcuit of the last few seasons. Their toughest rivals should be Mumbai giants Mahindra United, who have once more strengthened their side in the quest for the elusive title. If Dempo will be a treath needs to be seen, as how the team copes with the onfield death of Cristiano Junior, but if they can overcome that they are surely a title contender. Goan rivals Salgaocar are always a dangerous side, but after last seasons NFL failure and a young team makes them an unlikely candidate. Meanwhile Mohun Bagan are a much better side than last year, but the title should be a mountain to high to climb as for the other sides as well.
But surprises, positive and negative, are part and parcel of the game, so one can look forward to an interesting NFL season.
Let the game begin.

NFL-Snippets:
As clubs can sign only three foreign players for the NFL with all eligible to play at the same time, the old rule one foreigner on stand-by his something of the past. So NFL clubs, wherever they are are having numerous players on trials. Most with the formula three out of four. Amongst others the rule is being followed by East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mahindra United.

Note-1: At least until the end of the 9th National League Baichung Bhutia will stay with East Bengal Club and in India. Malaysian side Perak FC tried to sign Baichung for the new M-League season, but the Indian star declined.
Baichung had been at Perak in autumn 2003 for 10 weeks and had been impressed on the organisation and infrastructure there and had said he could return one day. Perak now thought the time had come to get Baichung back for a second stint with them but their efforts failed.

Note-2: East Bengal's Brazilian Douglas da Silva was the man who had brought Cristiano Sebastiao de Lima Junior to play in India. Now Douglas would like to organise a charity match in the name of Cristiano between his club East Bengal and a Brazilian XI, whenever time permits this season and he has the okay from his club. The Brazilian XI would be put together from Brazilians playing in India and that number is currently growing daily.

10. January
3rd Bank Olympiad, Calcutta - Football Tournament - Final: Jammu&Kashmir Bank 1-0 Reserve Bank of India - Goal: 1-0 Deepak Sangral (25').

Note-1: At a press conference the IFA and Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, Calcutta announced a formal tie-up under which the hospital as the 'official healthcare partner' of IFA will provide medical services for IFA organised matches in the NFL, Calcutta Super Division and the IFA-Shield.
"We have tied up with Apollo Gleneagles Hospital for the year 2005. As per the agreement, they will provide all medical facilities during matches of the NFL and other national soccer tournaments," IFA secretary Subrata Dutta said.
Speaking on the occasion, chief executive officer of Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, Kolkata, VS Reddy said a fully equipped ambulence with portable incubator and other facilities would be placed at the venue during the matches. The super-speciality hospital, located very near to the stadium, had all facilities to take care of any emergency, he said, adding that certified doctors, nurse and paramedic staff would be deployed for providing medical services to players.
Meanwhile East Bengal are getting their own fully equipped ambulance and they would like to position the ambulance inside the Saltlake Stadium for their matches in Calcutta. A clearance from the IFA was awaited.

Note-2: Both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan were not able to beat the 48 hour deadline to sign new players ahead of the NFL kickoff on wednesday.
Brazilian striker Juliano will only arrive by the end of the week in India for trials with East Bengal. As per infos from Calcutta East Bengal registered on loan Nigerian striker Earnest Jemeriah but left out Brazilian Paolo Roberto da Silva. Paolo would then have to fit for the third foreigners slot against Juliano.
Mohun Bagan's hopes of getting a former Nigerian World Cupper in Ajibade Babalade to play in the NFL opener came to an end as Babalade couldn't come to Calcutta today along with another trialist Orahemo Onome. If one of them would be signed was not sure, but Bagan had registered Brazilians Du and Beto for the NFL.
Meanwhile the Barasat Stadium is set to become the home venue for Tollygunge Agragami's NFL matches, but the stadium in a Calcutta suburb hasn't been inspected by AIFF match officials so far. Only after an okay could the stadium be used.

