NEWS FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE 2006
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2006 FIFA World Cup |
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2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Quarterfinal: Germany 1-1,4-2 Argentina [penalties] - Goals: 0-1 Roberto Ayala (49'), 1-1 Miroslav Klose (80').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Quarterfinal: Italy 3-0 Ukraine - Goals: 1-0 Gianluca Zambrotta (6'), 2-0,3-0 Luca Toni (59',69').
For full coverage go to the >>2006 FIFA WORLD CUP special .
Friendly - Chowgule College, Goa: INDIA Seniors 1-0 INDIA U20 - Goal: 1-0 Micky Fernandes (61').
U19 Calcutta Premier Division - Final: George Telegraph SC 2-0 EverReady Sports Association - Goals: 1-0 Asim Das, 2-0 Shibasish Bhowmick.
Trades Challenge Cup - Phase II - Group A: Calcutta Port Trust 2-0 Police AC
9th Police Martyrs Memorial Football Tournament, Srinagar - Final: Border Security Force - Jammu&Kashmir Bank
Note-1: The AIFF today released the fourth list of 60 cleared Inter-State Transfers for the first transfer window of the 2006/07 season which ran from June 1 to 20.
Champions Mahindra United have been cleared to sign M Mohammed Rafi from State Bank of Travancore and K Karunakaran
from SAI - Chennai.
Relegated Salgaocar SC have signed Premjit Singh from NEROCA in Manipur; while Goan rivals Vasco SC have signed Dipankar Choudhury from Hindustan Club in Delhi and Tarzan Thomas K from Sports Development Trust in Kerala.
Former NFL side Tollygunge Agragami signed Sheikh Hasanur Jaman from Ageya Chalo, Tripura.
Air-India meanwhile lost Sagolsem Santa Singh to USA, Manipur.
Seven players left Churchill Brothers SC - K Momocha Singh and Chanambam Jatin Singh joined Indian Bank; Sujoy Datta signed for EverReady SA; Nirmal Khatri for Amity United FC, Haryana; Soumendra Singh for H2K Holy Family, Mumbai; Subhas Singha Roy for Milan Bithee, Calcutta; and Pankaj has been transferred to the Punjab FA, where he is looking for a club.
A number of players have been cleared to play for Amity United FC from Haryana. Besides Nirmal Khatri from Churchill Bros; Rajesh Thomas has been signed from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited; Trilok Chand from Goans SC in Delhi and Navjot Singh from the Indian Nationals FC.
Note-2: IANS report: India may be languishing at the 117th place in FIFA rankings but that hasn't stopped the soccer World Cup from hogging eyeballs, snatching away TV viewership from soap operas, comedy shows and even regional entertainment.
"A few years ago we were not even bothered about watching football but now the mania is quite high. The globalisation effect, the popularity of sports, including niche sports like Formula-1, have captured a sizeable chunk of TV viewership," said Shubhagat Bhattacharya, senior manager of AC Nielsen.
"For the last three weeks, hundreds of thousands of people in India have been watching the World Cup during prime time. As a result, soap operas and other prime time entertainment shows are losing their viewership," Bhattacharya told IANS. He said Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Michael Ballack, Luis Figo and Lukas Podolski were no more mere football players.
"They have a larger than life stature and have considerable influence on public life. And when it's the World Cup, the influence is overwhelming," he added.
According to TAM Media Research, there has been a five percent decline in the viewership of Hindi soap operas and a four percent decrease in the regional entertainment segment since June 9 when the football tournament began. Sports channels have gained over 10 percent viewership during the period and this was observed in all the metros, including Delhi.
"Hindi serials are slowly losing popularity because of their meandering plot and it's worth it if people are not watching them in favour of World Cup football," said Poulomi Sharma, an advertisement professional.
Sharma, an avid football fan herself, said since the matches are happening between 8.30 p.m. and 12.30 a.m., they were eating into the common entertainment time.
"The World cup is once a four-year phenomena and everyone wants to get the action right on time."
"A lot of my friends are regular viewers of popular Ekta Kapoor serials but for the last few days, they have only been watching football matches," she said adding that Brazil should win the cup this time too!
Note-3: PTI report: A group of former footballers, coaches and club officials, who went to Germany to watch the football World Cup, have landed in trouble after being allegedly duped by a local travel agency that arranged the tour. The 30-member group that included football coach Amal Dutta, Mohun Bagan general secretary and the club treasurer Debasish Dutta, former Indian Football Association secretary Ranjit Gupta and ex-woman football international Kuntala Ghosh Dastidar, found to their dismay on their arrival in Frankfurt that they neither had any hotel bookings nor tickets for the matches, reports PTI from Kolkata.
"Most of them are now staying with great difficulty in a couple of rooms which they have rented with money from their own pockets. Only my father-in-law has got two tickets for the quarterfinals," Amal Dutta's daughter-in-law Dolly said. She said that the group was literally stranded on the streets and had to go without food fas no arrangements had been made for them by the agency despite such promise. Dutta had paid Rs 36,000 in advance to the travel agent, while some others had shelled out Rs 1.5 lakh or even more.
Trades Challenge Cup - Phase II - Group A: Railway FC 2-0 Calcutta FC
Trades Challenge Cup - Phase II - Group B: Eastern Railway SC 0-1 Calcutta Customs
Trades Challenge Cup - Phase II - Group C: George Telegraph SC 0-1 Howrah Union
Trades Challenge Cup - Phase II - Group D: United SC 1-0 West Bengal Police
Note-1: Bob Houghton will see his new wards play their first match, when the INDIA Seniors take on the INDIA U20 Boys in a national competition football match tomorrow at Chowgule College artificial turf, Margao in Goa at 16.00 h. A lot of prestige will be at stage for the two sides as anything then a win by the Seniors would be an upset.
Also tomorrow the Chowgule College artificial turf, the first such multi-sports artificial ground in India, will be officially inaugurated by the AIFF president PR Das Munshi, who also is the Minister of Information & Broadcasting.
Note-2: Kerala's premier side State Bank of Travancore might get a new coach in the new upcoming season. The SBT Sports Board has decided in it's Sub-Committee Meeting to invite renowned coach TK Chathunni as the senior's team's head coach. Chathunni is currently the coach of Viva Kerala with whom he has a contract until July 31. Chathunni have said that he will discuss the matter with Viva Kerala officials and after only that he will take a decision. The current SBT coach M Najeeb will be given the job of Junior Team, if SBT qualifies for 'A' division.
Note-3: The 47th APTA (Assam Tea Planters' Association) Shield will be held in from the first week of September at the Jorhat Stadium in Assam.
Note-4: The Goa FA will hold selection trials for the U16 Boys born on and after 1 January, 1992 at Chowgule College Ground and Duler Ground Mapusa on of July 2, 2006 at 15.30 h.
Boys should kindly report with playing kit and their Original Birth Certificates.
The players selected for the U14 Zonal Teams should kindly report to their respective coaches on June 30, 2006 at 15.30 h.
U19 Calcutta Premier Division - Semifinal: Eastern Railway SC 0-3 George Telegraph SC
U19 Calcutta Premier Division - Semifinal: EverReady Sports Association 0-0,3-0 East Bengal Club [penalties]
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Pre-Quarterfinal: Spain 1-3 France - Goals: 1-0 David Villa (26',pen), 1-1 Franck Ribery (41'), 1-2 Patrick Vieira (84'), 1-3 Zinedine Zidane (90'+2').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Pre-Quarterfinal: Brazil 3-0 Ghana - Goals: 1-0 Ronaldo (5'), 2-0 Adriano (45+1'), 3-0 Ze Roberto (84').
For full coverage go to the >>2006 FIFA WORLD CUP special .
Trades Challenge Cup - Phase II - Group A: Calcutta Port Trust 1-0 Calcutta FC
Note-1: With numerous players out of the India probables camp due to injury the team management has called-up four new players. They are defender Madhab Das; midfielders Micky Fernandes and Shylo Malswam Tulunga; plus striker Freddy Mascarenhas.
The Londener Bob Houghton, who now lives in Cape Town (South Africa), looked happily over the Indian players at the India camp. For him the working is easier as the Indians understand English unlike the Uzbeks and Chinese. Still Houghton is a little concerned over the lack of height within the team, as he belthought height is of some need specially in defence.
Houghton has said that there is huge scope for improvement in technique and skill.
Houghton also laid stress on improving the U20 squad ahead of the Asian Youth Championships and said he will introduce 2-3 of them into the senior squad for grooming them.
The IndianFootball.Com AWARDS 2006 - Final Round voting is now open!
Over 500 people have cast their votes for their favourites in the seven different categories. Now in the IFC Awards 2006 - Final Round the Top 5 of each category are open for voting, so the best performers are determined by you, our site visitors. So cast your votes in the only fan voting in Indian football!
The IndianFootball.Com Team is working to finally organise an Award Gala night for the upcoming winners of the IndianFootball.Com AWARDS 2006.
If you know potential sponsors or you yourself have interest to sponsor the event, do get in touch with us at IndianFootball.Com.
To cast your vote go to >>IndianFootball.Com Awards 2006.
The craze of the World Cup has gripped the whole planet. India is part of this craze, to the surprise of many. The BBC online has published a nice write-up by Amarnath Tewary on "Bihar's football crazy girls".
To read the article >>Bihar's football crazy girls.
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Pre-Quarterfinal: Italy 1-0 Australia - Goals: 1-0 Francesco Totti (90'+5').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Pre-Quarterfinal: Switzerland 0-0,0-3 [on penalties] Ukraine - Goals: none.
For full coverage go to the >>2006 FIFA WORLD CUP special .
