31. July
Calcutta Premier League: East Bengal Club 0-0 EverReady SA - Goals: none.
EAST BENGAL: Naseem Aktar, Surya Bikash Chakraborty, Covan Lawrence, Debkumar Sashmal (35' Jatin Singh Bisht), Arun Malhotra, Soumik Dey, Dipankar Roy, Sandip Das, Gouranga Dutta (74' Jayanta Sen), Kalia Kulothungan (61' Tushar Rakshit), RC Prakash.
EVERrEADY: Shibram Dey, Muzaffar Rahman (76' Manoj Joshi), Surajit Chakraborty Sr, Anupam Sarkar, Bimal Sarkar, Ratan Das, Dhiman Sinha, Sujit Neogi, Lalkamal Bhowmick (69' Subrata Guha), Sheikh Habeeb Ali, Jamir Ali Mondal.

Chennai Senior Division: Indian Bank 4-1 AGORC - Goals: 0-1 Muthu (7'), 1-1,2-1,3-1,4-1 Syed Shabir Pasha (46',50',70',73').
Jadu Nath Bhuyan Invitational Football Tournament, Tinsukia - Final: Oil India Limited 1-2 Assam State Electricity Board - Goals: 1-0 Mrinal Boro (1'), 1-1 Mitradev Swargiary (47'), 1-2 Pabitra Langchung (82').
Mumbai Elite Division: Central Railway - Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers = match has been postponed due to heavy rains.
SP Roy Inter-District State Club Championship: Bankura Player's Corner 2-1 Mamguria Basti Tiger Club, Manbhum

Note-1: On August 3 at the Parade Ground, Kochi (homeground of FortKochi Sealine Santos) at 16.30 IST a British Royal Navy team will take on the FortKochi Sealine Santos. Former Sealine player, coach and now secretary Roofs D'souza will lead the team for the match. The sailors of the Britain's Warship's H.M.S.York and R.F.A Rover are playing for British Royal Navy team. The British were coaching the Kochi players to get them ready for their match.

Note-2: The 12th Upen Brahma Gold Cup Football tournament will be held from August 19 at Udalguri. Besides champions Lajong SC from Shillong clubs from Assam, Meghalaya and West Bengal will be taking part in the tournament.

Note-3: The postponed Assam Under-21 Inter-District Football Tournament will now be held from August 25 in Lakhimpur. The tournament had to be postponed due to non-availability of a football stadium.

30. July
Calcutta Premier League: Tollygunge Agragami 1-2 Eastern Railway SC - Goals: 0-1 Bapan Bera (22'), 1-1 Bijoy Das (61'), 1-2 Binoy Saha (79').

Note-1: IM Vijayan with the help of football journalist Ravi Menon will be writing a book about his life. Vijayan will be writing about his miserable childhood, getting the Arjuna Award. He will also write about his football life having played in all nine National League season's, six Federation Cups and his start with Kerala Police.

Note-2: The Guwahati Super Division will finally kickoff on August 3 with the champions Assam Police Blues taking on the promoted SAI SC-Guwahati. The start of the league had to be postponed from its original kickoff date of July 12 due to pending Inter-State Transfers.

29. July
Mumbai Elite Division: Western Railway 1-1 Air-India - Goals: 0-1 Noel Fernandes (34'), 1-1 Poly Cherian (64').
AIR-INDIA: Raju Ekka, Haobijam Napoleon Singh, Benoy Kuruvilla, Santosh Koli, Noel Fernandes (Suprith Jathanna), Vijith Shetty, Javed Ansari, Stephen Hmar (Uttam Leishangthem Singh), Neil Gaikwad (Hringsolal Thomte), Narender Meetei, Anthony Fernandes.
WESTERN RAILWAY: K Thanooj, Sumit Das, Prakash Patil, Jayesh Martin, Suvendu Hui, Anil Pawar, Iman-Ul Haque, Poly Cherian, PV Vinoy, Gurunath Reddy, Subhash Adilkar (Siraj Hussain).

Chennai Senior Division: Integral Coach Factory 1-0 Netaji SC - Goal: 1-0 Shaji (52').
Chennai Senior Division: Dhinamani FC 4-0 Southern Railway - Goals: 1-0,2-0 David (20',33'), 3-0 Somu (36'), 4-0 Anand (56').
Punjab State 2nd Division League: JCT Academy 3-1 Mahilpur FC - Goals: 1-0 Bawa Singh (36'), 2-0 Sikander, 3-0 Hardeep Singh, 3-1 Hari Kishan.
SP Roy Inter-District State Club Championship: DM Recreation Club, Hooghly 6-1 Abhyudaya Club,Murshidabad

Note-1: Mohun Bagan AC today celebrated Mohun Bagan Day, the 94th anniversary of their historic IFA-Shield final triumph against East Yorkshire Regiment at their Clu Tent on the Calcutta Maidans. On the occasion, Chuni Goswami was given the Mohun Bagan Ratna by his former club.

Note-2: The Kalinga Cup is being revived in Orissa after a gap of seven years, which was first held in 1962. From August 17 to 31 the 16 team tournament would be held at the Barabati Stadium, Cuttack and at Sambalpur. Amongst the participating clubs would be five local Orissa teams (top four teams from the Cuttack League and a club from Sambalpur) and 11 invited teams from across India. This was disclosed in Cuttack today by Orissa Olympic Association Secretary Asirwad Behera, who has been lobbying for the tournament in New Delhi. AIFF president Das Munshi has agreed to come to the final, while Union Broadcasting and Information Minister S Jaipal Reddy has agreed for DD Sports live coverage from the tournament.

Note-3: India youth coach Sajeevan Balan will hold a refresher course in Calicut on July 30/31 for 12 coaches/educators of the "Sports & Education Promotion Trust", a project supported by IndianFootball.Com. These coaches are currently working with children in six centres in and around Calicut.

28. July
42nd Assam Junior Inter-District Football championship - Final: Silchar 0-2 Guwahati - Goals: 0-1 Arunjit Brahma (64'), 0-2 Mani Kanta Brahma (84').
Chennai Senior Division: Indian Bank 1-1 State Bank of India - Goals: 1-0 Mike Chinedu Obi (50'), 1-1 Gunasekharan (60').
Mumbai Elite Division: Golden Gunners - Mumbai Customs = match has been postponed due to heavy rains.
SP Roy Inter-District State Club Championship: Abhyudaya Club, Murshidabad walkover State Transport Recreation Club, Malda - State Transport Recreation Club, Malda failed to turn-up

Note-1: Islam Akhmedov has been reappointed as the chief coach of the India Under-17 and Under-20 national teams. Akhmedov, who has got a two year contract, had been in-charge of the junior teams from 2000 to 2002 and had guided them to some outstanding performances on Asian level. The Uzbek coach was also responsible for the very talented India U-17 national team, which toured Germany in 2002. Some of the junior then are now part of the Indian national team set-up. Akhmedov last had coached Uzbek second division side Andijon.

Note-2: INDIA striker Baichung Bhutia flew to Malaysia yesterday and today signed a three month contract with Malaysian first division club MK Land Selangor for whom he will play in the Malaysian Cup. MK Land Selangor has been drawn in Group D along with Selangor, Public Bank and Perak FC. Interestingly in his first Malaysian stint Baichung had played for Perak FC in 2003.

27. July
Calcutta Premier League: Eastern Railway SC 1-1 Calcutta Port Trust - Goals: 0-1 James Uguru (25'), 1-1 Farid Ali Mollah (90+3').
Calcutta Premier League: EverReady SA 1-0 George Telegraph SC - Goal: 1-0 Jamir Ali Mondal (54').
Chennai Senior Division: Chennai Customs 1-0 AGORC - Goal: 1-0 Liju (79').
Mumbai Elite Division: H2K-Holy Family - Bank of India = match has been postponed due to heavy rains.
Punjab State 2nd Division League: JCT Academy 1-1 Sri Guru Gobind Singh Society FC - Goals: 1-0 Gurinder Pal Singh (63'), 1-1 Rakinderjit Singh (90'+).
SP Roy Inter-District State Club Championship: DM Recreation Club, Hooghly 7-0 Banpatiram Bijoy Malini Club, Dakshin Dinajpur

Note-1: As we had reported earlier the AIFF Players Status Committee was supposed to meet today in Mumbai, but the Indian financial capital has been experiencing heavy monsoon rains culminating in the heaviest-ever recorded rainfall on a day today, so the meeting had to be postponed indefinitely.

26. July
The "Visions of Football" conference is going to be held from tomorrow, July 27 to 29 in Munich, Germany. It is the only major football conference in Germany ahead of the FIFA World Cup next year. IndianFootball.Com has been accredited to cover the event with Arunava attending. The conference also is a platform to interact with the bigwigs of world football and also to tell them about Indian football and the state of affairs of the game in our country.
The "Visions of Football" conference has been divided into five modules - Football & Society; Football & Media; Football & Business; Football & Training; and Football & Medicine. But "Visions of Football" will not only be a conference, but also includes a trade fair and interaction sessions in the evening.
We will be bringing to you reports, interviews and pictures from the event in our IndianFootball.Com LIVE section.

Chennai Senior Division: SAI, Chennai 3-0 Young Men SC
Mumbai Elite Division: Bengal Mumbai FC - Central Railway = match has been postponed due to heavy rains.
Mumbai Super Division: Mumbai Port Trust - ONGC - Match abandoned due to rain.
SP Roy Inter-District State Club Championship: Banpatiram Bijoy Malini Club, Dakshin Dinajpur walkover Tamluk Town Club, Purba Midnapore - Tamluk Town Club failed to turn-up

Note-1: The India U23 coaches have reduced the number of probables at the Bangalore camp for the Fiji Tour from 33 to 24 and have added senior players defender Selwyn Fernandes and midfielder Shanmugam Venkatesh to the list. The coaches will be working with the 24 players until Selwyn and Venky report to the camp with both likely to be sure selections for the final squad of 20 and Venkatesh also likely to be appointed captain. The final squad is likely to be named only a couple of days before the camp concludes on August 6.
PROBABLES: Goalkeepers: VP Satish Kumar (Dempo SC), Subhashish Roy Chowdhury (Mahindra United), Souvik Mondal (Mohammedan Sporting Club); Defenders: Selwyn Fernandes, Valeriano Rebello, Yumlembam Raju Singh (all Dempo SC), Habibur Rehman Mondal, Syed Rahim Nabi, Debabrata Roy (all East Bengal Club), Irungbam Surkumar Singh, Manju Nanjangud Shivananju (both Mahindra United), Warundeep Singh, Gurjinder Singh (both Tata Football Academy), Naduparangil Pappachan Pradeep (State Bank of Travancore); Midfielders: Shanmugam Venkatesh, Moirangthem Gouramangi Singh, Subhas Chakraborty (all Mahindra United), Sukhwinder Singh, Sukhjinder Singh (both Mills), Shylo Malswam Tulunga (East Bengal Club), Manjit Singh (Mohun Bagan AC), Bernard Pires; Forwards: Surajit Bose (Mahindra United), Marlanki Suting (Fransa FC), Sunil Chetri (JCT Mills), Vimal Pariyar (Tata Football Academy).

Note-1: Karnataka has been one of the hotbeds of football talents in India. In the past talents used to come from Mysore, more recently India has been captained by the likes of Carlton Chapman and Shanmugam Venkatesh, who both hail from the state.
Now the Karnataka State FA is trying not only to promote football in the capital Bangalore, but across the state by launching a new Inter-District tournament. In it's first edition the tournament has been kept to a eight team tournament with the districts of Bangalore, Mysore, Kolar, Dakshina Kannada, Coorg, Davanagere, Mandya and Shimoga facing each other from August 8 to 16. The districts were selected on activity of football with more districts to be added in the future.
The tournament would be held in a two group quarterfinal league of four teams each with the top two teams qualifying for the semifinals. The KSFA will bear the costs of the tournament as no sponsors are involved with the winners winning Rs 10,000 while the runners-up would get Rs 5,000.

Note-2: Calcutta Premier League side George Telegraph SC and UCO Bank have renewed their partnership with the national bank extending their sponsorship to the club by another year with no financial details released.
George Telegraph SC secretary Subrata Dutta said, "The club is gearing up for the second or third division National League this year. The sponsorship received from UCO Bank will greatly facilitate this cause and the club will enjoy a better standing at the ensuing National League."

25. July
Mumbai Elite Division: Indian Navy 0-6 Air-India - Goals: 0-1,0-4 Javed Ansari (23'-Penalty,60'), 0-2,0-3 Neil Gaikwad (25',37'), 0-5 Diago Fernandes (76'), 0-6 Mohammed bin Hassan (80').
AIR-INDIA: Sunder Raj Rajan, Stephen Hmar, Benoy Kuruvilla, Haobijam Napoleon Singh, Uttam Leishangthem Singh, Appa Rao Chiman (75' Mohammed bin Hassan), Javed Ansari, Diago Fernandes, Sumit Thapa (86' Suprith Jathanna), Neil Gaikwad, Lawrence Dias (78' Eldin Bothello).
INDIAN NAVY: VS Mankotia (21' PA Kumar), MA Lawrance, PS Sumesh, V Venogopal, VS Avilash, PJ Jerry (76' PJ Jerry), CT Sujeth, S Thapa, A Bhandari, X Fernandes (72' R Gurung), A Milton.

Punjab State 2nd Division League: Mahilpur FC 2-1 Sri Guru Gobind Singh Society FC - Goals: 0-1 Rohit (4'), 1-1 Satwinder Singh (45'), 2-1 Baldev Singh (63').

Note-1: In the end the matter was sorted over the weekend in a few meetings between East Bengal Club officials and Baichung Bhutia. Baichung will continue to play for East Bengal in India, when he returns from his two to three month Malaysia stint.
"After much discussions, we have finalised a deal with Baichung. He has agreed to play for us once he is back after a two-month stint with a Malaysian club," UB-East Bengal Football Team Private Limited Director Amit Sen, told PTI in Calcutta.
Baichung would either sign the papers when he gets back to Calcutta from Delhi, where he flew today is to get his visa for Malaysia, or the papers would be send to Malaysia to get them signed by Baichung there. Public pressure and general demand that Baichung stays with East Bengal put the club officials as well as the players in a situation where they needed to sort out any differences they have had. That was done, so Baichung is set to remain at East Bengal for the national season, leaving inbetween when the local season in on. A gentlemen's agreement has been reached with nothing signed yet, but the word seems binding.
Meanwhile East Bengal will no longer pursue to sign Pakistani striker Muhammad Essa. The reason behind this are the financial demands of the player, which East Bengal do not want to meet.

