NEWS FOR THE MONTH OF April 2007
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April 30
RESULTS & NEWS
7th Kerala State Football League - Group B: Titanium XI 6-1 Kochin Port Trust
Goals: 1-0,4-1 Dhinraj Kumar (11',60'), 1-1 TS Anoj (17'), 2-1,3-1,6-1 Ebin Rose (23',48',89'), 5-1 KT Abdul Hameed (83').
15th Women's National Football Championship - Group II: Tripura 4-1 Karnataka
15th Women's National Football Championship - Group III: Chhattisgarh 8-0 Uttarakhand
15th Women's National Football Championship - Group IV: Jammu&Kashmir 0-2 Maharashtra
15th Women's National Football Championship - Group V: Assam 0-1 Tamil Nadu
13th Youth Soccer Championship - Quarterfinal: Penguin Club 6-1 Spirit Wings FC - Goals: 1-0 Vikhuzo Zhotso (2'), 2-0 Velukho Rhakho (4'), 3-0,4-0,5-0 Abong (18',51',54'), 6-0 Kechangulie Dul (60'), 6-1 Khupmin (69').
13th Youth Soccer Championship - Quarterfinal: Sweba United Club 1-2 Merhülietsa FC - Goals: 0-1 Imti (22'), 0-2 Moayanger (44'), 1-2 Mhalevi Koso (59').
April 29
RESULTS & NEWS
7th Kerala State Football League - Group A: Central Excise, Kochi 3-0 Kerala State Electricity Board
Goals: 1-0 Vineeth Antony (42'), 2-0 AM Sajeer (58'), 3-0 PA Javed (65'). CENTRAL EXCISE: 1-Shinu Joseph, 9-Noushad P, 15-Bijish Ben, 16-KS Anooj, 17-MK Sunil, 12-Vineeth Antony, 10-CC Hanson, 8-VT Suresh Babu (89' 18-Vijaykumar), 24-AM Sajeer, 11-PA Javed, 3-TA Denny.
KSEB: 22-Titus P, 19-Yesudasan, 13-Jaseer Karnath, 14-Anish, 2-?, 5-Binish (31' 15-Vinod S), 8-Noushad KV (83' 24-Antony Raj), 17-Donal Kenny, 16-Benedict Simon, 21-Ramesh PB (66' 25-Renjith R), 11-Aneesh S.
YELLOW CARDS: Donal Kenny (55'), Rahulyan (73', both KSEB).
REFEREE: Sasi Kumar (Calicut).
ASSISTANT REFEREE: Shajesh Kumar (Calicut), MK Mohammad Basheer (Calicut).
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Saifudeen (Malappuram).
15th Women's National Football Championship - Group I: Orissa 7-0 Haryana
15th Women's National Football Championship - Group I: Rajasthan 0-6 Meghalaya
15th Women's National Football Championship - Group VI: Punjab 0-7 Bihar
::: INDIA U13 for AFC Football Festival in Bangladesh ::: The AIFF has named the 22 member INDIA U13 team to represent the country in the AFC Football Festival to be held from May 3 to 8 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Satheevan Balan has been named the chief coach of the team and after a 45 day camp in Goa the squad was selected. The probables had been selected from the AIFF Football Festival in Chennai, Tamil Nadu last December.
INDIA U13: P Rajkumar, Dileepan, G Nirmal, M Sivarajan (all Tamil Nadu), Shilton Fernandes, Jesmon Carvalho, Brendon Fernandes (all Goa), Nixon H Pereira, Akhil K Joseph, Abhishek Joshy (all Kerala).Anuj Negi, Shasank Rawat, Ashis Bisht (all Uttarakhand), Denachandra, Daneswer Singh (both Manipur), Physcarbokh, Ricky Marbokh (both Meghalaya), Merwin S Stephen (Maharashtra), Kishlay Singh (Delhi), Sujan Babu (Andhra Pradesh), Jaswinder Singh (Haryana), Amit Pandey (Madhya Pradesh). Chief Coach: Satheevan Balan (Kerala); Assistant Coaches: Carlos Gomes (Goa), Eban (Goa); Physio Tripathi (West Bengal).
::: Santosh Trophy: AIFF to inspect facilities in Srinagar ::: IANS report: The AIFF will send a delegation next month to inspect the facilities at Srinagar which is set to host the Santosh Trophy national football championship in July 2007.
Zamir Ahmed Thakur, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Football Association, told IANS from Srinagar that preparations were in full swing to make the tournament a success. Two grounds, one of them in the heart of the city, are being prepared for the matches, he said. Hoteliers have been approached for accommodation of players. Sounding positive, Thakur hoped visitors would enjoy their stay when they come to Srinagar for the Santosh Trophy. He, however, refrained from commenting on security concerns voiced by a couple of states.
"We belong to the sports fraternity," Thakur said, adding that things like security or militancy were far from their mind. Thankfully, militants have left sports events alone in the valley.
"The AIFF delegation will see for itself that we are prepared to stage the mega event in July," he said.
Srinagar last hosted the Santosh Trophy, its 35th edition, in happier times in 1978-79 when West Bengal emerged champions defeating Goa 1-0 in the final. The Jammu and Kashmir state summer capital was allotted the tournament last autumn, but they were unable to stage it in September because of security concerns expressed by two leading national football powers, Goa and West Bengal.
The Haryana FA, supported by the state government, then stepped in to hold the tournament at Faridabad and Gurgaon.
April 28
RESULTS & NEWS
11th National League - Cooperage Ground, Mumbai: Air-India 0-0 Mahindra United
Goals: none. Air-India held defending champions Mahindra United to a goalless Mumbai derby in a Round 15 match of the 11th National League at the Cooperage Ground, Mumbai. Mahindra United came into today's match six points adrift of Dempo with two games in hand, and a realistic chance of catching them in the games to come, but had captain Yakubu Yusif suspended. Air-India started in 8th spot, but with other results going their way, could go into the prize money spots with a win. Safe to say that both teams had plenty to play for, and a capacity crowd urging them on made for an exciting 90 minutes ahead.
The game started off slowly, with neither side creating any real chances. The crowd expected this since it was an important game, but surprisingly the game did not kick into second gear for the remainder of the first half. A few wayward long rangers from Surkumar Singh and Samson Singh were the only highlights of a listless first half. Both defences were holding strong, and the ball stayed in midfield. The referee blew the half time whistle and everyone hoped for a better second half.
It took five minutes in the second half for the first real piece of goal mouth action to occur. An Air-India corner was taken short, and Sanju Pradhan curled in a superb cross that was met by Bashiree's head, but was absolutely brilliantly saved by the Mahindra United custodian, and as the ball ricocheted to Samson Singh, he swiveled and shot on goal which was saved yet again by Subhashish Roy Chowdhury. It sparked the crowd up, and the game too. A few moves were created in the next 10 minutes, with Andrews Pomeyie Mensah looking most likely to score for Mahindra's. Mahindra made their first sub in the 63rd minute bringing striker Abhishek Yadav on, obviously looking to get that elusive goal. Air-India responded with two subs of their own, and it looked like a mouth watering finish was on the cards. Mahindra won a freekick just outside the box in the 75th minute, and it was a good opportunity to break the deadlock, but it was hit straight at the wall and another chance was wasted. Abhishek Yadav missed a glorious opportunity soon after from about 12 yards as his volley was fluffed straight at the keeper. The last 10 minutes could shape the whole season, and it did not look like Mahindra were going to grab their opportunity.
In the 83rd minute, all hell broke loose. Mensah went down in the Air-India box, and the referee gave what was a very contentious penalty, and this totally infuriated the Air-India players who went at the referee. Raju Ekka, Narendra Meetei and a few others were seen pushing and shoving the referee, obviously angered by his decision which to be honest, looked like the wrong one. A few Mahindra United players also got involved in the scuffle, and Raju Ekka went totally out of control. The chaos lasted for about 5 to 7 minutes, and three yellow cards were dished out, though to be fair, Raju Ekka should have been sent off. It made a huge difference on the impact of the match, which Mahindra did not deserve to win, but had a fantastic opportunity to close the match and regain their title ambitions. Mensah stepped up, but amazingly his penalty was saved by Ekka. It was a poor effort, and Mahindra United's luck had completely run out.
Air-India breathed a huge sigh of relief, but the result moved them into 7th position. Mahindra United could have realistically been challenging for the title if they had scored that penalty, but are now five points behind with a match in hand. Dempo must be jumping for joy, as it looks like a long road for Mahindra United to win back to back titles.
AIR-INDIA: 21-Raju Ekka; 2-Haobijam Napoleon Singh, 6-Uttam Leishangthem Singh, 3-Suley Musah, 28-Abiodun Kolawole Martins, 19-Santosh Koli, 23-Sanju Pradhan (65' 4-Benoy Kuruvilla), 11-Hringsolal Thomte (79' 9-Noel Fernandes), 20-Paresh Shivalkar, 8-Kumar Samson Singh (66' 10-T Narender Meetei), 27-Bashiree Mohammed Abbas.
Unused substitutes: 1-Swarup Das, 24-Sumit Thapa, 14-Javed Ansari, 18-Hamza Zaheer Abbas. MAHINDRA UNITED: 1-Subhashish Roy Chowdhury; 27-Irungbam Surkumar Singh, 2-Naduparampil Pappachan Pradeep, 3-Nanjangud Shivananju Manju, 7-Sushanth Mathew, 8-Mbaka Bokembe Dady, 4-Krishnan Nair Ajayan, 23-Steven Dias (78 16-James Lukram Singh), 12-Manjit Singh (63' 15-Abhishek Yadav), 11-M Mohammed Rafi (81' 29-Rauf Sher Khan), 25-Andrews Pomeyie Mensah.
Unused substitutes: 22-Amit Nandi, 18-Peter Siddiqui, 5-Samson Fernandes, 20-Bhola Prasad. ONGC MAN of the MATCH: Krishnan Nair Ajayan (Mahindra),
YELLOW CARDS: Bashiree Mohammed Abbas (70'), Abiodun Kolawole Martins (86'), Raju Ekka (86', all Air-India); Irungbam Surkumar Singh (86', Mahindra).
REFEREE: PK Bose (Madhya Pradesh).
ASSISTANT REFEREE: Deepak Singh Bisht (Delhi), Andrew Shekhar (Karnataka).
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Jayendra Nagvenkar (Goa).
For detailed information and pictures go to the >>IndianFootball.Com National League Special
11th National League - Nehru Stadium, Margao: Churchill Brothers SC 2-2 Mohun Bagan AC
Goals: 1-0 Nicholas Muyoti (58'), 2-0 Odafe Onkeya Okolie (66'), 2-1,2-2 Jose Ramirez Barreto (72',85'). Former champions Mohun Bagan AC came back from two goals down to earn a two-all draw against Goans Churchill Brothers SC in a 11th National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. Churchill Brothers SC moved into third position with now 23 points from 16 matches along with East Bengal Club, but Churchill Brothers are ahead of their Calcutta rivals on a one goal better goal difference. Mohun Bagan moved into sixth place with now 20 points from 15 matches.
Churchill Brothers seemed to be stearing towards an easy victory against Mohun Bagan after Lal Kamal Bhowmick received marching orders in the 41st minute for his second bookable offence and the Goans where 2-0 up in the 66th minute. But Bagan captain Jose Ramirez Barreto's double strike denied them full points as the Calcutta giants take a point back home.
Churchill Brothers had the better chances in the first half but couldn't score as Odafe Onkeya Okolie troubled the Bagan defence again and again. It was a 58th minute freekick from substitute Denis Cabral which was headed in by Kenyan defender Nicholas Muyoti that gave Churchill Brothers the lead. Odafe doubled the lead in the 66th minute when he beat a couple of defenders and keeper Sangram Mukherjee to score. But Churchill Brothers defender Warundeep Singh fouled Jose Ramirez Barreto in the box and gave Bagan the chance to come back into the match. The Bagan captain himself made no mistake to reduce the deficit in the 72nd minute and it was once more Barreto who headed in the equaliser for Mohun Bagan off a Mehtab Hussain cross just five minutes from time.
Churchill Brothers next travel to Calcutta to face Mohammedan Sporting Club on May 3. Mohun Bagan remain in the west with a match against Air-India on May 2 in Mumbai coming up.
ONGC MAN of the MATCH: Odafe Onkeya Okolie (Churchill Brothers).
YELLOW-RED CARD: Lal Kamal Bhowmick (41', Mohun Bagan).
REFEREE: Shaji Kurian (Kerala).
For detailed information and pictures go to the >>IndianFootball.Com National League Special
15th Women's National Football Championship - Group III: Chhattisgarh 0-1 Mizoram
15th Women's National Football Championship - Group IV: Jharkhand 5-0 Jammu&Kashmir
::: Delhi's Ambedkar Stadium all set for non-football action ::: Delhi's Ambedkar Stadium is all set for action again, but sadly this time not for football. President of India APJ Abdul Kalam will be giving away prizes there for some government function on May 4. Wooden poles are all over the stadium and some are awaiting to find a place, may be on the football pitch, they will look nice there!
Again two months for the real football action to happen, as the petty grass and soil takes this usual time to get well again. There's no Doctor for their treatment, they all depend on natural therapy. The DSA will find it hard to find even a yoga teacher for them. Players will again face the uneven pitch when they return for the start of the season.
The Ambedkar Stadium grass and soil thinks of football pitches in Europe, as young Indians thinks of going to USA or Europe. "There football pitch is not spared from government or private functions?"
The pet eagles and birds of Ambedkar Stadium after listening to the news of India loosing its Asian Games bid to Incheon were giving a dirty smile, thinking that for what we were competing for. We can't maintain our present sports infrastructure and we were boasting of building new ones.
Well get the next Asian Games or may be next available Football World Cup for India!
Best of luck to all award winners on the 4th of May 2007!
::: 12 new boys selected for Chandigarh Football Academy ::: The Chandigarh Sports Department retained 12 players Under-10 for induction in the state-run Chandigarh Football Academy after the final skill tests conducted at the Sector 42 Sports Complex here on Friday evening..
Announcing this after the trials Sports Director-Cum-Additional Deputy Commissioner Inderjit Singh Sandhu said that the selected players would be communicated for the selection, subject to medical examinations. Thirty one players were shortlisted after district and state level trials.