U19 Calcutta Premier Division - Group B: Mohun Bagan AC 0-1 George Telegraph SC
2nd Nripendra Narayan Bhattacharjee Trophy - Final: Assam Police Blues 0-2 Northern-Frontier Railway SC - Goals: 0-1 Prasanta Bharali (27'), 0-2 Duleswar Rabha.
Trades Challenge Cup - Phase II - Group A: Railway FC 2-0 Police AC - Goals: 1-0 Sandip Karmakar (Pen), 2-0 Suraj Mondal.
TODAY IS THE LAST DAY OF THE INDIANFOOTBALL.COM AWARDS 2006 - PRELIMINARY ROUND VOTING!!!
The preliminary round voting is open for another couple of hours, so do cast your vote for the best performers of the 2005/06 season.
Then FINAL ROUNG of the voting will be open for all next week!
To cast your vote go to >>IndianFootball.Com Awards 2006.
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Pre-Quarterfinal: England 1-0 Ecuador - Goal: 1-0 David Beckham (59').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Pre-Quarterfinal: Portugal 1-0 Netherlands - Goal: 1-0 Maniche (24').
For full coverage go to the >>2006 FIFA WORLD CUP special .
U19 Calcutta Premier Division - Group A: Tollygunge Agragami 1-5 Eastern Railway SC
U19 Calcutta Premier Division - Group A: East Bengal Club 0-0 Mohammedan Sporting Club
Note-1: Vipul Kane from Goa had a chat with new India coach Bob Houghton and told us at IndianFootball.Com the following:
Talking about India's chances to qualify for the 2010 World Cup, "It's possible ,why not, even China had similar problems and they made it in 2002."
Houghton didn't say much about the players as he has only seen them since June 20, stressed that the physique can be improved, but skill can only improved be to a certain extent. He also mentioned that the National League is an important factor of development.
So far in his training sessions Houghton has stressed on the basics. The players are coming out of holiday break and also get used to the new coach.
The IndianFootball.Com AWARDS 2006 - Preliminary Round voting has now been open for four weeks and we have already received numerous votes. Still the voting is open for another couple of days, so do cast your vote for the best performers of the 2005/06 season. As every vote counts!!!
Then next week the final round of the voting will be open for all.
The IndianFootball.Com Team is working to finally organise an Award Gala night for the upcoming winners of the IndianFootball.Com AWARDS 2006.
If you know potential sponsors or you yourself have interest to sponsor the event, do get in touch with us at IndianFootball.Com.
To cast your vote go to >>IndianFootball.Com Awards 2006.
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Pre-Quarterfinal: Germany 2-0 Sweden - Goals: 1-0,2-0 Lukas Podolski (4',12').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Pre-Quarterfinal: Argentina 2-1 Mexico - Goals: 0-1 Rafael Marquez (5'), 1-1 Hernan Crespo (10'), 1-2 Maxi Rodriguez (98').
For full coverage go to the >>2006 FIFA WORLD CUP special .
U19 Calcutta Premier Division - Group A: Mohammedan Sporting Club 1-1 Eastern Railway SC
U19 Calcutta Premier Division - Group B: EverReady Sports Association 0-0 George Telegraph SC
2nd Nripendra Narayan Bhattacharjee Trophy - Semifinal: Assam Dynamo Club 0-2 Northern-Frontier Railway SC - Goals: 0-1,0-2 Prasanta Bharali (37',74').
Note-1: The Indian national team suffered another blow, while forward Syed Rahim Nabi dislocated his right elbow in the national camp in Goa. According to AIFF sources, Nabi lost his balance and fell on the ground while trying to take a back volley.
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group G: Switzerland 2-0 South Korea - Goals: 1-0 Philippe Senderos (22'), 2-0 Alexander Frei (75').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group G: Togo 0-2 France - Goals: 0-1 Patrick Vieira (55'), 0-2 Thierry Henry (61').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group H: Ukraine 1-0 Tunisia - Goal: 1-0 Andriy Shevchenko (70',pen).
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group H: Saudi Arabia 0-1 Spain - Goals: 0-1 Juanito (36').
For full coverage go to the >>2006 FIFA WORLD CUP special .
U19 Calcutta Premier Division - Group A: East Bengal Club 4-0 Tollygunge Agragami
U19 Calcutta Premier Division - Group A: Mohammedan Sporting Club - Eastern Railway SC = abandoned due to rain
2nd Nripendra Narayan Bhattacharjee Trophy - Semifinal: Assam Police Blues 5-1 Food Corporation of India, Guwahati
Note-1: The revised fixtures of the 10th SAF Games football tournament to be played in Colombo, Sri Lanka has been released. The tournament is an under-23 football tournament like the Olympics, but the AIFF will be sending the INDIA U20 team to play in the tournament as it did two years ago. It should be good exposure for the INDIA U20 boys ahead of the Asian Youth Championships 2006 in October/November at home in India.
Fixtures:
Aug 14: INDIA U20 - Afghanistan; Maldives - Sri Lanka; Bangladesh - Nepal;
Aug 16: INDIA U20 - Nepal; Bangladesh - Afghanistan; Maldives - Bhutan;
Aug 19: INDIA U20 - Bangladesh; Pakistan - Sri Lanka; Afghanistan - Nepal;
Aug 21: Pakistan - Maldives; Bhutan - Sri Lanka
Aug 23: Pakistan v Bhutan
Aug 24 - Semifinals: Group A Winners - Group B Runners-up; Group B Winners - Group A Runners-up
Aug 26: Final; Third-Place Playoff
Note-2: Calcutta giants Mohun Bagan AC held a Special General Meeting at the Club Premises of their Maidan Tent to discuss the issue of finally making the football team a private limited company and prefixing the name of their current sponsors McDowell to the club name. The members decided to do so and all matters will be sorted within a month according to club officials. With this step a legal wrangling over many years comes to an end.
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group E: Czech Republic 0-2 Italy - Goals: 0-1 Marco Materazzi (26'), 0-2 Filippo Inzaghi (87').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group E: Ghana 2-1 USA - Goals: 1-0 Haminu Draman (22'), 1-1 Clint Dempsey (43'), 2-1 Stephen Appiah (45+2').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group F: Japan 1-4 Brazil - Goals: 1-0 Keiji Tamada (34'), 1-1,1-4 Ronaldo (45+1',81'), 1-2 Juninho Pernambucano (53'), 1-3 Gilberto (59').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group F: Croatia 2-2 Australia - Goals: 1-0 Darijo Srna (2'), 1-1 Craig Moore (38',pen), 2-1 Niko Kovac (56'), 2-2 Harry Kewell (79').
For full coverage go to the >>2006 FIFA WORLD CUP special .
U19 Calcutta Premier Division - Group B: Calcutta Port Trust - George Telegraph SC = abandoned due to rain
U19 Calcutta Premier Division - Group B: Mohun Bagan AC 0-1 EverReady SA - Goal: 0-1 Soumik Chakraborty.
2nd Nripendra Narayan Bhattacharjee Trophy - Quarterfinal: Assam State Electricity Board 0-1 Northern-Frontier Railway SC - Goal: 0-1 Prasanta Bharali (71').
Note-1: PTI report: 30 players took part in the training session with newly-appointed coach Bob Houghton at the Indian national soccer camp to select the national team for the four-nation Vancouver tournament to be held next month. The July 19-23 tournament, to be organised by Vancouver White Cap club, would be held between India, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, China under-20 team and Cardiff City FC.
Baichung Bhutia was, however, absent for the camp that began at Nehru stadium in Fatorda yesterday, due to his commitments with a TV channel for the ongoing World Cup, and is likely to join later, sources said.
Alvito D'Cunha, Climax Lawrence, Abhishek Yadav, Habibur Rehman Mondal and Mahesh Gawli did not take the field due to injury, while NS Manju, who was down earlier due to typhoid also watched the proceedings from the bench as he has been recommended rest. Tomba Singh and Kalyan Chaubey also were not present with the latter known to be in Germany to watch the World Cup.
Salgaocar caoch Savio Medeira and Dempo Assistant Coach Maurico Afonso were seen assisting the coach during the training session, which lasted for about two hours. While ex-Goa coach Marcus Pacheco handled the goalkeeper's job.
Meanwhile, the junior players, under coach Islam Akhmadov, arrived here to prepare for the SAF Games to be held in Sri Lanka later in August and will play in a one-off national match against seniors on June 30 at Chowgule grounds, before selecting the national squad. The camp ends on July 15.
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group C: Netherlands 0-0 Argentina - Goals: none.
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group C: Cote d'Ivoire 3-2 Serbia&Montenegro - Goals: 0-1 Nikola Zigic (10'), 0-2 Sasa Ilic (20'), 1-2,2-2 Aruna Dindane (35'pen,67'), 3-2 Bonaventure Kalou (86', pen).
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group D: Portugal 2-1 Mexico - Goals: 1-0 N Maniche (6'), 2-0 Sabrosa Simao (24', pen), 2-1 Jose Fonseca (29').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group D: Iran 1-1 Angola - Goals: 0-1 Amado Flavio (60'), 1-1 Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh (76').
For full coverage go to the >>2006 FIFA WORLD CUP special .
U19 Calcutta Premier Division - Group A: Mohammedan Sporting Club 1-2 Tollygunge Agragami
U19 Calcutta Premier Division - Group A: East Bengal Club 1-1 Eastern Railway SC
2nd Nripendra Narayan Bhattacharjee Trophy - Quarterfinal: Royal SC 1-2 Assam Police Blues - Goals: 0-1 Arun Daimary (30'), 0-2 Amulya Das (43'), 1-2 Thaensang As (85').