Note-2: Today Mohammedan Sporting signed a contract with the SPS Group Steel Company as a Co-Sponsor in a three year deal worth around Rs 10 million. SPS Group produce the 'ELEGANT' steel rod, which is known in eastern India.

Note-3: By Zena Costa (WE-Gomantak Times): For an international cricket match that is to be or not to be, the Sports Authority of Goa (a state that markets fish, feni and football as its soul) has decided that football certainly is not to be. In an amazing and careless display of the attitude that the SAG has towards football, six international football matches to be played at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, plus an exhibition match with AC Milan (no less) have been cancelled because the Goa Cricket Association has booked the ground from September 1 to December 1.
SHOCKING INDEED!
Goans have excelled in football and represented the country at the international level. With just one Goan cricket international (Sardessai), with no other representation at the national level for more than two decades, and the last One-Day International proving the worst sports SCAM, it's beyond anyone's understanding the craze to host cricket in Goa.

Note-4: The Guwahati Super Division is likely to finally kickoff in the coming week, the first week of August. The organisers, the Guwahati Sports Association, were forced to postpone the league due to some Inter-State Transfers of local clubs pending plus then the Assam Junior Inter-District tournament being held.

24. July
Yesterday the German League Cup Preliminary Round Double-Header was held at the LTU-Arena in Duesseldorf between Werder Bremen-Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Hertha BSC Berlin-VfB Stuttgart. IndianFootball.Com Editors-in-Chief Arunava and Chris were at the matches and have put together a report plus have taken loads of pictures from and around the match in Duesseldorf.
For the report&pictures on the German League Cup double header to go >>IndianFootball.Com LIVE.

Mumbai Elite Division: Mumbai Customs 1-2 Maharashtra State Police - Goals: 1-0 Hekmat Singh (9'), 1-1 Santosh Singh (26'), 1-2 Sushant Pawar (71').
SP Roy Inter-District State Club Championship: Oriental Sporting Club, Chandannagar 4-0 Brati Sangha, South 24-Parganas

Note-1: The preparations at the Indian U23 camp for the Fiji Tour is going ahead fine in Bangalore. After initially facing some problems with the training ground and having to shift base from the SAI Southern Centre into the City to train at the Bangalore Football Stadium, the 33 probables are trying their best to impress the coaches to get selected for the Fiji Tour. Under the watchful eyes of chief coach Sukhvinder Singh, assistant coach Stanley Rozario and goalkeeping coach Brahmanand Shankwalkar the boys are put through their paces. No injuries have been reported so far and the coaches will be reducing the number of players at the camp in the coming days to be able to work more with a smaller unit. Some senior players will be joining the camp, but so far it isn't known how many and who this could be as a number of players remain injured and especially upfront a goalscorer would be useful. The names of player like defender Mahesh Gawli and midfielder Shanmugam Venkatesh are doing the rounds to strengthen the squad.

23. July
Peter Thangaraj Benefit Match - Barasat Stadium: East Bengal Club 1-0 Mohammedan Sporting Club - Goal: 1-0 RC Prakash (?' - Penalty).
From today's match Rs 300,000 were raised, which were handed over to the former India goalkeeper Peter Thangaraj by Baichung Bhutia.
Click here for the Peter Thangaraj Benefit Match pictures

SP Roy Inter-District State Club Championship: Oriental SC, Chandannagar 6-0 Bolpur Young Town Club, Birbhum

Note-1: Mahindra United's first three matches in the Mumbai Elite League have been postponed until after August 17. The Mahindra club management had placed a request to the Mumbai District FA to allow them to start their league engagements later as they currently are short of players due to the INDIA U23 camp plus their coach Derrick Pereira will be away in Germany for an AFC coaching course. The MDFA has accepted the request and will reschedule the matches accordingly.

Note-2: The Assam FA president Hemen Brahma and secretary Ankur Datta along with other top officials today met the Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and urged him to intervene that the Willamson Magor Football Academy is not closed down. The Chief Minister is said to have said, he will try to help that the Willamson Magor Football Academy reopens, which closed door a few weeks ago. The Willamson Magor Football Academy has been one of the very few top academies in the Northeast of the country.

22. July
Chennai Senior Division: Chennai Customs 3-0 State Bank of India, Chennai - Goals: 1-0 Vijaykumar (52'), 2-0 Lijo (78'), 3-0 Kumar (80').
Mumbai Elite Division: Golden Gunners 0-0 Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers - Goals: none.
Mumbai Super Division: Union Bank of India - Akbar Travels = match has been postponed due to heavy rains.
SP Roy Inter-District State Club Championship: Brati Sangha, South 24-Parganas 2-1 Kalyan Smriti Sangha, Burdwan

Note-1: The IFA today released the fixtures of the new Calcutta Football League's eight team Premier Division fixtures. The league would kickoff with two matches on coming wednesday, July 27 with October 3 being the last day of matches. In total 56 matches would be played in the league in less than 10 weeks across Calcutta with the stadia - Saltlake Stadium, East Bengal ground, Mohun Bagan ground, Rabindra Sarobar Stadium, Kalyani Stadium, Howrah Stadium and Barasat Stadium - set to host matches. 15.30 IST is the standard kickoff time for matches. Matches can be rescheduled due to weather, stadia problems or other reasons.
The six big exhibition matches between East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting will be played at the Saltlake Stadium. In the first big derby of the season East Bengal face Mohammedan Sporting on August 14, while East Bengal and Mohun Bagan face each other on August 19 and Mohun Bagan play Mohammedan Sporting on August 28. The three return exhibition matches are in September.
Click here for the Calcutta Premier League 2005 fixtures

Note-2: The IFA today also released tentative dates for the 111th IFA-Shield. As per the proposed fixtures the IFA would like to hold the IFA-Shield from November 24 to December 4, 2005. Eight clubs would take part with the participation of a number of foreign clubs being sought. Who those foreign clubs are or could be is unknown at the moment.

Note-3: Might one of the best-ever foreigners to play on Indian soil return ahead of the new NFL season? Brazilian Jose Ramirez Barreto is a sought after player in India and his former club Mohun Bagan, whom Barreto had left in a hurry about 18 month's ago, is seeking to bring back the lost son as many Bagan fans would say. The club president Swapan Sadhan Bose himself had been in touch with Barreto to convince him to come back, if Barreto will do so is currently unknown. This revelation comes only a day after Bagan secretary Anjan Mitra had a chat with Baichung Bhutia about him joining Bagan after he returns from Malaysia.
Meanwhile Bagan are not alone trying to bring back Barreto to India. Goan clubs are said to be interested in Barreto as well.

Note-4: The search for a sponsor at Mohammedan Sporting Club seems finally over. The SPS Group, who deal with steel are a new sponsor of the club. For a few years the club has been searching for a suitable sponsor, but hadn't had any luck until now.

Note-5: Mohun Bagan AC have decided to confer this years Mohun Bagan Ratna on their former player Subimal Goswami, better known as Chuni Goswami. The club would hand over the Ratna along with an honorary life-membership to Goswami on July 29, Mohun Bagan Day. Goswami is the fifth former Bagan star to get the Ratna. The earlier MB Ratna winners were Sailen Manna, Talimeren Ao, Shibdas Bhaduri and Gostho Paul.

Note-6: The U-14 team of the Mumbai Schools SA (MSSA) participating in the Gothia Cup, 2005, in Sweden, reached the B-Play-off Knock-out round in the U-14 category.
In the Play-off Knock-out round, the Mumbai Schools SA team won 3-1 against Älmhult IF 1 of Sweden on Thursday morning. Then, in the evening, they were beaten 2-0 by Danderyds SK, also of Sweden. Earlier in the group stage, the U-14 MSSA team was slotted in Group 9. Here they played against Älmhult IF 2 (1-1 draw on Monday), Bollstanäs SK (3-0 loss on Tuesday), and Ödsmåls IK (2-2 draw on Wednesday), all from Sweden - and so finished third in the group of four teams, thereby qualifying for the B-Play-off Knock-out round.
The U-15 MSSA team finished bottom of their four-team group, Group 3, and were hence eliminated.

Note-7: In some sad news former Mohun Bagan midfielder in the 1970s Barun Mishra was killed today at Serampore, Hooghly district of West Bengal when he was run over by a train. The 59 year old was killed by a local train when he was crossing the railway tracks near Serampore railway station. Mishra, who has played for Bengal in the Santosh Trophy, is survived by his wife and a son. As a mark of respect the Mohun Bagan flag was flown at half mast at the club Tent.

21. July
At the Vision India workshop today the AFC general secretary Peter Velappan said about the implementation of the Vision India programme, "I think this is the last chance for (reviving) Indian football. This is a golden opportunity and if India fails to grab that, God bless India."
Unlike earlier visits to India, Velappan today praised the AIFF for the work they have done lately, but clearly added that India should not lose the momentum in the development work being done at the moment. Velappan is heading a four member AFC delegation which also includes AFC Director of National Associations Brendan Menton (Ireland), P Shiva Kumar (Singapore) and Imtiaz-ur-Rehman (Pakistan).
For India Velappan sees the programme as a golden opportunity to break into the top league of Asian football. In Manipur a lot of components are their - talented players, loads of clubs (269 in all), basic infrastructure plus a hardworking administration to make it work. Only some ingrediants of professional football were needed, like proper governance. The AMFA made a presentation on what has been done since earlier this and the plans they had. The AFC team where said to be impressed.
Delhi meanwhile is a different story altogether as there the work would have to start from scratch as nothing is there to build on.
Delhi Soccer Association Secretary NK Bhatia later told UNI that acting on the recommendation of the delegation, the association would convene a general meeting and amend its constitution to facilitate the changes. "We already have roped in former international Arunesh Sharma as the Vision Co-ordinator which is a step towards professionalism. AFC also suggested us to change our name to Delhi Football Association."
"They have set goals ahead of us and we would do everything to achieve those targets," Bhatia added.

Assam Sub-Junior Inter District Football Championship, Silapathar - Final: Udalguri 0-1 Kokrajhar - Goal: David Brahma (48').
Mumbai Super Division: Rizvi Mumbai Muslims - ONGC = match has been postponed due to heavy rains.
SP Roy Inter-District State Club Championship: Brati Sangha, South 24-Parganas 7-0 Shyama Sangha, Nadia

Note-1: In a somewhat surprise move Indian football star striker Baichung Bhutia has decided not to sign for East Bengal Club at the moment, but to fly to Malaysia next week to sign for a short two/three month stint until October. Baichung is talking to three clubs in Malaysia and would sign for one club soon. Meanwhile Baichung seems hurt at the 'shabby treatment' he has received at the club for which he has given his heart and soul for many many years since his first signing for the club in 1993.
Talking to PTI Baichung said, "For months I have been requesting them that they pay my dues. But they went on delaying. And only two days back, they paid it." He added,"I feel hurt, I feel sad. They have no difficulty paying advance to their recruits for the coming season. But when I ask for my dues, they seem to have problems."
East Bengal Club officials seemed surprised at the turn of events and made different statements across the media. While some said, Baichung would be welcome to return later in the season, some sad he is out and they would have to make other plans.

Note-2: by Zena Costa from Goa: LOYALTY - is the key word at 'Sporting Clube de Goa' - an apt name for a team whose focus is good football and concurrently keeps alive cherished facets of the game. This year the club upholds - LOYALTY. Sporting Clube is the only NFL team that has managed "to keep family together" as club patron Peter Vaz puts it. This is no mean feat given the fact that loyalty is near extinct in football , and in an era where the commercial factor calls the shots and scores the goals too,resulting in players changing sides as often as they can,lured by the big bucks! Speaking to this writer, Vaz said the boys, Coach Chukwama and he were a close knit unit - a family.
In the last edition of the National League, Sportings' spectacular showing - wherein lads who were almost rookies, went to take the Super Cup after they missed out on the NFL title by a whisker delighted and moved us by bringing 'heart' back into the game. The only team fielding 27 Goans did away with the allegory that Goans can't play at the premier level. They reminded one of spirited Goan Football of yore - and went on to they display that it was possible in the present day. A few changes had been made to strengthen the bench, but Sporting Clube has its 'Sporting starting eleven including Dudu Omagbemi. The new additions are former international Vasco's Vinu Jose, Hardeep Saini (Fransa) Faiz Alam (Hindustan Club), Joseph Pereira (Kerala), Charles (Cabral), Marcelino, Francisco Andrade and Gerald of the Sesa Academy.
Vaz concluded that having already shown their prowess at play, the team management would concentrate more on gearing up the boys for'big match temperament' especially as of playing the AFC tourneys is a possibility.
Meanwhile on MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi: Highest scorer, best striker and one of the most charismatic faces of the last years National League, Sporting Clube captain Dudu has been loaned to Penang FC, Malaysia for 4 months. Speaking to this writer, Peter Vaz said that a player of Dudu's calibre instead of wasting time off season could avail of some good exposure at Penang, where he finds himself alongside Brazilian, Jose Ramirez Barreto. Dudu returns to lead Spoting Clube, when the Malay season culminates in October. Hopefully, Barreto who has expressed keen desire to return to India will come along too.
Speaking to a section of the national sports media, at New Delhi, late June, enroute to Malaysia, Dudu said of his Indian sojourn, "I'm enjoying my stay in India, especially scoring all those goals. It felt great being appointed captain. Besides being an honour... also felt completely accepted by people of Goa. It is nice that there are no hassles in Goa about your team being led by a 'foreigner'. Someday I would like to represent Nigeria.and play in Europe." Dudu's loyalty to his 'sporting family' is positively commendable as he has turned down lucrative offers to continue with the Goan side. Vaz confirmed that Dudu had received offers to attend trials in the USA (1st Division) and the 2nd Division in the UK. In keeping with the name of team he leads the twenty-year-old is not an extremely gifted striker. He is loyal and sporting too!