The selection panel comprising IS Sandhu, Adviser to the Chandigarh Football Academy Reet Mohinder Singh, Joint Director JPS Sidhu, District Sports Officer J S Negi, football coaches Harjinder Singh and Tejinder Kumar. The panel was also assisted by athletic coaches SK Joshi and Sarabjit Singh.
The selected players played matches among themselves and each boy's performance was watched minutely by the selectors.
Inderjit Sandhu disclosed the names of the selected players for medical examinations. They were Gaurav Mall, Jagdev Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, Manpreet Singh, Prabhnoor Singh, Robinjit Singh, Rohit Kumar, Gurjeet Singh, Prabhjot Singh, Gursimrat Singh, Harsharan Khabra and Hitesh Sharma.
Height of 13 players was above 150 cm. The second group comprised 12 players whose height ranked between 145 to 149 cms. There were six players who height ranged between 140 to 144 cms.
Those who returned home disappointed were Navdeep Singh, Joganjeet Singh, Rajbir Singh, Amritdeep Singh, Kirandeep Singh, Sharup Ali, Maninderjit Singh, Amandeep Singh, Anmol Sharma, Gaganjot Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Barinder Singh, Fatehdeep Singh, Amritpal Singh, Gursimran Singh, Gurprit Singh, Manjinder Singh, Gagandeep Singh and Sahil Arora.
A large number of parents also turned up at the venue to watch their sons in action. There was jubilation among the parents whose sons were selected. Other parents and trainees looked dejected. One trainee started weeping as his name was not included among the selected players.
As 24 players in the age group of under-10 are to be inducted into the CFA, the Sports Department may soon conduct fresh trials.
::: Indo-Canadians allege soccer discrimination ::: IANS report: A football association in British Columbia has been accused of discriminating against children of Indo-Canadians and other ethnic minority groups. The parents have alleged that the practice has been going on for years within the Surrey Metro Soccer Association.
"We are seen as outsiders in their clubs. When it comes to coaching appointment time, there is unfairness and there are no checks and balances," said soccer coach Sukhi Sandhu, whose children play in the Surrey Soccer League.
He said over half the players in the league are South Asian children, but the makeup of the board of directors does not reflect that.
"We are not saying this should be symbolic. It should be on merit. We have got a number of capable people from different communities," he added.
The group has approached New Democrat legislator Harry Bains for help, CBC News reported.
"I have asked British Columbia Sport Minister Stan Hagen to have his officials investigate because the feud is hurting the children," Bains said.
"Even if it's just a perception of systemic discrimination, it's their job to make sure that perception is removed," he added.
April 27
RESULTS & NEWS
15th Women's National Football Championship - Group I: Haryana 11-0 Rajasthan
15th Women's National Football Championship - Group II: Tripura 3-0 Uttar Pradesh
13th Youth Soccer Championship - Pre-Quarterfinal: New Market XI 0-2 United Hakka, Chedema - Goals: 0-1,0-2 Kekhrieseituo (16',80').
13th Youth Soccer Championship - Pre-Quarterfinal: GATD Fitness Club 3-1 Mhalelie's Club, Thizama - Goals: 1-0,3-1 Ngonthung (17',52'), 2-0 Benjamin Murry (43'), 2-1 Samuel (50').
::: Why Delhi pulled out of the Women's National Championships? ::: All of us should guess as to who will give the right answer to this. One guess from my side may be Delhi SA secretary NK Bhatia or may be the governing body itself the 'AIFF'. Well most of the football lovers must be cursing DSA for the pull out. But the fact lies somewhere else. And it's none other than the AIFF Calendar.
A sensible man will get this point. Who will play in the National Championship and that too women? It will be young college girls in Delhi. Then where they disappeared when the most interesting tournament arrived? We can't blame these girls either, as they are busy in their annual examinations.
It is with the AIFF to rather think. Most of the Youth Championships, mainly the U21s, clashes with the university examinations. The participants in this age group come from colleges and are busy with their exams during this time of the year. Not only Delhi, Chandhigarh also withdrew their team from the Championship because of the same reason.
So rather cursing state associations, AIFF should consider this issue and frame the calendar accordingly.
The diplomatic question we leave it on readers to answer.
Should age group National Championship be held once in two years or it should be concluded at the zonal (once a year) basis itself?
Well AIFF can answer it better...
April 26
RESULTS & NEWS
In our latest IndianFootball.Com Guest Column titled "Where has the spark gone?" by Prasad Rao, he questions where does our football stand today and why aren't we able to develop a talented team as such, then there have been talented players over the years.
Read the complete article here >>IndianFootball.Com Guest Column - Prasad Rao .
11th National League - Nehru Stadium, Margao: Dempo SC 2-1 Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC
Goals: 1-0 Ranty Martins Soleye (11', pen), 1-1 Sampath Kumar Kuttimani (44'), 2-1 Roberto Mendes Silva (72'). Dempo SC strengthened their position on top of the NFL standings with a 2-1 victory against Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC at the Nehru Stadium, Margao in the 11th National League. Dempo SC now lead the table with 32 points from 16 matches, six points ahead of defending champions Mahindra United, but the Jeepmen have played two matches less, so they could catch-up with their Goan rivals. For Hindustan Aeronautics Limited today's loss meant that they are now officially relegated after only coming back this season into the NFL when the Tata Football Academy decided to pull out.
Dempo took an early lead in the 11th minute when Nigerian striker Ranty Martins Soleye scored from the spot. This partner upfront Anthony Pereira had been brought down by HAL defender Raghuveer Singh and referee Dinesh Nair directly showed to the dreaded spot. Dempo controlled proceedings but didn't pressure themselves to build on their lead and they paid the price in the 44th minute when Sampath Kumar Kuttimani headed in a Rajendra Prasad cross.
After the breather the match came to action with chances for both sides to go ahead. Dempo needed the three points to stay clear at the top and HAL also needed the points to stay in the NFL in theory. But it was Dempo who scored in the 72nd minute when Brazilian playmaker Roberto Mendes Silva headed in a Clifford Miranda cross to seal the match in their favour.
Dempo SC next travel to Mumbai to face Air-India on May 6, while Hindustan Aeronautics Limited travel north to face JCT, Phagwara in Ludhiana on May 5.
DEMPO: 21-VP Satish Kumar; 18-Valeriano Rebello, 3-John Charles Dias, 23-Dominic Noronha, 23-Melwyn Rodrigues, 15-Clifford Miranda, 11-Roberto Mendes Silva, 8-Climax Lawrance, 12-Jerry Zirsanga, 9-Ranty Martins Soleye, 14-Anthony Pereira.
HAL: 1-Gumpe Rime; 7-Thiyam Raghuveer Singh, 4-N Govin Singh, 25-Alesha Shamaki, 27-N Mohanraj, 14-Rajendra Prasad, 24-J Muralidharan, 18-Bhuvan Krishna Joshi, 22-K Sreekanth, 9-Sampath Kumar Kuttimani, 12-Reisangmi Vasum.
ONGC MAN of the MATCH: Clifford Miranda (Dempo).
YELLOW CARDS: Anthony Pereira (35', Dempo); N Govin Singh (21'), K Sreekanth (25' , both HAL).
REFEREE: Dinesh Nair (Gujarat).
ASSISTANT REFEREE: Mohammed Kamil (Delhi), Rock L Fernandes (Maharashtra).
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Rizwan ul-Haq (Delhi).
For detailed information and pictures go to the >>IndianFootball.Com National League Special
15th Women's National Football Championship - Group I: Orissa 12-0 Meghalaya
13th Youth Soccer Championship - Pre-Quarterfinal: Penguin Club 4-1 Khriekesa Club - Goals: 1-0 Akho Soru (11'), 2-0 Vikuzo Zhotso (17'), 3-0 Beizo Solo (22'), 3-1 Neiphriezolie (37'), 4-1 Namdibonang (57').
13th Youth Soccer Championship - Pre-Quarterfinal: Botsa Students Union 0-4 Spirit Wings FC - Goals: 0-1 Khupin Hangsing (13'), 0-2,0-4 Lalbem Khongsai (28',52'), 0-3 Pulie Luho (38').
::: Maharashtra U21 squad announced ::: Francisco Salin has been named captain of the Maharashtra U21 state team for the West Zone qualifiers in Mandla, Madhya Pradesh of the 16th Under-21 National Football Championship for M.Dutta Ray Trophy. Former international Aqueel Ansari is the coach of the team.
MAHARASHTRA U21: Francisco Salin (Captain, Mumbai), Lihaz Koya (GK, Mumbai), Mihir Sawant (GK, Pune), Madhusudan Padhale (Mumbai), Saad Ansari (Mumbai), Sameer Ansari (Mumbai), Tarique Ansari (Mumbai), Chetan Waghela (Mumbai), Abu Shaikh (Mumbai), Sagar Gadigadonkar (Mumbai), Muneer Shaikh (Mumbai), Swapnil Katkar (Kolhapur), Surjit Sadhu (Jalgaon), Gajanan Rajurwad (Pune), Loukik Jadhav (Pune), Robindra Ghosh (Nagpur), Zahid Akhter (Nagpur), Mohd Rashid (Nagpur), Rahul Bante (Nagpur), Mohammed Yasin (Nagpur); Coach: Aqueel Ansari (Mumbai); Manager: PV Ahale (Yavatmal).
::: Goa U21 squad announced ::: Rowilson R Rodrigues from Churchill Brothers SC has been named captain of the Goa U21 state team for the West Zone qualifiers in Mandla, Madhya Pradesh of the 16th Under-21 National Football Championship for M.Dutta Ray Trophy. Peter Valesi is the coach of the team.
GOA U21: Laximikanth Kattimani, Tyson Caiado, Joyson M Noronha, Haysten J Pereira, Asley Fernandes, Gauresh N Naik, Fulganco Cardozo, Sarvaranand K Korgaonkar, John F Rodrigues, Lenny Rodrigues, Cavin P Lobo, Lavino Fernandes, Joel H Sequeira, Anthony C DeSouza, Steven Fernandes, Milagres M Gonsalves, Joy F Ferrao, Beevan K D'Mello, Semson Fernandes. Coach: Peter Vales; Manager: Savio Barreto.
April 25
RESULTS & NEWS
11th National League - Nehru Stadium, Margao: Sporting Clube de Goa 1-1 East Bengal Club
Goals: 1-0 Earnest Jeremiah (6'), 1-1 Ashim Biswas (80'). Sporting Clube de Goa were held to a one-all draw by East Bengal Club in a 11th National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. Sporting Clube moved into sixth place with now 19 points from 16 matches, while East Bengal Club moved back into third position with now 23 points from also 16 matches.
Sporting Clube were in full control of proceedings in the first half and also took an early lead in the 6th minute when Nigerian striker Earnest Jeremiah beat East Bengal keeper Rajat Ghosh Dasdidar. Thereafter Sporting Clube seemed to be all over East Bengal but they just couldn't utilise their chances with captain MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi being the main culprit. East Bengal had their first good chance just before the break when Alvito D'Cunha's shot from just outside the box had to be cleared by Sporting Clube keeper Luis Xavier Barreto. After the breather East Bengal came out stronger, though they missed Brazilian striker Edmilson due to a red card suspension. And in the 80th minute the Calcutta giants got the equaliser through striker Ashim Biswas off a Chandan Das corner.
Sporting Clube de Goa next travel to Calcutta to face Mohun Bagan AC on May 13 at the Saltlake Stadium, while East Bengal next host Mahindra United a day earlier at the same venue in Calcutta.
SPORTING CLUBE: 30-Luis Xavier Barreto; 8-N Rajesh Meetei, 20-Bello Rasaq, 4-Chinta Chandrashekar Rao, 29-N Samananda Singh, 11-Nicolau Borges, 22-Joseph Pereira, 14-Wilton Gomes, 19-Nicholas L Rodrigues, 9-Earnest Jeremiah, 10-MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi.
EAST BENGAL: 24-Rajat Ghosh Dasdidar; 19-Syed Rahim Nabi, 27-Gurpreet Singh, 4-Covan Lawrence, 3-Cristiano Hilario de Oliviera, 5-Debabrata Roy, 28-Shylo Malswam Tulunga, 11-Hardip Singh Saini, 9-Alvito D'Cunha, 25-Ashim Biswas, 10-Boniface Ngairah Ambani.
ONGC MAN of the MATCH: Ashim Biswas (East Bengal).
YELLOW CARDS: Wilton Gomes (53', Sporting Clube); Ashim Biswas (85', East Bengal).
REFEREE: Rizwan ul-Haq (Delhi).
ASSISTANT REFEREE: Shaji Kurian (Kerala), Mohammed Kamil (Delhi).
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Vijay Kumar (Karnataka).
For detailed information and pictures go to the >>IndianFootball.Com National League Special
::: 15th Women's National Football Championship: Delhi pull out ::: The Delhi Soccer Association has been forced to pull out it's team from the 15th Women's National Football Championship to be held in Rourkela, Orissa from tomorrow due to lack of players. Yes, you have read properly. The DSA was unable to put a team of 20 women footballers together as only a handful of women turned-up for the trials in the last few weeks.
::: 13th Youth Soccer Championship from tomorrow in Kohima ::: by Xavier Rutsa: 14 teams will take part in the prestigious 13th Youth Soccer Championship 2007, under the theme "for the game" starting tomorrow at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima, organized by Classic Club, Kohima.
The teams include defending champions Penguin Club; two time winners New Market XI; Khriekesa Club; Botsa Students Union; Spirit Wings FC; United Hakka, Chedema; GATD Fitness Club; Mhalelie's Club, Thizama; Junior Anchor Club; Merhülietsa FC; Ziekezou Sporting Club; Lirie FC, Sweba United Club and Kohima Science College.
The champions would receive Rs.70,000 plus trophy and certificates while runners-up would receive Rs.35,000 plus trophy and certificates. Player of the tournament - Rs. 3000 plus trophy and certificate and highest scores - Rs.2000 plus trophy and certificate. The finals will be played on May 5.
Go to the 13th Youth Soccer Championship fixtures .