Note-1: The AIFF has informed in a press release that its president Priya Ranjan Das Munshi has been selected by FIFA as the Match Commissioner for the crucial Group F match Croatia vs Australia to be played at Stuttgart on June 22. This is the second time in the current World Cup that Mr. Das Munshi has been chosen by FIFA to be the Match Commissioner. He earlier was the match commissioner at the Spain - Tunisia match.
Note-2: The AIFF today released the second list of 70 cleared Inter-State Transfers for the first transfer window of the 2006/07 season which runs from June 1 to 20.
The key cleared transfers are those of the just released Tata Football Academy cadets. The trio of Khemtang Paite, T Naoba Singh and Robert Lalthalma have joined Churchill Brothers SC. Parwinder Singh and C Chandrashekar Rao have joined Sporting Clube de Goa. Dempo SC has been able to sign Lester Fernandez and Avdhesh Pal. Sovan Chakraborty signed for East Bengal Club, while Goutam Debnath and Shilton Pal signed for Mohun Bagan AC. Bagan also welcome the return of winger-back Lorendra Singh.
Talented teenager Ishan Rawlley Singh has been released by Mahindra United and has joined Mohammedan Sporting Club. Sporting has also signed defender M Sudheesh from Indian Bank.
Mandeep Singh Brar signed for JCT Mills from Indian Nationals FC, Delhi; while Gyan Moin Thapa has been transferred from JCT to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Krishna Kumar has gone to Ageya Chalo, Tripura.
While a TFA trio has been cleared to play for Churchill Brothers a number of players have left the Goan side. Satish Singh Keer, Raza Rizvi and Ali Abbas Rizvi have taken transfers to WIFA and will likely join a Mumbai club. S Rocky Kom has left for Muiran FA in Manipur, while L Tiken Singh has also been transferred to Manipur, he has signed for Southern Sporting Union.
EverReady SA lost Manoj Joshi to Indian Nationals FC. INFC also signed Kartik Bhardwaj from the Chandigarh Football Academy.
Haryana's top club Amity United FC have signed Haryana's best footballer Praveen Arora from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, while they also got Akshay Dutt from Old Gold FC, Uttar Pradesh and Jasvir Singh from Punjab State Electricity Board in the transfers.
The SAIL Academy in Bokaro transferred seven boys of its boys to its Calcutta league side. These boys are Prasanta Dey, Raj Ghosh, Biswajit Halder, Abdul Gani Sheikh, Supriya Bhakat, Kaushik Majee, Biplab Kundu. Abdul Mannan meanwhile left the SAIL Academy for Tollygunge Agragami.
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group A: Ecuador 0-3 Germany - Goals: 0-1,0-2 Miroslav Klose (4',44'), 0-3 Lukas Podolski (57').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group A: Costa Rica 1-2 Poland - Goals: 1-0 Ronald Gomez (25'), 1-1,1-2 Bartosz Bosacki (33',67').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group B: Sweden 2-2 England - Goals: 0-1 Joe Cole (34'), 1-1 Marcus Allback (51'), 1-2 Steven Gerrad (85'), 2-2 Henrik Larsson (90').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group B: Paraguay 2-0 Trinidad&Tobago - Goals: 1-0 Brent Sancho (25', og), 2-0 Nelson Cuevas (86').
For full coverage go to the >>2006 FIFA WORLD CUP special .
2nd Nripendra Narayan Bhattacharjee Trophy - Quarterfinal: SAI - Guwahati 2-3 Food Corporation of India, Guwahati - Goals: 1-0 Isaac Tirkey (4'), 1-1 Thomson Langthasa (31'), 1-2 Pratap Brahma (33'), 1-3 Mithun Goyary (76'), 2-3 ? (90').
Note-1: The World Cup has been great out here in Germany so far, but also in India the football fever is huge!
PTI report: The ongoing football World Cup in Germany has caught the fancy of sports lovers all over the country and the mega event has registered more eyeballs than the Indian cricket team's current tour of the West Indies.
The opening match between Germany and Costa Rica on June 9 garnered a TV rating of 3.43 whereas the Test match could manage a TVR of just 2.8, ESPN-Star Sports claimed.
The network feels that the unique appeal of this once in four years tournament was behind the impressive ratings and hopes that the knockout phases will see the figures rise even further.
A notable feature was that the high figures emerged from not just traditional football hotbeds like West Bengal, Kerala and Goa, but also from unlikely states like Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The convenient timings of the matches is also a reason behind the phenomenon.
The network has undertaken an initiative to provide parallel Hindi feed and it is the first time that people in traditional markets are able to follow the matches in their own language.
The trio of Novy Kapadia, Ghaus Mohammed and Sunil Taneja are doing the Hindi commentary, which has been well received in North India, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Newly appointed Indian National Football Team Chief Coach Bob Houghton arrived in Goa today. The Englishman has a couple of days to get used to Indian conditions before he starts his work with the Indian national team probables on June 21.
Three players are set to miss the probables camp at least for now. The players are captain Baichung Bhutia, goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey and midfielder Tomba Singh. No official reason has been given why the players are skipping the camp or if they would join the camp later on. For Baichung the reason is likely his media commitments for the ongoing World Cup.
In total 32 players are at the India camp in Goa. Yesterday they underwent medical tests at the Apollo Victor Hospital and Oceanic Hotel at Colva in south Goa. The test was drawn up by AIFF Sports Medicine Chief Dr Vece Paes, making a database of the general biodata of the players, their technical skill, medical fitness and also physical fitness. These tests have now been done at the start of every season for Indian international players for the last couple of years.
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group G: Togo 0-2 Switzerland - Goals: 0-1 Alexander Frei (16'), 0-2 Tranquillo Barnetta (88').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group H: Saudi Arabia 0-4 Ukraine - 0-1 Andriy Rusol (4'), 0-2 Serhiy Rebrov (36'), 0-3 Andriy Shevchenko (46'), 0-4 Maksym Kalinichenko (84').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group H: Spain 3-1 Tunisia - Goals: 0-1 Jaouhar Mnari (8'), 1-1 Raul (71'), 2-1 Fernando Torres (76'), 3-1 Fernando Torres (90', pen).
For full coverage go to the >>2006 FIFA WORLD CUP special .
2nd Nripendra Narayan Bhattacharjee Trophy - Quarterfinal: Assam Dynamo Club 2-2,3-1 Jewel Star Club [penalties] - Goals: 1-0 Mark Dennis Afam (7'), 1-1 Raman Singh (56'), 2-1 Yousuf Monsuru Ademola (75'), 2-2 Bijoy Rabha (87').
Note-1: The AIFF today released the schedule of the 3rd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships 2006 which will be held in Chandigarh from July 10 to 27. In total 24 states will be taking part in the national tournament.
Click here for the >>3rd Girls' under-17 National Football Championships fixtures
Note-2: The Assam FA will hold the 43rd Santosh Lahkar Trophy Junior Inter-District meet from July 2 in Gossaigaon; while the 30th Sati Dev Trophy Sub-Junior Inter-District tournament will be played in Silcahr from July 15.
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group F: Japan 0-0 Croatia - Goals: none.
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group F: Brazil 2-0 Australia - Goals: 1-0 Adriano (49'), 2-0 Fred (90').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group G: France 1-1 Korea Republic - Goals: 1-0 Thierry Henry (9'), 1-1 Ji-Sung Park (81').
For full coverage go to the >>2006 FIFA WORLD CUP special .
2nd Nripendra Narayan Bhattacharjee Trophy - Pre-Quarterfinal: Sunrise Club 1-2 Northern-Frontier Railway SC - Goals: 1-0 Alok Dey (43'), 1-1,1-2 Duleshwar Rabha (67',82').
Trades Challenge Cup - Phase I - Semifinal: Aryan Club 0-1 FCI, Calcutta - Goal: 0-1 Chandan Mandi (own Goal).
Trades Challenge Cup - Phase I - Semifinal: Mohammedan AC 3-1 Kalighat Milan Samity
Note-1: PTI report: AIFF President Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi has been appointed match commissioner for the Spain vs Tunisia tie in the World Cup 2006 at Stuttgart, Germany, to be held on Monday. Dasmunshi is the first Indian to earn the rare honour of being appointed as match commissioner for any World Cup match.
A match commissioner is FIFA's official representative in the match and his job is to ensure that the match is properly organised and run smoothly.
He shall be alert to all incidents and comments surrounding the match itself.
Note-2: Bengal Mumbai FC's new coach Chima Okerie, the former Nigerian hero of the Calcutta Maidan, is in Delhi to look for talented players he can draft into his BMFC squad. Chima will hold trials in Delhi tomorrow at 11.00 IST at the Ambedkar Stadium.
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group D: Portugal 2-0 Iran - Goals: 1-0 Deco (63'), 2-0 Cristiano Ronaldo (80').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group E: Czech Republic 0-2 Ghana - Goals: 0-1 Asamoah Gyan (2'), 0-2 Sulley Muntari (82').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group E: Italy 1-1 USA - Goals: 1-0 Alberto Gilardino (22'), 1-1 Cristian Zaccardo (27', own goal).
For full coverage go to the >>2006 FIFA WORLD CUP special .
2nd Nripendra Narayan Bhattacharjee Trophy - Pre-Quarterfinal: Assam Police Blues 1-0 City Police - Goal: 1-0 Arun Daimary (70').
Note-1: by Xavier Rutsa: The Asian Football Confederation 'C' License Course conducted by the AIFF, organised by Nagaland FA concluded today at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima.