Note-3: by Armstrong Vaz: Dempo SC midfielder Clifford Miranda, who recently made his international debut for the country in the Indo-Pak Football Series in Pakistan has been conferred with the Gulab footballer of the India Award at a function held at Gomantak Vidya Niketan Hall Margao.
Betalbatim-based Clifford Miranda started his football career with Salcete FC age group teams. His consistent performance with the age group team of Salcete at a young age did not go unnoticed. Taking into account his talent, Salcete FC officials recommended his name for the selection trials for the Tata Football Academy.
After graduating from TFA Clifford first stop was at the Dempo SC with whom he has playing for the last four seasons.
Clifford was one of the member of the Dempo SC team which won the 9th National League title.
The midfielder who is known for his trade mark speedy run down the flanks was a hot property in the recently concluded inter club transfers. Dempo could avail of the services of the midfielder for the upcoming season brushing aside tough competition from clubs from Calcutta.
Meanwhile AIFF secretary Alberto Colaco has been conferred with the prestigious Fr. Fredy da Costa memorial Gulab award for the year 2004 at a function held at Gomantak Vidya Niketan hall Margao. The award was received by his son Ryan Colaco in the absence of alberto Colaco who is out of station.
Colaco who now is the AIFF secretary had earlier served as secretary of Goa FA for two terms.
Colaco is also associated with Salcete FC for the last three decades and has been instrumental in initiating many a youth development schemes while being at the helm of affairs at Salcete FC. Among the scheme initiated was the Under-12 development coaching which were launched through Salcete FC. Thereafter the Sports Authority of Goa joined hands with Salcete FC to give financial and technical support for the scheme. Among the players who emerged from the under 12 coaching centers from that scheme launched through out south Goa are the current India players Lawrence brothers - Climax and Covan plus Alvito D'Cunha.
Salcete FC over the years had been termed as a nursery of football for goan football. Footballers of repute who emerged from the Salcete ranks over the years are Savio Madeira, Mauricio Afonso and Mario Soares to name a few.
Over the years Salcete FC has since slipped from the first division and now playing in the second division league for the last couple of seasons. Last season Salcete FC missed the qualification back into the First division league by a whisker falling to the guiles of Sesa Goa Football Academy.
Gulab is a monthly magazine published in the Konkani language in Roman script. Konkani is also written in the devanagri script.

Note-4: The Goa FA informed IndianFootball.Com that it has added yet another tournament to it's age group competitions. It will be an under-20 tournament. The other tournaments are the U12, U14, U16, and U18. This tournament is going to be called the Taca Goa under-20 tournament.
This cup was started in 1953 with Academica being the proud winners of the first edition. In 1974 the cup was in bad condition and a former chief minister donated a new trophy. In 1994 the cup again broke when being taken for the finals and yet another trophy was bought.The last edition was held in 1996 and the proud winners were Churchill Brothers who had won it for 3 years in succession. Only the premier division teams played in this tournament.
Now this tournament will be held as an under-20 tournament. The purpose for holding this tournament is to help select boys for the under-21 state squad as well as provide an opportunity to the professional league clubs to select the under-20 boys, as fielding of two under 20 boys is compulsory for the local professional league.

Note-5: UNI report: Mohan Began secretary Anjan Mitra is making plans for an exchange programme between Mohun Bagan-SAIL Football Academy and the Thailand FA.
"Under the project, the Mohun Bagan-SAIL academy will send its U-16 and U-17 players to Thailand to play six matches every year. In the corresponding year TFA will send the teams from their combined academies to play here," Club Secretary, Anjan Mitra, said in Durgapur last evening.
"We are actively talking with Thailand Football Association Secretary, Worawi Makudi, who is also the vice-president of AFC. He has said that when we go there our fooding, lodging and expenses would be borne by them and we have to do the same when they come here," he said.
"Talks are at an advanced stage and we hope to strike a deal soon. Once that is done we will approach the State Federation," he said.
Meanwhile, the academy added yet another feather to its cap when it inaugurated a fully equipped multi-gym and website.
The MB-SAIL academy, which is the only one in the country run by a club, is in its third year now and has produced players who have already been recruited in First Division teams in Calcutta.
With the club elections announced the move made by the ruling faction will surely have a big effect on the ballot boxes.

20. July
In the latest FIFA World Rankings released today, INDIA has climbed four places into 131st position while also gaining a place to move into 25th place in Asia. The gain in points comes as INDIA played three matches last month on their Pakistan Tour. Next month we play in Fiji, who lost a couple of spots and are now ranked 141st. So a further chance to gain points in the FIFA rankings.

Chennai Senior Division: AGORC 1-0 Young Men SC - Goal: 1-0 Justus Antony (67').
Mumbai Super Division: Central Railway (Mumbai Division) - Central Bank of India = match has been postponed due to heavy rains.
SP Roy Inter-District State Club Championship: NBSTC, Jaipalguri 5-3 Netaji Subhash Sporting, Siliguri

Note-1: An AFC report: The AFC General Secretary Dato Peter Velappan has expressed confidence that implementation of Vision Asia's tailor-made Strategic Development Plan for India would certainly spark the game in the populous Asian country.
Speaking at the inauguration of a three-day Vision India workshop at Hotel Le Meridien here on Wednesday, Velappan said: "Players in India are talented as they have shown in many tournaments in the past and we are confident that through the Strategic Development Plan Indian football is set to rise."
"Pilot projects Delhi and Manipur will set a positive trend. Vision India will restore football to its rightful place in the Indian society. Ultimately, from the amateur game, it will be a professional game with the potential of turning into a huge industry."
The AIFF President Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi said the implementation of "Project Delhi" would start soon. "We are here now to agree to all the goals and to quickly start the implementation. There is no time to waste," he said.
On the first day of the workshop, the Delhi Soccer Association agreed with the report given by the Vision Asia team and identified the key areas.
DSA General Secretary NK Bhatia said: "Both parties have identified areas to work on. We will call for an AGM in January 2006 to change the constitution as suggested by the Vision Asia Strategic Development Plan to put in place the administration and organisation structure. This will also include the appointments of key full time staff with assistance from AIFF and AFC."
"We have already appointed the task force to steer the implementation. One of our main targets is to identify and develop facilities because this is the key problem."
AIFF General Secretary Alberto Colaco and members of the Delhi Task Force, which include representatives from the local government, Delhi Sports Authority and Sports Authority of India were also present on the occasion. The task force is responsible for implementing the programme.

Note-2: In a press release today the Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry informed that the Under-18 team of AC Milan is set to play two matches in November 2005 in India as part of the Festa Italiana 2005. The matches would be held in Mumbai (November 23) and Calcutta (November 25). The final venues and opponents haven't been decided yet, but would be finalised soon.
The U18 AC Milan squad would be accompanied by Cesare Maldini as coach. Maldini is the father of Milan legend Paolo Maldini and has coached Italy and Paraguay at two different World Cup's.

Note-3: by Zena Costa from Goa: Sikkim's favourite sporting son and the 'face' of Indian Football Baichung Bhutia has revealed plans to promote and support football in his home state of Sikkim, with particular focus on the Gangtok-based Sikkim United Club. The 2-year-old United Sikkim Club, Gangtok (partly owned by Bhutia) which failed to win the Sikkim FA league title by a whisker in the last season, now appears to have fine times ahead. Bhutia has roped in 'Sleepwell Mattresses' as sponsor. Speaking to this writer Bhutia who is on the road to recovery from a thyroid disorder sounds very enthused and optimistic, "this year we are eager to ascertain supremacy within the state before venturing out to play in different tournaments. We did not boast of a single well-organised club in the North-East. I decided to start one along with coach Sherpa Lepcha and Arjun Rai," said the East Bengal striker.
Sikkim along with other North-Eastern states of India,is not short of talent. Conversely, seeing Bengal and Goa as the Mecca of Indian football, talented youngsters sign up with clubs here, thus depriving the State Association from developing the game in the state. Paradoxically a trend that became truly popular after Bhutia excelled outside Sikkim, and resulted in Indian metros. Who better than Bhutia to reverse the trend? In conclusion, Bhutia said that whilest recuperating following a Thyroid disorder had given him time for introspection on the state of the game in Sikkim and the need to do something about it.

19. July
You can listen to IndianFootball.com Editor Sujay Sharma on Bombay "A" radio channel on Thursday, July 21.
Sujay, who is an avid sports enthusiast, was asked to share his views and opinions on various issues and events regarding Tennis, Formula 1, Le Tour de France Cycling; besides talking about international and domestic football. The Programme was hosted by All India Radio's Sports' Commentator Terence Craven, and the recording was done on Monday, July 18.
Relay Details: "Programme: All India Radio's Sports Magazine Show on Bombay "A" Radio Channel.
Broadcast Frequency: 287.3 metre band; & 1044 kHz - mw (medium wave)
Broadcast Schedule: 10:00 - 10:30 pm IST (i.e. 22:00 - 22:30 hrs IST), on Thursday, July 21.

Chennai Senior Division: Madras Sporting Union 0-0 SAI, Chennai - Goals: none.

Mumbai Super Division: Mumbai Port Trust 1-1 Bank of Baroda - Goals: 0-1 Arshad Ansari (64'), 1-1 Sonu Thapa (87').

Note-1: The organisers of the Subroto Cup school football tournament are trying to make the competition at India's national school football more competitive. Invitations have been extended to Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. This year the tournament is set to be played from September 14 to October 14 at the Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi with 56 teams taking part in both the Under-17 and u-14 competitions. After the tournament a Subroto XI would be picked to take part in international youth tournaments and players recommended to the IAF for recruitment.

18. July
Traders Cup - Final: Eastern Railway SC 1-1,2-1 Wari AC [penalties] - Goals: 1-0 Farid Ali Mollah, 1-1 Pradip Roy.

Chennai Senior Division: Octopus Marine SC 2-1 Southern Railway - Goals: 1-0 Marikani (35'), 2-0 Bhoobesh (53'), 2-1 Antony (75').
Mumbai Super Division: Union Bank of India 1-0 Dena Bank - Goal: 1-0 Ryan D'Souza (85').
SP Roy Inter-District State Club Championship: NBSTC, Jaipalguri 1-1,5-3 Coochbehar Municipal RC [penalties]

Note-1: The next stop for the AFC 3rd Professional Football Diploma Coaching Course will be Germany from July 25 to August 13. Four Indian coaches - Derrick Pereira, Savio Madeira (both Goa), Hering Shangpliang (Meghalaya) and V. Soundararajan (Tamil Nadu) - are part of the 22 coaches, which had been selected by the AFC for this elite Asian coaching course. In May the first module of the four modules was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Now the coaches will come to Germany, where the German FA (DFB) will provide the instructors, namely Gero Bisanz (DFB coach instructor, former women's national coach) and Stefan Lottermann plus Hasan Al Sabah (AFC) as assistant. The coaches will also be visiting some of Germany's top clubs to see who they train and work.
The Germany-based IndianFootball.Com chief editors will try and interact with the Indian coaches of the course, and if we can be of any help we will surely try to help them.

Note-2: Indian football captain resigning for East Bengal Club was supposed to be a sheer formality today, but Baichung feels that the non-payment of his full dues last year was a major hindrance. As long as he isn't paid his dues Baichung would not sign for East Bengal and he even went as far as to hint that he could play elsewhere, if his worth was not realised by the club. But Baichung wants to stay and the club wants to sort out his dues as soon as possible. In two/three days club sources hoped and then they hoped Baichung would sign a long-term contract, two maybe even three years.

Note-3: The Delhi Soccer Association has formed a Vision Delhi Task Force to implement the recommendations it will get under the Vision India programme from the AFC. The Task Force will be headed by Delhi Sports Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely, while Sports Authority of India secretary BK Sinha has been named vice-chairman. Further members of the task force are AIFF general secretary Alberto Colaco, officials of the Delhi SA plus representatives from the Delhi Development Authority, Delhi University and Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
The AFC's Vision India team will hold a workshop later this week for the Delhi and Manipur state FAs to start working on the implementation of the Vision India pilot state projects.

Note-4: After playing for the Tsunami victims on last Saturday in Port Blair, on July 23 East Bengal Club and Mohammedan Sporting would meet each other again for another good cause. At the Barasat Stadium, just outside Calcutta, the two clubs would play each other in a benefit match for former Indian international goalkeeper Peter Thangaraj. Local Barasat-based club Aamra and the Sports Management Group are organising the match, while would also see a number of stars of yesteryears grace the occasion. Tickets have been priced at Rs 20 with DTDC, ONGC, the UB Group and The Stadel coming forward as sponsors.
Peter Thangaraj currently resides in the steel city of Bokaro, where he is an advisor to the SAIL Football Academy. Thangaraj has now been living in Bokaro for nearly 30 years.