::: Max Mueller Bhavan, Mumbai to show Sports Movies ::: After numerous football related events last year ahead and during the World Cup the Goethe Institutes Mumbai branch, Max Mueller Bhavan in collaboration with the Sport Movies & TV Mumbai Film Festival will show in the coming three days six sports movies, amongst them German football movie "The Miracle of Bern" on the victory of the German football team at the 1954 World Cup and its effects on Germany then.
This delightful mix of sports films is a mini-festival that aims to showcase movies with a different view of heroes, winners and achievers.
The movies will be shown daily at 18.30 IST at the Goethe Hall of the Max Mueller Bhavan.
Film Screening Schedule: Thursday, 26th April, 2007:
1. The Miracle of Bern - (2003, Germany, 118min)
Friday, 27th April, 2007:
1. On the Trail of the Eagle - (2005, France, 55min)
2. Kabaddi Cops - (2005, Canada, 24min)
3. A Monk`s Awakening - (2005, France, 21min)
Saturday, 28th April, 2007:
1. Weekend Warriors - (2005, Germany, 93min)
2. In the Mood - (2006, United Kingdom, 7min)
April 24
RESULTS & NEWS
::: IFC Feature Series on football Youth Development projects in India continues ::: IndianFootball.Com today continues it's Feature Series on football Youth Development projects in India, where we look at different projects across India. As part of the series we will bring you stories, interviews and more from these youth football projects.
In our series of bringing to you, our readers, the latest on various youth football projects across India, we take you back to our national capital, New Delhi. While many people think of New Delhi where empty promises and false statements are made everyday by politicians, we bring you an honest but controversial perspective on the state of Indian football from Tushar Dev of Simla Youngs. The Simla Youngs Football Academy is a novel concept in that a club that is not in the NFL or in its 2.Division has taken upon themselves the task of spotting talented youngsters and training them on a regular basis into proficient footballers. The interview highlights some innovative recommendations required to resuscitate Indian football. While the big clubs in Indian football engage in a jostling match with the AIFF that is trying to push through various proposals for the Pro League, a small but historic club in Delhi is already leaps and bounds ahead of many NFL clubs. Read On.
Since our founding we at IndianFootball.Com have been an ardent supporter of the view point that youth development is the key to Indian football's future success. In keeping with our stand, we chose to be active participants in the development of football talent in India, rather than just objective, third party reporters.
Click here to read the complete >>Tushar Dev (Simla Youngs, New Delhi) interview
2007 AFC Cup - Group E - Mongkok Stadium, Hongkong: Happy Valley, HONGKONG 2-1 Mahindra United
Goals: 1-0,2-0 Chun Bong Law (21',23'), 2-1 Yakubu Yusif (69'). AFC report: Hong Kong's Happy Valley blew the race for qualification from Group E of the AFC Cup wide open as Chun Bong Law's first-half brace secured a thrilling 2-1 win over Mahindra United on Tuesday. Indian National Football League champions Mahindra had claimed victories in their opening three games of the tournament, but struggled to repeat that type of form at a rain drenched Mongkok Stadium in Hong Kong. Captain Yakuba Yusif reduced the arrears for the visitors midway through the second-half, but the home side picked up their second win of the competition despite late heavy pressure.
Singapore Armed Forces join Mahindra on nine points at the top of the table after their victory against a pointless New Radiant, while Happy Valley move onto six points with two games remaining, with only the group winners certain of a place in the next round.
Vandre Moteiro had an early chance for the home side but could only pull his effort from the edge of the area wide as Happy Valley dominated the early exchanges. Sushanth Mathew tested home goalkeeper Chun Yip Fan with a long range free-kick after nine minutes, but the Happy Valley custodian dealt comfortably with the skidding low strike. The home side took a deserved lead midway through the first-half as Law struck a quickfire double to stun the visitors. Evanor Fantin's 21st minute turning shot from inside the area was only partially saved by visiting goalkeeper Nandy Sandip, handing Law the easiest of close range finishes. Law grabbed a second two minutes later with a sweeping close range finish after Yiu Cheuk Poon's dangerous inswinging left wing corner evaded the Mahindra defence and landed at midfielder's feet inside the six-yard area. Mahindra goalkeeper Sandip was stretched off 10 minutes before the break with a serious head injury after rushing out bravely at the feet of Happy Valley's Sze Ming Lee.
Poon almost handed the visitors a way back into the game seven minutes after the restart as the defenders attempted clearance bounced narrowly wide of the near post, with Fan scrambling across the face of his goal. Manjit Singh should have reduced the deficit just before the hour mark but blazed over after being sent clear of the Happy Valley backline. Mahindra finally capitalised on their second half dominance as Yusif gambled on a long clearance and slid the ball past Fan with 21 minutes remaining following hesitation in the Happy Valley defence to set-up a tense finish.
HAPPY VALLEY: 1-Chun Yip Fan; 3-Gerard Ambassa Guy, 7-Chun Bong Law, 8-Sai Ho Cheung (75' 21-Kin Man Tong), 9-Fabio Lopez Alcantara, 12-Vandre Sagrillo Monteiro, 18-Wai Man Lee, 19-Evanor Joao Fantin, 20-Yiu Cheuk Poon, 23-Sze Ming Lee, 24-Man Tik Poon.
MAHINDRA UNITED: 24-Sandip Nandy (37' 1-Subhashish Roy Chowdhury); 2-Naduparampil Pappachan Pradeep, 3-Nanjangud Shivananju Manju, 5-Samson Fernandes (42' 4-Krishnan Nair Ajayan), 6-Shanmugam Venkatesh, 7-Sushanth Mathew, 8-Mbaka Bokembe Dady, 10-Yakubu Yusif, 12-Manjit Singh, 25-Andrews Pomeyie Mensah, 27-Irungbam Surkumar Singh (80' 11-M Mohammed Rafi).
YELLOW CARDS: Gerard Ambassa Guy (50'), Vandre Sagrillo Monteiro (51'), Evanor Joao Fantin (90', all Happy Valley); Samson Fernandes (24'), Nanjangud Shivananju Manju (39'), Yakubu Yusif (40'), Mbaka Bokembe Dady (41'), Naduparampil Pappachan Pradeep (90+2', all Mahindra United).
REFEREE: Rosdi Shaharul (Malaysia).
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Mohammed Sabri Mat Daud (Malaysia), Saadon Mohamad (Malaysia).
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Mohammed Yussof Mat Karim (Malaysia).
For detailed information go to the IndianFootball.Com AFC Cup 2007 Special .
2007 AFC Cup - Group F - Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta: Mohun Bagan AC 1-0 Osotpa M-150 FC, THAILAND
Goals: 1-0 Jose Ramirez Barreto (45+1'). MOHUN BAGAN: 13-Shilton Pal; 17-Dulal Biswas, 20-Sanjeev Kumar Maria, 3-Fabio Cortez Vidal, 5-Dhanraj Ravanan, 23-Mehtab Hussain, 27-Suman Datta, 28-Douglas da Silva, 22-Lal Kamal Bhowmick (75' 7-W Tomba Singh), 10-Jose Ramirez Barreto (86' 25-Pachau Lalam Puia), 15-Baichung Bhutia.
OSOTPA: 1-Narong Wisetsri; 5-Siwamet Thanuson (75' 15-Thongchai Ratchai), 6-Wanmai Settanant, 7-Jakkrit Bunkham, 10-Worawut Wangsawat, 12-Ponlawat Wangkahad (79' 14-Wuttichai Khookaew), 13-Kittisak Jaihan, 16-Apipoo Suntornpanavej, 17-Decha Pettakua, 20-Prathum Chuwong, 25-Sumanya Purisay (46' 9-Kemden Kritsada).
YELLOW CARDS: Douglas da Silva (32'), Baichung Bhutia (50'), Shilton Pal (90'+2', all Mohun Bagan AC); Sumanya Purisay (9'), Wanmai Settanant (80', both Osotspa).
REFEREE: Jun-Chun Kon (South Korea).
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Myong Ho Jang (North Korea), Myong Son So (North Korea).
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Tayeb Hasan Shamsuzzaman (Bangladesh).
For detailed information go to the IndianFootball.Com AFC Cup 2007 Special .
11th National League - Cooperage Ground, Mumbai: Air-India 2-2 Mohammedan Sporting Club
Goals: 1-0,2-1 Kumar Samson Singh (20',45+2'), 1-1,2-2 Eric Bolwe Mputu (37',81'). Air-India hosted Mohammedan Sporting Club in this Round 16 fixture of the 11th National League at the Cooperage Ground, Mumbai that held tremendous importance as far as the visitors were concerned, since a defeat today would mean almost certain relegation. The game opened at a slow pace, when in the 11th minute, the Mohammedan Sporting goalkeeper Gopal Das blatantly handled the ball outside his technical area, but to the relief of the throngs of supporters and to the surprise of many more, only a yellow card was given. Air-India made the breakthrough in the 20th minute when a pass from the right was neatly trapped by Samson Singh and smashed into the bottom left corner on the half-volley. An extremely well taken goal made it 1-0. The pressure was on Mohammedan Sporting who made their first substitution in the 32nd minute bringing Jatin Singh Bisht on, and the move proved to be a good one, when only five minutes later, their big centre back Eric Bolwe Mputu strode up for a freekick and as the ball broke clear, thundered a volley into the roof of the net, that sent the crowd into raptures. It was a fitting equaliser that brought his team right back into the game. The game petered towards half-time and just as it looked like it was time for a break, Samson Singh popped up with another sweet finish after a well constructed Air-India move. Air-India were 2-1 up at half time and they deserved it.
Mohammedan Sporting made their second substitution ten minutes into the second half, putting three players upfront in order to find that much needed equaliser that might help them save the drop. The next 15 minutes saw wave after wave of Mohammedan Sporting attacks as they put crosses in from right and left, but the finish eluded them. There were a couple of tight goalline clearances as Raman Vijayan and Preston Papai Corporal were wrecking havoc in the Air-India box. Finally, all that pressure paid off in the 81st minute when a freekick just outside the box on the right was flown in and it was Eric Mputu again swiveling and scoring after his first header was saved by Air-India keeper Raju Ekka. Mohammedan Sporting fought on till the end but to no avail, and the final result 2-2 means they are certain to be relegated to Division 2, while Air-India move one place up the table to seventh, and look to be in good form with their derby against Mahindra United on April 28 next on their agenda. Mohammedan Sporting next face Churchill Brothers in Calcutta on May 2.
All in all, it was an exciting match with end to end action, and four beautifully taken goals. The Man of the Match award was deservedly given to Samson Singh.
AIR-INDIA: 21-Raju Ekka; 3-Suley Musah, 6-Uttam Leishangthem Singh, 28-Abiodun Kolawole Martins, 19-Santosh Koli; 9-Noel Fernandes, 23-Sanju Pradhan (83' 18-Hamza Zaheer Abbas), 11-Hringsolal Thomte, 20-Paresh Shivalkar (82' 4-Benoy Kuruvilla); 10-T Narender Meetei (89' 27-Bashiree Mohammed Abbas), 8-Kumar Samson Singh.
Unused substitutes: 1-Swarup Das, 2-Haobijam Napoleon Singh, 14-Javed Ansari, 12-Alex Ambrose. MOHAMMEDAN SPORTING: 1-Gopal Das; 5-Habibur Rehman Mondal, 30-Anbalath Suliman Firoze, 26-Eric Bolwe Mputu, 25-Mir Farooq Hyder; 13-Amjad Hussain (54' 9-Raman Vijayan), 24-Sunil Kumar Thakur, 19-Kalia Kulothungan, 22-Surojit Roy (74' 17-Santa Saikhom Singh); 10-Preston Papai Corporal, 11-K Muhammed Nisam (32' 12-Jatin Singh Bisht).
Unused substitutes: 21-Arindam Ghosh, 2-Ashim Das, 29-Jamir Ali Mondal, 18-Harvinder Singh. ONGC MAN of the MATCH: Kumar Samson Singh (Air-India).
YELLOW CARDS: Gopal Das (11'), Raman Vijayan (74', both Mohammedan Sporting).
REFEREE: Jayendra Nagvenkar (Goa).
ASSISTANT REFEREE: Deepak Singh Bisht (Delhi), Andrew Shekhar (Karnataka).
FOURTH OFFICIAL: PK Bose (Madhya Pradesh).
For detailed information and pictures go to the >>IndianFootball.Com National League Special
1st EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 - Final: FC Nania, GHANA 3-0 Viva Kerala
Goals: 1-0,2-0 Nartey Ebenezer (40',45'+2'), 3-0 Charles Boateng (68'). Ghanaian outfit FC Nania clinched the first-ever EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup, while going past Viva Kerala at the Jawahar Stadium, Kannur. Nartey Ebenezer and Charles Boateng were on the scoresheet against Kerala's new NFL club.
Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan presented the winners trophies and honoured the best performers of the tournament.
Golden Boot Award: Nartey Ebenezer (FC Nania, Ghana)
Player of the Tournament: Charles Boateng (FC Nania, Ghana)
Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Thahiru Kassim (FC Nania, Ghana)
Fair Play Trophy: State Bank of Travancore, Kerala
For pictures of the EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 click here
::: Palakkad to host Kerala State Senior Inter-District Football Championship ::: Palakkad has been allotted the Kerala State Senior Inter-District Football Championship. The tournament will kick-off at the Indira Gandhi Stadium on May 12. Reigning champions Malappuram, runners-up Kasargode, Trivandrum and Ernakulam will be the favourites to clinch this years edition. In all 14 district teams will participate in the event.
Meanwhile KFA secretary KP Sunny revealed that the 32nd Kerala State Club Football Championships 2007 will be held in Thiruvalla (Pathanamthitta District) after the Onam festival.
April 23
RESULTS & NEWS
The latest IndianFootball.Com Editor's Column by PS Parameswaran is title "Viva Kerala - The rise of Kerala's new hope".
For football fans from Kerala like Parameswaran the rise of Viva Kerala has given them hope that their football crazy state can once more compete at the national club level. Read and enjoy!
Read the complete article here >>IndianFootball.Com Editor's Column .