In his address, KV Pusa, MLA applauded the AIFF president Priya Ranjan Das Munshi for giving the opportunity to NFA to host the course in Nagaland and hoped that it would go along way to promote the game of football in the country. He also appealed to the AIFF to grant more training courses of AFC 'A' and 'B' license in this parts of the country so that the football coaches have to coach in big areas and even at the international level.
Commenting on the potentialities of the footballer of northeast, Mr. Pusa said that players are far better than as compared to others and are not lacking behind. "We have natural talent for football with attitude, aptitude, agility, strength, stamina and sturdiness, which are the component of the game," he said and urged the AIFF to select the player purely on merit.
He also said that it was time for the AIFF to explore and give interest to the Northeast's to tap the genuine footballers, who could don the national colours and make the country proud in the football.
AFC course Instructor Gabriel E Joseph informed that during the training course, the trainees appeared for three practical and four theory paper examinations and would be sent to AFC headquarters Malaysia and than the result will be declared and the passed trainees would get certificates signed by AFC secretary general.
He also told the gathering that during the 15-days lots of topics were taught to the participants like sports medicine subjects, law of the games and besides football specialization.
P Atuo Mezhur, AIFF vice president and NFA president, thanked the course instructor Gabriel Joseph, Ekendra Singh and Birbal Singh, both AFC A Licence holders, Roko Angami, AIFF liaison officer, department of youth resources and sports and media for helping in various front to run the course smoothly in the last 15 days. He also said that it would be his endeavor to bring an AFC 'B' license course from AIFF for the Northeast by February/March next year. The NFA president also urged upon the coaches to go back home and start teaching the young upcoming soccer players, so that more footballers are produced.
Gumge Karbak (Arunachal Pradesh), Chinnoy Choudhury(Meghalaya), S Singh (Manipur) and Khrielie (Nagaland), all trainees , speaking at the function maintained that the two week long course had benefitted them a lot in the game of football and thanked the course instructor Gabriel E Joseph in particular.
Earlier the function was chaired K Neibou Sekhose, NFA secretary, who said that after 33 years of its existence, the NFA for the first time held a course in the state and congratulated the NFA president P Atuo Mezhur for bringing the course to Nagaland.
MLA Medokhul Sophie, Ekendra Singh AFC A Licence holder Roko Angami, liaison officer and Advocate Kekhriengulie also attended the closing function, while the chief guest gave all the trainees an attendant certificate. Altogether 20 coaches, 14 from Nagaland, 3 from Manipur and one each from Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh attended the course.
Note-2: "Player of Indian Origin" Michael Chopra has left Premier League side Newcastle United FC and has joined Championship side Cardiff City FC for a fee of £500,000. Newcastle wanted Chopra to stay after a good run at the end of the season, but the 22 year old striker decided to make a switch away from his hometown club.
Chopra was being chased by upto seven English clubs with the most prominent one's being Birmingham City FC, Crystal Palace and Barnsley FC.
An interesting fact is that now Chopra has joined Cardiff City he could face the Indian national team next month at the Vancouver Whitecaps Nations Cup tournament in Canada. A chance maybe to find out if Chopra would be interested to play for Team India.
In other PIO transfer news from England three juniors have been released by their Academies. The duo of Rikki Bains and Vijay Sidhu by Coventry City FC and Inderjeet Aujla by Bradford City FC. Where the three are going to play next season is unknown at the moment.
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group C: Argentina 6-0 Serbia&Montenegro - Goals: 1-0,3-0 Maxi Rodrigues (6',41'), 2-0 Cambiasso (31'), 4-0 Hernan Crespo (78'), 5-0 Carlos Tevez (84'), 6-0 Lionel Messi (88').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group C: Netherlands 2-1 Ivory Coast - Goals: 1-0 Robin van Persie (23'), 2-0 Ruud van Nistelrooy (27'), 2-1 B Kone (39').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group D: Mexico 0-0 Angola - Goals: none.
For full coverage go to the >>2006 FIFA WORLD CUP special .
2nd Nripendra Narayan Bhattacharjee Trophy - Pre-Quarterfinal: Guwahati Town Club 1-2 Food Corporation of India, Guwahati - Goals: 0-1 Thomson Langthasa (36'), 0-2 Rabiram Basumatary (49'), 1-2 Padum Rabha (78').
Trades Challenge Cup - Phase I - Quarterfinal: Aryan Club 1-1,5-4 Wari AC [penalties]
Trades Challenge Cup - Phase I - Quarterfinal: Mohammedan AC 1-0 Milan Bithee
Trades Challenge Cup - Phase I - Quarterfinal: FCI, Calcutta 0-0,7-6 Janbazar AC [penalties]
Note-1: While the rest of the world is looking to Germany for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, for 34 India probables the new Indian season starts tomorrow with the first India camp in Goa. With the transfer period still on some players are expected to reach later, but the AIFF hopes that all probables will be at the camp before the new national coach Bob Houghton arrives at the camp next week. The camp is in preparation for the Vancouver Whitecaps Nations Cup tournament in mid-July and the 2007 Asia Cup qualifiers on August 16 against Saudi Arabia.
IndianFootball.Com's extensive coverage of the 2006 FIFA World Cup continues. Editors-in-Chief Arunava Chaudhuri and Chris Punnakkattu Daniel plus Mumbai editor Sujay Sharma are touring through Germany to cover the big event.
Yesterday Arunava was at the Germany vs Poland to cover it for German radio in Dortmund. Have a look at the pictures he took before and during the game.
<Pictures from Dortmund>
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group A: Ecuador 3-0 Costa Rica - Goals: 1-0 Carlos Tenorio (8'), 2-0 Agustin Delgado (54'), 3-0 Ivan Kaviedes (90').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group B: England 2-0 Trinidad&Tobago - Goals: 1-0 Peter Crouch (83'), 2-0 Steven Gerrard (90+1').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group B: Sweden 1-0 Paraguay - Goal: 1-0 Fredrik Ljungberg (89').
For full coverage go to the >>2006 FIFA WORLD CUP special .
Mumbai Super Division: Income Tax - Sea View SC
Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division: State Bank of Travancore 3-0 Pettah Youngsters
Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division: Kerala State Electricity Board 1-1 Titanium XI
State Bank of Travancore have retained their Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division title, while promoted Pettah Youngsters have been relegated from the Super Division.
Note-1: The AIFF today released the first list of cleared Inter-State Transfers for the first transfer window of the 2006/07 season which runs from June 1 to 20. A total of 34 transfers have been cleared by the national body.
Promoted Churchill Brothers SC have signed Mashangva Genius Zenith and D Raju from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC; KK Ramu from Hindustan Club, Delhi; ML Joseph Daniel from Post&Telegraph Karnataka; and James Ita Etim from CIL, Bangalore.
Mohun Bagan AC have signed the quartet of Jose Ramirez Barreto, Deepak Kumar Mondal, Subhas Chakraborty and Surajit Bose from Mahindra United. Also goalkeeper Sangram Mukherjee signed for Bagan from Salgaocar SC. Mohun Bagan meanwhile lost Jerry Zirsanga to Dempo SC.
East Bengal Club have signed Ashim Biswas from Salgaocar SC, Freddy Mascarenhas from Churchill Brothers SC, Bibiano Fernandes from Sporting Clube de Goa; and Y Raju Singh from Dempo SC.
Sporting Clube de Goa have also lost Nigerian Chidi Edeh to JCT Mills; while they signed Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh from Mahindra United.
Salgaocar SC, relegated from the NFL, have signed Sujith Manaly and Sheikh Shabbir Ali Dastager from Mumbai side Golden Gunners. Also Nigerian Okonji Onyelo Patrick D'Souza with Mohammedan Sporting Club last season has also signed for Salgaocar.
Air-India have released Sheikh Sanjib who has signed for Calcutta Premier League side George Telegraph SC.
Assam State Electricity Board have signed the trio of K Priyo Kumar Singh, Prosenjit Ghosh and ZV Horin from City AC plus Jyotirmoy Ghosh from Bengal-Nagpur Railway RC all from Calcutta.
Bengal Mumbai FC lost Nirmaldeep (Rail Coach Factory) and Karnail Singh (International SC, Punjab)
Note-2: India captain Baichung Bhutia signed on the dotted line for Mohun Bagan AC in Calcutta today. Baichung makes a switch from Mohun Bagan archrivals East Bengal Club and is said to receive more than Rs 3 million as salary.
"I take this as a new challenge," Baichung said soon after signing the contract amid celebrations, cheers and fanfare in the Mohun Bagan club premises.
Mohun Bagan now have the deadliest striking duo in Indian football with Baichung pitted alongside Brazilian Jose Ramirez Barreto.
Note-3: PTI report: President APJ Abdul Kalam today met and blessed the four FIFA "fair play flag bearers" ahead of their visit to Germany for the football World Cup. The children, aged between eight and 13, will represent the country as "fair play flag bearers" and hold the coveted flag during the Australia vs Croatia match on June 22.
Kalam said, "Fair Play is not only important in sports but also in life. You should become good citizens not only of the nation but of the world."
The President, known for his fondness for children, had a free discussion with the children, who were given the opportunity after they won a contest organised by ESPN-Star Sports and Adidas. The children were visibly happy after the meeting.
The visibly happy kids - Shreshth Shah from Calcutta, Ajiteshwar Singh from Delhi, Sachit Kamlesh Yadav from Mumbai and PS Sudarshan from Bangalore - who were excited to meet the President said, "The meeting with President is like a dream come true. Encouraging words from him have further inspired us."
"Going to the FIFA World Cup is a once in a lifetime opportunity," they were quoted as saying by a press release issued by the organisers.