Nadkarni Cup - Final: Match analysis Mahindra United versus Air-India:
Mahindra United starting formation: 4-2-3-1
Air-India starting formation: 3-4-1-2
Coach Bimal Ghosh drafted Benoy Kuruvilla into the starting line-up, to deal with the aerial threat of Abhishek Yadav. This was truly a masterstroke, as Benoy had had virtually no match practice prior to the game. Benoy hardly gave Yadav an inch. Even the goal Yadav did score, could not be held against Benoy, for, firstly Venkatesh was allowed to cross with ease, and then Ekka misjudged the flight, confusing the defenders into their error that allowed Yadav to nod home.
Air-India started very aggressively and with a high tempo. Probably the tremendous support helped too. Neither team was afraid to go crunching into the 50-50 challenges. However, it was noticeable that United were being the more patient in their build-up.
Toward the beginning, Yadav wasn't too mobile and stayed very central, probably an indication of him trying to run-off his niggling knee problem in addition to playing the main central target man. Whenever Venkatesh dropped deep to collect the ball, it left Yadav very isolated too. As the match progressed, Yadav's movement improved, and later on he was helping quite a bit on the few United counter-attacks with his passing and movement.
Noel and Thomte made it a point to track Steven and Ajayan respectively, so as to not allow United to get their threatening crosses from the wingers in with too much ease. Still, without using full-backs of their own, preventing crosses proved difficult for Air-India when either Venkatesh drifted wide, or the United full-backs overlapped.
In the central area, Sushanth was noted to be going forward more than previous matches, as Venkatesh drifted around the offensive third. Jamil on the other hand, rarely ventured across the half-line, so that it would be difficult for Air-India counter through the centre-field, where they had a numerical advantage.
Also, whenever Air-India were not in possession, Shivalkar did well to track Jamil. That made United unable to build quickly and gave Air-India time to get organised before United patiently forayed upfield. The key to the midfield for Air-India, was the duopolic combine of Shetty and Javed. They really stamped their authority in that region of the pitch - with their hard tackling, pressing, good interplay etc. This despite the unhelpful ground conditions in the centre due to rain.
The back-three of Nepolean, Benoy, and Santosh took care of the isoleated Yadav well, but often got confused on how to track Venkatesh. In hindsight, Yadav and Venkatesh could have combined better to exploit this possible confusion.
Thus it was visible, that Air-India had done their homework well, and were thoroughly organised for the task at hand in the final.
From early on, United kept crossing alot. And it was from a cross that they scored. Though Air-India tried their best, they were outnumbered on the flanks, and so United did manage a few crosses in the first period. Specially, Venkatesh going wide was proving to be difficult to deal with - as Air-India took time figuring out who will go and mark him out wide. Also, the fact that the pitch was relatively better on the wings, helped United's crossing. Air-India for their part, tried quite a few short-corners in the 1st half, when getting the ball into the box would have been better.
After their lead, Air-India tried to press even more, and United started playing on the counter. Still United looked more penetrative, while Air-India didn't create clear-cut chances. The key to such composed play for United in the first half was Sushanth's off-ball movement and Jamil's simplicity in passing in the midfield. Air-India looked a bit too eager, often got a bit over-elaborate with their attempted passes, at times unnecessarily, in their quest for the quick equaliser. And despite their energy and huff-and-puff play of the first half, the discerning would have noticed United's over-all superiority in the first half.
The second half, however, was a wholly different affair. Half-time came at a good time for Air-India. They were able to regroup. They probably analysed their play, and decided to make the positive changes that would turn the match around. The probably also broke United's rhythm, as United never really looked composed at all in the whole of the second half.
The 2nd periods' first 15-20 minutes flew away under constant Air-India pressure. United rarely ventured out of their own third of the field. Air-India were piling on the corner-count in quick succession, and this time they were ensuring they got the ball in the box and tested the goalkeeper and the defenders.
With Air-India so aggressive, United probably thought this onslaught unsustainable, and so waited to bide their time until the Airmen tired, meanwhile counter-attacking with pace if and when possible. But this startegy backfired, as United completely lost their rhythm and control, having to scramble to defend non-stop right from the start of the half.
Also, Air-India changed formation within a few minutes of the restart. They went to 4-4-2. This was good, as the United central midfield, now on the defensive, wouldn't threaten as much. Additionally, now Air-India themselves could use the flanks for their offence, at the same time, completely neutralising United's numerical advantage down the flanks. They tried their best to stretch the game across the width of the field, and it proved effective with United quickly tiring with non-stop defending. Substitute Uttam Singh, with his catapult-like throw-ins, added to the number of balls bombarding the United box.
United hardly had any possession to show in the entire period, and were visibly out of sync even when they did gain the ball, and so didn't really do much with it. United were getting so hassled, it was unsurprising to see the ever-alert Nandy too succumb to the pressure and handle the ball just outside the box. They were fouling left-right-and-centre, to prevent the final through pass from Air-India. It was getting tense with only 5 minutes to go, but one felt United would crack at any time.
And just on cue it happened so, as with three minutes to go before United would have won, a long Uttam throw into the box was somehow put into the goal over the haplessly overworked Nandy. Air-India then tried for the winner, as United were just desperate to hold on till penalties.
The turning point was easily the sending off of Jamil. He got himself a needless second booking within the space of 9 minutes. That left a huge hole in the United centre midfield, which Venkatesh and Sushanth by themselves just couldn't fill up adequately. Also, creditably to Air-India coach Bimal Ghosh, he kept changing things around, especially during the second half. His second period changes took care of the threat of the United wingers. United didn't really change their tact at all, to deal with the Airmen's variations, and tried to carry on playing the samew way for the whole game.

17. July
Former Indian footballer Gasper Crasto, now based in Kuwait, has written an interesting article under the title "Superstars... and 'crazy' boys of the game", which we have put online in our IndianFootball.Com Guest Column. Gasper looks at the coaches he trained under in India and the aspect of fairness in the game we all love.
Read the complete article here >>IndianFootball.Com Guest Column - Gasper Crasto .

Lecturer L. Santosh Singh has written another article for the IndianFootball.Com Football Basics section, this time on "Trends of Warming-Up in Football".
Read the complete article here >>Trends of Warming-Up in Football .

Chennai Senior Division: Indian Bank 3-0 Dhinamani FC - Goals: 1-0 Raman Singh (25'), 2-0,3-0 Ramesh (53',71').

Nadkarni Cup - Final: Air-India 1-1,4-3 Mahindra United [penalties] - Goals: 0-1 Abhishek Yadav (25'), 1-1 Benoy Kuruvilla (87').
Penalty Shootout: 1-0 Javed Ansari; 1-1 Abhishek Yadav; 2-1 Haobijam Napoleon Singh; 2-2 Shanmugam Venkatesh; 3-2 Paresh Shivalkar; 3-3 Othallo Tabia; 3-3 Santosh Koli miss; 3-3 Peter Siddique miss; 3-3 Narendra Meetei miss; 3-3 Sushanth Matthew miss; 4-3 Anthony Fernandes; 4-3 Mahesh Gawli miss.
Air-India won their first ever Nadkari Cup Trophy, after they beat Mahindra United 4-3 in the penalty shoot-out via sudden death, after the game finished tied at 1-1 in the stipulated 90 minutes of normal time. Former United player Sunder Rajan saved the final spot-kick from Mahesh Gawli in sudden death, to hand Air-India the Trophy, after Narendra Meetei had converted his own sudden-death spot-kick just before. Abhishek Yadav had opened the scoring in the match in the 25th minute, and Air-India only got their much-deserved equaliser from Benoy Kuruvilla off an Uttam Singh throw-in, in the 87th minute.
A raucous capacity crowd, sporting flags, drums, and firecrackers greeted the players upon their arrival on the field of play. It took 4 minutes for United to create the first half-chance of the game, as Yadav attempted a diving header at the near-post off a cross from the right by Venkatesh.
Due to the heavy morning downpour, and the 3rd place-play-off match just having been concluded before the commencement of the final, the pitch wasn't in the best of conditions. This showed as Air-India goalkeeper Raju Ekka got three goal kicks dangerously wrong before the end of the 8th minute. Air-India created their own half-chance on the 16-minute mark, as Siddique's muffed clearance gave Thomte the opportunity to shoot, but he hit over.
18 minutes on, the first concrete chance of the match arose, when Sushanth's cross from the left was missed by Yadav's attempt at a diving header, but Steven following in behind, got his judgment better and connected. But it went just past the far post. Air-India created their good chance in the 20th minute, when a ball in from the right got loose in the United penalty box. Anthony got to it before Nandy, but Nandy was just quick enough to block the ensuing shot in time, collecting a painful stud in the chest from Anthony for his troubles. The physical aspect of this derby game was coming to the fore, as Shetty got booked in the 24th minute for a cynical swipe at a United player.
The United goal, however, was to come next. Venkatesh again drifted to the right. The Air-India defenders give him too much time and room, and he gladly took it to put in a measured looping cross. Ekka misjudged the flight, and the Air-India defenders messed up, allowing Yadav to patiently come in and head the ball in for the opening goal of the match.
After this, there was some to and fro football by both the teams. 38 minutes on, in a promising counter-attack, Yadav gave a good cross-field ball to Ajayan. Ajayan created space, found the overlapping Rauf to his left. Rauf crossed across the goalmouth. Steven followed up with a first-time cross from the right, and when the ball ultimately broke to Sushanth in the "D", his shot was straight at Ekka. Then, in 1st half added time, Ajayan cut in and out and in again, before laying the ball for Rauf to attempt a shot from outside the box, though it flew over. Thus United went to the dressing room having had the slightly better of the play, and with a goals' advantage.
From the onset of the second period, Air-India were extremely aggressive and attacking. United settled down to absorb the pressure, and play on the counter-attack. On 54 minutes, Yadav and Venkatesh combined on one such counter. Venkatesh laid it on for the onrushing Steven, whose cross-shot flew over.
Then, in the 56th minute, from a promising free-kick position for Air-India, Yadav's defensive header came back across his own goal accidentally, and Meetei shot his volley wide from close range. After this miss, coach Bimal Ghosh sent all his players on the bench to start warming up. A minute later, another threat for United arose from a ball in from the Air-India right, but this time Steven had tracked back to help his defenders and clear. 63 minutes on, another bout of Air-India pressure almost led to an own-goal for United, with their defender attempting a clearing header.
Immediately, Venkatesh counter-attacked. But for want of attacking support, his cross-shot attempt from the right flank went just over. By the 71st minute, the all-pervasive tension amongst everyone at the stadium boiled over on the field of play, as Yadav and Ekka stared-off at each other, initiating a stern talking off from referee Walter Pereira to the pair. This had followed after Ekka refused to return the ball to United for their throw-in, earning himself a yellow card from the referee in the process.
In the 72nd minute, Ekka dived low to his right near post, and saves well from Ajayan to concede a corner. Following this, United have some relief for a bit of time, as they have a succession of corners. Yadav flicks one of these, and Venkatesh's attempted volley is cleared off the line by the alert Air-India defence. Immediately then, Air-India counter, and they almost score from the confusion following a corner for them.
The turning point of the match arguably arrives when Jamil, in a moment of madness in the 76th minute, earns himself a second yellow card in the space of 9 minutes, and leaves a gaping hole in the heart of the United midfield. Urged on by a highly partisan pro-Air-India crowd, the Airmen press on.
Their initiative is finally rewarded, when long-throw specialist Uttam's throw-in from the left, wreaks havoc in the penalty box, and following touches by Shetty, Meetei and Kuruvilla, the ball bundles over Nandy's head, into the back of the net. With just three minutes of normal time left, Air-India have equalised, dashing any hopes United had of holding on somehow to their precious lead, and winning the game in normal time. Following further domination by Air-India in the three minutes of added time, the game ends one all, and penalties are forced to decide the Nadkarni Cup 2005 winner.
In the shoot-out, both teams convert their first three kicks, and fail to convert their next two. Before their third kick, Air-India substitute Ekka with former United player Rajan. Finally, in the sudden death, Anthony converts his opportunity, following which Gawli has his attempt saved by Rajan.
Air-India coach Bimal Ghosh said after the match, "I'm extremely happy that we won. We had decided to play an aggressive and pressing game right from the start, and were specially able to do so in the second half. In the earlier matches we had defended more, and had just got through. So we decided to be aggressive right from the start."
AIR-INDIA: Raju Ekka (90+' Sunder Rajan), Haobijam Napoleon Singh, Benoy Kuruvilla, Santosh Koli, Hringsolal Thomte (61' Uttam Leishangthem Singh), Javed Ansari, Vijith Shetty, Noel Fernandes (74' Suprith Jathanna), Paresh Shivalkar, Narender Meetei, Anthony Fernandes.
MAHINDRA: Sandip Nandy, Othallo Tabia, Peter Siddiqui, Mahesh Gawli, Rauf Khan (78' Samson Fernandes), Khalid Jamil, Shanmugam Venkatesh, Sushanth Mathew, Krishnan Nair Ajayan, Steven Dias, Abhishek Yadav.
YELLOW CARDS: Khalid Jamil (67'), Samson Fernandes (83' both Mahindra); Vijith Shetty (24'), Anthony Fernandes (52'), Raju Ekka (70' all Air-India).
YELLOW-RED CARD: Khalid Jamil (76' Mahindra)
REFEREE: Walter Pereira (Mumbai).

Nadkarni Cup - 3rd Place Playoff: Akbar Travels 1-1,1-3 Maharashtra State Police [penalties] - Goals: 1-0 Subin Ankilesaria (48'), 1-1 Parag Sawant (59').
Penalty Shootout: 0-0 Siraj Kanjode miss; 0-1 Javed Pathan; 1-1 Pradeep Kumar; 1-1 Parag Sawant miss; 1-1 Zubin Ankilesaria miss; 1-2 Santosh Telang; 1-2 Sharafi Kaliyattil miss; 1-3 Kailash Pardi.
AKBAR TRAVELS: Rejith Kumar, Liliyan Kenneth, Vijesh P Vijayan, Vijesh Mon, Nizamuddin Meledath, Salim Parekad, Bijumon Monkaiparath, Pradeep Kumar, Dhanraj Mumesh (84' Siraj Kanjode), Gureesh Madan (63' Sharff Kauyattil), Subin Ankilesaria.
MSP: Sailesh Naik, Vaibhav Kadam, Sachin Jaiswal (32' Kailesh Pardi), Utpal Kadam, Kanji, Arunawa, Santosh Telang, Sushant Pawar, Parag Sawant, Pankaj Deshmukh (64' Javed Pathan), Uday Badkar (67' Riaz Sheikh), Sandeep Badkar.

Note-1: The five member AIFF Players Status Committee came together yesterday in Goa to sort out disputed Inter-State Transfers. Altogether 20 transfers were cleared, amongst them are those of Sangram Mukherjee (East Bengal to Salgaocar), Kalyan Chaubey (Fransa to JCT) and Covan Lawrence (Mahindra to East Bengal). The next meeting of the committee has been fixed on July 27 in Mumbai, where the players Deepak Kumar Mondal, John Charles Dias, Manik Barman and Bernard Pires have been asked to appear. Meanwhile the cases of Sujoy Datta and KP Zubair have been forwarded to the discipline committee.

Note-2: In what can be described as a historic resolution the GFA AGM today passed a resolution put forward by Saligao Sporting Club that the Goan state government declare football as the official sport of Goa. The GFA was asked by it's members to take-up the issue with the state government in the interest of the game and the state.

Note-3: By Armstrong Vaz: Even as uncertainty hangs over the likely hosting of the International Film Festival of India in Goa in the coming year, the football babus of the state have sent a clear and loud message to the powers be at the state level governing the day to affairs of the state politics. They want their nostalgic Campal stadium back.
The Goa FA Annual General Body Meeting held at Clube Vasco de Gama, Panjim passed an unanimous resolution that the Campal stadium be reconstructed at the venue at which it stood.
It may be recalled that the Campal stadium, which hosted many a football battles starting from the 60 to 80's, faced the wrath of the bull dozers as the former BJP government headed by Manohar Parrikar pulled the sentimental show piece of the city down. The Campal stadium situated on the banks of the river Mandovi was brought down to make way for the parking slot for the Film Festival.
A few people raised their voices against the demolition of the stadium but their voice could not be heard in the din, daughter and former CM Shashikala Kakodkar too joined in condemning the fading away of the stadium from the site.
Residents of Panjim also rued over the fact of the loss of the only football ground in the city. Others however were hopefully that a new stadium would take place of the old Campal stadium. The old Campal stadium over the years had become dangerous for the public to watch matches. Years of non-maintenance and lack of care, lack of sporting activity had made the ground a sleeping beauty beret of football or sporting activity. The demolition thus was a blessing in disguise for others. Hopefully a new stadium will take its place.
GFA president Shivanand Salgoacar while speaking at the press briefing informed that no modalities have been work out, he disclosed in response to one querry. He agreed to a scribe's suggestion that building a bigger stadium taking into account the need of another twenty years in mind would be feasible thing and that the present venue would not be an ideal one. He however added that the AGM has only resolved to write to the government to reconstruct the Campal stadium.