11th National League - Nehru Stadium, Margao: Churchill Brothers SC 1-0 Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC
Goal: 1-0 D Raju (61'). Churchill Brothers SC edged past Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC by a lone goal in a 11th National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. Churchill Brothers joined JCT, Phagwara and East Bengal Club on 22 points after 15 matches, but Churchill Brothers are fifth behind the other to sides on a inferior goal difference. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited stay bottom of the league with 10 points from 15 matches and their relegation became even more likely today.
Churchill Brothers were the better side on display today, but they played a cautious game as it looked they feared to falter against the Bangalore side like champions Mahindra United in the last match, but HAL never looked threathening today. Nigerian George Ekeh had the best chance of first half but his shot went wide.
After the breather Churchill Brothers went ahead in the 61st minute when Vanlal Rova played the ball from the left into the centre to Ekeh who played it on to D Raju, who made no mistake to score against his former club. Only a few minutes later Raju could have doubled the lead, but his shot was blocked by the HAL keeper.
Churchill Brothers next host Mohun Bagan AC in Goa on April 28, while Hindustan Aeronautics Limited stay in Goa to face Dempo SC on April 26.
CHURCHILL: 29-Arindam Bhattacharya; 8-Thokchom Naoba Singh, 3-Warundeep Singh, 23-Vinu Jose, 17-Robert Lalthalma, 25-Drupesh Dessai, 16-Bernard Pires, 5-Nicholas Muyoti, 26-Vanlal Rova, 9-George Ekeh, 10-Odafe Onkeya Okolie.
HAL: 1-Gumpe Rime; 4-N Govin Singh, 25-Alesha Shamaki, 26-Femi Joseph Adeola, 27-N Mohanraj, 12-Reisangmi Vasum, 24-J Muralidharan, 14-Rajendra Prasad, 9-Sampath Kumar Kuttimani, 8-Xavier Vijayakumar, 11-S Sunil Kumar.
ONGC MAN of the MATCH: Alesha Shameki (HAL).
YELLOW CARDS: D Raju (61, Churchill Brothers); Xavier Vijayakumar (56'), Femi Joseph Adeola (57', both HAL).
REFEREE: Mohammed Kamil (Delhi).
ASSISTANT REFEREE: Rizwan ul-Haq (Delhi), Rock L Fernandes (Goa).
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Dinesh Nair (Gujarat).
For detailed information and pictures go to the >>IndianFootball.Com National League Special
1st EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 - 3rd Place Playoff: Iran XI 2-3 State Bank of Travancore
Goals: 0-1 MA Abdul Hakkim (40'), 1-1 Washem Haedari (43'), 1-2 CJ Rinil (53'), 1-3 AG Mohammedan Aslam (77'), 2-3 Majid Nowrouzi (85'). For pictures of the EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 click here
Post-match comments: Lanel Thomas (SBT Captain): • It was a disappointing tournament for us. We came here to become champions but sadly we were able to finish third only.
• The tournament was conducted really well. The standard of foreign teams was good.
• Iran XI performance was poor. They brought players who were aged more than 30.
• The best foreign team of the tournament was FC Nania from Ghana. They brought lot of young players and they are playing really well.
• Viva Kerala is playing good football. Luck is really favouring them this season. We were unlucky against them in the semifinals.
• Injuries are a big concern for us. Most of the senior players (Abdul Naushad, Abdul Basheer, Asif Saheer, etc) including me are struggling with injuries.
• We are looking forward to Kerala State League. Our sole aim is to win the tournament.
::: 1st EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup finals tomorrow ::: The final of the 1st EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup will be played tomorrow at the Jawahar Stadium, Kannur. The Chief Guest will be Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan.
Ghanian side Nania FC have been the strongest team on display in the last couple of weeks but they will miss captain Khaleel Addih and defender Abdul Razak Danso due to yellow card suspensions. Their opponents Viva Kerala will welcome back Nigerian striker Badmus Baba Thunde from suspension but they might miss midfielder Shine Raj due to injury.
Viva Kerala coach Sreedharan expressed confidence that his team would win the final!
::: Punjab U21 trials ::: The 16th Under-21 National Football Championship for M.Dutta Ray Trophy is going to be held in Guwahati, Assam from May 16 to 31. In order to prepare the Punjab State Under-21 team for participation in the U21 Nationals, the selection trials of probables will be held at 07:30 IST. on April 26 at the Football Ground of Guru Nanak College, Sukhchain Nagar, Phagwara. Eligible for the trials are only those who are born on or after January 1, 1987. They must bring their original date of birth certificates with them.
::: Mumbai's Akbar Travels trials in Thrissur ::: by Jafar Khan: Mumbai's Akbar Travels FC, who are planning and working to form a strong team to participate in the Mumbai District FA's Elite Division for the next season 2007/08, will be holding trials to select players from Kerala. The selection trials will be held at the Keralavarma College ground in Thrissur, Kerala on May 1 to 3. Players interested in representing Akbar Travels are requested to attend the trials and try their luck.
April 22
RESULTS & NEWS
11th National League - Nehru Stadium, Margao: Dempo SC 5-3 East Bengal Club
Goals: 1-0,3-3 Roberto Mendes Silva (2',73'), 2-0,5-3 Ranty Martins Soleye (19',86'), 1-2,2-3 Edmilson Marques Pardal (32',46'), 2-2 Ashim Biswas (44'), 4-3 John Charles Dias (84'). Dempo SC kept their title chase alive with a thrilling 5-3 victory against East Bengal Club, whose title chances somewhat ended today, in a 11th National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. Dempo remain top of the league with now 29 points from 15 matches, while East Bengal dropped out of contention for the title remaining fourth with 22 points from also 15 matches.
Dempo controlled proceedings from the word go and went ahead in the 2nd minute through a freekick from Brazilian midfielder Roberto Mendes Silva. Dempo kept up the pressure and doubled their lead in the 19th minute when Ranty Martins Soleye headed in a Clifford Miranda cross. East Bengal came back into the match through an Edmilson Marques Pardal freekick in the 32nd minute and suddenly the red-and-gold where in the thick of action. Two goals, the first one a minute before the breather and another within the first minute after the break, and sudden the Calcutta giants were ahead. East Bengal first equalised through an Ashim Biswas header off a Syed Rahim Nabi cross, and then went ahead after Shylo Malswam Tulunga fed Edmilson who beat Dempo defenders John Charles Dias and Cressan Antao with his speed and then placed the ball past keeper Satish Kumar. But the match wasn't over yet as Dempo was able to turn the match back in their favour. First in the 73rd minute Roberto Mendes Silva headed in the equaliser off an Anthony Pereira cross and thereafter both sides had chances to go ahead, but it was Dempo who once more took the lead in the 84th minute through John Charles Dias. And then a couple of minutes later Ranty Martins Soleye sealed the match in favour of Dempo as East Bengal looked shattered. But one of the most entertaining matches in this NFL so far and the match with the highest score ended on a negative note. Dempo defender Cressan Antao and East Bengal striker Edmilson Marques Pardal exchanged blows which resulted into both getting marching orders in injury time from referee Shaji Kurian.
Dempo SC next host bottom of the table Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC in a tricky home encounter on April 26, while East Bengal Club stay in Goa to face Sporting Clube de Goa on April 25.
DEMPO: 21-VP Satish Kumar; 18-Valeriano Rebello, 3-John Charles Dias, 4-Cressan Antao, 16-Samir Naik, 15-Clifford Miranda, 11-Roberto Mendes Silva, 8-Climax Lawrance, 12-Jerry Zirsanga, 9-Ranty Martins Soleye, 14-Anthony Pereira.
EAST BENGAL: 21-Abhra Mondal; 19-Syed Rahim Nabi, 12-Anupam Sarkar, 2-Muttath Suresh, 5-Debabrata Roy, 28-Shylo Malswam Tulunga, 3-Cristiano Hilario de Oliviera, 11-Hardip Singh Saini, 9-Alvito D'Cunha, 30-Edmilson Marques Pardal, 25-Ashim Biswas.
ONGC MAN of the MATCH: Roberto Mendes Silva (Dempo).
YELLOW CARD: Chandan Das (41', East Bengal).
RED CARDS: Cressan Antao (90+3', Dempo); Edmilson Marques Pardal (90+3', East Bengal).
REFEREE: Shaji Kurian (Kerala).
ASSISTANT REFEREE: Dinesh Nair (Gujarat), Vijay Kumar (Karnataka).
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Rock L Fernandes (Goa).
For detailed information and pictures go to the >>IndianFootball.Com National League Special
1st EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 - Semifinal: Viva Kerala 4-1 State Bank of Travancore
Goals: 1-0,2-1 PK Anil Kumar (16',65'), 1-1 KM Abdul Naushad (58'), 3-1 TK Srinath (75'), 4-1 K Shiyu (79'). VIVA KERALA: 1-M Shiju; 4-R Dhanarajan [C], 18-Saheed Omobalaji, 3-Libu C Philip, 21-Justin Stephen, 14-Shine Raj (66' 2-TK Srinath), 24-VM Gireesh, 7-Denson Devadas, 16-Mohammad Muneer (68' 12-P Sajesh), 9-K Shiyu, 23-PK Anil Kumar.
SBT: 30-PA Jean Christian, 5-Abhilash John, 3-M Abdul Basheer, 18-M Lanel Thomas [C], 20-D Sajin, 15-KM Abdul Naushad, 11-Martyn John (72' 27-AG Mohammed Aslam), 7-CJ Renil, 2-TV Mohammed Harris (81' 26-Paul Anthony), 19-T Asif Saheer (39' 24-Faizal Rahman), 17-MA Abdul Hakkim.
YELLOW CARDS: Saheed Omobalaji (10'), K Shiyu (76', both Viva Keral); M Abdul Basheer (64'), CJ Renil (76', both SBT).
REFEREE: Rathin Mukherjee (West Bengal).
ASSISTANT REFEREES: P Bhaskar (Tamil Nadu), Dhanraj More (Maharashtra).
FOURTH OFFICIAL: L Yaima Singh (Manipur).
For pictures of the EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 click here
::: IFA president Aditya Kashyap no more ::: The IFA president Aditya Kashyap passed away today at a Calcutta Nursing home after a massive cardiac arrest in the wee hours of the day. He was 61.
Mr. Kashyap had become the president of the IFA only last year and had revived the Tata Super Soccer Series by bringing in Brazilian giants Sao Paolo FC for a five match series to India early in the year.
In this Tata Steel day's Kashyap, a football lover, was involved in getting the Nehru Gold Cup started in 1982 and later on the Tata Super Soccer Series. He had joined the IFA as its president last year and wanted to revive the glory of football in West Bengal with the help of corporates. He was able to convince the Sahara Group to sponsor the Calcutta Football League and had revived the Tata Super Soccer Series, already working on plans for next year.
::: Guwahati football season to start in mid-June ::: The new season will start in the Assam capital Guwahati in mid-June with the knockout NN Bhattacharya Trophy. The dates for local transfers have been set for May 20 to 22 with May 23 reserved for withdrawl of transfers.
The Guwahati Sports Association at it's meeting also decided to hold the Guwahati Super Division from the first week of July until mid-August. The 56th edition of the Bordoloi Trophy is likely to be held in September 2007.
April 21
RESULTS & NEWS
11th National League - Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana: JCT, Phagwara 1-1 Sporting Clube de Goa
Goals: 0-1 MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi (82'), 1-1 Sakatar Singh (90+'). Former champions JCT, Phagwara needed an injury time equaliser to hold Sporting Clube de Goa to a one-all draw in the 11th National League at the Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana. JCT now have 22 points after having played 15 matches like East Bengal, who have a match in hand, to move into third spot. Sporting Clube de Goa are now seventh with 18 points from also 15 matches.
JCT missed the services of inform striker Chidi Edeh as the Millmen's captain had to sit out the match against his former team due to a yellow card suspension. And Chidi's partner Sunil Chetri missed him as Praveen Kumar was no replacement for him today.
It was an open match in the first session with both sides having their chances. The JCT attack was led by Sunil Chetri with support from Renedy Singh and Baldeep Singh Sr, while Sporting Clube relied on their Nigerians upfront MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi and Earnest Jeremiah. Dudu and Jeremiah did bother the JCT defence on a few occasions but Karanjit Singh had another good day under the bar. Just before the break JCT had the best chance of the half as Sunil Chetri's shot from outside the box hit the crossbar. The second half saw both sides having chances to go ahead, but Sporting Clube looked more composed on the day and went ahead in the 82nd minute when Dudu scored of a Joseph Pereira pass. When it looked as if the match was over for JCT young substitute striker Sakatar Singh came into action to score the equaliser in injury time. After a Jaswinder Singh throw-in, Sporting Clube's Samananda Singh was unable to clear the ball and an opportunistic Sakatar was there in the box to score.
JCT, Phagwara next host defending champions Mahindra United in Ludhiana on May 2, while Sporting Clube de Goa next host East Bengal Club on April 25 in Goa.
JCT: 1-Karanjit Singh; 2-Jaspal Singh, 24-Gurwinder Singh, 3.Anwar Ali, 23-Harish Sharma; 13-Baldeep Singh Sr, 7-Sukhjinder Singh (70' 28-Shivraj Singh), 20-Adebayo Tokunbo Adewusi, 15-P Renedy Singh; 11-Sunil Chetri, 17-Parveen Kumar (69' 25-Sakatar Singh).
Unused substitutes: 22-Kalyan Chaubey, 4-Harpreet Singh, 27-Baldeep Singh Jr, 26-Sunday Ambrose. SPORTING CLUBE: 30-Luis Xavier Barreto; 8-N Rajesh Meetei, 20-Bello Rasaq, 4-Chinta Chandrashekar Rao (86' 3-Mathew Gonsalves), 29-N Samananda Singh, 11-Nicolau Borges, 22-Joseph Pereira (90' 7-Harmanjot Singh Khabra), 14-Wilton Gomes, 19-Nicholas L Rodrigues, 9-Earnest Jeremiah (88' 21-Nicholas Nath), 10-MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi.
Unused substitutes: 1-Felix D'Souza, 2-Parwinder Singh, 18-Denzil Franco, 27-Bisheshwar Singh. ONGC MAN of the MATCH: MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi (Sporting Clube).
YELLOW CARD: Chinta Chandrashekar Rao (51', Sporting Clube).