Note-4: Goa Pro League club Raia Sporting Club will hold selection trials for it's senior team on June 17 at the Raia Panchayat grounds. Interested players along with the team players from last season are asked to report to new coach Norbert Gonsalves at 07.45 IST with their own kit.
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group H: Spain 4-0 Ukraine - Goals: 1-0 Xabi Alonso (13'), 2-0,3-0 David Villa (17',48' - penalty), 4-0 Fernando Torres (81').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group H: Tunisia 2-2 Saudi Arabia - Goals: 1-0 Zied Jaziri (23'), 1-1 Yasser Al Kahtani (57'), 1-2 Sami Al Jaber (84'), 2-2 Radhi Jaidi (90+2').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group A: Germany 1-0 Poland - Goal: 1-0 Oliver Neuville (90+1').
For full coverage go to the >>2006 FIFA WORLD CUP special .
Mumbai Super Division: Mumbai Port Trust - Central Bank of India
Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division: Titanium XI 3-1 Pettah Youngsters - Goals: 1-0 Rajesh (5'), 2-0 Usman (25'), 3-0 Ebin Rose (50'), 3-1 Aneesh (70').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group G: South Korea 2-1 Togo - Goals: 0-1 Mohamed Kader (31'), 1-1 Chung Soo Lee (54'), 2-1 Jung Hwang Ahn (72').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group G: France 0-0 Switzerland - Goals: none.
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group F: Brazil 1-0 Croatia - Goal: 1-0 Kaka (44').
For full coverage go to the >>2006 FIFA WORLD CUP special .
Mumbai Super Division: Union Bank of India - New India Insurance
Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division: Kerala State Electricity Board 2-3 State Bank of Travancore - Goals: 1-0 Girish (19'), 1-1,1-2 T Asif Saheer (29',64'), 2-2 Yesudas (74'), 2-3 Sylvester Ignatius (82').
Note-1: France international Vikash Dhorasoo created history today by coming on as a substitute for the Equipe Tricolore in their opening 2006 World Cup match against Switzerland. By playing today Dhorasoo became the first-ever player of Indian origin to play in a World Cup match. And just before the end Dhorasoo even had the chance to score the winner for France with a shot that just went wide of the goal.
Note-2: Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia will be from now on promoting products of TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited). Baichung will give his support to TRIFED in its project of associating distinguished tribesmen to promote tribal products. TRIFED has a chain of 28 retail outlets under the name of Tribe India in 22 cities across the country.
IndianFootball.Com's extensive coverage of the 2006 FIFA World Cup continues. Editors-in-Chief Arunava Chaudhuri and Chris Punnakkattu Daniel plus Mumbai editor Sujay Sharma are touring through Germany to cover the big event.
Yesterday Arunava, Chris and Sujay met in Cologne to watch the Portugal-Angola together. Have a look at the pictures of the day.
<Pre-Match Pictures from Cologne> | <Match Pictures from Cologne>
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group F: Australia 3-1 Japan - Goals: 0-1 Shunsuke Nakamura (26'), 1-1 Tim Cahill (84'), 2-1 Tim Cahill (89'), 3-1 John Aloisi (90'+2').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group E: USA 0-3 Czech Republic - Goals: 0-1 Jan Koller (5'), 0-2,0-3 Tomas Rosicky (36',76').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group E: Italy 2-0 Ghana - Goals: 1-0 Andrea Pirlo (40'), 2-0 Vincenzo Iaquinta (83').
For full coverage go to the >>2006 FIFA WORLD CUP special .
Mumbai Super Division: Dena Bank SC - Bank of Baroda
Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division: St.George FC 1-1 St.Mary's FC - Goals: 1-0 Noel (18'), 1-1 Johnson (50').
Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division: Coastal Club 3-0 Pettah Youngsters - Goals: 1-0 Thomas J (35'), 2-0 Simon E (54'), 3-0 Sunil (56').
Note-1: UNI report: As India fancies a World Cup finalsappearance in 2010, a number of former football captains believe the newly appointed coach Bob Houghton can be the alchemist who willturn dream into reality.
Prasun Banerjee did his coaching B licence under the 58-year-old Englishman and he has no doubt that the AIFF has headhunted the right guy.
"You can hardly have a better person than Houghton to coach a team like us. Have no illusion, he can't turn the current national team into a world-beater overnight. But he is an excellent coach, especially for the youngsters. He has a thinking head on his shoulder and can mingle with the youngsters and that's a huge positive," he told UNI.
India's experiment with foreign coaches has not been too successful Stephen Constantine being the latest instance but Prasun feels Houghton is not just another coach.
"The problem with Constantine was that he was a ruthless guy who hardly understood the cultural difference and was a bull-head," said Prasun, who was selector during Constantine's tenure and had serious difference with him.
"On the contrary, I know Houghton since 1995 and he has managed Asian teams like China, Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia with distinction. He is the ideal person to work with the under-16 boys and he would have to play an instrumental role if we are to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. We should give him the time and reserve our comments," he said.
"I heard (Salgaocar coach) Savio Madeira is likely to be attached to Houghton. This couldn't have been better because you always need an Indian to assist a foreigner," Prasun added.
He, however, did not sound too optimistic about AIFF's World Cup 2010 Project but felt even if India fails to meet the deadline, 2014 is always a possibility.
Prasun's citymate and fellow Indian captain Prasanta Banerjee also reposed faith in Houghton and thanked AIFF for its "long-term" approach.
"Finally, it seems, we have dared to dream about World Cup and I feel Houghton is just the right person for the 2010 Project," he told UNI.
"Those you see in the current national team can't improve beyond a point and at this level, you can't mould them either. So, you are left with the youngsters and whatever I heard about Houghton,
I think there you have a guy who can deliver the goods," said the former player who led India to SAF Games Gold in 1985 and under him, the team reached the semifinals in the Mardeka Cup the same year.
Olympian and former captain Chuni Goswami, who was recently in the capital, also expressed hopes for a revival of Indian soccer under the new coach.
"We had our days of glory in the past but somehow we could not make it to the World Cup. We won Asian Games couple of times including one under my captaincy but World Cup remained out of reach.
"Now we have roped in a well known British coach for the national team and I hope under him, we would finally break the duck in 2010," he said.
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group C: Serbia&Montenegro 0-1 Netherlands - Goal: 0-1 Arjen Robben (18').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group D: Mexico 3-1 Iran - Goals: 1-0,2-1 Omar Bravo (28',76'), 1-1 Yahya Golmohammadi (36'), 3-1 Zinha (79').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group D: Angola 0-1 Portugal - Goal: 0-1 Pauleta (4').
For full coverage go to the >>2006 FIFA WORLD CUP special .
Mumbai Super Division: Sea View SC - Rizvi Mumbai Muslims
Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division: Kerala State Electricity Board 3-0 St.Mary's FC - Goals: 1-0,2-0 Vinod (30',34'), 3-0 Naushad Pari (55').
Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division: State Bank of Travancore 3-1 Titanium XI - Goals: 1-0 T Asif Saheer (19'), 2-0,3-0 Sylvester Ignatius (37',75'), 3-1 Jackson (89').
Note-1: The search for an Indian assistant coach for the new English Indian National Team Chief Coach seems to be over. With both Derrick Pereira of Mahindra United and Biswajit Bhattacharjee of Mohun Bagan unable to take-up the job due to club commitments it now looks likely that Salgaocar's Savio Medeira will take over the job. Talks are said to have taken place between the AIFF and Savio with both sides willing to work together. An annoucement is likely early next week.
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group B: England 1-0 Paraguay - Goal: 1-0 Carlos Gamarra (3' - own Goal).
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group B: Trinidad&Tobago 0-0 Sweden - Goals: none.
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group C: Argentina 2-1 Cote d'Ivoire - Goals: 1-0 Hernan Crespo (24'), 2-0 Javier Saviola (38'), 2-1 Didier Drogba (82').
For full coverage go to the >>2006 FIFA WORLD CUP special .
Mumbai Super Division: Kenkre Football Academy - Central Railway (Mumbai Division)
Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division: Coastal Club 0-0 St.George FC - Goals: none.
IndianFootball.Com's extensive coverage of the 2006 FIFA World Cup continues. Editors-in-Chief Arunava Chaudhuri and Chris Punnakkattu Daniel are touring through Germany to cover the big event.
Arunava has arrived in Munich to attend the opening match Germany vs Costa Rica, while Chris was once again in Marienfeld to get all the latest from the Portugese camp.
Arunava, Chris and Mumbai-editor Sujay Sharma will be covering the Portugal vs Angola match from Cologne on Sunday.
<Arunava: Pictures from Munich> | <Chris: Pictures from Marienfeld>
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group A: Germany 4-2 Costa Rica - Goals: 1-0 Philipp Lahm (6'), 1-1 Paulo César Wanchope (12'), 2-1 Miroslav Klose (17'), 3-1 Miroslav Klose (61'), 3-2 Paulo César Wanchope (73'), 4-2 Torsten Frings (87').
2006 FIFA WORLD CUP - Group A: Poland 0-2 Ecuador - Goals: 0-1 Carlos Tenorio (24'), 0-2 Agustin Delgado (81').
For full coverage go to the >>2006 FIFA WORLD CUP special .
Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division: Kerala State Electricity Board - Titanium XI - POSTPONED TO JUNE 15
Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division: State Bank of Travancore - Pettah Youngsters - POSTPONED TO JUNE 15
Note-1: The World Cup Project 2010/2014 was launched by the AIFF president Priya Ranjan Das Munshi at a ceremony in New Delhi today. Speaking on the occasion the AIFF President targeted India's qualification for 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The AIFF President informed that the project would focus on providing training, administrative support to the players so that India could qualify for the World Cup.