16. July
The Nadkarni Cup Final Preview (The Great Mumbai "Jeep-n-Air Jam" Part 1):
Beunos Aires has the "Superclasico" between River Plate and Boca Juniors.
Rio has the "Fla-Flu" between Fluminense and Flamengo.
Spain has the "El Grand Clasico" between Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Glasgow has the "Old Firm" between Celtic and Rangers.
Calcutta too has its very own world-famous rivalry between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.
Mumbai's "Jeep-n-Air Jam" between 'super'-powerhouse Mahindra United, and fellow bigwig Air-India could also become a long-standing rivalry, on the field if not off it. They probably can't hope to have the maddening fan following or tradition of the other aforementioned derbies, at least not for now. But that doesn't mean that the intensity on the field of play by both teams need be diluted. For, the tag of Mumbai's top dog is up for grabs.
Sunday's match will be the first such derby of the year. And it'll be in the Final of the Nadkarni Cup. A trophy is to be won. So the stakes are already quite high. Both United and Air-India have overcome all other local competition in the tournament - proving once again that these two are indeed the "big-two" in Mumbai football.
United will undoubtedly start favourites - as they always do and are expected to do. Despite the absence of several regulars (away in Bangalore for India U-23 camp), a dearth of strikers, a lot of young new players, and a new coach, United have steamrolled their opposition in the Quarters and Semis. And they haven't even had to touch top gear in doing this. Air-India, meanwhile, have made unexpected heavy weather in getting to the Final - getting past Golden Gunners in the Quarters via the shoot-out, and Maharashtra State Police in the Semis via a late winner.
However, this could suit the Airmen in the pre-match build-up. They surely won't underestimate United's prowess, and will be very well prepared. Plus, they'll want to grab this opportunity to silence their critics, impress their coach Bimal Ghosh before the league campaign, and at the same time, lay down their challenge to United's supremacy. United's "easy" path to the finals will not have exerted them to the extent Air-India will undoubtedly do, and so their players just might be caught a bit unawares. Coach Derrick Pereira will obviously be mindful of this, and one has to see to what extent he's able to get this message across to his players.
Air-India seem to have settled on the 3-5-2 system, though after the none-too-spectacular performance against the Gunners, coach Bimal Ghosh made four changes to his starting eleven for the Semis. It could also be that he was giving all his players an opportunity to make a stake for a chance to start against United. If so, then this experiment could prove to his benefit, as he'd have assessed most of his available options, to possibly implement in the Final. United have played the same 4-2-3-1 system in both their matches. With their depleted squad, their starters virtually pick themselves. One has to note, that there is not much experience on the bench. Also, Abhishek Yadav is pretty much the only available striker, in the pure sense of the term. These facotrs could limit Derrick Pereira's options, if an uncalled for situation for United arose during the Final.

Players to watch out for in the Final:
Mahindra United:
Steven Dias - Has created most of the goals United have scored in the tournament. His frenetic running up and down the right, and accurate crossing, have proven too much to handle for most.
K Anees - Was hugely impressive in playing the 'big-man-little-man' partnership with Yadav. Showed great movement, speed, trickery, and crossing-ability when wide. All of this despite having only played 42 minutes for United, in their first game.
K Ajayan - Apart from impressing down the left, he's also able to cut in on to his right foot. Adept at crossing with both feet. Technically sound.
Air-India:
Appa Rao - Moves with express speed up-and-down the right flank. Air-India's Cafu-equivalent probably.
Sumit Thapa - Has shown good intensity and work-rate down the left flank. Can show a piece of trickery or two during the match.
Paresh Shivalkar - Only Air-India player to score a goal from open play in the tournament. Utilised to play in the "hole" behind the front two, in the match against MSP. Always looks threatening.

And before the match tomorrow, our editor Sujay Sharma was able to catch-up with both the coaches and the Mahindra manager to get their views ahead of the match.
Derrick Pereira (Mahindra United coach): "We need to win, especially the big tournaments and for that the Nadkarni Cup has been good for preparation. We have taken it as a conditioning tournament. We've been observing the negatives and the strengths of the various players and have been working with the players. And Of course we like to start the season with a victory in this tournament."
"Yes there are a few concerns for tomorrow's match. The ground conditions are being most important concern. the ground is very uneven and it doesn't help. Plus we are a bit lacking in bench strengths. Yadav is a slight concern as he has niggling pain in the knee still we have to start with him as we don't really have any other strikers and we'll see how the situation progresses with him during the match. We'll definitely be keeping our fingers crossed. Also three matches in six days is not help. We're in the process of the conditioning of fitness of the players and so every time there is a match, progress is interrupted and fitness development is affected however we are definitely going into this match with a positive attitude and to play good football to entertain the crowd."
On the issue of over-confidence Pereira said, "There is no question of over-confidence from semis and quarters, as they (Air-India) are a professional side, and they have to play with the professional attitude. we have experienced players who know how to handle such situation's, and will not let over-confidence arise."
Henry Menezes (Mahindra United manager): "Sadly we will miss K Anees, who has a pulled hamstring, and will not even be on the bench."
About the previous matches he said, "The scorelines in the quarters and the semis were a reflection of the understanding of the system among the players and the gelling of the squad as a unit. I don't think the opponents were particularly easy or generous. We have a good football team."
About the final Menezes said, "Yes, Air-India versus United is a big match and it's all about winning. Our recruits have been very good and our young bench is full of hunger and enthusiasm, though maybe a bit rusty. Plus Air-India are a good side. We don't want to look upon it as us being favourites and them as underdogs. Of course we'd like to win, but our main focus right now is on the match preparation, and not on the result. We are taking every match as it comes at this stage."
Bimal Ghosh (Air-India coach): "Our new recruits are coming along well and the team is in the process of integration. This team preparation will probably only be complete after the first round of the Elite division."
About the derby tomorrow Ghosh said, "United vs Air-India has always been a big occasion both teams want to win. We have been in the NFL quite a few times, but were not able to recruit the best players. This time we are trying our best. Mahindra's matches in the semis and quarters were against weak opposition. So not too weary of goal-threat. For example in the semifinal Akbar Travels easily give up and lost appetite and desire. The result will depend on whose day it is. Sometimes United win, sometimes we win. So no special plans to counter the United's side. We will concentrate on our game. There is no team which is the favourite or the underdog. United playing three matches in six days and we three in eight days that doesn't really make a difference. The only concern is that the pitch is very uneven and so it more suits United style to cross from the flanks. We would like an even pitch for the final and it does not matter whether it rains or not, as long as the field's playable. We are going to play as a collective, but we will have a couple of changes in the starting line-up from the last match."

Traders Cup - Semifinal: Eastern Railway SC 1-0 City AC - Goal: 1-0 Farid Ali Mollah.
Traders Cup - Semifinal: Tollygunge Agragami 0-0,4-5 Wari AC [penalties] - Goals: none.

Mumbai Super Division: Central Bank of India - Rizvi Mumbai Muslims = match postponed

Tsunami Charity Match - Port Blair: East Bengal Club 1-0 Mohammedan Sporting Club - Goal: 1-0 RC Prakash.

1st Anniversary Boxer Sports Goods Company - Mallapuram: Boxer XI 2-0 Kerala State Electricity Board - Goals: 1-0 IM Vijayan (11'), 2-0 Niyaz Rehman (49').
Amid heavy rains the match was held at the Mallapuram Kotapaddi Ground and it had to be stopped after Niyaz Rehman scored of the penalty in the 49.minute as crowds came onto the ground to celebrate with their stars IM Vijayan, Asif Saheer and Co. Several attempts were made to get the crowds out of the playing arena, but as these attempts failed the match was then called off. Earlier on IM Vijayan had scored with a header of a cross from Asif Saheer.

Note-1: The Jammu&Kashmir FA will be organising an AFC 'C' Coaching Licence Course in Srinagar from September 9 to 25, 2005. Candidates from across north India can take part and they would have to apply through their state FAs. Eligible are candidates aged 22 to 35, having good playing and coaching experience, medically fit with knowledge of English.

Note-2: At a press conference at the IFA offices in Calcutta today the IFA secretary Subrata Datta announced that the SP Roy Inter District Club Championship Football Tournament 2005 would kickoff tomorrow. In total 18 champion teams from the districts are in the fray for the Dendrite Cup, which would conclude with the final in Chandannagore on August 7.

15. July
The voting for the IndianFootball.com Awards 2005 - final round has been going very well with loads of people casting their votes, but we would like to give all Indian football fans the chance to cast their votes, therefore the voting has been extended until July 31, 2005.
To vote go to the >>IndianFootball.com Awards 2005 section .

CORRECTION: Yesterday we reported that the minute of silence observed before the Nadkarni Cup semifinal between Akbar Travels and Mahindra United was in honour of the victims of the London bombings. Sadly that was wrong and actually it was in honour of Nigerian footballer Charles Ocheaga Esheku, who had died on this day four years back at the Cooperage Ground while playing for Bengal Mumbai FC in the opening match of the Harwood League against Income-Tax. The then 25 year old had died of cardiac arrest. We are sorry for the mistake.

Chennai Senior Division: Integral Coach Factory 1-1 Chennai Customs - Goals: 0-1 Senthil Kumar (1'), 1-1 Jegan Sr (20').
Mumbai Super Division: Central Railway (Mumbai Division) 3-0 Income Tax - Goals: 1-0,3-0 Ammiruddin Ansari (57',61'), 2-0 Chirag Shaikh (59').

1st Ambuja Cup Women's Tournament, New Delhi - Final: Hans FC 5-0 Eves Club - Goals: 1-0,4-0,5-0 Vinita Balani (3',35',45'), 2-0 Anju Gosain (8'), 3-0 Megha Sen (23').

Note-1: The final decision on who gets Indian football TV rights for the next 10 years seems to come closer. Tenders have been placed by Nimbus, ESPN-Star Sports, Zee Sports, NDTV and Leisure Sports Management after the bidding was opened by the AIFF.
And at the moment the highest bidder seems to be the frontrunner though the AIFF stated that a final decision is yet to be taken. The highest bid has been placed by Nimbus Communications priced at Rs 5,04 billion for the 10 year period. An astronomical figure if one compares what the AIFF gets from Doordarshan at the moment. With such a guaranteed sum the AIFF's financial problems of being always cash-strapped would be something of the past. Nimbus, who are not a TV channel but a TV rights holder company, are sure to be able to raise the money and even make a profit from Indian football. The main plan is to split the rights and ensure more Indian football on Indian TV at prime time and top class coverage. One of Nimbus' competitors Zee Sports could become a key partner as the recently launched Zee Sports is looking for sports content.
Detailed talks between Nimbus and the AIFF were held recently, so one will have to wait and see what happens in the coming weeks. But if all goes well, then a brighter future is ahead of Indian football and it's fans, who want to watch it on TV.

Note-2: A UNI report: The Supreme Court today upheld the High Court order of holding elections in Mohun Bagan on September 18, while ordering the club to present audited accounts of last 15 years within the next six months.
Talking to UNI from Delhi, Bagan Secretary Anjan Mitra said, "An apex court bench comprising Justice Sabarwal and Justice G P Mathur today ordered that elections be held on September 18 as per the order of High Court."
At the same time they have ordered the club to present the pending audited accounts within the next six months, opposition spokesperson Om Jhunjhunwala told UNI here.
Mr Mitra, who will return to the city today evening, said, "Its a victory of democracy and democartic process."
It had taken 15 years for Mohun Bagan to fix a date for elections to the post of the office bearers.
Today the present ruling committee turns 15. July 15, 1990 was the last time that elections were held in Mohun Bagan.
The opposition had filed a case in the Supreme Court, challenging the High Court order to hold the elections, on the pretext that elections could not be held unless accounts for the last 15 years were audited and presented.
Today is the last date for filing of nominations for the 26 posts to which elections would be held. The list would be displayed at three places namely the office of Special Officer Jayanta Mitra, Mohun Bagan tent in the Maidan and the clubs registered office at 6. Old Court House Street. Any objection regarding the list would have to come in by July 22.
Three special officers Jayanta Mitra, Shyamaprasad Roychoudhury and Rabilal Moitra on behalf of the High Court will oversee the election process.

Note-3: The five member AIFF Players Status Committee will come together tomorrow in Goa to sort out disputed Inter-State Transfers. The committee's chairman is KP Sunny from Kerala with Anthony Botelho (Goa), KR Singh (Maharashtra), Dr. Rehman (Karnataka) and Debashish Banerjee (West Bengal) being the other members.
The quintett will have to deal with over 20 transfers, clarify the status of the players and say which club the players can play for. Amongst the cases are those of goalkeeper Sangram Mukherjee (East Bengal/Salgaocar) and TG Purushothaman (Vasco/Mahindra); defenders Deepak Kumar Mondal (East Bengal/Mahindra), Covan Lawrence (Mahindra/East Bengal), Selwyn Fernandes (East Bengal/Salgaocar) and AS Firoze (Fransa/Mohun Bagan); and midfielders Bernard Pires (Salgaocar/East Bengal) and Climax Lawrence (East Bengal/Dempo).

Note-4: Calcutta giants East Bengal Club and Mohammedan Sporting Club face each other tomorrow in Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman&Nicobar Islands, for a Tsunami charity match. Both teams arrived in Port Blair today from Calcutta.
The match tomorrow will be shown deferred on DD Sports from 16.00 IST.

Note-5: East Bengal Club have showcaused new signing IM Vijayan asking him why he hasn't reported to the clubs pre-season training. Vijayan is set to arrive in Calcutta on July 20, but seems to not have informed club authorities about his personal plans. Coach Subhas Bhowmick is also not happy about the delayed arrival of Alvito D'Cunha.