REFEREE: A Arjunan (Services).
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Minangsu Bhattacharjee (West Bengal); Nazir Ahmed (Jammu&Kashmir).
FOURTH OFFICIAL: SB Saha (Delhi).
For detailed information and pictures go to the >>IndianFootball.Com National League Special
1st EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 - Semifinal: FC Nania, GHANA 1-1,4-3 Iran XI [penalties]
Goals: 1-0 Nartey Ebenezer (49'), 1-1 Mostafa Sanobari (72').
Penalty Shootout: 0-0 Immanual Armah, 0-0 Mostafa Sanobari, 1-0 Kofi Aye Rahim, 1-1 Washem Haedari, 2-1 Khaleel Addih, 2-2 Hussain Yousifi, 3-2 Babamu Yusif, 3-3 Nasir Shirdel, 4-3 Abdul Razak Danso, 4-3 Hamid Jafari. FC NANIA: 12-Thahiru Kassim; 17-Charles Boating, 14-Abdul Razak Danso, 6-Kofi Aye Rahim, 3-Prince Sarfo, 11-Immanual Armah, 15-Khaleel Addih [C], 5-Aminu Fesuini, 4-Nartey Ebenezer, 8-Daniel Aidoo (67' 20-Asuandzie Baffoe Kwaku), 2-Babamu Yusif.
IRAN XI: 22-Farhad Vali; 4-Mostafa Sanobari, 13-Mohsin Shaker (35' 7-Farhad Kouchakzadeh), 2-Majid Ghadimi, 18-Hamid Waez (70' 3-Farhad Sheikhlor), 9-Nasir Shirdel, 10-Majid Nowrouzi, 5-Gaolamhossein Fakhri, 14-Behzad Mofarrah (80' 20-Hussain Yousifi), 6-Hamid Jafari, 8-Washem Haedari [C].
YELLOW CARDS: Abdul Razak Danso (29'), Khaleel Addih (51'), Prince Baffoe (74', all Nania FC); Hamid Waez (37'), Majid Ghadimi (45+1'), Hamid Jafari (74', all Iran).
REFEREE: Ashok Ghosh (Delhi).
ASSISTANT REFEREES: P Bhaskar (Tamil Nadu), L Yaima Singh (Manipur).
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Egidio D'Costa (Goa).
For pictures of the EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 click here
::: 17 Coaches in Manipur pass AFC 'C' Licence Coaching Course ::: 17 coaches in Manipur will receive their AFC 'C' Licence Coaching Certificate by passing the Course held from September 25 to October 10, 2006. The coaches can now collect their certificates from the All-Manipur FA.
The 17 coaches are: Kh Ratan Singh, Kh Surmani Singh, Ph Surendro Singh, S Rohendro Singh, Laltousang Buongpui, T Shyam Singh, Kh Sanaton Singh, L Dhonen Singh, SM Bhutto Hanafi, N Maimu Meitei, Th Sarat Singh, Immanuel Lalrohlun Joute, N Bijoykumar Singh, K Ratankumar Kabui, A Kenklak Singh, N Somorendro Singh and N Public.
::: Al-Ghazali CBI win 4th Kelee Football Tournament in Saudi Arabia ::: Al-Ghazali CBI beat Shifa Al-Jazeerah Star Sports 2-1 to lift the Global Energy Saver Cup in a thrilling final of the 4th Kelee Football Tournament at Al-Asima Stadium, Riyadh in Saudi Arabia yesterday. A splendid free kick by former Kerala State player Ajit after the breather enabled Al-Ghazhali CBI to lift the coveted title. The victory was even sweeter because Star had defeated CBI in the final match of the third Kelee Tournament. The teams shared two goals in the first half with Firoz Munna putting Star ahead and Kerala State captain Abdul Hakeem getting the equalizer for CBI.
Firoz Munna was adjudged as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament while Abdul Aziz of Rainbow Club emerged as the highest scorer of the tournament. Ajmish (Star) was selected as the best goalkeeper of the tournament.
The winners got Sona Jewelers prize-money of SR10,000, while the runner-up SR7,000. A souvenir on football, "Kalpanthinte Kaliyezhuthukal", was released by KU Iqbal, Bureau Chief of Malayalam News, as a memento of the fourth Kelee Football Tournament.
April 20
RESULTS & NEWS
11th National League - Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta: Mohammedan Sporting Club 0-1 Mohun Bagan AC
Goal: 0-1 Baichung Bhutia (66'). Mohammedan Sporting Club suffered another setback in their fight for survival in the 11th National League when they lost their Round 15 match by a lone goal to Calcutta rivals Mohun Bagan AC at the Saltlake Stadium. Mohammedan Sporting Club remain ninth in the table after 15 matches with only 11 points to their name, while Mohun Bagan moved into sixth place with 19 points from 14 matches. With today's win the green-and-maroon somewhat ensured safety from the threath of relegation which had been there earlier in the NFL campaign.
The first half witnessed little action with the most notable incidence being the sending off of Mohun Bagan keeper Shilton Pal in the 39th minute for denying seasoned Basudeb Mondal get past him in a goal-bound move by handling the ball outside the penalty box. Referee S Suresh showed him the dreaded red card and Bagan had to bring on substitute goalkeeper Snagram Mukherjee for Brazilian Fabio Cortez Vidal to take charge in goal. Sporting now had a numerical advantage but somehow couldn't use it in the match.
The match had to be stopped for 19 minutes in the 50th minute when once more the lights went off at the Saltlake Stadium this time due to a power failure. The match seemed to be heading for a goalless draw, but the individual brilliance from Baichung Bhutia made the difference. In the 66th minute Baichung played a one-two with substitute Ayan Chowdhury and placed the ball into the Sporting net with a placed right-footer. Thereafter Bagan could have enhanced their lead but Jose Ramirez Barreto in the 69th and Baichung in th 75th minute were denied by goalline saves from Sporting defenders.
Mohammedan Sporting Club next travel to Mumbai to face Air-India on April 24 at the Cooperage ground. Mohun Bagan meanwhile next host Osotpa M-150 FC from Thailand in the AFC Cup on the same day and their next NFL match is on April 28 against Churchill Brothers SC in Goa.
MOHAMMEDAN SPORTING: 1-Gopal Das; 25-Mir Farooq Hyder, 26-Eric Bolwe Mputu, 16-Subhashish Roy Chowdhury, 2-Ashim Das (80' 17-Santa Saikhom Singh), 12-Jatin Singh Bisht, 14-Basudeb Mondal (68' 9-Raman Vijayan), 28-Muttath Sudheesh, 22-Surojit Roy, 19-Kalia Kulothungan, 15-Ndem A Guy Kiyeck Herve (57' 10-Preston Papai Corporal).
MOHUN BAGAN: 31-Shilton Pal; 17-Dulal Biswas, 20-Sanjeev Kumar Maria, 26-Mahraj din Wadoo, 5-Dhanraj Ravanan, 13-Douglas da Silva, 3-Fabio Cortez Vidal (39' 1-Sangram Mukherjee), 23-Mehtab Hussain, 22-Lal Kamal Bhowmick (65' 30-Ayan Chowdhury), 15-Baichung Bhutia (81' 27-Suman Datta), 10-Jose Ramirez Barreto.
ONGC MAN of the MATCH: Baichung Bhutia (Mohun Bagan).
YELLOW CARDS: Muttath Sudheesh (6'), Surojit Roy (58'), Ndem A Guy Kiyeck Herve (84', all Mohammedan Sporting).
RED CARD: Shilton Pal (39', Mohun Bagan).
REFEREE: S Suresh (Tamil Nadu).
ASSISTANT REFEREE: Rizwan ul-Haq (Delhi), Mrinal Kanti Roy (Assam).
FOURTH OFFICIAL: K Shankar (Tamil Nadu).
For detailed information and pictures go to the >>IndianFootball.Com National League Special
::: AFC 'C' Licence Course in Delhi ::: An AFC 'C' Licence Course will be held in the capital from April 21 to May 5 at Football House, Dwarka for Senior Division club coaches to hold the minimum required coaching qualification for the launch of the Delhi Elite City League under the Vision Asia programme's Delhi project.
The chief instructor of the 'C' Licence Course will be Gabriel Joseph, the AIFF's Director of Coaching.
::: Jamshedpur City league from mid-May ::: The Jamshedpur Sporting Association organised Jamshedpur city league will be held from mid-May in which a total 36 clubs will be taking part in the new Premier, Super and 'A' Divisions. The JSA has decided to create the new 10 team Premier Division to strengthen the competition in the city. Matches of the Premier Division would be played at the Keenan Stadium. Meanwhile the Super Division would also be contested by 10 teams with matches to be held at the Gopal Maidan. The 'A' Division, now the lowest division instead of the old 'B' Division, will have 16 teams competing against each other to gain promotion.
April 19
RESULTS & NEWS
11th National League - Nehru Stadium, Margao: Dempo SC 3-1 Churchill Brothers SC
Goals: 0-1 Odafe Onkeya Okolie (24'), 1-1,2-1 Ranty Martins Soleye (49',61'), 3-1 Roberto Mendes Silva (65'). Durand Cup winners Dempo SC returned to the top of the NFL standings with a 3-1 win against Goan rivals Churchill Brothers SC in a 11th National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. With four Rounds of the NFL remaining an interesting finale on the cards. Dempo SC and Mahindra United now lead the table with both teams on 26 points from 14 matches, but Dempo are on top with their a four goal superior goal difference. Churchill Brothers meanwhile stay fifth with 19 points from 14 matches.
Dempo wanted to pounce on the chance to go top of the NFL standings after Mahindra United's surprise loss against HAL, but Churchill Brothers as expected was a tough opponent. In the first half Dempo just couldn't get their game together with their rivals looking more threathening with Nigerian George Ekeh initially the dangerman. Dempo defender John Charles Dias brought down Ekeh in the box in the 24th minute and Odafe Onkeya Okolie made no mistake to give Churchill Brothers the lead. Ekeh and Odafe continued to cause problems to the Dempo defence but their goalkeeper Satish Kumar stood his ground to deny them any further goal.
Dempo coach Armando Colaco seems to have found the right words in the break and thereafter a transformed Dempo team played the second half. Only four minutes into the second half Dempo found the equaliser of a Ranty Martins Soleye corner from a Valeriano Rebello cross and never looked back. Shortly thereafter Clifford Miranda had a chance to put his team ahead, but Ranty made amends for that in the 61st minute when he scored of a Clifford pass. And in the 65th minute Brazilian Roberto Mendes Silva sealed the match for Dempo's with a nice goal off another pass from Valeriano Rebello.
Dempo SC next face East Bengal Club in a crucial home match in the title race on April 22, Churchill Brothers SC next host Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC on April 23.
DEMPO: 21-VP Satish Kumar; 18-Valeriano Rebello, 3-John Charles Dias, 2-Majekodumni Bolaji, 16-Sameer Naik, 15-Clifford Miranda, 11-Roberto Mendes Silva, 8-Climax Lawrance, 12-Jerry Zirsanga, 9-Ranty Martins Soleye, 14-Anthony Pereira.
CHURCHILL: 1-Vinay Singh; 8-Thokchom Naoba Singh, 5-Nicholas Muyoti, 23-Vinu Jose, 17-Robert Lalthalma, 16-Bernard Pires, 13-Mashangva Genius Zenith, 15-D Raju, 26-Vanlal Rova, 9-George Ekeh, 10-Odafe Onkeya Okolie.
ONGC MAN of the MATCH: Ranty Martins Soleye (Dempo).
YELLOW CARDS: John Charles Dias (Dempo); Mashangva Genius Zenith, Bernard Pires, D Raju (all Churchill).
REFEREE: Dinesh Nair (Gujarat).
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Pradeep Kumar (Tamil Nadu), Mohammed Kamil (Delhi).
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Shaji Kurian (Kerala).
For detailed information and pictures go to the >>IndianFootball.Com National League Special
1st EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 - Quarterfinal League Group B: Iran XI 0-0 Dinamo FC, NIGERIA
Goals: none. For pictures of the EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 click here
::: 7th Kerala State Football League in Calicut ::: The 7th Kerala State Football League will be held at the EMS Corporation Stadium, Calicut from April 28 to May 7. Defending champions Viva Kerala face Titanium XI and Kochin Port Trust in Group B; while State Bank of Travancore take on Central Excise, Kochi and Kerala State Electricity Board in Group A. The top two teams from each group make it to the semifinals.
For the complete >>Kerala State Football League 2007 fixtures .
::: Former Referee Jayaraman no more ::: AN Jayaraman, a former FIFA referee and founder of the Referees Association of Mumbai passed away in New Delhi last night. Jayaraman was aged 91 and he leaves behind his wife, three sons and a daughter.
Jayaraman before becoming a referee had been a football player, who had played for India besides playing club football in Delhi and Mumbai.Jayaraman's son Ravi Shankar is the AIFF Referee's Instructor and a former FIFA referee himself.
April 18
RESULTS & NEWS
::: INDIA remain 165th in latest FIFA World Rankings ::: INDIA's catastrophic drop in the FIFA World Rankings were halted this month as our national team remain 165th along with Laos amongst the 207 ranked nations. In Asia meanwhile INDIA has gained two places from 34th to 32nd. INDIA now have 70 points, six less then in March.
With no official international planned by the AIFF until August 2007's ONGC International Tournament, one can only fear what is in store for India in those rankings in the coming summer month's...
2008 Beijing Olympics Football Tournament - Asian Qualifiers - Pyongyang: North Korea U23 2-0 India U23
Goals: 1-0,2-0 Nom Jal (58',78'). More information are available at the >>IndianFootball.Com National Team special
11th National League - Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana: JCT, Phagwara 3-0 Air-India
Goals: 1-0,2-0 Chidi Edeh (16',63'), 3-0 Sunil Chetri (72'). JCT, Phagwara continued their good run lately in the 11th National League with a 3-0 home win against Air-India at the Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana. JCT moved into fourth place with 21 points from 14 matches, only five points of the top of the table with four matches remaining. Air-India meanwhile remain sixth with 17 points from 13 matches.
JCT's inform attack duo of Nigerian Chidi Edeh and Indian international Sunil Chetri once again was on target today and gave the Phagwara Millmen another win to move them into fourth position.
JCT went into the attack from the beginning against a depleted Air-India. JCT took the lead in the 16th minute through Chidi Edeh who scored of a rebound after a Sunil Chetri shot was only blocked by Air-India keeper Raju Ekka. JCt thereafter controlled matters but couldn't add to the tally in the first half. After the breather JCT continued their attacks, but Air-India could have equalised against the run of play when their Nigerian striker Bashiree Mohammed Abbas wasn't able to get to a pass from Sanju Pradhan, as an alert JCT keeper Karanjit Singh was there to collect the ball. JCT doubled the lead in the 63rd minute with the Chidi-Chetri duo at work again. Chetri set-up Chidi who just had to beat the Air-India keeper Raju Ekka. Sunil Chetri himself got onto the scoresheet in the 72nd minute when his left footer from the edge of the box went into the far corner of the net. Late in the match Sukhjinder Singh could have inflicted even more damage, but he wasted his chances.
JCT next host Sporting Clube de Goa on April 21 at the Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana; while Air-India next face Mohammedan Sporting Club at home on April 24.
JCT: 1-Karanjit Singh, 13-Baldeep Singh Sr, 3-Anwar Ali, 24-Gurwinder Singh, 2-Jaspal Singh, 27-Baldeep Singh Jr (46' 8-Jaswinder Singh), 7-Sukhjinder Singh, 20-Adebayo Tokunbo Adewusi (52' 28-Shivraj Singh), 15-P Renedy Singh, 11-Sunil Chetri (73' 17-Parveen Kumar), 10-Chidi Edeh.
Unused substitutes: 22-Kalyan Chaubey, 4-Harpreet Singh, 23-Harish Sharma, 26-Sunday Ambrose. AIR-INDIA: 21-Raju Ekka; 2-Haobijam Napoleon Singh, 3-Suley Musah, 28-Abiodun Kolawole Martins, 19-Santosh Koli, 18-Hamza Zaheer Abbas (69' 26-Suprith Jathanna), 23-Sanju Pradhan (57' 4-Benoy Kuruvilla), 13-Hirohito Elangbam (56' 6-Uttam Leishangthem Singh), 20-Paresh Shivalkar, 10-T Narender Meetei, 27-Bashiree Mohammed Abbas.
Unused substitutes: 1-Swarup Das, 14-Javed Ansari, 24-Sumit Thapa, 12-Alex Ambrose. ONGC MAN of the MATCH: Sunil Chetri (JCT).
YELLOW CARD: Chidi Edeh (45+1', JCT).
REFEREE: Subrata Sarkar (West Bengal).
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Minangsu Bhattacharjee (West Bengal), Nazir Ahmed (Jammu&Kashmir).
FOURTH OFFICIAL: A Arjunan (Services).
For detailed information and pictures go to the >>IndianFootball.Com National League Special
11th National League - Bangalore Football Stadium: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC 1-0 Mahindra United
Goal: 1-0 M Satish Kumar (90+2'). In the biggest upset of the 11th National League so far, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC scored an injury time winner to beat defending champions and current league leaders Mahindra United by a lone goal at the Bangalore Football Stadium. Even though winning today HAL remain bottom of the league with 10 points from 14 matches, while Mahindra United remain on top despite today's loss with 26 points from also 14 matches.
Mahindra United mostly controlled proceedings in the match, but the Jeepmen missed suspended Shanmugam Venkatesh and the team just couldn't make-up for his loss. The necessary punch was somehow missing in the attacks of the champions. And they had to pay a heavy price as in the second minute of injury time HAL scored the unlikely winner through substitute M Satish Kumar. HAL captain Xavier Vijayakumar set-up a chance for Rajendra Prasad who couldn't beat Mahindra keeper Sandip Nandy. But Prasad was able to square the ball back to Vijayakumar with Nandy unable to collect the ball and an alert Satish Kumar there to score.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC now travel to Goa to face Churchill Brothers SC on April 23, while Mahindra United face Air-India in a local Mumbai derby on April 28.
HAL: 1-Gumpe Rime; 3-Pawan Kumar, 25-Alesha Shamaki, 26-Femi Joseph Adeola, 7-Thiyam Raghuveer Singh, 12-Reisangmi Vasum, 24-J Muralidharan, 14-Rajendra Prasad, 9-Sampath Kumar Kuttimani, 8-Xavier Vijayakumar, 11-S Sunil Kumar.
MAHINDRA: 24-Sandip Nandy; 27-Irungbam Surkumar Singh, 14-Mahesh Gawli, 2-Naduparambil Pappachan Pradeep, 4-Krishnan Nair Ajayan, 7-Sushanth Mathew, 16-James Lukram Singh, 8-Mbaka Bokembe Dady, 23-Steven Dias, 10-Yakubu Yusif, 25-Andrews Pomeyie Mensah.
ONGC MAN of the MATCH: Xavier Vijayakumar (HAL).
YELLOW CARDS: Femi Joseph Adeola (27', HAL); Yakubu Yusif (73', Mahindra).
REFEREE: Benjamin D'Silva (Goa).
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Francisco Fernandes (Goa), Ragunath Gosavi (Goa).
FOURTH OFFICIAL: VN Aravindakshan (Kerala).
For detailed information and pictures go to the >>IndianFootball.Com National League Special
1st EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 - Quarterfinal League Group B: Viva Kerala 2-1 Iran XI
Goals: 1-0,2-1 Shine Raj (21',58'), 1-1 Washem Haedari (51'). VIVA KERALA: 30-N Noufal; 4-R Dhanarajan [C], 18-Saheed Omobalaji, 3-Libu C Philip, 21-Justin Stephen, 14-Shine Raj (75' 12-P Sajesh), 24-VM Gireesh (85' 2-TK Srinath), 7-Denson Devadas, 16-Mohammad Muneer, 10-Badmus Baba Thunde, 23-PK Anil Kumar.
IRAN XI: 22-Farhad Vali; 4-Mostafa Sanobari, 13-Mohsin Shaker (62' 7-Farhad Kouchakzadeh), 2-Majid Ghadimi, 18-Hamid Waez (74' 3-Farhad Sheikhlor), 9-Nasir Shirdel (63' 11-Ali Reza Norouzi), 10-Majid Nowrouzi, 20-Hussain Yousifi, 14-Behzad Mofarrah, 6-Hamid Jafari, 8-Washem Haedari [C].
YELLOW CARDS: Badmus Baba Thunde (62'), Denson Devadas (67', both Viva Kerala); Hussain Yousifi (34'), Behzad Mofarrah (69', both Iran XI).
REFEREE: P Bhaskar (Tamil Nadu).
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Ashok Ghosh (Delhi), L Yaima Singh (Manipur).
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Egidio D'Costa (Goa).
For pictures of the EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 click here
April 17
RESULTS & NEWS
11th National League - Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta: Mohammedan Sporting Club 1-3 Sporting Clube de Goa
Goals: 0-1,0-2 MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi (50',71'), 0-3 Joseph Pereira (75'), 1-3 Raman Vijayan (85'). Mohammedan Sporting Club's fight for survival in the 11th National League suffered another setback as the Calcutta side suffered a 1-3 loss against Sporting Clube de Goa at the Saltlake Stadium tonight. With today's loss Mohammedan Sporting remain ninth on 11 poinst from 14 matches while Sporting Clube de Goa have with today's three points now 17 poinst from the same number of matches. Sporting Clube now have a six point gap ahead of the drop zone in which Mohammedan Sporting finds itself.
The match only came alive in the second session with Sporting Clube de Goa showing what they are capable off against a weaker opponent. Sporting Clube's lifeline Nigerian MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi brought them the lead in the 50th minute off a pass from Nicholas L Rodrigues. In the 70th minute Mohammedan Sporting defender Madhab Kumar Das brought down Dudu in the box and referee MK Roy showed to the dreaded spot. Dudu himself walked-up to the spot and converted to double the lead. Sporting Clube sealed the match in the 75th minute when Joseph Pereira lobbed the ball into an empty net after a misunderstanding between the Mohammedan Sporting defence and keeper Gopal Das. Mohammedan Sporting were only able to reduce the deficit through substitute striker Raman Vijayan in the 85th minute.
Mohammedan Sporting Club next face Mohun Bagan AC in a Calcutta derby on April 20 at the Saltlake Stadium, while Sporting Clube de Goa travel north to face JCT, Phagwara in Ludhiana on April 21.
MOHAMMEDAN SPORTING: 1-Gopal Das; 25-Mir Farooq Hyder, 26-Eric Bolwe Mputu, 3-Madhab Kumar Das, 30-Anbalath Suliman Firoze, 12-Jatin Singh Bisht, 8-Noel Anthony Wilson (28' 15-Ndem A Guy Kiyeck Herve, 73' 17-Santa Saikhom Singh), 14-Basudeb Mondal, 22-Surojit Roy, 10-Preston Papai Corporal, 18-Harvinder Singh (60' 9-Raman Vijayan).
SPORTING CLUBE: 30-Luis Xavier Barreto; 20-Bello Rasaq, 6-Philip Gomes, 4-Chinta Chandrashekar Rao (90+' 21-Nicholas Nath), 29-N Samananda Singh, 22-Joseph Pereira, 14-Wilton Gomes (87' 27-Bisheshwar Singh), 19-Nicholas L Rodrigues, 8-N Rajesh Meetei (49' 11-Nicolau Borges), 9-Earnest Jeremiah, 10-MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi.
ONGC MAN of the MATCH: MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi (Sporting Clube de Goa).
YELLOW CARDS: Eric Bolwe Mputu (22'), Madhab Kumar Das (70', both Mohammedan Sporting).
REFEREE: Mrinal Kanti Roy (Assam).
ASSISTANT REFEREE: S Suresh (Tamil Nadu), K Shankar (Tamil Nadu).
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Rizwan ul-Haq (Delhi).
For detailed information and pictures go to the >>IndianFootball.Com National League Special
1st EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 - Quarterfinal League Group B: Dinamo FC, NIGERIA 1-0 Army XI
Goal: 1-0 Oluwaseyi Nurein Rufai (84'). DINAMO FC: 18-Showemi Toyin Koya; 6-Thomas Agbadu Lucky, 5-Elkanah Sunday Omobolanle, 13-Edwin Ekek Kalu, 4-Popoola Glenga Olufemi [C] (80' 15-Efe Itsywore), 2-Ogundeji Wasiu Adewale, 3-Yemi M Olyniyi, 16-Lateef Musa Abiodun (76' 12-Kazeem Sholaja), 8-Onipe James Aliu, 9-Semiu Kayode Rufai (56' 14-Oluwaseyi Nurein Rufai), 10-Felix Ibrebru Ejife.
ARMY XI: 1-Mir Bahadur; 4-Birendra Bodra, 21-Norgan Lama, 22-Dilip M, 2-KP Kabui, 25-LN Munda (52' 6-Thirunavakarsu), 10-Raghu Kumar [C], 9-MG Ramachandran (82' 7-Samuel), 14-Hemant Lama, 11-RS Bhandari (69' 27-TL Kuki), 15-Ngernilal.
YELLOW CARDS: Edwin Ekek Kalu (27'), Efe Itsywore (86', both Dinamo FC); Norgan Lama (29'), Dilip M (61'), Ngernilal (88', all Army XI).
YELLOW-RED CARD: Edwin Ekek Kalu (66', Dinamo FC).
REFEREE: Rathin Mukherjee (West Bengal).
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Dhanraj More (Maharashtra), Egidio D'Costa (Goa).
FOURTH OFFICIAL: L Yaima Singh (Manipur).
For pictures of the EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 click here
::: Blatter announces "Win in India with India" ::: IANS report: In his attempt to take Indian football to the world level, FIFA chief Joseph Blatter announced the launch of a development project 'Win in India with India' here Tuesday.
"The development project 'Win in India with India' will be launched soon in the next few months. You must make the homework here in your country for your country," said Blatter, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the All India Football Federation. The project under Vision Asia development scheme is the second in the country that will have a target of 2011 to achieve its objectives.
"We have a committee called the social responsible committee and they will be working out on the details and in the next few months we will have the project."
"FIFA is not here to develop new colony but we will urge India to come forward and work with us to take the football to the world level. The help will be in the form of human intelligence and financial assistance," he said.
The AIFF also received a shot in the arm when Blatter announced that India would get a grant of $250,000 -- which will also be given to all the 208 members of the FIFA as financial grant.
"This grant will be independent of the project 'Win in India with India," he said.
Blatter said that during his third visit to the country -- and first as a FIFA chief -- he has found that the political leadership of the country is interested in developing the sport.
"I have met the president and the prime minister and I felt that the political leadership of the country is really interested in football. Because the game is the school of life," he said.
The FIFA chief expressed that this was a delayed visit and that he should have come here earlier.
"If possible I will obviously make another visit very shortly to see how the project is working," he said.
The FIFA chief also said that he will soon have legendary players like Michel Platini and Franz Beckenbauer on his executive board and if India wants the duo could be seen visiting the country promoting the game.
::: AFC announces special grants to develop Indian football ::: PTI report: Asian Football Confederation Tuesday announced a financial assistance of USD 1 million for a period of four years to help Indian football improve its standard.
AFC president Mohammed Bin Hammam said the money is not a donation but a support for the cause of the game.
"This money is to support clubs and the league. This is not a donation, we would like to see how it supports your clubs and league," Hammam said while addressing a special congress organised to mark the 70th anniversary of All India Football Federation at the Vigyan Bhawan, Delhi.
Hammam also called various Indian entities to extend a helping hand.
"I am expecting support of state and federal government and also of the corporate world for the development of football in India.
"We all are behind you, the FIFA president is standing behind you. Unfortunately the football infrastructure is not good here but the kind of committment and promises we have had on this visit, I hope Indian football will reach heights," Hammam said.
Later, FIFA President Joseph Sepp Blatter declared open a four-year programme -- Win in India with India -- for the revival of the game in the country.
"We have launched a new programme, which is not yet on paper but in spirit. It will be linked with the 'Vision Asia' programme of AFC," Blatter said.