Speaking on the launch of the project Union Minister of Sports, Mani Shanker Aiyer said that under the Panchayati Raj Khel Khud Program (Rural Sport development programme), organized sports including football will be encouraged. "For India to progress in football, we need to find Baichung's in every village of India," said the Minister for Sports.
Union Ministers Mani Shankar Aiyer, Praful Patel, Sushil Kumar Shinde, Lt Governor Delhi BL Joshi, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, IOA president Suresh Kalmadi, MP Vijay Kumar Malhotra and CFSI Chairperson Ms Nafisa Ali, were also present at the ceremony. The ambassadors of Germany and South Africa were presented FIFA Fair Play Flags on the occasion.
Numerous star footballers of yesteryears like Sailen Manna, Chuni Goswami, Inder Singh, Gurdev Singh, Gautam Sarkar, Shymal Banerjee, Prasun Banerjee, Mohammed Habib, Parminder Singh, Harjinder Singh, Savio Madeira, Mauricio Alfonso, Derrick Pereira, Jo Paul Ancheri plus current India captain Baichung Bhutia were felicated on the occasion.
Referee K. Shanker who was an assistant referee at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and women referees Bentla D'Couth and Shanti Mallick were also presented with medals at the ceremony to mark the occasion.
We at IndianFootball.Com are so much into work, preparing for the new Indian season and also the World Cup now just a day away that we forgot to mention here in our own news that IndianFootball.Com crossed the 700.000 HITs barrier over the weekend. Another achievement for India's Premier Football Website with HITs steadily going upwards over the years and the duration of crossing each 100.000 HITs becoming less and less.
Coming back to the World Cup, where covering the World Cup from Germany in our IndianFootball.Com 2006 FIFA WORLD CUP Special with emphasis on the events surrouding the matches as there are tons of match reports around. We rather try to bring across to you the fanfare, feelings and more of a football World Cup with pictures and reports, also telling you how the football craze is spreading across India.
For full coverage go to the >>2006 FIFA WORLD CUP special .
Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division: State Bank of Travancore 5-0 Coastal Club - Goals: 1-0,3-0 Abdul Noushad (4',50'), 2-0,4-0 Mohammad Aslam (13',62'), 5-0 Sylvester Ignatius (??').
Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division: Titanium XI 4-0 St.George FC - Goals: 1-0,4-0 Ebin Rose (9',90'+1'), 2-0 Deepu (61'), 3-0 Shabeer (44').
Note-1: One can only ask "Quo Vadis Tata Football Academy?"
India's Premier Football Academay based in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand finally qualified for the National Football League's Premier Division less than a month ago in the 2.Division NFL's Super Six in Bangalore, but still it isn't surely if TFA will finally take part in the NFL. TFA had a number of options on hands, but not time so an option looks to be that TFA pull out of the NFL and the third-placed side of the 2.Division Hindustan Aeronautics Limited from Bangalore move in.
A few weeks ago TFA had three options to go into their first NFL season. Number one was to install a professional club on top of TFA with recruitment of top Indian players; number two was to keep the cadets for at least another year who had passed out in March/April 2006; while number three was to go into the NFL season with the junior cadets, meaning TFA would play the NFL with a strengthened U16 squad. The options one and two have not materialised as Tata Steel looks to be reluctant to put in extra cash to run a professional club in Jamshedpur.
Now TFA seems to be in a fix with only option three being an option and with such a young team at hand a pullout from the NFL has suddenly also become an option. An all-Indian U16 boys team in India's Premier League just does not make sense. It is bad for the boys and also for the NFL.
Note-2: Sporting Clube de Goa are the latest club side in India to start their own official website.
It is good to see that Sporting Clube have taken the step to join the Cyberworld and we at IndianFootball.Com congratulate them on their website launch!
Go to their website under >>www.sportingclubedegoa.com .
On a personal note, IndianFootball.Com Editor-in-Chief Arunava Chaudhuri will today be part of the new and innovative "My World Cup" show on the BBC World TV service. It will be aired live at 10.45 GMT (12.45 CET / 16.15 IST) for 15 minutes.
The show is the first interactive football broadcast with people from around the world joining in through broadband connections and webcams. The main topic today will be the preparations in Germany ahead of the World Cup with maybe India also being a topic in the show. If not today, then India is likely to be a topic in one of the future shows...
PREDICTION GAME: The 2006 FIFA World Cup will kick-off in a couple of days and Germany's leading Indian online community theInder.net in association with team|networks has launched an online prediction game. Interested persons will be asked to predict the results of every World Cup match taking place from June 9 to July 9 here in Germany.
Anyone interested in the 2006 FIFA World Cup can take part in this online game sponsored by Nokia, Filmigame, GEPA Fair Handelshaus and Rapideye Movies. theInder.net and the official sponsors are offering attractive prizes to the winners of the singles competition. Due to some legal restrictions theInder.net can only award prizes to German-, Austrian-, and Swiss-based participants of the competition. The game is also in German language.
The winner will be awarded a Nokia N91 mobile phone, while the runners-up will receive a Bollywood DVD-Megabox. Interested persons can also participate in the team competition, where competitors can join hands and start their own tapping community to contest against fellow communities.
We at IndianFootball.Com are proud to be associated to this online game as an official media partner.
TAKE PART IN THE >>theInder.Net PREDICTION GAME .
Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division: St.Mary's FC 0-0 Pettah Youngsters - Goals: none.
Note-1: by N. Ananthanarayanan (Reuters): Vikash Dhorasoo's involvement in France's World Cup challenge is of particular interest in faraway India.
Front-page articles have been written about the Mauritius-born Paris St Germain midfielder as the birthplace of his parents wills him to succeed at the finals in Germany.
The 32-year-old Dhorasoo has also sparked renewed interest among expat players, with Indian soccer officials looking to bring them back to play for their country.
"Anyone who has got the credentials, we are very much interested in," Albert Colaco, secretary of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), told Reuters.
Millions of cricket-mad fans in India are switching allegiance as the World Cup soccer festival looms, although the struggling national team are ranked a lowly 117th.
The AIFF's attempts to bring back players reflect the changing profile of the expat community and a bid to make Indian soccer more professional.
"Now Indian youngsters abroad are taking up football," Colaco said. "India has definitely got (footballing) links, like Senegal and Jamaica."
The AIFF has a list of players based in Europe and United States thanks to the help of a German-based portal on Indian soccer (www.indianfootball.com).
But getting them to play for India could be a different ball game.
"We have got a whole list of players from them," Colaco said. "Unfortunately, all the good players don't have Indian passports."
PERSUASIVE SKILLS
The AIFF would need to use their persuasive skills as several of the players dream of representing countries like Netherlands and England after coming through their age-group sides.
Only Indian passport holders can play for the national team, although rule changes now allow those of Indian origin to acquire one.
According to the rules of soccer's governing body FIFA, players with dual citizenship or nationality who have not played international soccer above under-23 are eligible to apply to change the country they represent, as long as they do it before they are 21.
Arunava Chaudhuri, head of the portal, feels such issues could be sorted out if the right players are found.
"We don't have to look for a whole team of PIO's (persons of Indian origin)," he told Reuters by telephone.
"If we get two or three players in key positions, especially up front, it should help us reach the next level."
Chaudhuri began his search after watching a documentary on Dhorasoo. India captain Baichung Bhutia's stint with English club Bury five years ago also brought focus on Indians.
Officials are pinning their hopes on young talent like former Dutch under-20 strikers Kiran Bechan and Prince Rajcomar.
Ultimate success in their bid could revive soccer in India, twice former Asian Games champions who have faded away even on their own continent over the last 20 years.
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) secretary Peter Velappan has dubbed India a "sleeping giant" in soccer, pointing to their growing economic clout.
Winning games with foreign feet could be the first step to unlocking that potential.
Note-2: In Kerala football fans are as passionate about the game as in Bengal or Goa, sadly the local Keralite football scene hasn't been able to be part of the Indian club football mainstream. But when it is World Cup time they show their passion as the rest of the country.
The city of Tirur hosted to a Fans march ahead of the World Cup, organised by the Malayala Manorama. The march was flagged-off by Indian international MA Abdul Hakkim at the Tirur Ring Road. For the football fans of Malappuram it is a venue to cheer for their favourite football team. Local clubs, fans, the District FA were all part of the March, who had a chance to represent their favourite football team in the March. The best perfomering team of the March wins Rs.5,001 and a trophy, the runners-up will receive Rs.3,001 and a trophy, while the thrid-placed team will get Rs.1,001 and a trophy. The march ended at the Tirur Muncipal Stadium. Around 30 teams participated.
Further Malappuram played host to a Football Gazal today. It was presented by Gazal singer Shabaz Aman. The gazal is on Argentine football legend Diego Armando Maradona. This is the first instance that a Gazal on football has been made. It was held on DTPC Auditorium in Kottakunnil (Malappuram District). Football stars Sharif Ali, Jo Paul Ancheri, CV Pappachan, Chacko, Habibur Rehman etc were at the event. Also at this event the Mathrubhumi newspaper presented their World Cup Special Publication. It has 232 pages on the Football World Cup Football. Football Album, Double Poster, World Cup Fixtures Booklet, etc.There will also be a football Novel on Latin American Football secrets included. This is the first time that a complete football novel is published in Malayalam.
Also the Kerala Sports Minister M Vijayakumar has ordered the District Collectors to place Big Screen in public places, where possible, so that people can watch the World Cup live throughout the state.