14. July
People around the world observed two minutes of silence at 12.00 GMT for the victims of the London bombings. The silence was observed not only in London, across Great Britain and Europe, but also on this day at the Cooperage Ground, Mumbai ahead of the Nadkarni Cup semifinal between Akbar Travels and Mahindra United. Mumbai itself knows what it means to be hit by terrorist attacks with most prominently the series of terrorist attacks in 1993 coming to mind. And to add to this Mumbai is a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic cosmopolitan city very similar to London, so it's residents can sympathise and empathise with their London counter-parts.
Our thoughts and prayers are also with the victims of the London attacks.

Chennai Senior Division: State Bank of India, Chennai 1-1 Young Men SC - Goals: 0-1 Pavalavannan, 1-1 Gunasekaran.

Nadkarni Cup - Semifinal: Akbar Travels 0-5 Mahindra United - Goals: 0-1 Krishnan Nair Ajayan (28'), 0-2,0-3,0-4 Abhishek Yadav (41',43',56'), Keegan Pereira (85').
AKBAR TRAVELS: Rejith Kumar, Vijesh P Vijayan, Liliyan Kenneth, Vijesh Mon (58' Balaram Patil), Nizamuddin Meledath, Bijumon Kaiparath, Girish Madan, Salim Parekad, Pradeep Kumar (37' Zubin Ankilesaria), Dhanraj Sumesh, Sharffi Kauyattil (76' Siraj Kanjode).
MAHINDRA: Sandip Nandy, Samson Fernandes (83' Ishan Rawlley Singh), Peter Siddiqui, Mahesh Gawli, Rauf Khan, Sushanth Mathew, Khalid Jamil, Krishnan Nair Ajayan, Steven Dias, Shanmugam Venkatesh (82' Keegan Pereira), Abhishek Yadav.
REFEREE: Nitin Bhosale (Mumbai).

Traders Cup - Quarterfinal: Railway FC 0-3 City AC
Traders Cup - Quarterfinal: EverReady SA 1-2 Wari AC
Traders Cup - Quarterfinal: George Telegraph SC 0-0,2-3 Eastern Railway SC [penalties]
Traders Cup - Quarterfinal: Tollygunge Agragami 3-1 Calcutta Port Trust

Note-1: The Club vs Country issue seems to being sorted locally in Calcutta, then while the AIFF secretary Alberto Colaco told the Navhind Times in Goa, "Nothing has been communicated to me officially. So, I can't say anything on this issue"; the AIFF president Priya Ranjan Das Munshi has shot off a letter to the IFA secretary Subrata Datta taking strong exception at East Bengal and Mohun Bagan not sending their selected players to the India U23 probables camp in Bangalore. In the letter the AIFF president also stated his unhappiness about the way the big Maidan two was making mockery of the upcoming Tour and he was especially unhappy about the letter from East Bengal secretary Kalyan Majumdar in which he had termed the tour a 'tourism venture'.
Meanwhile in Bangalore the SAI Southern Centre football ground was termed unfit by the coaching staff, so the camp has been moved to the Bangalore Football Stadium. It is not the first time that the SAI Southern Centre football ground was termed unfit by the national team. In March 2001 in preparation for the 2002 World Cup qualifier against the UAE, the same ground had been rejected by Sukhvinder Singh and team, lead then by England-based Baichung Bhutia.

Note-2: The doubts have been cleared so that the first-ever two match Fiji-India Football Series can go ahead on the Pacific Island nation next month. This was confirmed by Sports Fiji to IndianFootball.Com today.
Further a title sponsor has been found in "Vinod Patel & Co Ltd", the number one Hardware shop in Fiji and the owner of a facility in Laucala Beach Estate, Suva which is the biggest of its kind in the South Pacific. The tour has now been rechristened as the "Vinod Patel Fiji India Football Series".
With the Tour finally confirmed we will be putting together a typical IndianFootball.Com Special on the Fiji-India Football Series.

Note-3: IM Vijayan has joined the National Congress Indira today. After Vijayan made his presence felt in football, cinema and business, it seems now to be the turn of politics. The National Congress Indira is the party of former Kerala Chief Minister K. Karunakaran. Vijayan joined the party because Karunakaran has helped him a lot in the past. Vijayan was given a job in the Kerala Police by Karunakaran and was given double promotion when he was going to leave Kerala to play in Calcutta in 1991. When asked what role he would play in the party he said he will play the role of a stopperback.
After acting in 3+ films and becoming the chairman of Boxer Sports Goods Company, he is now becoming a member of the NCI.

Note-4: The Mumbai District FA has released the schedule for it's top four division - Elite, Super, Senior A and Senior B - from tomorrow until August 11. The Elite Division would kickoff on July 22 with a match between promoted Golden Gunners and Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers. Meanwhile the Super Division, which has been running since June 20 continues tomorrow.
Click here for the schedules in the Local League 2005 section .

13. July
On Monday Mahindra United introduced their new coach Derrick Pereira to the media at a press conference, where also the team for the new season was announced. IndianFootball.Com's Sujay Sharma was at the press conference and he's noted down the statements and announcements made by the Mahindra United management and their new coach.
For the complete Mahindra United press conference transcript to go >>IndianFootball.Com LIVE.

Chennai Senior Division: Madras Sporting Union 2-2 AGORC - Goals: 0-1 Selvakumar (15'), 1-1 Prakash (20'), 1-2 Muthu (77'), 2-2 Antony Xavier (90+').

Nadkarni Cup - Semifinal: Air-India 2-1 Maharashtra State Police - Goals: 1-0,2-1 Paresh Shivalkar (44',85'), 1-1 Kailash Pardi (71').
AIR-INDIA: Raju Ekka, Subhas Mondal, Haobijam Napoleon Singh, Santosh Koli, Vijith Shetty, Javed Ansari, Appa Rao Chiman (88' Noel Fernandes), Paresh Shivalkar, Sumit Thapa (90' Eldin Bothello), Neil Gaikwad, Narender Meetei.
MSP: Sailesh Naik, Vaibhav Kadam, Sachin Jaiswal, Utpal Kadam, Nitin Redekar (68' Suresh Yella), Jagdip Burti, Santosh Telang, Parag Sawant, Pankaj Deshmukh (56' Sushant Pawar), Uday Badkar (46' Kailash Pardi), Sandeep Badkar.

Note-1: In the Club vs Country tussle between the Calcutta clubs and the AIFF history seems to repeat itself once more.
The INDIA U23 preparatory camp for the upcoming Fiji tour and the 2006 Doha Asian Games started-off yesterday in Bangalore. Players from teams like Mumbai giants Mahindra United, JCT Mills and the Goan teams nearly all arrived in the Karnataka capital. Missing are the players from East Bengal Club and Mohun Bagan AC and if the clubs have their say their players would only join the camp a week before the Fiji trip. While East Bengal questioned such tours in general, Mohun Bagan stated that their players are not match fit thereofore not sending their players.
One will see how the AIFF deals with this issue this time around. In the past the federation seemed to be leniant towards the Maidan duo. But in the interest of the national team, the players need to be called immediately to the ongoing camp.

Note-2: The All-Manipur FA will be sending six officials to the AFC organised Vision India workshop in New Delhi on July 20/21.
The officials are: A Santosh Kumar, AMFA president; Ranjit Roy, honorary secretary; S Ekendra Singh, Technical Director Coach Education; Jadavchandra Hoabam, AFC Vision project in-charge; K Baruni, Women's football in-charge; and RK Nimai, finance sub committee chairman.

12. July
Chennai Senior Division: Southern Railway 0-0 SAI - Chennai - Goals: none.

Nadkarni Cup - Quarterfinal: Mahindra United 6-2 Rashtriya Chemicals&Fertilizers - Goals: 1-0 Steven Dias (8'), 2-0,3-0,4-0 Abhishek Yadav (25',39',44'), 4-1 Atchuta Rao (53'), 5-1 Shanmugam Venkatesh (65'), 6-1 Sushanth Mathew (83'), 6-2 Kishor Khedkar (88' Penalty).
MAHINDRA: Sandip Nandy, Rauf Khan (68' Samson Fernandes), Peter Siddiqui, Mahesh Gawli, Othallo Tabia, Anees Kutty (42' Shanmugam Venkatesh), Krishnan Nair Ajayan (80' Keegan Pereira), Khalid Jamil, Sushanth Mathew, Steven Dias, Abhishek Yadav.
RCF: Nitesh Rajkumar Thakur (35' Nagesh Rajmane), Sandeep Rao, Shakeel Patel, Kishor Khedkar, Balin Singh, Amit Yadav, Neville David (42' Dipraj Raut), Atchuta Rao (69' Sajju Govindan), Shayresh Bawkar, Monish Bhamre, Kailash Patil.
YELLOW CARD: Abhishek Yadav (55' Mahindra).
RED CARD: Othallo Tabia (87' Mahindra).

Traders Cup - Pre-Quarterfinal: Garalgacha SC 1-3 City AC
Traders Cup - Pre-Quarterfinal: SAIL 0-1 Wari AC

Note-1: Speaking to IndianFootball.Com today Mahindra United Manager Henry Menezes informed us that Shanmugam Venkatesh has been handed the captainy of the Mumbai giants for the new season.

Note-2: There are newspaper and agency reports today that say that the second-string squad of Italian giants AC Milan would be coming to India in November to play two friendly matches. The India trip would be part of the Festa Italiana, an annual function of the Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industries. One of the venues is the City of Mumbai while the other was being worked out, while who the opponent would be has also not been finalised yet. The likely date for the trip is late-November and the Italians so far have had no contact with the AIFF to play the Indian national team.
In the afternoon in Calcutta today the Consul General of Italy Augustino Pinna and the Chairman of Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce Pankaj Parekh met with the IFA secretary Subrata Datta to inform him about the possible interest of AC Milan's second-string to play in Calcutta. The IFA secretary asked the visitors to send Milan not to play a one-off match to Calcutta, but to participate in the IFA Shield which is being planned to be played this year in November.

Note-3: By Armstrong Vaz: Dark clouds are hovering in the sky. Dark clouds which do not threaten a rainy day. Dark clouds which threaten to give a bad bolt to Goan football. Cabral Sports Club management holds the key to clear the cloud of uncertainty hanging overhead. The air of uncertainty is likely to clear in a couple of day. Crucial talks over whether to stay put in the Professional League or to serve the links with Goan Pro League will be known in the next few days.
The Goa FA trying best to convince the Cabral SC management to keep the club going in the elite Goan league.
In the eight team league of Churchill Bros, Dempo SC, Salgoacar SC, Sporting Clube de Goa, Fransa Pax FC, Vasco SC, and new entrants Raia SC, Cabral is to complete the eight team league.
Cabral SC run by the Cabral Group of Companies first threatened to pull out of the Goa Pro league, when AIFF made an announcement that foreigners would be allowed in next seasons second division NFL. The Cabral management were sore that in the last season 2004/05 no foreigners were allowed in the second division NFL. Cabral SC it may be recalled were to take part in the 2.Division NFL 2004/05 but pulled out of the qualifying tournament for the National Football League.
Football fans now are pondering whether Cabral SC will go into oblivion just like some of the goan clubs which have faded away from the Goan scene over the last few years leaving no traces. Old timers recall clubs like Shnatilal Sports, Panvel SC, Academica, MRF soccer foundation, Anderson Marine sc, Dempo Engineering, Customs and central Excise Recreational Club which have shut shop and are no more active on the football field.
Margao cricket club is alive and going on the cricket having its own cricket ground at Margao. Dr. Rajendra Prasad Stadium of margao which soccer fans would recollect hosted many a intriguing soccer battles in the years gone bye.
Sesa Goa SC one of the top clubs of the state also shut down after the club failed to make into the National Football League by a whisker. Instead Sesa Goa went in to create their own Football Academy at Sanquelim. Former defender Vishwas Goankar was at that time coach of the Sesa Goa team and the Calangute based coach is now at the helm of affairs at the academy training young guns the trade of the game at a young age.
The other clubs which have shut down their shutters is a village based club from Salcete - Sarzora SC, coming from the Sarzora village. A first division club Sarzora sc pulled out of the First division league a couple of seasons back.
Insiders informed that running a First division clubs with high spending players takes a yearly budget hovering around Rs.5-7 lakhs. The budget includes coaches salary and players salary of Rs.2-3 lakhs, while other expenses involved are traveling, refreshement expenses and equipment.
First division and even Pro League clubs with limited budget find it difficult to survive in a tough situation. With no sponsors or even co-sponsors a yearly budget of a small Pro League clubs takes up to Rs.10-12 lakhs for a season.
The club does not get anything significant money in return except for the appearance money in the league. The appearance money is not guaranteed if the tournament has not bale to get any sponsors. The gate appearance money is also meager as attendance during the Goa Pro League is less as compared to the National Football League.
Goan NFL clubs yearly budget surge from one crore to three crore per year. The budget is nothing compared to big spending Calcutta clubs. Calcutta clubs however have big sponsors tag associated with their clubs besides having some rich fans pushing in their funds for the success of the clubs not to forget the membership fees of the clubs rake in.
Article 5 of the Goa football constitution - admission to official competition one of the clause states that club shall be known as commercial clubs those which are registered under the companies act, clubs which are enrolled as commercial clubs pay a deposit which is determined by the executive committee when the application for enrollment form is submitted by the commercial club.
Article 17 of the constitution also states that the minimum requirements for professional club is that players have to be registered as non-amateur players (professional players, players whose contract is registered with the club), that the team participates in the age group tournaments, that the team owns its own ground or has a ground for practice or lease to a ground, copy of the lease agreement for use of the ground is to be enclosed.
The GFA Also charges an entry fee every year for the professional, first division and second dvivision clubs. No entry fee is charged from the age group and third division teams.

Note-4: The Punjab State 2nd Division Football League committee met today in Phagwara to finalise the schedule for the three team Final Round later this month at the JCT Stadium, Phagwara. The matches were pending from last year and have been scheduled to be played on July 25, 27 and 29. As two of the three teams would gain promotion to the Punjab State Super League, the matches hold some importance for the Punjab football scene. The three teams fighting for a promotion spot are JCT Academy, Mahilpur FC and the Sri Guru Gobind Singh Society, Jalandhar.
Tomorrow meanwhile the Punjab State Super League committee would hold it's first meeting to fix a time frame for the league. August 15 is the likely kickoff date.