April 16
RESULTS & NEWS
::: IFC Feature Series on football Youth Development projects in India continues ::: IndianFootball.Com today continues it's Feature Series on football Youth Development projects in India, where we look at different projects across India. As part of the series we will bring you stories, interviews and more from these youth football projects.
We had reported about the SPT Sports Academy in Bangalore and how their coach Tom Legg viewed things at the Academy. Today we look at it from the sponsors point of view, from the ITC Foods division.
IndianFootball.Com was able to catch up with Devarajan Iyer, the Brand Group Manager for ITC Foods on how the Sunfeast brand was making foray into football through the SPT Sports Academy. To know more about how one of India's leading companies intends to make a connection with the children, the current status and future plans, read on.
Since our founding we at IndianFootball.Com have been an ardent supporter of the view point that youth development is the key to Indian football's future success. In keeping with our stand, we chose to be active participants in the development of football talent in India, rather than just objective, third party reporters.
Click here to read the complete >>Devarajan Iyer (Brand Group Manager, ITC Foods; sponsors of SPT Sports Academy) interview
1st EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 - Quarterfinal League Group B: Army XI 1-0 Viva Kerala
Goal: 1-0 Ngernilal (68'). ARMY XI: 1-Mir Bahadur; 4-Birendra Bodra, 21-Norgan Lama, 22-Dilip M, 2-KP Kabui, 17-Ibrahim (82' 16-Bhattacharjee), 10-Raghu Kumar [C] (65' 7-Samuel), 9-MG Ramachandran, 14-Hemant Lama, 11-Bhandari (55' 27-TL Kuki), 15-Ngernilal.
VIVA KERALA: 30-N Noufal; 4-R Dhanarajan [C], 18-Saheed Omobalaji, 12-P Sajesh, 3-Libu C Philip, 14-Shine Raj (57' 2-TK Srinath), 24-VM Gireesh, 7-Denson Devadas, 16-Mohammad Muneer (68' 9-K Shiyu), 10-Badmus Baba Thunde, 23-PK Anil Kumar.
YELLOW CARDS: Dilip M (29', Army XI); R Dhanarajan (50', Viva Kerala).
REFEREE: P Bhaskar (Tamil Nadu).
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Rathin Mukherjee (West Bengal), L Yaima Singh (Manipur).
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Dhanraj More (Maharashtra).
For pictures of the EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 click here
::: Day 2 of Sepp Blatter's India trip ::: FIFA president Sepp Blatter had a busy second day on his first-ever India trip as president of the world football governing body. He flew from Calcutta to the capital New Delhi in the morning and then had a meeting with representatives from big Indian industrial houses at the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), met the Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and was guest of honour at a dinner given by the AIFF and Zee Sports.
Asian Football Confederation president Mohammed bin Hammam today once again was open and blunt in his criticism of Indian football's administration and infrastructure. Bin Hamman said, "with the existing structure, don't think of progress even in the next 100 years."
IANS report: Indian football needs good administration, infrastructure and popular support if it wants to turn the dream of playing in the World Cup a reality, FIFA chief Joseph Blatter said here Monday.
"We need good administration, infrastructure and support from the social and cultural part of society if India wants to play in the World Cup in future," said Blatter during an interaction organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry.
"In India we need and economic support for the development of the game. We don't want a sponsor in India because it will give an impression that football is taking and not giving."
"An economic support should be on a give and take policy. Corporate bodies should invest in teams in cash and the teams should return in value in kind and help the companies to market their products."
He said that if these things are pursued then India could well play the World Cup by 2018.
"The development target in India should be for four years and that has to start now. I think in future we will see an Indian flag in the final round of the World Cup. But it is a long way, but it is a way which is possible."
The FIFA chief also said that the world body has a lot of international tournaments lined up in future and would be glad if India gets the chance to host even one.
"We offer you a platform and you make your own choice. I wonder when the AIFF will have the infrastructure to host one of the several tournaments that we can offer, not possibly the World Cup."
"If it happens it will create a lot of enthusiasm in the country. And in football enthusiasm is what you need," said Blatter during his first official visit to this country which ranks a low 165th in global football rankings.
The 71-year-old Blatter said that football has a long history in India and commented that the country is a 'sleeping giant' in football.
"It is being played from the time when FIFA was not even born. India is a sleeping giant and wake it up not for morning classes but for the world level," Blatter concluded.
AFP report: Fifa president Sepp Blatter on Monday urged cricket-mad India to embrace soccer and lift the sport's infrastructure in order to compete with other nations in the region.
"We are here not to fight against an established sport," Blatter told reporters on his first official visit to India, during which he will also meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
"I admire the game called cricket and I don't want to change the most established sport in your country now," he said. "But I always campaign for football because in this game there is no difference between caste, culture and creed, or rich and poor. It is the fascination of this game that attracts people all over the world."
Blatter also dismissed India's chances of hosting a World Cup in the near future. "I wonder when India will have the infrastructure to host even age-group tournaments, let alone the World Cup," he said. "The time to start is now. I want to wake up the sleeping giant that is India."
IANS report: Corporate India will wholeheartedly support football to help the nation graduate to the world level, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) vice president Sunil Mittal said here Monday.
"Corporate India will participate wholeheartedly and seriously in our common dream to see India on the world stage. We've our fixation with cricket but I believe soccer now has an opportunity that was never there before," said Mittal at an interactive session with FIFA chief Joseph Blatter and the media organised by the CII.
"We are committed to taking a giant leap forward, to take Indian football forward. Given its nature, soccer is most appropriate for a nation where 54 percent of the population is below 25 years of age," he said.
"The presence of the industry here is a clear indication of the support and soon you will see some major initiatives in this regard," said Mittal, head of Bharti Enterprises.
The telecom tycoon said he had discussed ways to help Indian football with Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, president of the All India Football Federation AIFF. Mittal added that some major announcements in this regard would be made soon.
"My interaction with Das Munshi was good and hopefully we will see other companies coming out to support Indian football,"' he said.
Essel group head Subhash Chandra also promised support to the game and said: "I can assure Mr. Blatter that we would put up our hands together and kick ourselves to rise to the occasion."
Industrialist Swapan Sadhan Bose, who is also the president of the Mohun Bagan Club, thanked the FIFA boss for 'showing a dream' and said the country needed more football academies to succeed at international level.
::: 13th Youth Soccer Cup at Kohima form April 26 ::: by Xavier Rutsa: The 13th Youth Soccer Tournament 2007, organized by Classic Club, Kohima will commence from April 26 from Indira Gandhi Stadium. All interested teams in the State to participate are requested to contact the organizing committee for further details or any of the members. The detailed programme will be intimated at the earliest in all leading local papers.
April 15
The IndianFootball.Com Team wishes you all a Happy Bengali New Year (SHUBHO NABABARSHO) & also a Happy Vishu !
11th National League - Saltlake Stadium, Calcutta: Mohun Bagan AC 2-1 East Bengal Club
Goals: 0-1 Edmilson Marques Pardal (30',pen), 1-1 Jose Ramirez Barreto (45'+2'), 2-1 Douglas da Silva (82').
The Calcutta derby between East Bengal Club and Mohun Bagan AC is always regarded as one of the premier matches in Indian football, with a large amount of pride and prestige associated with it. However, the derby in the 14th round of the 11th National League had a special importance. The match had one elite spectator - the FIFA President Joseph Sepp Blatter. The field was ready for the beautiful game to reach its height, and Mohun Bagan came from behind to emerge winner by a 2-1 margin, with all the three goals coming from Brazilian recruits of the respective sides. Before the start of the match in the Saltlake Stadium, the FIFA President encircled the field in open jeep and acknowledged cheers from the crowd. He was accompanied by the AFC President Mohammed Bin Hamam, the AIFF President Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, India captain Baichung Bhutia, Mohun Bagan captain Jose Ramirez Barreto, East Bengal captain Alvito D'Cunha, IFA Secretary Subrata Dutta and the state sports minister Subhas Chakraborty.
From the very beginning, both the teams looked charged up and there was an indication of an exciting match. There was an extra zeal among the players, and perhaps due to this it was difficult for them to keep their cool which resulted in a touchline duel between Chandan Das and Mehtab Hussain in the very second minute. However, timely intervention by the match officials prevented the situation from getting worse. Mohun Bagan defender Deepak Kumar Mondal was not looking comfortable against the East Bengal strikers, and he almost did a suicidal mistake while trying to clear a Boniface Ngairah Ambani shot from left in the 8th minute. However, it luckily went for a corner. Alvito D'Cunha almost scored directly from the corner flag. The ball seemed to have been cleared from behind the goalline and it looked as if the red-and-gold brigade were denied an apparent goal. Mohun Bagan had their answer to the East Bengal attacks in the 10th minute when Lal Kamal Bhowmick sent in a cross after Baichung's shot was blocked by Cristiano, but Barreto's header off the cross went just wide. The Brazilian striker had one more opportunity five minutes later, but this time his side volley went just wide. Soon after the quarter-hour mark, East Bengal striker Edmilson and Mohun Bagan medio Douglas had to be stretchered off after the two Brazilians collided head-on. Douglas got up after reaching the sideline, but Edmilson required treatment and reappeared on the pitch after a considerable period with a bandage over his head. Bagan's discomfort with the set-piece moves was prominent once again in the 22nd minute when Suresh's header off a corner was somehow stopped by the thighs of Dulal Biswas. East Bengal was awarded a penalty five minutes later. Deepak miskicked a ball and it fell for Shylo Malswam Tulunga, who had only the Bagan goalie Shilton Pal to beat. Shilton tried his best and succeeded to extricate the ball from Tulunga, but his legs in the follow-through got hold of Tulunga's legs and the midfielder tumbled inside the Bagan box, and the referee's assistant decided in favour of East Bengal. The Bagan players were seen protesting at this decision. Edmilson Marques Pardal, who was already back on the field after getting the first-aid for his injury, scored from the spot to give his side the deserved lead. Mohun Bagan tried to equalise and organised attacks from the two wings via Lal Kamal Bhowmick and Mehtab Hussain, but the strikers hardly came near scoring till the regulation period of first half. A piece of brilliance from Jose Ramirez Barreto brought the equaliser in the second minute of first half injury-time. Mehtab Hussain's measured cross from around 35 yards in the right flank beat Cristiano and found Barreto inside the box. The Brazilian made no mistake in heading the ball into the far corner of the net.
East Bengal's matchwinner Edmilson had to be carried off the ground in halftime due to his injury, and he had to be replaced by Snehashis Chakraborty. East Bengal started to fade away from the match, and the green-and-maroon brigade was slowly gaining control. In the 52nd minute Cristiano almost scored an own-goal while trying to intercept a through-pass from Mehtab Hussain. Chances were created, but none could make the cut. Meanwhile in the 62nd minute, East Bengal had a golden opportunity off a counter-attack after the Bagan players failed to capitalise on a loose ball inside the box. Alvito flicked to Tulunga, and with Ambani running through the left, there was only one Bagan defender in front of the two East Bengal frontliners. Tulunga laid the final pass for Ambani at the edge of the box, only to see the latter's shot fly over the crossbar. In the very next minute, Barreto tried his luck from outside the box, but his shot swerved out of the far post. Despite the lack of proper wingplay, East Bengal players were creating chances, but those were not enough to beat the Mohun Bagan defence, which by now had gained sufficient confidence. At the other end, the East Bengal defence faltered, but thankfully those were not harmful. Baichung Bhutia could have given his side the lead in the 79th minute when he got an open space in the left after receiving a Lal Kamal flick. He was in a one-on-one situation with the East Bengal custodian Abhra Mondal, when he tried to dribble past the goalkeeper to find an open net. However, this proved fatal, and the goalkeeper was able to deny Baichung from scoring. By this time, the sides were looking different as compared to the first half, and it was Mohun Bagan who looked like scoring. The green-and-maroon brigade got the winner in the 82nd minute. Douglas da Silva was left unmarked on the far post, and when the corner kick taken by Lal Kamal Bhowmick flew towards him, he coolly headed the ball into the back of the net. The remaining part of the match was confined to the midfield, and the final whistle ensured Mohun Bagan's first win under 'cooperative coaching'.
East Bengal stay third with 22 points, trailing behind Mahindra United and Dempo SC, who both have a game in hand. Mohun Bagan now move up to seventh spot with 16 points, and look comfortable in respect to the relegation question.
The FIFA President was in the ground till 85 minutes of the match. But soon after he left the VVIP box and became out of near sight, the East Bengal fans, sitting in the gallery just in front of the VVIP arena, started making obscene gestures towards the president and secretary of Mohun Bagan AC. The club officials had been sitting with the FIFA President and the other dignitaries present there. These gestures went on increasing and after the final whistle; it went to the level of showing shoes and throwing bottles of mineral water towards the VVIP arena. The Mohun Bagan officials were furious and were on the verge of confrontation with the rowdy fans. However this could be avoided, thanks to the efforts of the organisers who intervened timely, the police who took charge to control the fans, and singer Babul Supriyo (he was also there in the VVIP arena) who with his best efforts was able to restrain the Mohun Bagan President. What impression would this incident have carried forward if it occurred during the stay of Mr Blatter?
MOHUN BAGAN: 31-Shilton Pal; 17-Dulal Biswas, 20-Sanjeev Kumar Maria, 4-Deepak Kumar Mondal, 5-Dhanraj Ravanan, 13-Douglas da Silva, 26-Mehraj Din Wadoo, 23-Mehtab Hussain, 22-Lal Kamal Bhowmick (88' 27-Suman Datta), 15-Baichung Bhutia (85' 25-Pachau Lalam Puia), 10-Jose Ramirez Barreto.
Unused substitutes: 1-Sangram Mukherjee, 2-Bijay Baspore, 29-Chinmoy Sarkar, 30-Ayan Chowdhury, 8-Dipendu Biswas. EAST BENGAL: 21-Abhra Mondal; 17-Surya Bikash Chakraborty, 3-Cristiano Hilario de Oliviera, 2-Muttath Suresh, 29-Soumik Dey, 28-Shylo Malswam Tulunga, 14-Chandan Das (70' 26-Sovan Chakraborty), 7-Jayanta Sen, 9-Alvito D'Cunha, 10-Boniface Ngairah Ambani (81' 25-Ashim Biswas), 30-Edmilson Marques Pardal (46' 16-Snehashis Chakraborty).