Note-3: UNI report: Soccer in Sikkim is all set to receive a shot in the arm with FIFA granting a Rs 1.8 crore grant for the tiny Himalayan state. The grant is aimed at improving soccer infrastructure as well as football skill among the players in the state, according to Sikkim FA.
The fund would come through AIFF under the FIFA Goal Project II scheme. AIFF has identified several states in the country for such project being financed by FIFA. As per the FIFA norms, the state government has already agreed to contribute an equal amount on matching grant for the project. The FIFA project envisaged that there should be separate stadia for practice sessions and tournaments and as such the project will be implemented in Sikkim.
SFA president Tempo Bhutia said AIFF Secretary Alberto Colaco would come here shortly along with two AFC's project directors to inspect the facilities in Sikkim and decide which areas need support under the FIFA project.
The IndianFootball.Com AWARDS 2006 - Preliminary Round voting has now been open for over a week and we have already received loads of votes. Still the voting is open for another couple of weeks, so do cast your vote for the best performers of the 2005/06 season. As every vote counts!
The IndianFootball.Com Team is working to finally organise an Award Gala night for the upcoming winners of the IndianFootball.Com AWARDS 2006.
If you know potential sponsors or you yourself have interest to sponsor the event, do get in touch with us at IndianFootball.Com.
To cast your vote go to >>IndianFootball.Com Awards 2006.
Note-1: The 2006 FIFA World Cup is set to kick-off on Friday, when hosts Germany take on underdogs Costa Rica.
All participating national teams have already arrived in Germany and are getting ready for the the big event.
IndianFootball.Com Editor-in-Chief Chris Punnakkattu Daniel attended the first press conference of the Portuguese national team at their base 'Klosterpforte', Marienfeld and the inaugural public training session at the Heidewald Stadion, Guetersloh.
IndianFootball.Com will have extensive coverage of the 2006 FIFA World Cup taking place in Germany, where Editors-in-Chief Arunava Chaudhuri and Chris Punnakkattu Daniel are based.
For further information and pictures go to the >>2006 FIFA WORLD CUP special .
Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division: Pettah Youngsters 0-2 St.George FC - Goals: 0-1,0-2 Noel (6',23').
Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division: Coastal Club 4-0 St.Mary's FC - Goals: 1-0,3-0,4-0 Thomas (6',22',58'), 2-0 Tommy (14').
Note-1: by Xavier Rutsa: Expressing optimism, Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia said that the Northeastern states has great potentials to produce good footballers and make the country proud in the game of football.
Speaking to media in Kohima, Baichung said the states like Manipur and Mizoram has produce many good players and hoped Nagaland would also find its rhythm going, adding Nagas has good physical and well built structure and also appealed to the government, people and media to support the game of football. Talking about the football scenario in the country, the ace football star said that the football in the country is gradually improving to great extend and opined that more tournament should be organize at various level to tap in the best players from the country.
Asked about which countries are favourite to win the World Cup, the Sikkimese footballer disclosed that the Brazil are no doubt the favourites, however pointed out that shocks and surprise could happen in the knockout stages, adding Italy, Spain, Holland, Argentina, etc could also be in the contention.
Commenting about the new Indian football coach Bob Houghton, Bhutia said he has a great record and hoped his new innings with Indian football in the long run would be help to great extend. "We cannot expect a miracle from right now, but let's all support him to help the Indian football," he exuded.
Asked his comment on sacking of Phillipe de Ridder as the coach of East Bengal recently, India's best striker said that both had had a good relationship and that Philippe was a good coach, who has knowledge and experience as coach.
The latest IndianFootball.Com Editorial is out now. IndianFootball.Com Editor Abhishek Gujral takes a look at the gone-by 10th National League.
Read the complete article here >>10th National League review .
Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division: St.Mary's FC 0-6 Titanium XI - Goals: 0-1,0-2,0-3,0-4,0-6 Ebin Rose (4',18',38',41',60'), 0-5 Majid (50').
Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division: Kerala State Electricity Board 2-1 Coastal Club - Goals: 1-0 Noushad (11'), 1-1 Biju (26'), 2-1 Vinod (39').
Note-1: Their entry into Indian football had been expected for a number of years, but it never materialised until now.
Sahara India Parivar, sponsors of the Indian Cricket and Hockey national teams, is now entering Indian football as sponsor of the IFA-organised Calcutta Football League. Sahara and the IFA (West Bengal body) have signed a five year contract which will cover all divisions from the top to the bottom of the CFL. Especially the Calcutta Premier League, founded last year, will get a boast to make it the most high profile local league in India. Sahara India would also help develop grassroot football in the state of West Bengal.
Present on the occasion of the launch where amongst others former India Cricket captain Saurav Ganguly, who happens to be a diehard football fan; and former Indian international Chuni Goswami.
Note-2: IANS report: The football careers of Rahim Nabi, Muttath Suresh and Malswam Tulunga seem to have hit a roadblock, thanks to the bickering between East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting on which side they should be. The incidents began with Mohammedan Sporting poaching three of East Bengal's long serving footballers to their camp.
With East Bengal claiming that they have the tokens of these players and also signed vouchers of cash payments they received, which the players first refuted and then allegedly attached wrong sums to them, the three could be in a spot going by the Indian Football Association (IFA) rule book.
But Mohammedan Sporting claimed that the tokens for the players were retained forcibly. On that basis, the trio shot off a letter Sunday night to East Bengal club seeking that their tokens be returned. However, East Bengal club authorities are keeping the matter in the hands of the IFA. "We have given our details to IFA and they will take a decision," a senior official of the club said. If no response comes from East Bengal, the matter will be referred to the players' registration committee and players' status committee, which might refer it to the disciplinary committee and finally to the governing body of IFA.
According to IFA Secretary Subrata Dutta, "The earliest the players' committee could call session was in the first week of July."
With this tug-of-war reaching a complicated stage and no immediate solution in sight, the players would miss the premier soccer league. Moreover, if the IFA fails to give an amicable solution, the matter could end up landing in a court of law.
However, until this confusion is sorted out, the players are not between the goals for sure.
Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division: State Bank of Travancore 2-0 St.George FC - Goals: 1-0,2-0 Abdul Noushad (70',77').
Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division: Coastal Club 0-3 Titanium XI - Goals: 0-1 Jackson (own Goal), 0-2 Abdul Hameed (37'), 0-3 Ebin Rose (41').
Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division: Kerala State Electricity Board 2-0 Pettah Youngsters - Goals: 1-0 Gireesh (21'), 2-0 Rajeev (68').
Note-1: Vaxim Divar led by versatile Russel Rodrigues emerged champions in the First UAE Indian Expat Football League organized by Gulf International Promotions. In an exciting final played at the Iranian Stadium Dubai, in front of a large crowd Divar defeated a strong Copy Corner Sporting 6-4 in a penalty shootout. Both the teams were locked 1-1 at the end of normal time and extra time failed to produce a goal. In a fast paced game both teams went all out for victory with Russel Rodrigues and Orlando Viegas missing sitters for the Divar team. Copy Corner had their own share of spoils when Manoj G and Rasheed has near misses. Divar took the lead in the 17th minute when Russel Rodrigues past the Copy Corner Keeper Thomas. Copy Corner were back on level terms thirty seconds later when a quick restart of the game when a through ball from Dileep found Subair in the penalty area and he mad no mistake to put the game on level terms. There was no further scoring and the result has to be resolved by the tie breaker. Divar hero was their Goalkeeper Jonas D'Souza who made two brilliant saves to deny Rasheed and Dileep. Subair, Manoj G, and Basheer K managed to score from the spot. Divar players made no mistake with their kicks with Randel Pereira, Russel Rodrigues, Creighton Travasso, Ashok S, Russel Rosario and Orlando Viegas burying the ball into the net to earn a well deserved victory and lift the handsome winners trophy.
Earlier in the quarterfinals of the main tournament Siolim United got the better of Varca FC 1-0 in extra time. Shriram Vernekar scored the all important goal. In the second quarterfinal Divar managed to defeat a determined Cansaulim by a lone Derrick D'Souza goal. Benit D'Souza and Navel Pereira played well for Cansaulim. In the third quarterfinal Copy Corner Sporting had to pull out all stops to defeat Zyco Dubai FC 1-0. Subair made no mistake from close range when put through by Basheer. KK Riyaz and Baby Job had a good game for Zyco Dubai. In the last quarterfinals of the main event Young St Marys boys led by the only female manager Candida K scored to quick goals through Wilton Gomes to march into the semifinal against Vaxim Divar. In the first semifinal Copy Corner had to wait until extra time before scoring a late winner against a strong Siolim United FC. Striker Rasheed proved to be the hero with the match winner three minutes before the end of extra time. The second semifinal saw experience against youth. Vaxim Divar had to use all their experience before overcoming St Marys Boys 2-0. Randell Pereira and Derrick D'Souza ensured the victory for the Divar team. Siolim United had the consolation of winning the 3rd place playoff defeating St Marys Boys 2-0. John Fernandes and Shriram Vernekar scored for the winners.