11. July
Mahindra United has officially announced the appointment of Derrick Pereira as the new coach of the Mumbai-based NFL team. The announcement was made at a press conference today. United president Alan Durante: "The team has a good blend of talent, experience and youth, a sure sign of a champion team. We have some of the best Indian players under the able guidance of Derrick Pereira, who I think would do wonders to build up the skill, morale and fitness of the team."
Newly appointed Derrick Pereira said, " The boys have just come in and the team is a good mix of youth and experience. My focus will be to see that they gel as a unit. Tactics are my strength and I am confident of inspiring the players to play to the best of their abilities and fight as a combined unit to achieve glory for Mahindra United."

Note-1: Finally out the IndianFootball.Com Club Ranking for June 2005. The delay was caused by the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup and the Pakistan Tour of the Indian national team.
There are a few surprises in the ranking and some interesting movements. Calcutta giants East Bengal Club still tops the third edition of the "IndianFootball.Com Club Ranking", gaining 20 points. Goa's Dempo SC continue in second place with Mahindra United, Mumbai remaining third.
Amongst the big movers are the Tata Football Academy in 30th position, up five places. Viva Kerala gain 13 places; Central Excise, Kochi 12 places; and Kerala State Elextricity Board 10 places, through good performances in the Kerala State Club Championship and the Kerala Football League. The biggest loser were FC Kochin losing eight places in the rankings.
Click here for the complete >>IndianFootball.Com Club Ranking

Nadkarni Cup - Quarterfinal: Indian Navy 1-1,2-4 Akbar Travels [penalties] - Goals: 1-0 Sumesh PS (35' Penalty), 1-1 Vijesh P Vijayan (45' Penalty).
Penalty Shootout: 0-1 Siraj Kanjode; 0-1 CT Sreejit miss; 0-1 Nizamuddin Meledath miss; 1-1 Sumesh PS; 1-2 Pradeep Kumar; 2-2 Avilash VS; 2-3 Sharaff Kaliyattil; 2-3 Milton miss; 2-4 Vijesh P Vijayan.
INDIAN NAVY: V Mankotia, A Bhandari (Ramesh Kumar), V Benugopal, Sumesh PS, Avilash VS, S Thapa, CT Sreejit, Martin John (Mokesh Kumar), Rajesh, Milton, Jerry (Hokip).
AKBAR TRAVELS: Rajith Kumar, Vijesh P Vijayan, Vijesh Mon, Liliyan Kenneth, Nizamuddin Meledath, Salim Parekad (Siraj Kanjode), Bijumon Kaiparath (Hamsa Kutty), Pradeep Kumar, Sharaff Kaliyattil, Dhanraj Sumesh (Zubin Ankilesaria), Girish Madan.

Chennai Senior Division: Netaji SC 4-3 Octopus Marine SC - Goals: 0-1,0-2,1-3 Marikani (22',24',54'), 1-1,3-3 Yuvaraj (32',61'), 2-3 Murugan (57'), 4-3 Alaudeen (64').
1st Uttaranchal Cup, Delhi - Final: Simla Youngs 3-0 Indian Air Force (Palam) - Goals: 1-0,2-0 Austin (40',67'), 3-0 Vikram Bhandari (74').

Note-1: Mohun Bagan AC will finally hold their club elections on September 18, 2005 after a gap of over a decade. This was announced by the court-appointed administrators, who had been appointed to look after the elections. The votes would be counted on September 19, while the results would be declared on September 20. From July 15 to 22 the voters list would be hung-up at the Club Tent. Anyone having a complaint on the voters list would have to do so in writing to the voting officiers.

Note-2: In a late decision on this seasons local leagues in Mumbai, the Mumbai District FA have inducted Indian Navy again into the league and have granted Maharashtra State Police permission to compete in Elite division. The Elite Division will now be a 12 team affair, while the Mumbai Super Division will be now an 11 team affair with MSP moving a division higher.

10. July
Goan football journalist Armstrong Vaz has written an interesting article under the title "Goan Football Transfers", which we have put online in our IndianFootball.Com Guest Column. Armstrong looks at Goan players venturing out and at players who come from across India to Goa.
Read the complete article here >>IndianFootball.Com Guest Column - Armstrong Vaz .

Chennai Senior Division: Integral Coach Factory 1-0 Young Men SC - Goal: 1-0 Suresh Kumar (59').

Nadkarni Cup - Quarterfinal: Central Railway 0-0,3-5 Maharashtra State Police [penalties] - Goals: none.
Penalty Shootout: 0-1 Nitin Redekar; 1-1 Kasif Jamal; 1-2 Parag Sawant; 1-2 Adil Ansari miss; 1-3 Jagdip Burji; 2-3 Nasir Jamal; 2-4 Kailash Pardi; 3-4 DP Singh; 3-5 Sachin Jaiswal.
CENTRAL RAILWAY: Raghuvir Khanolkar, Douzy Godinho, Prabash Janardham, Agnelo Fernandes, Masood Ansari (Hamid Ansari), Dennis George (Arshad Ansari), DP Singh, Adil Ansari, Kasif Jamal, Aziz Quereshi (Nasir Jamal).
MSP: Sailesh Naik, Vaibhav Kadam, Sachin Jaiswal, Utpal Kadam, Nitin Redekar, Santosh Telang (Jagdip Burti), Parag Sawant, Faras Sheikh, Pankaj Deshmukh, Uday Badkar (Suresh Yella, Kailash Pardi).

Traders Cup - Group II: EverReady SA 1-1 Milan Samity
Traders Cup - Group III: George Telegraph SC 1-0 Kalighat Club
Traders Cup - Group IV: Eastern Railway SC 6-0 Behala Youth Association
Traders Cup - Group V: Tollygunge Agragami 2-0 Kalighat MS
Traders Cup - Group X: Calcutta Port Trust 0-0 Aryan Club

Note-1: At a Press Conference convened by the Mumbai School Sports Association on 4 July, it was announced that an MSSA football team comprising talented players from various Mumbai schools would be competing in the prestigious Gothia Cup 2005 tournament in Sweden. The Gothia Cup is one of the most celebrated annual international youth tournaments around, and this seems a positve undertaking by the MSSA to give exposure to promising youth footballers in and around the city of Mumbai. According to the MSSA, the number of kids participting in the MSSA Football Leagues is in the region of 14,600 - A more than appropriate talent pool upon which to concentrate football development efforts.
The Gothia Cup 2005 is being staged from July 17 - 23. For more information on the Groups, Draws, Schedules and Results involving the Mumbai School SA team(s) in the Gothia Cup 2005, please visit www.gothiacup.se . The MSSA football team is also likely to participate in the Dana Cup 2005 (www.danacup.com), in Denmark, from July 24 - 30.
The 22 member touring party consists of: Sharan Sanil, Reuben P Abraham, Ninad Sapale, Ritvik Chavan (all Bombay Scottish, Mahim), Laukik Padwal, Samrat Gothar, Sagar Sorathi (both St.Xavier's, Fort), Bakul Shinde, Akshay J Rasal (both St.Xavier's, Andheri), Mithlesh Patel, Valerian D'Costa (both St. Francis D'Assisi, Borivali), Richard Charles (OLPS, Chembur), Bhavik P Mani (PG Garodia, Ghatkopar), Rithick Mukherjee (Lourdes, Kalyan), Peyton Pires (Don Bosco, Naigaon), Altmesh Khan (Scholar HS, Colaba), Siddheswar S Shinde (St. Lawrence, Kandivali), Keith D'Souza (Rustomjee Intl, Dahisar), Kunal Prabhu (Sacred Heart, Navi Mumbai), Siddhart Srivastava (Don Bosco, Matunga).
Coach: Xavier Faria; Manager: Ashok Lohar.

Note-2: Boxer Sports Goods Company, which is Kerala's first sports good producing company of which renowned footballer IM Vijayan is chairman is celebrating their first anniversary. To mark the occasion a Boxer XI will take on Kerala State League winners Kerala State Electricity Board at the Mallapuram Kotapaddi Ground on July 16 at 16.00 h. The Boxer XI will be led by IM Vijayan and the team would feature current stars and of yesteryears. These include Asif Saheer, Muttath Suresh, Shabbir Ali, KV Dhanesh, CV Pappachan, Mehmoob, Martin and KT Chacko.
In it's first year of existence the company has sold 22,000 football kits and had spread out from only being a Kerala-based company to venture into Goa and support youth development there as well. In a unique scheme Boxer are offering medical insurance to those who purchase Boxer goods for more than Rs.300, who will get insured for Rs.25,000 if any injury happens while playing football plus Rs.2000 will be given for curing the injury.

Note-3: The start of the Guwahati Super Division has been postponed indefinitely as the Inter-State Transfer Clearance for a number of players who have joined clubs in the city has not arrived from the AIFF. The league was supposed to start on June 12, Tuesday but the Guwahati Sports Association's football secretary Hem Das informed the media today of the delayed start.

9. July
The AIFF today released the second list of Inter-State Transfers 2005 of 131 transfers, which takes the total up to 416 transfers cleared so far.
The big transfer cleared in the second list was that of seasoned IM Vijayan from Churchill Brothers SC to Calcutta giants East Bengal Club, whose transfer initially Churchill Brothers tried to block. The other bigger transfer was that of wingback Rishi Kapoor from Mohun Bagan AC to Hindustan Club in Delhi. Rishi returns to his home town and Hindustan Club gained six other players. Most of the transfers cleared today were those to smaller clubs across India with many players leaving Kerala.
A number of transfers are still pending, while some will be decided by the Players' Status Committee at their meeting on July 16.
To see which players have stayed with their clubs or got transferred go to the >>Transfers 2005 Page.

Nadkarni Cup - Quarterfinal: Air-India 0-0,6-5 Golden Gunners [sudden death, penalties] - Goals: none.
Penalty Shootout: 1-0 Javed Ansari; 1-1 Anthony Fernandes; 2-1 Nepoleon Singh; 2-2 Souvaid Ansari; 3-2 Paresh Shivalkar; 3-3 Sarfaraz Ansari; 4-3 Santosh Koli; 4-4 Sujith Manaly; 5-4 Lawrence Dias; 5-5 Manoj Adhikari; 6-5 Narendra Meetei; 6-5 Osberne D'Souza miss.
AIR-INDIA: Raju Ekka, Paresh Shivalkar, Subhas Mondal, Haobijam Napoleon Singh, Uttam Leishangthem Singh (82' Lawrence Dias), Santosh Koli, Hamza Zaheer Abbas (61' Vijith Shetty), Javed Ansari, Noel Fernandes, Anthony Fernandes, Narender Meetei.
GOLDEN GUNNERS: Sarfaraz Ansari (90' Deepak Kable), Akshay Thakkar, Manoj Adhikari, Osberne D'Souza, Anthony Fernandes, Rashid Sheikh (80' Melwyn Vaz), Vico D'Souza, Souvaid Ansari, Sujith Manaly, Reuben D'Souza (64' Nagesh Swami), Soccor Velho.
RED CARD: Anthony Fernandes (90' Air-India).
YELLOW CARD: Sarfaraz Ansari (78' Golden Gunners).

Traders Cup - Group II: Taltala Institute 2-1 Howrah Union
Traders Cup - Group III: Calcutta Police 0-2 Salkia Friends
Traders Cup - Group IV: Janbazar AC 3-0 Bata SC
Traders Cup - Group V: BNR Recreation Club 0-3 Sonali Shibir AC
Traders Cup - Group VII: Khidderpore Sporting Union 1-5 City AC
Traders Cup - Group X: West Bengal Police 7-1 Sporting Union

Note-1: The Hero India Sports Academy (HISA) awards were given away today in Bangalore. While Olympic Games silver medallist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, and fellow shooter Suma Shirur, bagged the HISA Indian sportsman and sportswoman of the year award respectively for their performances in 2004, the "Footballer of the Year" award went to India midfielder Shanmugam Venkatesh, who plays his club football for Mahindra United. "Venky" as Venkatesh is called by teammates and friends had been captain of the Indian national team on their tour to Pakistan last month in the absence of regular captain Baichung Bhutia.