9. January
India is set to host two Tsunami fund raising matches as part of the worldwide efforts by world governing body FIFA to raise money for the FIFA/AFC Tsunami Solidarity Fund.
At a press conference in Calcutta AIFF president Das Munshi said, "The matches will be played either between a FIFA XI and Asia XI or between two World XI sides depending on FIFA's decision. We have requested FIFA to include two-three Indian players in the teams."
The two matches would be held at the Saltlake Stadium in Calcutta and at the Nehru Stadium in New Delhi in the first and/or second week of February. The dates would depend on the availability of players from European leagues. As per infos of the AIFF president some active players from the English Premier League and the Italian Serie A would be seen in action with mainly players from "the immediate past."
The AIFF idea of the fund raising match in India had been accepted by both FIFA and the AFC.
"It (an AFC fax) said that two matches can be arranged in a gap of three days in first or second week of February. Since most of the top players are busy playing in professional leagues in Europe, we have to wait for about a month to hold the matches," Das Munshi said.
No names of potential players who could play in India has been released. As per the way FIFA work, only confirmed names will be released.
Also India has been preferred over other countries hit by the Tsunami due to the capabilities to raise funds from such a match.
This announcement from the AIFF president comes a couple of days after FIFA and UEFA had made a press release that they had decided to organise a solidarity match on a grand scale in a major European stadium in February.
FIFA had also stated that several associations, notably Australia, England, Germany, Greece, India, Malaysia, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Turkey, have expressed a wish to arrange charity matches with a view to donating the revenue to the solidarity fund.
IndianFootball.Com supports any such initiative and we hope that the matches take place and raise a lot of money!

GFA Tsunami Charity Match - Margao: Salgaocar SC 0-0 Churchill Brothers SC - Goals: none.
The GFA Tsunami Charity Match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao between Salgaocar and Churchill Brothers raised a total of Rs. 42,720. Rs. 37,720 came from today's gate collections with Churchill Alemao, MP and Churchill Brothers president donating Rs 5.000 from his own pockets. The GFA has been able to raise a total of Rs 109.370 from the two charity matches it organised.
The match was more important for it's cause as it was a fund raiser, but also important for the teams ahead of the start of the National League next week, still the match never rose to any great heights mainly confined to the midfield.

Note-1: At the above mentioned press conference AIFF president Das Munshi also said that the AIFF executive committee would hold an emergency meeting a day before the 9th National League kicks-off on Tuesday to discuss some pending issues. Amongst the decisions to be taken is the future of the national coach Stephen Constantine, which isn't clear as Stephen has a contract running until June 2005. Stephen hadn't been released at the end of the last year as the young Indian team got some very credible results against stronger Middle Eastern opposition in November after a not so good World Cup qualifying campaign. And if Stephen is released now, a new immediate problem would be who to name as the new Indian national coach or leave the position free for some month's...
Meanwhile the AIFF is working hard to make the 9th NFL a success. That is at least what the AIFF is saying. The initial signs look good and as some homework seems to have been done over the last few month's. In ONGC a new strong sponsor has been found, who if the 9th NFL is successful would like to associate themselves with the Indian league for a few years to come. The lookout for co-sponsors is also on as Coca-Cola have already confirmed their commitment for one more NFL season.
TV coverage seems to have been sorted as Doordarshan would telecast 60 matches exclusively and pay a good royalty for that, plus the other matches could be shown on ESPN-Star Sports, TEN Sports and regional channels. Though all hasn't been decided yet.
The opening would be high-profile extravaganza with the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurating the league with West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and ONGC chairman Subir Raha present amongst other dignitaries. Ths success of the opening could have long-term effects as the AIFF would like to prove itself to the football world, especially FIFA, who are not happy to say the least about the way the AIFF have been running affairs for a long long time.

Note-2: That the people of the Andaman&Nicobar Islands are a football-crazy lot was unknown to me, but as football is popular there the AIFF is planning to send a few former Arjuna Awardees with some current internationals lead by Baichung Bhutia to the islands to meet traumatised children and try to help them get over the shock.

8. January
IndianFootball.Com has put together a TSUNAMI SPECIAL with information on the natural calamity, infos on some from the sporting world contributions and events being played to raise money. The one of the other event will be covered by us at IndianFootball.Com.
Meanwhile we at IndianFootball.Com are working to organise our own fund-raising match for the Tsunami victims, maybe even start an own fund. We would like to make a contribution for children effected by the Tsunami, especially on the Andaman&Nicobar Islands.
We continue to appeal to you to donate money to the Tsunami victims!!!
So log on to the new >>IndianFootball.Com TSUNAMI SPECIAL for full details.