The tournament lived up to its billing as an exciting one when the Plate event was just as exciting as the main event. Zuari FC led by Savio Cardozo lifted the plate trophy defeating St Anthonys 6-5 via the penalty shootout. In an exciting game Zuari and St Anthony were locked in a 1-1 draw despite extra time. Julius Noronha who had a good tournament gave Zuari the lead in the 8th minute only to see Darryl Carvalho equalize from close range. Both teams went in search of the equalizer but failed to do so. In the penalty shoot out Lynton D'Souza, Savio Cardozo, Joaquim Fernandes, Godfrey Almeida and Ashton D'Souza made no mistake from the spot. Kevin Fernandes, Oswald Fernandes, Darryl Rasquinha and Darryl Carvalho scored their efforts while Sandy Fernandes shot wide. In the quarterfinals of the plate event SFX Old Goa did not turn up for their game against Almoe FC, Dragon All Starz went down to Emirates Flight Catering 2-0 courtesy Caitan Fernandes and Thomas Dias. Zuari had to thank Lynton D'Souza, Oswald Fernandes, Karlton for their 3-0 victory over Desert Cubs. St Anthonys had to resort to penalties before overcoming Phoenix Loutolim 4-3. Kevin Fernandes, Oswald Fernandes, Darryl Carvalho and Darryl Rasquinha scored for St Anthony while Lucas Fernandes, Baptist D'Souza and Lawrie Gonsalves scored for Loutolim with Moses and Benjamin missing from the spot. In the first semifinal Zuari FC defeated Almoe 6-5 on penalties while St Anthony also got through Emirates Flight Catering 4-3 via the tiebreaker. Almoe FC defeated Emirates Flight Catering 6-5 on penalties to take 3rd place in the plate trophy.
The tournament was played over a period of 12 weeks with 16 teams taking part and some exciting games were witnessed. The referees were, Brett Plumridge, Abdul Majeed and Manuel Monteiro. The Chief Guest PK Balan Manager of title Sponsors Gulf Eternit Industries gave away the prizes along with the Chief Organizer Raul Fernandes. The co-sponsors were Pehla, Firstnet, Al Awael, Nike, Sun & Sand Sports, Lipton, Masafi, Al Rawabi, Tiffany. Special awards went to Best Defender KK Riyaz of Zyco Dubai, Best Midfield Lynton D'Souza of Zuari FC, Best Forward went to Roy Das of St Marys Boys and Best Goalkeeper went to Steven Fernandes of Siolim United. Shirarm Vernekar received the Golden Boot award for the highest scorer with a total of 16 goals during the tournament. There were two trophies for best-disciplined teams who were not awarded any cards during the tournament St Anthony FC and Desert Cubs FC. At the end of the presentation ceremony Chief Organizer Raul Fernandes thanked all the Sponsors, the Media, the Teams and their Managers, officials of the Iranian Club and all those who worked to make this first event a huge success. Clifford D'Costa of Varca FC spoke on behalf of the teams and thanked Gulf International Promotions for a well-organized tournament and appreciated all the hard work involved. The teams expressed their thanks and hoped Raul would organize more tournaments in the near future.
Note-2: The Guwahati football season is set to kickoff on June 16 with the season opening NN Bhattacharjee Trophy knockout tournament. The eight-team Guwahati Super Division is set to kickoff thereafter on July 6.
Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division: Kerala State Electricity Board 2-1 St.George FC - Goals: 1-0 Rajiv (17'), 2-0 Naushad (34'), 2-1 Noel (75').
Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division: St.Mary's FC 0-5 State Bank of Travancore - Goals: 0-1,0-5 AG Mohammad Aslam (18',62'), 0-2,0-3 Sylvester Ignatius (23',31'), 0-4 T Asif Saheer (35').
Note-1: State Bank of Travancore players Mohammad Rafi and Naduparambil Pappachan Pradeep will be joining NFL and Federation Cup champions Mahindra United. Rafi and Pradeep signed their contracts in the presence of Mahindra United manager Henry Menezes.
Meanwhile teammate T Asif Saheer is set to sign for Calcutta giants East Bengal Club.
Note-1: The AIFF has released a list of 34 probables for the upcoming qualifying matches of the AFC Asian Cup 200 qualifers. The Indian team under new coach Bob Houghton will face Saudia Arabia on August 16 at Calcutta, while the away match will take place in Jeddah on September 6.
The players have been asked to report at the preparation camp, taking place in Goa on June 16.
INDIA PROBABLES:
Goalkeepers: Sandip Nandy, Subhashish Roy Chowdhury (both Mahindra United), Kalyan Chaubey (JCT Mills), Luis Xavier Barreto (Sporting Clube de Goa), Rajat Ghosh Dastidar (East Bengal Club), Subrata Pal (Mohun Bagan AC).
Defenders: Irungbam Surkumar Singh, Mahesh Gawli, Manju Nanjangud Shivananju, Deepak Kumar Mondal (all Mahindra United), Samir Naik (Dempo SC), Anupam Sarkar, Habibur Rehman Mondal (both East Bengal Club), Narinder Singh (JCT Mills), Naduparambil Pappachan Pradeep (State Bank of Travancore).
Midfielders: Shanmugam Venkatesh, Steven Dias (both Mahindra United), Tomba Singh, Mehraj Din Wadoo, Manjit Singh, Dharamjit Singh (all Mohun Bagan AC), Renedy Singh (JCT Mills), Climax Lawrence (Dempo SC), Nicholas Rodrigues, Bibiano Fernandes (bothSporting Clube de Goa).
Forwards: Baichung Bhutia, Syed Rahim Nabi, Alvito D'Cunha, Mushtaq Ahmed (all East Bengal Club), MA Abdul Hakkim (State Bank of Travancore), Abhishek Yadav, Surojit Bose (both Mahindra United), Sunil Chetri (JCT Mills).
Chief Coach: Bob Houghton
Note-2: The IFA today announced at a Press Conference the "Khadim's Trades Challenge Cup 2006" for the football maniacs of Bengal. IFA secretary Subrata Dutta said, the tournament would take place from June 6 to 15, 2006 in Phase 1. This is a third consecutive year where Khadim's is becoming the title sponsor for the Trades Challenge Cup and the footwear giant is all geared up for this historical tournament.
The Indian Football Association has successfully revived 'Trades Challenge Cup'. 28 teams of Calcutta Football League 1st Division (Groups A & B) teams and 13 teams of Calcutta Premier and Super Divisions will take part in this tournament.
The tournament will be played in League-cum-Knockout basis during the months of June and July. The 28 teams of 1st Division would be divided into seven groups with four teams in each group. Each group Champions will qualify for the Knockout stage. The 13 teams of Premier and Super Divisions will be divided into four groups and Group Champions will qualify for the Knockout phase which will be played from the 3rd week of June onwards. The matches shall be played in seven Venues located in and around Calcutta. A total of four teams: two winning teams from 1st division Group A&B (Phase1) and two winning teams out of the 13 qualified teams from Premiere and Super Division will fight it out in the Final Round of the Tournament for the Title.
The Champion team will receive the 'Trades Challenge Cup' and a Prize money of Rs 25,000. The Runners will receive the 'Runners-Up Trades Challenge Cup' and a Prize money of Rs 15,000.
The first open Football Tournament in India was the Trades Cup played in Calcutta in 1889. It is thus the second oldest tournament in the country after the Durand Cup, which started in 1888. Sovabazar Club was the first and only Indian team to participate in this tournament in the first year. The Lt. Governor of Bengal was present to watch Sovabazar's first appearance in the Trades Cup and "viewed the proceedings from his carriage". In fact Sovabazar's win over the military team, East Surrey Regiment (2-1) in the 1892 edition of the Trades Cup was the first ever Indian victory of significance over the Europeans.
Newspapers in England gave prominence to the results of this match and concerns were expressed about the possible impact of an Indian win against a British Regimental team. Sovabazar thus set the trend for future Indian outfits to fight and defeat the British in their own game.
The Trades Cup soon became popular and clubs of all communities and categories - Europeans, Indians, Armenians and students competed for the title. Soon, the growing interest in the game, brought to fore questions of control and coordination. With the need of a well-constituted controlling body becoming obvious, the formation of the Indian Football Association (IFA) in 1892 was a mere formality. Thus the IFA in some ways was the product of the growing popularity of the Trades Cup.
Note-3: by Xavier Rutsa: In a big effort to push up the football standard in the country, the AIFF is sponsoring a 15-day long AFC 'C' licence for football coaches, and hoisted by Nagaland FA from June 2 to 17 at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima.
Gabriel Joseph, AFC instructor and AIFF director of coaching said that during the camp various technical, law of the games, nutrition and sports medicines both from practical and theory of football would be taught to the football coaches, adding it would an intensive training period for almost the day.
About 24 trainees drawn from Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya would be taking in two-weeklong camp.
Mr. Joseph, who already conducted several training programme in all over India said that said that each coach have to score above 70% in both theory and practical to get the AFC 'C' licence, which would be awarded by the Asian Football Confederation, after their marks obtained during the training would be sent to AFC head-quarter Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He also said that the AFC has issued instruction to AIFF to organize an introductory course before the 'C' licence is taught to football coaches, in order to have more trained quality coaches.
Talking about his recent visit to Japan, he said that in the Japanese JFA has about 46,000 licence coaches holder AFC 'C', 'B', 'A' and Professional, where as in India there are only 430 holders of these licences. Of which three - Ruopfu Meyase, Roko Angami and Aba Souhu are AFC 'C' licence holders from Nagaland. Meanwhile the instructor hoped that during the camp it would be able to produce good quality coaches.
P. Atuo Mezhur, AIFF vice president and NFA president, said that 12 coaches from Nagaland would be attending the camp and was confident that camp would be a great success. He also said that the NFA would be providing board and lodging to all the trainees.
Mr. Atuo also informed that it now become mandatory for any Club to have a licence coach holder while taking part in the National Football League, national level championships tournaments in the country. Mr. Ekendra Singh and Birbal Singh, both AFC 'A' licence holders while be assisting Gabriel Joseph, while Roko Angami, liaison officer would be coordinating with the instructors, NFA and trainees.
Meanwhile the inaugural function would be held on June 2 at 9 am IG stadium, Kohima with secretary, Youth Resources and Sports KT Sukhalu as the chief guest.