Unused substitutes: 1-Naseem Akhtar, 27-Gurpreet Singh, 11-Hardip Singh Saini, 6-Dipankar Roy. ONGC MAN of the MATCH: Jose Ramirez Barreto (Mohun Bagan).
YELLOW CARD: Deepak Kumar Mondal (32', Mohun Bagan); Jayanta Sen (7', East Bengal).
REFEREE: Rizwan-ul-Haq (Delhi).
ASSISTANT REFEREES: K Shankar (Tamil Nadu), S Suresh (Tamil Nadu).
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Mrinal Kanti Roy (Assam).
For detailed information and pictures go to the >>IndianFootball.Com National League Special
1st EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 - Quarterfinal League Group B: Dinamo FC, NIGERIA 1-4 Viva Kerala
Goals: 0-1,0-2 Badmus Baba Thunde (14',52'), 0-3 PK Anil Kumar (88'), 1-3 Felix Ibrebru Ejife (90+'), 1-4 Popoola Glenga Olufemi (90+',own Goal). DINAMO FC: 18-Showemi Toyin Koya; 6-Thomas Agbadu Lucky, 5- Elkanah Sunday Omobolanle, 4-Popoola Glenga Olufemi [C], 2-Ogundeji Wasiu Adewale, 7-Akande Rotimi Williams, 8-Onipe James Aliu, 9-Semiu Kayode Rufai, 10-Felix Ibrebru Ejife, 11-Shodimu Ahmed Olalekan, 15-Efe Itsywore.
VIVA KERALA: 30-N Noufal; 4-R Dhanarajan [C], 18-Saheed Omobalaji, 12-P Sajesh, 3-Libu C Philip, 14-Shine Raj, 24-VM Gireesh, 7-Denson Devadas, 16-Mohammad Muneer, 10-Badmus Baba Thunde, 23-PK Anil Kumar.
REFEREE: Ashok Ghosh (Delhi).
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Egidio D'Costa (Goa), Dhanraj More (Maharashtra).
FOURTH OFFICIAL: P Bhaskar (Tamil Nadu).
For pictures of the EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 click here
::: Blatter announces 'Goal 2011' project ::: After an eventful first day in India in which the FIFA president Sepp Blatter visited the Calcutta Maidan and watched the East Bengal - Mohun Bagen derby at the Saltlake Stadium, he addressed the media at a press conference at the Taj Bengal this evening.
The FIFA president launched the 'Goal 2011' project titled 'Win in India with India' under the Vision Asia development scheme is the second project in the country that will have a target of 2011 to achieve its objectives. The aim of the project is to look into the problems of Indian football and offer suitable solutions.
Blatter addressing the media said: "We have not come here to fight against an established sport in this country. I am here to speak on my game. It is football. Some call it soccer. We call it world sport."
Blatter made it clear that development had to come from within India and in such a case the AIFF would get the necessary help from FIFA.
"We will form a working group with representatives from FIFA, Asian Football Confederation and All India Football Federation and try to draw an inventory of all the matters concerning the game and fix a time table for addressing each issue. It will take into consideration the financial help that is needed and how you raise the money through the governmental and corporate support."
Meanwhile the Asian Football Confederation president Mohammed bin Hamman hit out at the Indian club scene saying that if things continue the way they are at the moment, then Indian football will not develop in a 100 years...
::: Blatter assures new football era amid chaos and carnival ::: UNI report: FIFA president Joseph Blatter today had a date with history at the cradle of Indian football and assured that the real game would begin in India from now on under the guidance and tutelage of the world football body.
Speaking on the occasion of visiting the clubs, Blatter said, "I am extremely glad to be here in Calcutta, the birthplace of Indian football. I welcome you all to the FIFA fold and assure you that the real game will begin in India from now on." " Football is a social school of our lives. Enjoy your life, but don't forget to enjoy football," he said.
Wishing everyone a happy Bengali new year, he said, "I am overwhelmed at being received with such open arms. It's good to be with friends." Talking about Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting clubs, he said, "I represent FIFA. And we are juniors here. We have come here to remember football history." While FIFA was established in 1904, Mohun Bagan was set up in 1889 and Mohammedan Sporting Club in 1891. East Bengal was established in 1920.
A cavalcade of 15 cars and security vans arrived at the historic Mohun Bagan club at 0959 hours later, Blatter was taken to the club's lawn where he unveiled a plaque commemorating his visit amid a din of reports and a fusillade of flashbulbs.
His next stop was East Bengal club where the routine pleasantries were exchanged, before he moved on to garland the statue of Gostho Paul and then to Mohammedan Club.
Speaking on the occasion AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam said, "It is time for us to play the game here. We feel emotionally attached with this place because of the love for football you show here." Meanwhile, the experience was a sure mix for Blatter and company.
Chaos reigned supreme at Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting Clubs with officials and security agencies engaged in a mid-riff battle of elbows and still photographers and camerapersons hopping about for a good frame.
While he was presented with a silver boat as a memento in Mohun Bagan, Mohammedan Sporting club presented him a trophy and a souvenir. Near the Gostho Paul statue the camerapersons' stage caved in. Thankfully none was injured.
The experience was a different pole at East Bengal club. They made a stage in the form of a goalpost and in a neat presentation ceremony he was given a memento, a photo of the DCM cup winning East Bengal team with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi and a souvenir.
Mr Blatter presented all the clubs with a FIFA pendant.
While Blatter was accompanied by Jerome Champagne, delegate of the press for Special affairs FIFA, Guy-Philippe Mathau, personal assistant to Mr Blatter and a host of other FIFA officials, AIFF President P R Das Munshi, secretary Alberto Colaco, IFA secretary Subrata Dutta accompanied him from India.
Hundreds of football enthusiasts lined the roads on Maidan and in three clubs, eagerly awaiting the FIFA delegation.
Blatter is on his maiden visit to the country and will be here for three days as he will talk to all concerned for development of Indian football.
Calcutta is his first stop. He heads for Delhi tomorrow.
::: New look of the Salt Lake Stadium ::: The Saltlake Stadium (Yuba Bharati Krirangan) acquired a new look today owing to the visit of the FIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter. The president of the governing body of world football was here to watch the Calcutta derby between Mohun Bagan AC and East Bengal Club. Automatically alternating electronic advertisement boards were set up in a small section of the perimeter of the field. A giant screen was set up in the stands lying opposite to the place where the Press and the VVIP boxes are located. Thus, the stadium once again witnessed the giant screen after the Federation Cup. At first replays were being shown on the giant screen. However, after one replay showed that an apparent East Bengal goal has been disallowed, the crowd got fuming and the organisers were barred from showing any further replay. Another change that has occurred in the Stadium, and perhaps the largest change, is in the VVIP arena. The erstwhile open VVIP arena has been transformed into an enclosure containing four split air-conditioners and two plasma televisions.
April 14
RESULTS & NEWS
::: FIFA president Sepp Blatter has arrived in Calcutta ::: FIFA president Sepp Blatter landed this evening in Calcutta on his three day visit to India!
After touching down at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Mr. Blatter made his way towards his hotel in town and driving down VIP Road he was welcomed to the football crazy city. Rajarhat and Gopalpur municipality built a stage in the shape of a football where the FIFA president was felicitated for the first time with many more to come in the coming days.
It is learnt that AIFF is spending around Rs.5 million on the visit of Blatter and his entourage comprising around 100 officials.
We welcome Mr. Blatter to India! And we sincerely hope he has an enjoyable trip to our country, but also we hope he gets to see the problems which ail Indian football, so FIFA can guide us towards becoming a truely footballing nation!!!
1st EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 - Quarterfinal League Group B: Iran XI 2-1 Army XI
Goals: 0-1 Ngernilal (48'), 1-1,2-1 Majid Nowrouzi (82',87'). IRAN XI: 1-Farhad Vali; 4-Mostafa Sanobari, 13-Mohsin Shaker, 2-Majid Ghadimi, 18-Hamid Waez, 9-Nasir Shirdel, 10-Majid Nowrouzi, 20-Hussain Yousifi, 14-Behzad Mofarrah, 23-Hisham Fatahi, 8-Washem Haedari.
AMRY XI: 1-Mir Bahadur; 4-Birendra Bodra, 21-Norgan Lama, 22-Dilip M, 2-KP Kabui, 13-Mahesh Rai, 10-Raghu Kumar [C], 9-MG Ramachandran, 14-Hemant Lama, 11-Bhandari, 15-Ngernilal.
REFEREE: L Yaima Singh (Manipur).
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Egidio D'Costa (Goa), Dhanraj More (Maharashtra).
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Rathin Mukherjee (West Bengal).
For pictures of the EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 click here
::: Anjan Mitra looks forward to Derby on Sunday ::: Talking to IndianFootball.Com, Mohun Bagan AC secretary Anjan Mitra said that he looked forward to Sunday's derby against archrivals East Bengal Club.
He told our site that his team had returned back only on Thursday to Calcutta and that a number of midfield players remain injured. But the morale is high after the good result in Thailand and the players will give an exhalting performance on Sunday.
Asked about the FIFA President's Visit he said that he is proud that Mr. Blatter will be visiting the club!
And added, "I hope it will bring more funds to Indian Football. I will ask for the subsidy for the Mohan Bagan Academy from him through the AIFF."
::: Manipur set to launch school initiative of Vision India ::: The All-Manipur FA is set to launch the grassroots school football development programme for under-11 boys and girls under the Vision India - Manipur Programme for the year of 2007/08. The AMFA has identified a number of suitable schools for the programme.
The schools from Imphal East district are: Eternal English School - Sekta; Blooming Flower English School - Khurai; Rajani English School - Khurai; St Xavier English School - Soibam Leikai; St Mary's School - Nongmeibung; Tiny Tots Unique School - Seulahland for boys and girls; Don Bosco School - Sangakpham; Manipur Public School - Koirengei boys and girls; Bashikhong Junior High School for girls only.
The schools from Imphal West district are: Paradise Academy for boys and girls; Shishu Nistha Niketan of Kwakeithel for boys and girls; Pari Imom Shindamshang of Langjing for boys and girls; Usha Bhawan High School - Tera Sayang for boys and girls; Oxford English Academy of Phayeng for boys and girls; Don Bosco School of Langjing for boys; Budhimanjuri Junior High School of Tera Lukham Leirak for boys; Nirmala Rani English School of Wangoi for boys; Public Girls High School of Lamsang for girls only.
April 13
RESULTS & NEWS
::: Zee Sports Exclusive Sepp Blatter interview ::: Zee Sports' Mayanti Langer carried out an exclusive TV interview with FIFA president Sepp Blatter ahead of his upcoming India visit at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich.
The TV interview has been aired by Zee Sports and will be aired again by the channel in the next few days, while Zee Sports will also cover live some of the stops of Sepp Blatter's India visit.
Zee Sports has kindly made the transcript of the interview available to us at IndianFootball.Com.
We thank them for that and hope you enjoy it! Click here to read the complete >>FIFA President Sepp Blatter interview
11th National League - Nehru Stadium, Margao: Sporting Clube de Goa 1-3 Mahindra United
Goals: 0-1, 1-3 Andrews Pomeyie Mensah (17',86'), 0-2 Steven Dias (36'), 1-2 Macpherlin Dudu Omagbemi (68'). Defending champions Mahindra United moved back to the top of the 11th National League standings with a 3-1 away victory against Sporting Clube de Goa at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. Mahindra United with 26 points to their name now have a three points lead over second-placed Dempo SC. Sporting Clube de Goa continue to disappoint as they remain on 14 points from 13 matches.
For the Jeepmen from Mumbai it was an important first win of the season against Sporting Clube de Goa, who had thrice beaten them and another tie had ended in a goalless draw.
Mahindra United took the lead in the 17th minute when their Ghanian striker Andrews Pomeyie Mensah headed in a Steven Dias freekick. And it was Steven Dias himself who doubled the lead in the 36th minute of a pass from Mensah, who thereby returned the favour. Sporting Clube reduced the deficit in the 68th minute through Macpherlin Dudu Omagbemi and Mahin
The Chandigarh Sports Department retained 12 players Under-10 for induction in the state-run Chandigarh Football Academy after the final skill tests conducted at the Sector 42 Sports Complex here on Friday evening..
1st EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 - Final: FC Nania, GHANA 3-0 Viva Kerala
1st EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 - 3rd Place Playoff: Iran XI 2-3 State Bank of Travancore
1st EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 - Semifinal: Viva Kerala 4-1 State Bank of Travancore
Durand Cup winners Dempo SC returned to the top of the NFL standings with a 3-1 win against Goan rivals Churchill Brothers SC in a 11th National League match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. With four Rounds of the NFL remaining an interesting finale on the cards. Dempo SC and Mahindra United now lead the table with both teams on 26 points from 14 matches, but Dempo are on top with their a four goal superior goal difference. Churchill Brothers meanwhile stay fifth with 19 points from 14 matches.
IANS report: In his attempt to take Indian football to the world level, FIFA chief Joseph Blatter announced the launch of a development project 'Win in India with India' here Tuesday.
PTI report: Asian Football Confederation Tuesday announced a financial assistance of USD 1 million for a period of four years to help Indian football improve its standard.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter had a busy second day on his first-ever India trip as president of the world football governing body. He flew from Calcutta to the capital New Delhi in the morning and then had a meeting with representatives from big Indian industrial houses at the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), met the Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and was guest of honour at a dinner given by the AIFF and Zee Sports.
"The development target in India should be for four years and that has to start now. I think in future we will see an Indian flag in the final round of the World Cup. But it is a long way, but it is a way which is possible."
IANS report: Corporate India will wholeheartedly support football to help the nation graduate to the world level, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) vice president Sunil Mittal said here Monday.
UNI report: FIFA president Joseph Blatter today had a date with history at the cradle of Indian football and assured that the real game would begin in India from now on under the guidance and tutelage of the world football body.
Chaos reigned supreme at Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting Clubs with officials and security agencies engaged in a mid-riff battle of elbows and still photographers and camerapersons hopping about for a good frame.
1st EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup 2007 - Quarterfinal League Group B: Iran XI 2-1 Army XI