GFA Tsunami Charity Match - Mapusa: Dempo SC 1-0 Vasco SC - Goal: 1-0 Joaquim Abranches (60').
The GFA Tsunami Charity Match at the Duler Ground, Mapusa between Dempo and Vasco raised a total of Rs. 65,600. A bigger sum than the GFA officials had expected from the match. The money came together with Matthew Braganza of Braganza Group of Hotels making a donation of Rs 15.000 and he also raised another Rs 26.800 from friends, plus Dr Bonny Pereira and his colleagues at Mapusa Union raised Rs 5,000 and the matches gate collections.
Though the scores was inrelevant for the good cause of the match was the main objective, Dempo beat Vasco by a lone goal scored through substitute striker Joaquim Abranches in the 60.minute.

18th Phagwara Cup Football Tournament - Final: CRPF, Jalandhar 2-0 JCT Academy - Goals: 1-0,2-0 Somarjeet Singh (43',85').

Note-1: It's the weekend before the start of the 9th NFL and all clubs are trying to fill the three foreigner slots adequately ahead of the leagues start on wednesday. Some even seem to be desperate...
East Bengal also are trying to get their latest Brazilian striker Juliano across from Brazil as soon as possible.
Former Nigerian 1998 World Cupper Ajibade Babalade didn't arrive in Calcutta today for trials with Mohun Bagan. Bagan hope to have him in town on Monday, but if they will sign him ahead of their first match on wednesday needs to be seen as a player has to registered at the latest 48 hours before a match.
Mahindra United have been able to sign Nigerian Mike Okoro, who was also wanted by East Bengal.
Goa League champions Salgaocar SC have been hard hit with Brazilian midfielder-cum-striker Marcos Pereira leaving them ahead of the NFL citing personal reasons. Salgaocar coach Savio Madeira said he was "not in the best frame of mind."
Ghanian Yakubu Yusif has been part of speculations about whom he would sign for for month's and like in the last three years he finally remained with Churchill Brothers and could form a deadly partnership upfront with seasoned IM Vijayan.
Vasco SC continue to be the Brazilian club in India signing a new midfielder in Sidney Santana Rodrigues.
Fransa FC have taken Joseph Toochukwu Ogor on loan from Goan rivals Cabral SC.

Note-2: The U19 National Championships - North-East Zone qualifiers will be held in Aizawl, Mizoram from February 1 to 11, 2005.
Assam will have their camp in Duliajan from January 17 under the supervision of Babul Phukan, a former state footballer and now coach.

7. January
Note-1: IndianFootball.Com calls on all football fans in Goa to go to the Dempo SC-Vasco SC match at the Duler ground, Mapusa tomorrow to support the Goa FA in their efforts to raise funds for the Tsunami relief fund.
The match would be held at 16.00 h.

Note-2: The Indian Youth Soccer Association has been doing a lot of good work at grassroot level in New Delhi. Now their most ambitious project, the Super Soccer Academy has its own website under SuperSoccerAcademy.Org . The Super Soccer Academy is an advanced Academy for the most talented.
The IYSA is also soon releasing the first edition of their new magazine, SOCCER! which is mainly intended for school kids.

Note-3: As our Fansite MohunBaganClub.Com reports the Tsunami charity match between Mohun Bagan and Nigerian side FC Saro looks to be back on. The match is now likely to be held on January 20 in Calcutta. The match couldn't be held today as per original schedule due to the Nigerians not able to get tickets to come to India.

Note-4: The 9th Assam Club Championships will be held in Gossaigaon from January 17 to 30, 2005. In total 18 clubs will be participating with Duliajan's Oil India Limited being the defending champions.

Note-5: The Himachal Pradesh FA will hold trials for the Himachal Pradesh U19 team for the U19 National Championships - North Zone qualifiers to be held at Basti in Uttar Pradesh from January 27. The HPFA secretary Naresh Khanna has disclosed that the trials would be held on January 10 at the Chamba. Eligible for the U19 Nationals are players born on or after January 1, 1986.
The selected team would be given a 10 day training under coach Prem Bhushan Hiteshi to prepare for the tournament.

6. January
Note-1: Over the upcoming weekend the Goa FA will organise two charity matches for the victims of the Tsunami disaster. On Saturday, January 8 Dempo SC would play Vasco SC at the Duler ground, Mapusa; while on Sunday, January 9 Salgaocar SC would take on Churchill Brothers SC at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. Both matches would kickoff at 16.00 IST.
Tickets have been priced at Rs. 20 and 40 and the raised money would go to an NGO to spend for Tsunami victims.

Note-2: A Pakistan Football Federation official has told Indian media that India is likely to tour out neighbouring country for a football series for the first time ever. "The All India Football Federation has decided to send their team to Pakistan in June this year to play the first ever three-match series between the two countries," PFFs technical director Lt-Col (retd.) Mujahidullah Khan said.
But the final details haven't been worked out yet as the AIFF wants to play three matches, while the PFF would like to host five matches in the provincial capitals Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar and Islamabad. If only three matches are held, then Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad would be the venues.

Note-3: East Bengal Club have made a very good suggestions to the AIFF, which the national federation is considering of accepting. The defending champions have suggested that the money raised in the NFL opener between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan be split amongst the bereaved families of Cristiano Junior and those of Sanjib Datta and Sahadeb Pal. Both Datta and Pal had also died on the football pitch a number of years ago but no real donations made to the families.

Note-4: The 10th South Asian Games (former SAF Games) have been postponed by a year. Originally scheduled to be held in August 2005 in Sri Lanka, after the deadly Tsunami which hit the island nation hard, it has been postponed as the Sri Lanka government did not think it was right to hold the games this summer and also with other priorities on their agenda, like rebuilding the coastal areas.
"This is not a time to host the games with big celebrations, so we decided to wait for another year," Sri Lankan Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Jeewan Kumaratunga said in Colombo today.

5. January
The start of the 9th National League is only a week away and IndianFootball.Com is happy to announce that our brand new NATIONAL LEAGUE SPECIAL is finally online!
In the NATIONAL LEAGUE SPECIAL you will get all relevant infos on the NFL - teams, schedules, scores, pictures, etc.
So log on to the new >>NATIONAL LEAGUE SPECIAL for full details.

Note-1: The prices of tickets for the 9th National League opener on January 12 at the Saltlake Stadium in Calcutta between archrivals East Bengal and Mohun Bagan has been finalised and released. The match is of special significance as the match would be held to raise funds for the family of bereaved Brazilian striker Cristiano Junior.
The ticket prices: General - Rs. 20; VIPs - Rs. 50; Ex-Players - Rs. 70; VVIPs - Rs. 100.

Note-2: The Tsunami fund-raising match in Calcutta between Mohun Bagan and Nigerian side Saro FC is unlikely to be held due to the Nigerians unable to get tickets to come to India. If any alternative plans are being made is unknown.

Note-3: The Times of India reports today that Nigerian striker-cum-midfielder Mike Okoro is set to return from the Polish second division to India to play in the upcoming NFL. But not for his former club East Bengal, where Okoro has had two very successful season, but for title aspirants Mahindra United from Mumbai.
It looks like Mahindra manager Henry Menezes has accomplished another spectacular transfer for the Jeepmen, but no official confirmation as off now as Mahindra fear East Bengal could do a last minute effort to get Okoro to sign for them. This would mean that Okoro hasn't signed for Mahindra yet.

Note-4: At yesterday's meeting between the AIFF and the 12 participating NFL clubs ahead of the 9th National League, the NFL clubs handed in a request to the AIFF to increase the number of players that can be signed on loan from four to five. If the AIFF would make the necessary change is currently not known.

Note-5: Defending U19 National champions West Bengal have named Sanjay Sen as their state U19 coach for the final round, while Swarup Das has been named Bengal U13 coach for the first U13 Football Festival to be held with 22 teams from February 2. These decisions were made by the IFA at a meeting today.

Note-6: The Punjab FA will hold trials for the Punjab U19 team for the U19 National Championships - North Zone qualifiers to be held at Basti in Uttar Pradesh from January 27. The PFA secretary Inder Singh has disclosed that the trials would be held on January 10 from 10.00 h at the JCT Football Stadium in Phagwara. Eligible for the U19 Nationals are players born on or after January 1, 1986.

Note-7: Meanwhile in the capital the Delhi Soccer Association will also hold selection trials to pick the Delhi U19 team for the U19 National Championships - North Zone qualifiers to be held at Basti in Uttar Pradesh from January 27. DSA secretary NK Bhatia said the selection trials would be conducted at the Ambedkar Stadium on January 7 from 14.00 h by MM Sultan, Kishori Lal and Sunil Patwal.

4. January
Note-1: The AIFF today announced Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) as the title sponsor of the upcoming 9th National League, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on January 12 in Calcutta. AIFF president Priya Ranjan Das Munshi informed the media that the NFL will be played for the ONGC Cup with the company contributing Rs. 70 million, approximately USD 1,6 Million. The highest-ever single sponsorship in Indian football history.
ONGC's deal includes the 2.Division National League. The company will also be sponsors of all other tournaments organised by the AIFF including the Santosh Trophy and the Federation Cup.
"A new feature of this edition will be the NFL Super Cup which will be fought between the winners and runners-up within three days of the completion of the League," the AIFF president continued. The Super Cup champions will be richer by Rs 1 million while the NFL winner's purse remains the same at Rs 4 million. The runners-up will get Rs.2.2 million, while the next four teams in the table will receive Rs.1.6 million, Rs.900,000, Rs.500,000 and Rs.300,000. Das Munshi said the decision was taken according to the wishes of the sponsors instead of the prevailing practice of Federation Cup winners taking on NFL champions for the Super Cup.
This time the winners of each NFL match will be richer by Rs 30,000 an increase of Rs 10,000.
The AIFF also announced that it is finalising a tie-up with Prasar Bharati (Doordarshan), which would telecast 60 selected matches either live or delayed. "Around 100 remaining matches would come on ESPN-Star Sports and regional channels. Some matches may also be simulcasted," Das Munshi said. Also a new three class chart of payment for matches has been set out by Prasar Bharati and the AIFF. The AIFF would get Rs 1 million each for class 1 matches, which include all NFL matches and semifinals and finals of the Santosh Trophy and Federation Cup. For class 2 matches, which includes the 2.Division NFL, Doordarshan will pay Rs 600.000 each and for U21, U19 and U16 Nationals Rs 4 lakh each.
On the 2.Division NFL the AIFF said that it would be a 12 team league, but not disclosing the format or dates, only saying it would be held simultaneously with the NFL proper for proper media coverage. Also it was disclosed that no foreigner can play in the 2.Division, but if the last word has been said on this issue has to be seen, as top 2.Division sides like EverReady HAL and many more all have signed foreigner until the end of the season.

Note-2: The figures of people death after the Tsunami and latest possible estimates are just horrific. The United Nations fear that upto 200.000 people might have been killed and the millions of survivors are often left without anything. They need our help. Any donation you make can make a difference.
You could send your donations to the UNICEF call for aid .

The contributions around the world are enormous, unbelievable sums are being donated by private person and companies. Countries are increasing their financial assistance. It is really encouraging to see all this.
We at IndianFootball.Com have made our financial contribution, but are looking at ways to get more money for the victims of the Tsunami disaster. We are trying to organise an IndianFootball.Com Charity match to raise money for the victims.
Here are some examples of contributions or plans to organise something from the sporting world:

2. January
San Miguel International Cup, Kathmandu, NEPAL - Final: East Bengal Club 0-0,4-2 Hannam University, SOUTH KOREA [penalties] - Goals: none.
East Bengal Club needed a penalty shootout against Hannam University from South Korea to win the title at the San Miguel International Cup tournament at the Dashrath Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal.
EAST BENGAL: 1-Sangram Mukherjee , 5-Habibur Rehman Mondal, 9-Alvito D'Cunha, 15-Douglas da Silva, 16-Selwyn Fernandes, 33-Syed Rahim Nabi, 28-Shylo Malswam Tulunga, 14-Chandan Das, 30-Climax Lawrence, 25-Bijen Singh, 10-Paulo Roberto Da Silva.
HANNAM U: 1-Min Keong, 5-Kim Hae, 7-Choi Kesak, 8-Chen Je Hun, 9-Bae Dong, 14-Lee Sang Min, 17-Jo Jae (11-Hang Jong), 18-Park Min, 20-Ko Jung, 24-Mo Sung.

1. January

For IndianFootball.Com the year 2004 was a great one in terms of HITs, reach, recognition and our own level of reporting, though as always our aim to get better and better, and be mor