Note-2: By Armstrong Vaz: The Annual General Body Meeting of the Goa FA will be held at Clube Vasco da Gama, near Municipal Garden, Panjim on Sunday, July 17 at 10.30 h.
The agenda for the meeting among other items is to receive and adopt the committee report for the season 2004/05. Secretary Savio Messias will be presenting the secretary report for the third time, the second time for a full year tenure. In his first year as secretary Savio and the other committee members too over the committee affairs after the earlier committee headed by Joaquim Alemao resigned. The committee it may be recalled resigned after serious differences surfaced between the secretary Agnelo Alcasoas and president Joaquim Alemao. After the resignation of the Joaquim Alemao headed executive comittee an adhoc committee was costituted to run the affiar of GFA and till the new committee was formed.
Secretary Messias in his report which has been circulated to the registered clubs has basked in the glory of Dempo SC cornerning both the Federation Cup and National League title and Sporting Clube de Goa the super cup title.
Savio in his report has lamented the performance of the state teams at the national level and has termed the senior state team performance as "disastrous". He has however taken the shield of "rampant age cheating" in age group tournaments for the lack of sucess of the age group Goa teams at the Nationals.
"Goa was unable to make a mark and if such cheating goes on unabated I do not think Goa will ever taste success again the Final proof will lie in the number of players who will eventually make a mark at senior level and I am confident that the percentage of players who have represented Goa will be well above that of all the states, which defeat our age group teams now" he has quoted in his report.
Savio cannot take the umbrella of age cheating in the under-16 Nationals hosted by Goa and to quote him in an extraqct from the report " Goa had the previlege of hosting the west zone under-16 as well as the under-16 Nationals. the greatest achievement we derived was not connected with the teams performance but that we managed to conduct MRI tests for boys for the first time in the history of Indian football" further he states that " it was due to the inistence of medical tests that 32 boys four of each team who were checked, 26 were found to be overaged and Goa true to its reputation was the only state which strictly adhered to the ruels and did not field any overaged player."
On the positive side of his report he points to the changws in the football calendar for the upcoming football season. Elaborating further on the upcoming season changes he points out that the thrid division league will start from August. The 3rd Division league he says consists of players holding jobs in the tourism industry and thus clubs fins it difficult to field teams during the tourism season. Also he has added that the earier 3rd Division scechudle of last year clashed with the college examinations.
On the legal issues which involved GFA has been settled, Savio has pointed out the arbirators award of Rs. 10 lakhs from Zee TV sponsorship and the retrechment compensation given for former GFA employee Ester Dias who has been paid Rs. 2 lakhs to settle the case. The employee who was dismissed by GFA ahd taken the GFA to the labour court over her dismissial.
A large chunk of sponsorship amount however has been shown as outstanding in the name of Procam International to the tune of Rs.5,28,000 for two seasons. Indian Oil it has been showned as outstanding for the sponsorship amount of Rs.3.5 lakhs and united Breweries Rs. 1 lakh.
On GFA own football ground he has informed that with the sale of twenty shops at the staduim GFA hopes in to add Rs.1.3 crores into their treasury. the increased size of the staduim has added to an increase capacity of 300 spectators. Referees dressing rooms, acccodomation for stadium manager are also been added at the Duler ground.
Now with the increase in the size of the playing arena the secretary has pointed out that the size of the Duler ground is now the same as the Nehru Stadium at Fatorda. He however has lamented that the agricultural land which was promoised to GFA has not been handed over to GFA.
On the income and expenditure statement it has been pointed out that GFA was able to create surplus income of Rs. 9,40,988. The association also contributed Rs. 1 lakh odd amount for the Tsunami Relief Fund. the six school adoption scheme of GFA cost the association an amount of Rs.1,64,814. The last AGM and the other meetings expenses have been pegged at 99,289. On the coaches development front the expenses incurred where for the C licnce course or Rs.59,244 and for the GFA designed course of D liccnce Rs.78,124.
Incidentally GFA has made it mandatory for 3rd Division clubs to have a trained D licence course registered with thier team from last season.
Referees seminar took up funds of Rs.20,687 while referees development program expenses were pegged at Rs.19,026.
The under-21 camp expenses were Rs. 52,470 and the expenses for particiaption in the under 21 nationals Rs. 2,08,840. the Santosh Trophy particiaption took the lion share among the state teams for the nationals while draining the treasuery of GFA to the tune of Rs.2,49,296.
An amount of Rs,2,311,900 has bewen shown as outstanding in the name of several persons prominent among them at Coca Cola Rs.1,30,845, Bangladesh team Rs.16,120, Sports Authority of India Rs. 10.000, Sao Jose de Areal Rs. 10,000 and even former India coach Islam Akhmedov has been shown as owing the association Rs. 13,000.
On the donation side GFA has donated 1 lakh tot he police benlovent fund and Rs.30,800 to the Sports Journalist Association of Goa. GFA donation to the Goa police fund had earned strictures from the charterer accountant firm doing audit of GFA - NN Naik Gaunekar & Co. The auditors have pointed out that the contribution to the Goa police fund has not been supported by a resolution by the executive committee of GFA.
On the other positive aspects of the year gone by Savio has pointed out to the MoU signed with University of Porto, FC Porto and Olympic committee of Portugal at Porto. The MoU which seeks to train young Goan players in Porto, training coaches in Portugal as well as in Goa, organising seminars and sending Portuguese teams to play in Goa. Further he adds that representatives from university of Porto condudcted a training program for coaches in which twenty coaches from Goa and ten other deputed by AIFF took part. The expenses of the Portuguese delegation expenses were shown as Rs.1,29,614.

8. July
Nadkarni Cup - Pre-Quarterfinal: Western Railway 0-1 Akbar Travels - Goal: 0-1 Bijumon Kaiparath (49').

Traders Cup - Group I: Peerless SC 0-1 Police AC
Traders Cup - Group V: BNR Recreation Club 3-1 Kalighat MS
Traders Cup - Group VI: Taltala Dipti Sangha 1-1 Calcutta FC
Traders Cup - Group VII: Khidderpore Sporting Union 0-0 Food Corporation of India
Traders Cup - Group VIII: Mohammedan AC 0-1 Wari AC
Traders Cup - Group IX: Muslim Institute 1-4 SAIL

Note-1: The Fiji Tour is on after the AIFF president Das Munshi assured Sports Fiji authorities that India would be sending it's strongest team to the Pacific island in August. The AIFF president made it clear that the AIFF would send it's full Indian national team with the U23 players being the nucleus of the side. Senior players would be added to the final squad after the probables camp.

Note-2: A two day workshop will be held on July 20/21 in New Delhi for the Delhi SA and the All-Manipur FA by an eight member AFC delegation headed by AFC general secretary Peter Velappan as part of the Vision India programme. Delhi and Manipur have been named in the Vision India to be developed as model state FAs. The focus at the workshop will be to organise the FAs, and get football into schools and colleges.

Note-3: The 46th APTA Shield will be held in Jorhat, Assam from August 10 with top teams from across the Northeast confirming their participation. Amongst these teams are Nagaland Police, Assam State Electricity Board, Oil India Limited and Assam Police Blues.

7. July
Chennai Senior Division: Chennai Customs 2-0 Dhinamani FC - Goals: 1-0 Senthil Kumar (9'), 2-0 Laijo (42').
Nadkarni Cup - Pre-Quarterfinal: Maharashtra State Police 1-0 Mumbai Customs - Goal: 1-0 Kailash Pardi (89').

Traders Cup - Group I: Garalgacha SC 1-0 Barisha SC
Traders Cup - Group II: Howrah Union 2-0 Milan Samity
Traders Cup - Group III: George Telegraph SC 4-1 Salkia Friends
Traders Cup - Group IV: Eastern Railway SC 1-0 Bata SC
Traders Cup - Group V: Tollygunge Agragami 0-0 Sonali Shibir AC
Traders Cup - Group VI: Railway FC 1-0 Eastern Coalfield
Traders Cup - Group VII: City AC walkover Anushilani
Traders Cup - Group VIII: Calcutta Customs 0-0 Rajasthan Club
Traders Cup - Group IX: Milan Bithee 2-1 Batore SC
Traders Cup - Group X: Calcutta Port Trust 3-0 Sporting Union

Note-1: The Tour of the Indian U23 team to Fiji might be called-off as per statement made by the Sports Fiji chief executive officer Jitendra Maharaj, who are organising the tour. What has irritated the Fijian authorities is that India are planning to send their U23 team instead of the full national team as per the original invitation and they got the information from the Internet and not the AIFF directly. As a reaction the Sports Fiji CEO Maharaj has send a letter to AIFF president Das Munshi asking for clarification.
The Fiji FA meanwhile said the same thing that they were planning and preparing the Fiji national team to take on the Indian senior national team and not the Indian U23 team. In India meanwhile the AIFF was thinking of using the Fiji Tour as preparation for the U23 team for the 2006 Asian Games.
Sports Fiji is said to incur costs of around USD 150,000 and they were willing to put their money into the Fiji-India Football Series, but only for the India senior national team. How the issue will be solved isn't known at the moment as there is no reaction from the AIFF.

6. July
Chennai Senior Division: Madras Sporting Union 2-0 State Bank of India - Goals: 1-0 Bharath (73'), 2-0 Axiano (78').
Nadkarni Cup - Pre-Quarterfinal: Golden Gunners 1-0 Bank of India - Goal: 1-0 Sujit Manaly (21').

Traders Cup - Group I: Garalgacha SC 1-1 Police AC
Traders Cup - Group II: EverReady SA 4-1 Taltala Institute
Traders Cup - Group III: Calcutta Police 0-1 Kalighat Club
Traders Cup - Group IV: Behala Youth Association 0-3 Janbazar AC
Traders Cup - Group V: BNR Recreation Club - Kalighat MS (abandoned due to rain)
Traders Cup - Group VIII: Mohammedan AC 1-0 Calcutta Customs
Traders Cup - Group X: West Bengal Police 7-0 Aryan Club

Friendly Match - Shillong: Assam Regimental Centre 2-2 Assam State Team

Note-1: By Armstrong Vaz: The Annual General Body Meeting of Goa FA will be held at Clube Vasco da Gama near Municipal Garden, Panjim on Sunday, July 17 at 10.30 h.
The agenda for the meeting included welcome address by the presiding officer, confirmation of the minutes of the last Annual General Body Meeting, to receive and adopt the committee report for the season 2004/05, to receive and adopt the audited statement of accounts for the financial year ending on 31-3-2005.
The AGM would also appoint auditors for 2005/06 season and fix their remuneration, to present the budget for 2005/06 season and any other matter with the permission of the chair.
The meeting would end with the vote of thanks.
Last year's AGM was held in the evening session which caused a lot of inconvenience for far flung clubs from Salcete informed GFA sources. GFA thus have reverted back to the morning AGM taking into account the grievances of the clubs.
GFA has around 180 registered clubs from all over the state and now attempts are being made by GFA to register more clubs unrepresentative areas of Canacona Taluka and Pernem Taluka. If the move is successful then it will swell the numbers at the next AGM.

5. July
Just this weekend Indian Tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi won the Mixed Doubles crown in Wimbledon along with French women Mary Pierce. A few weeks ago our own Chris Daniel had the chance to speak to Mahesh Bhupathi at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany and talk about Indian Tennis, Sania Mirza, sports in India and more.
For the complete Mahesh Bhupathi interview to go >>IndianFootball.Com LIVE.

Chennai Senior Division: Southern Railway 2-3 AGORC - Goals: 0-1 Muthu (13'), 0-2 Pugazhendi (25'), 1-2 SR Muniandi (49'), 2-2 Soundarrajan (75'), 2-3 Selvakumar (80').
Nadkarni Cup - Pre-Quarterfinal: Rizvi Mumbai Muslims 0-3 Rashtriya Chemicals&Fertilizers - Goals: 0-1 Shayresh Bawkar (50'), 0-2 Neville David (71'), 0-3 Kailash Patil (79').

Traders Cup - Group I: Peerless SC 1-1 Barisha SC
Traders Cup - Group IV: Behala Youth Association 0-1 Bata SC
Traders Cup - Group VI: Calcutta FC 2-0 Eastern Coalfield
Traders Cup - Group VII: Khidderpore Sporting Union walkover Anushilani
Traders Cup - Group VIII: Mohammedan AC 2-1 Rajasthan Club
Traders Cup - Group IX: Milan Bithee 2-0 Muslim Institute

Friendly Match - Shillong: Shillong XI 0-5 Assam State Team
Friendly Women's Match - Chandel, Manipur: AMFA White 0-0 AMFA Red - Goals: none.

Note-1: As we have reported in the past here at IndianFootball.Com, India is one of the potential candidates for the 2011 Asia Cup Men's Football Championships. With the Asian Football Confederation starting their rotational policy of hosting the Pan-Asian event every four years, it is the turn of South & Central Asia in 2011. Besides India the mighty Iran and our neighbours Bangladesh have shown interest to host the event and the last date for submission of all relevant documents is July 29, 2005. The AFC would then put an evaluation team together to inspect the infrastructural facilities in the applying nations. The AFC executive committee is likely to take a final decision at a meeting in November 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Note-2: Mizoram has in the last few years brought-up a number of talented footballers. The first one has East Bengal midfielder Malswam Tulunga followed by Malswama and now teenager Pachau Lalam Puia could be the next in line.
The Mizoram FA is now working to promote local talent in the small Northeastern state. To do this the MFA is going to organise it's first-ever Mizo Football League to be played between six teams from Aizawl in a double-leg format. The league would kickoff on September 9 with a major break from October to January due to the Santosh Trophy and other tournaments commitments of the clubs, and it would then continue in February 2006.
The six participating teams are - 1st Battalion Mizoram Armed Police, FC Kulikawn, FC College Veng, Chhinga Veng United, Dinthar FC and Luangmual FC. The clubs have been given Rs 10,000 to prepare for the league. The MFA along with the Aizawl District FA are making guidelines and new directions for the football clubs in Aizawl.

Note-3: After only a season at Italian giants AC Milan, "Player of Indian Origin" Vikash Dhorasoo has joined French club Paris Saint-Germain on a two year contract. Dhorasoo had a not too successful season with Milan as he only featured in 12 of their Serie A games. 31 year old Dhorasoo returns to France, the country were he was born and he has also played for the French national team, the "Le Bleu". Over the year he has played for the national team, but has never really made it into the first eleven. Last season he has part of the French squad in a few World Cup qualifiers and also played a few games.

4. July
Chennai Senior Division: Netaji SC 0-0 SAI, Chennai - Goals: none.
Mumbai Super Division: Central Bank of India - Central Railway (Mumbai Division) = match has been postponed due to inappropriate ground conditions caused by Monsoon rains.
Mumbai Super Division: Sea View SC 1-3 ONGC - Goals: 0-1,1-3 Manoj Rajkanwar (12',79'), 1-1 Elaan Dias (59'), 1-2 Amit Mondal (66').

Traders Cup - Group I: Garalgacha SC - Police AC (abandoned due to rain)
Traders Cup - Group II: EverReady SA 1-0 Howrah Union
Traders Cup - Group III: George Telegraph SC 0-0 Calcutta Police
Traders Cup - Group IV: Behala YA - Bata SC (abandoned due to rain)
Traders Cup - Group V: Sonali Shibir AC 1-1 Kalighat MS
Traders Cup - Group VI: Railway FC 2-0 Taltala DS
Traders Cup - Group VII: City AC 3-1 Food Corporation of India
Traders Cup - Group VIII: Calcutta Customs 0-1 Wari AC
Traders Cup - Group IX: Batore SC 0-7 SAIL
Traders Cup - Group X: Aryan Club 1-0 Sporting Union

Friendly Match - Shillong: Lajong SSC 1-0 Assam State Team
Friendly Women's Match - Churachandpur, Manipur: AMFA White 2-0 AMFA Red - Goals: 1-0,2-0 Th Tababi Devi (21',25').

Note-1: India will be hosting the qualifiers of our Junior teams in the Asian U17 and U20 Championships. And the AIFF has asked the Tamil Nadu FA to host both the qualifiers. The TNFA meanwhile is waiting for the okay and full cooperation from the Tamil Nadu government and the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu to be able to host the two events. If the government and SDATN agree then Chennai and Coimbatore could play the hosts.
In the Asian Youth Championships India's U20 along with Turkmenistan and Sri Lanka would play each other in a round robin league with matches slated for November 23, 25 and 27. In the Asian U17 Championship qualifiers India, Pakistan and Tajikistan would face each other on November 13, 15 and 17.
The AIFF has asked the TNFA to get back until July 10 if it can host the two qualifiers, and if yes about the venues and the total budget of hosting.

Note-2: The Kerala FA has announced its Awards for the 2004/05 season. The Awards will be distributed in the Annual General Body Meeting of the KFA. KFA Secretary KP Sunny announced the Awards in Kottayam today.
The winners are: