Category: Football

by Abhishek Shukla

Vital month looms for Alejandro Menendez at East Bengal

KOLKATA: December is shaping up to be a crucial month for the future of East Bengal coach Alejandro Menendez, with three must-win games if the Spaniard is to keep the hot seat in East Bengal.

It is true that the coach of East Bengal is always under pressure, such is the microscope that they are under and the expectation of fans. It’s something that could either hold someone back or push him to achieve more, depending on how he handle it.

Saturday’s 3-2 defeat against Aizawl FC, who were bottom of the table before kick-off, has turned up the furnace further, not so much for the result but also the manner of the defeat, where apart from the opening 20 minutes, the Red and Golds were very much second-best. 


Tactically East Bengal looked poorer with defenders were exposed and looked incredibly vulnerable. There was very little penetration in attack.

While East Bengal now face a tricky home encounter against Minerva Punjab FC on December 4, 2018 in match that could define and possibly decide Menendez’s fate as East Bengal coach.

Should they survive that hurdle, there are also two matches that will be considered ‘must-win’ as the Red and Golds battles to stay in the hunt for the I-League title. The first is home to Gokulam Kerala FC on December 8, before the Kolkata Derby against bitter rivals Mohun Bagan on December 16.

Many former players and experts are already raising questions about Menendez’s strategy and even his ability to lead a team like East Bengal, and if East Bengal fail to collect full points in any of these matches, the former Real Madrid Castilla coach would found himself under immense pressure, if he is not already.

by Abhishek Shukla

BLACK PANTHERS BRACED FOR TOUGH FINAL

KOKRAJHAR, BODOLAND, ASSAM: Mohammedan Sporting Club coach Raghunath Nandy has refused to buy into the favourites tag on his team’s head ahead of their Bodoland Martyrs Gold Cup final clash against Oil India, Dhulijan.

The meeting set for Sunday night at KDSA Stadium in Bodoland, Assam sees two former champions go head-to-head in what is seen as a grudge match.

Black Panthers are currently enjoying a rich vein of form and will be looking at the likes of skipper Philip Adjah, Charles Atcha and Kamran Farooque for inspiration.

However, the final match will not be an easy one as Oil India lost 3-1 against Mohammedan SC earlier this month in the 65th Bordoloi Trophy final and with the result still fresh on everyone’s minds, Oil India will surely want to turn the tables around.

“We are fully aware that the opponent is eager to take revenge, and as such, we need to be on our toes. We have no right to be on flat foot. We need to be fully aware that we are playing against a team that has quality individuals,” Nandy told mohammedansportingindia.com.

The former East Bengal defender says the final will be a open contest despite exhibiting an output which has clearly put his team above their opponents for the championship clash.

For many a fan, Black Panthers are the favourite to win the ultimate at the knockout competition, but Nandy is not willing give ear to that assertion and insisted that Oil India have an equal chance of being crowned champions.

“We are not favourites. From a tactical point of view‚ the set up for both teams is almost similar. Both teams have the equal chance of winning the competition. Since this is a knockout tournament every game was like a final and it will be same against Oil India. We will put in our best to make sure we win,” Nandy said.

The veteran tactician also mentioned his team will go to the final aiming to put smiles on faces of Black Panthers faithful.

“We need to put smiles on the faces of our supporters. They are that driving force and they are that fuelling factor that is keeping us moving,” he conlcuded. 

The match at KDSA Stadium in Bodoland, Assam will kick-off at 7 pm.

by Abhishek Shukla

AIFF Announces Indian team for FIFA U17 World Cup

GOA, 21st September, 2017: History beckons for Indian football as twenty one players have been selected for the first ever Indian squad to participate in a FIFA World Cup, the Indian U-17 World Cup Squad, which will participate in the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 India.

 

India have been drawn in Group A alongside USA, Colombia and Ghana, and will face USA on October 06, followed by Colombia and Ghana on October 09 and October 12 respectively at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.

 

“We believe that we are prepared for the FIFA U-17 World Cup”, said Head Coach of the India U-17s Luis Norton de Matos. “We have worked hard and made progress, but at the same time we go directly to a high level competition against some of the best teams in the world”

 

“We will fight to win each match even if there is only five percent chance of winning. We will not give up and nothing is impossible in football”

 

“We plan to show the world that we are on the same page as them”, Matos added.

 

In an effort to field a strong team for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 India, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) provided exposure tours for the India U-17s wherein the Indian Colts faced Macedonia, Serbia and Benfica amongst other teams. The Indian Colts had also participated in a Four-Nation Tournament in Mexico where they lost against Mexico and Colombia, but held Chile to a 1-1 draw with ten-man.

 

“Against Chile and Macedonia we registered good results but the FIFA U-17 World Cup will be a competition and competitions are different from friendly matches”, Matos informed.

 

“However, the level of the players is very high and we plan to give it our all once the FIFA U-17 World Cup kicks-off”, Matos quipped.

 

The list of the 21 selected players follows below:

 

GOALKEEPERS: Dheeraj Singh, Prabhsukhan Gill, Sunny Dhaliwal

DEFENDERS: Boris Singh, Jitendra Singh, Anwar Ali, Sanjeev Stalin, Hendry Antonay, Namit Deshpande

MIDFIELDERS: Suresh Singh, Ninthoinganba Meetei, Amarjit Singh Kiyam, Abhijit Sarkar, Komal Thatal, Lalengmawia, Jeakson Singh, Nongdamba Naorem, Rahul Kannoly Praveen, Md. Shahjahan

FORWARDS: Rahim Ali, Aniket Jadhav

by Abhishek Shukla

Minerva colts invited to play a friendly against Columbia U-17 World Cup team.

After being the only team from the entire country to have been invited to play India U-17 World Cup team in Goa few months ago, Northern powerhouse and India’s largest football Academy Minerva Punjab FC add another feather to their cap as they are invited to play Columbian U-17 World Cup team in a friendly match in Gurgaon on 27th September. 
 
Colombia sealed their entry into the U-17 World Cup in dramatic style with a last-gasp 2-1 win over Paraguay in the last group match of the South American U-17 Championship (Campeonato Sudamericano Sub-17) could be tournament’s dark horses and are no stranger to the FIFA U-17 as they previously made it to the FIFA U-17 World Cup on five occasions, their best finish came in Finland 2003 and Nigeria 2009, when they finished third.
 
The Los Cafeteros U-17 team have already undergone three training camps ever since sealing qualification, with one of them happening in the seaside city of Barranquilla, where temperatures are closest to what the team will experience in India.
 
Meanwhile Minerva Punjab FC Owner & CEO Ranjit Bajaj fell short of words to express how fortunate he was to have been getting a chance to test his Academy products against the finest talents of International Football. 
 
Ironically, Columbia are placed in Group A with the likes of United States of America (USA), Two-time champions at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Ghana and Host country India which comprises of 5 Minervan players namely defending strong holds Anwar Ali and Narender Gahlot, Midfield general Jackson Singh and strikers Nongdamba Naorem and Shubhan Sarangi. 
 
Match Details : 
 
Minerva U-17 vs Columbia U-17 
Venue : Heritage College Academy Grounds. 
Date : 27th September 
Time : 6.00pm 
by Abhishek Shukla

Bengaluru FC sign Eduardo Garcia; finalize squad for Indian Super League

Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC completed their quota of foreign signings and finalized their squad for the upcoming season with the addition of Spanish winger Eduardo ‘Edu’ Garcia Martin, the club announced on Saturday. Having penned a one-year deal, Edu becomes the eighth overseas player and the fifth Spaniard in the squad for the Blues’ maiden season in the Indian Super League.

 

Head Coach Albert Roca welcomed his fellow countryman to the Blues’ fold and said, “Edu is an exciting young winger. His versatility down the flank will provide us with great options in terms of personnel as well as our game plan. He will be a great addition to our squad and fits in well with our philosophy.”

 

Twenty-seven-year-old Edu, who joins the Blues from Spanish side Real Zaragoza, shared his excitement ahead of his first overseas stint, “I’m very excited for joining the club. From the first time, I liked the idea of playing for Bengaluru’s team in the Indian Super League. Football in India is growing a lot and it’s an important challenge for me. I hope I can help the club to reach the objectives for the season. I can’t wait to start!”

 

Born in Zaragoza, Edu joined his home side Real Zaragoza’s youth setup in 2002, aged 12. He progressed through the ranks at the club before making his debut with the reserves during the 2009–10 campaign, in Tercera Division.

 

In 2012, Edu joined CD Ebro before moving to fellow league team SD Ejea the following season. In July 2014, he returned to Ebro and scored career-best 16 goals during his first season, helping his team gain promotion to Segunda Division B, before adding a further eight in his second season.

 

The winger then sealed a return to Real Zaragoza in at the start of the 2016-17 season and made 27 appearances for the Los Maños helping them finish 16th with 50 points in the Segunda Division.

by Abhishek Shukla

SIX U-23 PLAYERS NAMED IN SQUAD FOR MACAU

NEW DELHI: Six players from India’s AFC U-23 campaign in Doha were named in the 24-member squad for India’s forthcoming AFC Asian Cup Qualifier match against Macau on September 5, 2017. The squad will be departing for Macau from Mumbai via Bangkok on Friday (September 1, 2017).

India currently stay on top of Group A with 6 points, courtesy back to back victories against Myanmar and the Kyrgyz Republic.

However, National Coach Stephen Constantine felt there is “no reason to underestimate Macau as a Team.”

“Macau will be playing at home and in front of their home crowd. There’s always a marked difference between playing at home and playing an away match but we are aware of the challenge,” Constantine said on arrival.

The Team has been camping in Mumbai since August 12, 2017 during which they played two International matches against Mauritius and St. Kitts and Nevis in the Hero Tri-nation Football series as part of the preparation.

“The matches provided us with the much-needed match practice ahead of our challenge against Macau,” Constantine mentioned.

Legendary Footballer IM Vijayan who will also be travelling to Macau as an observer said the “team looks to be in great shape.”

 

“The body language is positive but ahead of such matches, there’s always a tendency of taking it a bit lightly against lower ranked opponents. The boys need to keep working hard on the ground against Macau,” he stated.

 

The squad for Macau stay as follows:

GOALKEEPERS: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Subrata Paul, Albino Gomes.

DEFENDERS: Pritam Kotal, Lalruatthara, Sandesh Jhingan, Anas Edathodika, Arnab Mondal, Salam Ranjan Singh, Narayan Das, Jerry Lalrinzuala.

MIDFIELDERS: Udanta Singh, Jackichand Singh, Nikhil Poojary, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Rowllin Borges, Md. Rafique, Germanpreet Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Halicharan Narzary.

FORWARDS: Jeje Lalpekhlua, Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh, Balwant Singh.

by Abhishek Shukla

Bengaluru FC strengthen attack, sign Venezuela International Miku

Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC have added more firepower to their frontline with the signing of Venezuelan International striker Nicolas ‘Miku’ Ladislao Fedor Flores ahead of their debut Indian Super League season, the club announced on Tuesday. The 32-year-old who signed a two-year deal, arrives to Bengaluru from Spanish side Rayo Vallecano with whom he spent the last two-and-a-half seasons.

The 6’ 1” attacker will team up with Spaniard Braulio Nobrega at the front and becomes the Blues’ seventh foreign signing for the season and the first ever South American player at the club.

Head Coach Albert Roca was delighted with the newest addition to the squad and said, “I’m extremely happy to have secured the services of Miku. He is an exciting player with some great skills and his playing style will help us a lot. Miku has played for several top clubs for a number of years now, and the experience he brings in will be very crucial for us this season.”

Having completed formalities, an excited Miku said, “I have heard a lot about the club and the city. We have some great players in the club who always fight for titles, so I hope it will be a good season for every one of us in Bengaluru. I spoke to Albert Roca about the club, the league and the team. He’s a very good and experienced coach and explained to me what he wants from me for this season. I can’t wait to join my teammates and begin training.”

Born in Caracas, Venezuela to a Hungarian father and a Venezuelan mother, Miku began his football career in Spanish powerhouse Valencia’s youth system. Turning professional in 2004 with the Mestella-side, the striker turned out for CD Alcoyano (2004-05, 2nd B), UD Salamanca (2005–06, 2nd B), Ciudad de Murcia (2006, 2nd), Valencia ‘B’ (2007, 2nd B), Gimnastic de Tarragona (2007–08, 2nd), UD Salamanca (2008–09, 2nd) in the Spanish league system. His highlight during this period was striking 18 goals in the promotion winning campaign at Salamanca during the 2005-06 Segunda ‘B’ season.

The striker returned back to parent club Valencia for the 2009-10 La Liga season, before moving in the heart of Spain to Getafe. His four-year spell with the Madrid-based club saw him amass 26 La Liga goals in 90-plus appearances. Miku also had short loan spell with Glasgow-based Celtic FC in 2012-13 where he won the Scottish League and Cup double.

 

The following season, the Venezuelan moved out of Europe for his first spell in Asia where he represented Al-Gharafa SC (2013-15) in the Qatar Stars League. In January 2015, Miku returned to Spain to join Rayo Vallecano, another Madrid-based club. The striker settled in quickly and began firing all guns blazing in the 2015-16 season. In February 2016, he became the first Venezuelan to score in four consecutive Spanish top flight matchdays, winning La Liga’s Player of the Month award. That season Miku netted nine times and assisted four goals in 22 appearances for Rayo in the La Liga finishing their joint second-highest top-scorer in the league.

At the continental level, Miku has represented Celtic in the UEFA Champions League while playing in the UEFA Europa League for Getafe and Valencia, also scoring a hattrick in the competition for the latter.

A full international since 2006, Miku has 51 caps for Venezuela and has scored 11 times, most notably against Brazil in the during the 2015 Copa America in Chile. The striker also helped his team to a fourth-place finish in the 2011 Copa America held in Argentina. Interestingly, the striker has already played in India as a part of the Venezuela team which faced Argentina in an International Friendly in Kolkata back in September 2011.

For the record, Miku is the fifth-highest (joint) goalscorer for the Venezuelan national team and is 23rd (joint) in the list of most caps for his country.

by Abhishek Shukla

India played out a draw against Saint Kitts

Indian team started with a win in last match against Mauritius in ongoing Hero Tri-Nation series, here in Mumbai. Coach Constantine swapped goal scorers from last time which will feature Balwant starting for the Team whereas Robin Singh will sit in dugout this time.
India started the proceedings for the match, and attacked with in the first 2 minutes of play with Balwant in center but failed to pass the final defense line.

A 10th minute a jackichand did some athletic moves to tap in a ball from midfield in St. Kitts box but it eventually landed in for Corner to Indian team, which in turn produces nothing.  In 15th minute oppositions Tishan played some excellent ball in India’s half which scared hosts a bit, but was safe at the end.

Balwant Singh Played some exciting game in the first half of the match and also got some good help up front from JeJe .

Real chance came in 20th minute of the game with Jeje’s pass to Narzary in right flank and the later his cross inside the box which saw Balwant headed the ball to Goal but was saved by Jamal from St. Kitts.

Later Borges got a good run till opposition box but failed to defeat the defense in the end and but wins a corner for home team, corner was well tapped by Captain Sandesh, who guided to alone man Jacki outside the box, Jacki  powered it over crossbar.

Yohannes had a good strike over Indian bars but failed to convert. In next minute Balwant and Jeje paired to play some head shots near oppositions Box, where Justin and Clyde muscled jeje in between, which saw a free kick for India just outside Box and Balwant put the ball inside the Goal but goal was disallowed due to offside by Narayan das.

After half  hour mark Saint Kitts got a free kick in India’s half which was saved by Indian custodian in gloves at the end. Some complaints from Saint Kitts dugout for which referee Dilan Perera stopped the play and had a word with the team amanagement near opposition dugout.

First goal of the match came from jackichands header in 39th minute which he received as a cross from Rowlin Borges. The header was executed perfectly and Saint Kitts goal keeper Jamal had no answer for that.

Rowlin Borges came down to business again when he passed to Jeje in 43rd minute of the play, which Jeje hit but saved by Jamal near the crossbar.

At half time India is leading the visiting side by one goal and that goal came from Jackichand’s header.

As second half started Indian team got first move near opposition Box but failed to get any constructive out of it. In return Saint Kitts also had a chance near the Indian crossbar but failed to capitalize. Real chance came in 49th minute when Kotal played a good chance but misplaced and shot wide.

In 50th minute Robin Singh had  a great run from midfield to box but he didn’t gave a pass to Jeje and lost the ball, if he had passed to jeje that might have been a Goal for India. In next minute Jeje had a great run and gave  a timely pass to Robin Singh, who lost the ball to Saint Kitts defense.

In 56th minute Eugeneson long ranger sailed over the bar. A couple of changed for host as Nikhil Poojary comes in for Jackichand and MD Rafique comes in place of Eugeneson in 61th minute.

After the changes, visitors started to make some pressure as Rogers from Saint Kitts pilled a shot over Indian bar. Indian pair of Borges and Nikhil poojary put up some good skills near opposition box but ultimately Nikhil pass to Robin which later.

Saint Kitts equalizes from the corner kick as substitute Amory Gvaune taps in from that corner. This goal came after several pressure situation in Indian box which were saved by Indian custodian near the goal post. Jinghan had some great tackles in Indian defense line and prevented many opposition strikes into Indian half.

Saint Kitts and nevis started some good play as their Kimaree, carlos and Tishan played a huge role in a good and Successful comeback. A good chance for India as Poojary sarted a good pass to Robin , who later passed to Rafique. Rafique failed to capitalized and missed the sitter.

Constantine subsituted Rowlin Borges with Anirudh Thapa in 80th minutes. As soon as Anirudh Thapa comes in to play he had good run in opposition half. Robin received brilliant pass from Das in midfield which he passed to poojary, he had a great run but failed to score or pass in final frontier.

Manvir Singh came in place of jeje in 86th minute of play his last second chance in as many games.  He missed in his second minute when Poojary passed to him and he was in almost perfect place to score but completely miss timed.

Most exciting moment came in additional minutes in second half as Robin kicked ball which hit goal post and later saved by jamal. Last five minutes were very exciting as India got chances after chances mostly poojary and Robin were involved in all but failed to convert upfront.

At the end it was a draw, both team played well and it was exciting second half at the end. Though India missed many opportunities but should take this result as we were missing many big names likes Sunil Chhetri, Udanta, Gurpreet Sandhu who all are in club duty for AFC Cup.

 

 

 

by Abhishek Shukla

New-look Bengaluru face 4.25 SC challenge

Bengaluru: A new-look Bengaluru FC squad will have their task cut out when they come up against North Korean side 4.25 SC in the first leg of the Inter-Zonal semifinal of the 2017 AFC Cup at the Kanteerva Stadium, on Wednesday.

 

Taking field for their first game of the 2017-18 season, the Blues will aim to make the most of home advantage to get a positive result ahead of the second leg, which will be played in Pyongyang a fortnight later. However, the job at hand won’t be an easy one given the fact that squad has been completely overhauled only four weeks back.

 

“It’s never easy at the start of the season. We have a new-look squad and had just four weeks to prepare. But we’re eager to get into action and are looking forward to the game. We had a good pre-season trip to Spain and we’ve been working hard in Bengaluru as well. A bunch of players from last season are still with us and we hope to carry forward the same form from the group stage,” said Head Coach Albert Roca speaking on the eve of the big clash.

On the team news front, the Blues will be without the services of talismanic defender John Johnson, who is away for personal reasons, and Braulio Nobrega, who isn’t part of the squad. Meanwhile, the rest of the foreigners, along with Indian players are all fit and available for selection. “Johnson has been an important part of the club for the last four years, and we will definitely miss him. However, we’ve signed some good foreign players who bring in a lot of experience and will help us immensely in this competition. We’ve even included some deserving youngsters from our academy in the squad and they give us some great options in different positions,” added Roca while sharing his thoughts on the composition of the team.

Opponents 4.25 SC, who are making their debut appearance in the competition, topped Group-I (East Asia Zone) with two wins and as many draws in four games, ahead of fellow North Korean side Kigwancha SC thanks to better goal difference. While their attack will be spearheaded by tournament top-scorer Kim Yu-song who has netted nine goals, they’re pretty much an unknown opponent for Roca’s boys. “We know very little about our opponents, but we are at the business end of the competition and no matter which team we get drawn against, they won’t give us an easy game. We are focused on our strengths. 4.25 SC are definitely a good side considering that they are still unbeaten in the competition and we’re expecting a tough game,” said the coach.

The match kicks off at 7 pm and will be streamed live on the Facebook and YouTube channels of AFC Cup.

by Abhishek Shukla

FC Pune City snap ISL Golden Boot Winner Marcelinho

Pune, 21 August 2017: – Strengthening their squad further, the Rajesh Wadhawan Group owned Indian Super League club FC Pune City today secured the services of 2016 Indian Super League golden boot winner Marcelo Leite Pereira a.k.a. Marcelinho. The Brazilian winger who has plied his trade in Spain, Greece & Italy represented Delhi Dynamos FC last season. In his 15 appearances, the South American scored 10 goals and made five assists.

 

FC Pune City CEO Gaurav Modwel was excited on the new addition to his team. “Marcelinhohas a great appetite for scoring and caused some serious damage to other teams’ defence in ISL last season. He is a busy player on the pitch, always in the thick of things – setting the pace, assisting and finding the back of the net. I know our fans really wanted him to don the FC Pune City jersey! Welcome Marcelinho.”

In his career spanning almost a decade, Marcelinho has represented Atletico Madrid B, Getafe B, Greek clubs like Skoda Xanthi F.C., Atromitos Athens, Kalamataamong others.

Head coach Antonio Habas said, “Marcelinho is one of the most accomplished attackers we have seen in Indian Super League. He has the versatility to play on wings as well as in front of the net along with great pace to match his abilities. These qualities will be of great help to the team and hope we can achieve results that we aim for in the coming season.”

On donning the orange and purple, Marcelinho said. “It’s exciting times ahead as I join FC Pune City. Antonio Habas is a great coach to work with and his vision for the club is something that got me excited. I will give my 100 % and ensure my stint with FC Pune City gives the Orange Army many reasons to celebrate.”

by Abhishek Shukla

Minerva Punjab FC appoints new Head Coach

Minerva Punjab FC the only team to be participating in the Hero I-Leaue from Chandigarh, Punjab and the entire North region welcomed Spaniard Juan Luis Perez Herrera as their new Head Coach for the senior team.
Juan Luis Perez Herrera arrived at the club premises in Mohali on Friday and took up his first training with the senior squad on Saturday. The new man incharge has UEFA Pro License with more than 12 years of experience in managing and leading teams in Spain. This will be Juan’s first stint in India, his last assignment was as Head Coach of Lions Gibraltar FC which plays in Gibraltar Premier League before which he was the Head Coach of Manchester 62 and College Europa in the Gibraltar Premier League. Before moving to the Gibraltar Premier League Juan coached a Spanish third division side Alhaurín de la Torre Club de Fútbol.
Juan’s philosophy and style of play seems to be well aligned with Minerva Punjab FC’s ethos of playing young players from their own academy. Juan took up his first training session with the boys and was elated to see the enthusiasm and desire of the players to learn. “Minerva Punjab FC is a good side and no less than any other side in the league, with the proper training and time put in, we can have the confidence to be Champions”, he told the boys. He had been studying videos of last season’s matches and coordinating with Assistant Coach Sachin Babadhe about the progress of the team prior to his arrival.
Club owner and CEO, Ranjit Bajaj said, “I am pleased to welcome Juan to the Minerva Punjab FC family and I am sure his experience will help us get good results this season, the most important thing for me was that he is totally onboard with the club’s youth development philosophy.”
by Abhishek Shukla

Bengaluru FC sign India’s no.1 Gurpreet Singh Sandhu

Bengaluru FC have completed a major signing for the 2017-18 campaign, roping in Indian National team goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu from Norwegian side Stabaek FC for an undisclosed transfer amount, the club announced on Thursday.

While securing the services of India’s No.1 goalkeeper, the Blues have also completed the official paperwork in time for him to be part of the 2017 AFC Cup campaign. The lad from Chandigarh will be available for selection for the home leg of the crucial Inter-Zonal semifinal against North Korean side April 25 SC on August 23.

Gurpreet who completed formalities on a one-year deal on Wednesday night, becomes the first Indian player to be signed from a European club by an Indian club in a move involving a transfer fee.
The ’keeper, who arrived in Bengaluru on Thursday, was ecstatic ahead of the newest chapter in his career. “I’m extremely delighted to have signed for Bengaluru FC. While the experience of playing in Europe was fantastic, lack of game time was an important factor in making the decision of moving back to India. I had an offer from another top-flight club in Europe, but the need to play regularly ahead of the AFC Asian Cup in 2019 was something that was on my mind.”

“The fact that Bengaluru FC was interested in me was encouraging considering what they have achieved over the last few years. With BFC playing on the continental level this season as well as the next one will provide the perfect platform for me,” he added.

Club CEO Parth Jindal was pleased with the Blues’ latest acquisition. “It’s a matter of pride that Gurpreet has chosen to play for BFC. For us, he as big as an European signing. His presence and leadership will add immense stability to the team. While he is with us we will provide him with all the support he needs to be back among Europe’s elite.”

Having already played in front of the Blues’ faithful on a number of occasions while representing India, Gurpreet is eager to take the field at the Fortress. “The fans here are fantastic. The atmosphere we had at the Kanteerava was unbelievable and probably one of the best I’ve seen. I’m now excited to be playing in front of them on a regular basis and hope we can achieve something special.”

Turning pro in 2010 where he had a brief loan spell with AIFF’s developmental side Pailan Arrows (2010-11), Gurpreet returned to East Bengal, going on to become the first-choice custodian in the latter part of his three-year spell. At East Bengal, Gurpreet won the 2012 Federation Cup apart from topping the Calcutta Football League on numerous occasions.

Standing tall at 6’ 4”, Gurpreet moved to Europe as a 22-year-old, signing for Norwegian club Stabaek in August 2014 where he featured in a number of cup games, including the entire 2016 Cup run. He eventually made his League debut in May 2016 in an away match against IK Start, and in the process, became the first Indian footballer to play in a European top division league. In June 2016, the Punjabi lad put another feather in his cap, becoming the first Indian footballer to feature in a UEFA Europa League match by playing against Welsh side Connah’s Quay Nomads FC in the competition’s qualifiers.

Having represented India (U19 & U22) numerous times at the youth level, Gurpreet was called up to the senior national team for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, and made his debut couple months later in the AFC Challenge Cup. After playing second fiddle to Subrata Paul, Gurpreet finally cemented his position as India’s number one during the 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2019 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers while even skippering the side on a few occasionn.

by Abhishek Shukla

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu leaves his Norwegian club Stabæk, will come to india

As per reports in Norwegian website www.budstikka.no, Indian star Goalkeeper has left Stabæk. It also added that he is leaving the club as he is not getting proper playing time with the club.

 

Report translate in English:

At the same time it is clear that Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu leaves Stabæk. The Indian has struggled with playing time since joining Stabæk in 2014, leaving the club for the benefit of Indian football.
Singh has been a good person to have in the club, and has developed a lot in time in Stabæk. Now he has made a club change which I think will be good for him, “said Ordinas, the goalkeeper who had a contract with Stabæk in the season.

In one tweet Sports journalist Jonas Giæver from Oslo, Norway  claims that Gurpreet Singh Sandhu will return to India.

 

 

by Abhishek Shukla

Roca announces Blues’ squad for 2017 AFC Cup knockout rounds, Key player misses out

Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC, on Wednesday, announced their 25-man list for the 2017 AFC Cup knockout rounds as Albert Roca’s men prepare to take on North Korean side April 25 SC, at the Kanteerava Stadium, in a week’s time. The new-look squad sees as many as fourteen new faces following the Indian Super League draft, and features two graduates from the Blues’ residential youth academy in Bellary.

Australian midfielder Erik Paartalu, along with Spaniards Toni Dovale and Dimas Delgado join defender Juanan Gonzalez to make up the Blues’ foreign contingent for the knockout rounds and Roca believes his side is ready for the task ahead.

“We’ve had very little time to prepare but the trip to Spain has been good exposure for the boys. We’ve tested ourselves against good opposition and this is the squad that we’ve been able to put together. We have a week more to prepare and I believe the boys will be ready for the challenge,” said Roca.

However, defensive mainstay John Johnson is set to miss the rest of the Blues’ 2017 AFC Cup campaign owing to personal commitments. The Englishman had joined the Blues for pre-season in Spain and though his absence in the 2017 AFC Cup will be a blow, Roca believes that his players will step up to the occasion.

“Johnson’s absence is a massive blow for us, but we are aware of his situation and it was the right decision to make for us to let him be at home. It is unfortunate for us, but his return for the club’s ISL campaign will be a boost,” he added.

The squad also features BFC academy graduates Leon Augustine and Prashanth Kalinga, who impressed Roca in pre-season with the club, as they took on FC Cartagena, UCAM Murcia CF and Baniyas Club.

The first leg of the Blues’ Inter Zonal semifinal against April 25 SC is set to kick off at the Kanteerava Stadium, onAugust 23rd with the return leg slated to played at the May Day Stadium, in Pyongyang, on September 13th.

FULL SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Lalthuammawia Ralte, Abhra Mondal, Calvin Abhishek.

Defenders: Rahul Bheke, Subhasish Bose, Zohmingliana Ralte, Collin Abranches, Joyner Lourenco, Juanan Gonzalez, Nishu Kumar, Prashanth Kalinga.

Midfielders: Erik Paartalu, Dimas Delgado, Antonio Dovale, Boithang Haokip, Lenny Rodrigues, Alwyn George, Harmanjot Khabra, Malsawmzuala, Robinson Singh.

Strikers: Sunil Chhetri, Udanta Singh, Daniel Lalhlimpuia, Thongkhosiem Haokip, Leon Augustine.

by Abhishek Shukla

Chanmari FC ousted I League champions Aizawl FC to seal place in the final

I-League champions Aizawl FC and current Mizoram Premier League champions Chanmari FC engaged in a gruelling battle today for a final spot in the Great Sports Independence Day Football Tournament.
The MPL champions rallied themselves very well to come from behind most of the match and come out winners with a 2-1 victory after extra-time.
Aizawl FC began on a positive note and after some back and forth action they took the lead when Rochharzela was the quickest to react after Chanmari FC keeper Muanawma had failed to safely collect his shot.
Muanzuala and Muanzova tried in vain to find an equaliser for Chanmari FC while Lalmuankima and David Lalrinmuana also came close for Aizawl FC.
The I-League champions again came out on top in the early stages of the second half and could have scored through Rinzuala, David Rinmuana and Liberian midfielder Alfred –  they struck the woodwork twice.
Mizo foootball legend S. Malsawmtluanga was making his debut for Aizawl FC late in the second half,  but his lack of match fitness could not make him the player he used to be.
Chanmari FC shook things up later in the second half with Thasiama and Zohera entering the fray, and the move paid dividends when Thomas Lalengkima scored their  equaliser four minutes into stoppage time from a keeping –  Aizawl FC goalkeeper could have done better.
And it was Chanmari FC who carried the momentum in extra time and they got their winner on the 103rd minute. Substitute Thasiama got on the end and applied the finishing touches on a corner delivered by Thomas Lalengkima.
02:30 PM Aizawl FC 1-2 Chanmari FC
(Rochharzela 17′) (Thomas Lalengkima 90-4′, Thasiama 103′)
Aizawl FC XI: Lalawmpuia,  Lalrinzuala Khiangte,  Ramdinsanga,  Lalrozama Fanai,  Lalramhmunmawia,  Alfred Kemah Jaryan, David Lalrinmuana,  K Lalthathanga,  H Lalmuankima,  Jonathan Lalrawngbawla,  Rochharzela.
Chanmari FC XI: F Lalmuanawma,  Lalrosanga,  C Lalmuanawma,  David Lalchhuanawma,  Thomas Lalengkima,  Rochhingpuia,  Lalmuanzuala,  Vanlalbiaa,  Lalmuanzova,  PC Zosanga,  Joseph Lalnunpuia.
August 11, Friday Semifinal Fixtures
02:30 PM Chhinga Veng FC vs Bethlehem Vengthlang FC
by Abhishek Shukla

Mumbai to host tri-nation football series

NEW DELHI: India begin their campaign against Mauritius on August 19 at the Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai in the Hero Tri-nation Football Series. India will play their second match against St. Kitts & Nevis on August 24.

 

The Tri-nation Football series is part of the National Team’s preparatory process for the AFC Asian Cup Qualifying away match against Macau which is scheduled for September 5.

 

Thanking WIFA and MDFA for their cooperation, AIFF General Secretary Mr. Kushal Das said the “sporting culture” of Mumbai makes it stand out amongst others.

 

“We are overwhelmed by the eagerness of the authorities in Mumbai to host the three International matches in Mumbai. Mumbai has been the venue for the National Team since September 2016 when we hosted Puerto Rico,” he stated.

 

India are currently ranked 97 as per August 2017 FIFA Rankings. Indian Football and the National Team have been on the upsurge with a string of good results leading to a climb of 77 places in FIFA Rankings over the last two years. The Team has now won 13 of their 15 International matches having won their last 8 fixtures (including the unofficial match against Bhutan).

 

FIXTURES:

 

August 19: India vs Mauritius

 

August 22: St Kitts & Nevis vs Mauritius

 

August 24: India vs St. Kitts & Nevis

by Abhishek Shukla

Bengaluru FC sign Spanish striker Braulio Nóbrega

Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC announced the signing of experienced Spanish forward Braulio Nóbrega Rodríguez on a one-year deal, the club announced on Monday. The 31-year-old La Liga veteran becomes the fourth Spaniard at the club joining fellow countrymen Juanan Gonzalez, Dimas Delgado and Antonio Dovale.

The former Spain Under-20 international joins the Blues after netting an impressive ten goals in 15 league games along with two in the cup for Doxa Katokopias FC in the 2016-17 Cypriot First Division league while helping his side survive relegation.

Born in Puerto del Rosario on the Canary Islands in the Atlantic, Braulio, who came through the ranks at Atlético Madrid, turned professional in 2004 joining the reserve side of the Rojiblancos. He scored 17 goals in 26 games for the ‘B’ side while also playing frequently with the main team in the La Liga. During the second half of 2005-06 season, he joined fellow La Liga side Mallorca on loan before having another loan spell with UD Salamanca where he scored 14 times in the Segunda Division.

Braulio was then signed by La Liga side Getafe CF for the 2007-08 season where he not only featured regularly during the league campaign but even starred at the continental level scoring thrice in the UEFA Cup – the highlight being a fantastic back-heel goal against Tottenham Hotspur, along with a game-levelling strike past Oliver Kahn of Bayern Munich in the competition’s quarterfinal.

Thereafter, the striker had spells with a number of Spanish teams in Real Zaragoza (2008-11, La Liga & Segunda Division), Recreativo del Huelva (2010, 2014-15), FC Cartagena (2012, Segunda Division), Hércules CF (2012–13, Segunda Division), Caudal Deportivo (2016, Segunda ‘B’), apart from stints with Malaysian Super League’s Johor Darul Ta’zim (2013–14) and Greek Super League side AEL Kalloni F.C. (2015-16) before joining Doxa.

Braulio, who joined up with his teammates at the pre-season tour of Spain, was excited about his latest stint, “I’ve heard all I needed to about the club from the Spanish boys in the side and all I can say is that I’m thrilled to be part of it. I even heard a lot about the club when I was with Johor Darul Ta’zim.”

“I’ve already put in a couple of sessions with the team and I feel very comfortable. It feels like I’ve been training and playing with this bunch for a while now. I will be doing all I can to help the club achieve its goals,” he added further.

Bengaluru FC Head Coach Albert Roca welcomed Braulio to the Blues fold and said, “Braulio is an experienced player who fits into our style of play. He’ll provide the muscle up front and hopefully with the support that we have, he can contribute at the business end of the pitch.”

by Abhishek Shukla

Clubs Allowed To Register Six Foreigners In Hero I-League

NEW DELHI: The AIFF Executive Committee have taken the final decision with regards to the number of foreign players in the upcoming Hero I-League 2017-18.

  • The clubs will be allowed to register 6 (six) foreign players out of which at least 2 (two) players have to be from an AFC member Association
  • The clubs can field maximum 5 (five) foreign players in a match out of which minimum 1 (one) player has to be from an AFC Member Association.

 

by Abhishek Shukla

34 PLAYERS ARE CALLED FOR SENIOR NATIONAL TEAM CAMP IN CHENNAI

NEW DELHI, 31st JULY 2017: The Indian Senior National Team will be camping in Chennai prior to the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 qualifiers fixture which is scheduled on September 5, 2017.

After back-to-back wins against Myanmar and the Kyrgyz Republic in the first two fixtures, India will fly to Macau for their third match in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Qualifiers Group A match.

The boys would be assembling in Chennai on August 11, 2017.

Meanwhile, it’ll be the first Senior National Team Camp for Sarthak Golui, Davinder Singh, Nikhil Poojary, Anirudh Thapa and Manvir Singh who showed their grit in the recently-concluded AFC U23 Championship Qualifiers in Doha.

Out of the 34 players who are called upon by Constantine for the forthcoming camp, there’ll be 10 players who donned the National colour in the recently-AFC U23 Championship Qualifiers in Doha.

The list of probables stays as follows:

GOALKEEPERS: Subrata Paul, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Albino Gomes, Vishal Kaith, TP Rehenesh

DEFENDERS: Pritam Kotal, Sandesh Jhingan, Arnab Mondal, Anas Edathodika, Narayan Das, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Lalruatthara, Salam Ranjan Singh, Sarthak Golui, Davinder Singh

MIDFIELDERS: Dhanapal Ganesh, Jackichand Singh, Seityasen Singh, Nikhil Poojary, Bikash Jairu, Milan Singh, Udanta Singh, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Md. Rafique, Rowllin Borges, Halicharan Narzary, Germanpreet Singh, Anirudh Thapa

FORWARDS: Jeje Lalpekhlua, Sumeet Passi, Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh, Balwant Singh, Manvir Singh

by Abhishek Shukla

Bidyananda, Robinson sign with Bengaluru FC

Bengaluru: Federation Cup champions Bengaluru Football Club, on Monday, announced the signings of midfielders Bidyananda Singh and Robinson Singh on two year contracts. While Bidyananda joins from ISL side Atletico De Kolkata, Robinson Singh joins the Blues from Mohun Bagan.

A defensive midfielder who progressed through the AIFF Academy ranks, Bidyananda joins the Blues after having represented India at the U13, U14, U15, U16 and U17 sides. The 19-year-old faced the Blues while playing for the AIFF U19s in a friendly in Bengaluru in 2015, a match in which he found the net.

“Bengaluru FC are the best in India and it is a big moment for me to sign for a club that wins trophies and competes with the best in Asia every season. I’m happy to get this opportunity and I’m looking forward to making the most of it,” said Bidyananda following the move.

Robinson, meanwhile, joins the Blues having represented Mohun Bagan for the last two seasons. The 20-year-old has also represented India at the U16, U17 and U19 levels. He was also part of the India team that took part in the AFC U23 Championship qualifiers in Doha, earlier in July.

“I’ve always believed that a move to BFC would be the best path for my career. In terms of the coaching, the professionalism and every aspect of football, this is the right place to be for any young footballer. This move is one that I’ve been working hard for, for a long time,” said Robinson.

by Abhishek Shukla

Bengaluru FC juniors to face Japan’s Avispa Fukuoka in friendly

Bengaluru: JSW Bengaluru FC’s Academy U18s side will face Japanese side Avispa Fukuoka’s U18s in a friendly, to be played at the Bangalore Football Stadium, on August 5, the club announced on Monday. The match, which has been approved by the Asian Football Confederation, will see the Blues’ academy side take on an international opponent for the first time.

 

“We’re very pleased that our Academy side will be playing Avispa Fukuoka in what’s going to be a fantastic experience for our youngsters. This is our future and it’s important that we give them as much quality exposure as possible. I hope our fans come out to back the boys,” said club COO, Mustafa Ghouse.

The match plays its part in strengthening Indo-Japan ties, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe last year. Avispa Fukuoka U18s, whose senior side takes part in the Japanese J2 League, have planned tours to India and Korea, as U18s Head Coach Yusuke Ogura says that playing against strong opposition is the aim.

“This year is a turning point in ties between Japan and India. This served as one of the main reasons why we planned this tour. This is the first time we will visit India and I’m looking forward to the game against Bengaluru FC. I have heard that they are a strong team and we will do our best against them,” Fukuoka U18s Head Coach Yusuke Ogura said.

The match is set to kick-off at 3:30 pm IST on Saturday, August 5th.

by Abhishek Shukla

Bengaluru FC kick-off pre-season; fans welcome new-look squad at BFS

Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC kicked off their 2017-18 pre-season with an open training session at the Bengaluru Football Stadium on Wednesday in front of the Blues’ faithful who turned out in numbers to vociferously cheer their heroes on.

With the AFC Cup Inter-zonal Semifinal against North Korean side April 25 SC fast approaching, the Blues wasted no time in starting off their pre-season training in the city three days post the ISL Draft.

Speaking on the sidelines of the season’s first ever training session, Head Coach Albert Roca was delighted to be back in action. “We’re happy to be back on the field. Our target is to build on last season’s progress as we move into a new chapter in the club’s history. But before our domestic season begins, we’ve got big matches coming up fast in the AFC Cup. We don’t want to waste any time and prepare the best way possible for the first leg at home. The Spain tour will also help us massively as it gives us a good opportunity to gel as a squad,” he said.

The day at the BFS began with an introductory meeting between the new players and the staff, both technical and non-technical as the club welcomed its new signings into the fold. Albert Roca and co. then quickly briefed the players about their expectations for the tough season ahead while encouraging them to train at the highest level always.

Club captain Sunil Chhetri said he was confident of the task ahead despite the reshuffle in the squad. “Things will get tougher from here given we have only just assembled a squad. But we’ve got a really good set of players that I’m confident will turn into a unit with time. There’s a nice blend of experience and youth and it’s going to be an exciting season ahead.”

On the field, it was all about sessions in endurance training which was overlooked by the entire coaching staff. The idea was to assess the players’ physical condition before the day was rounded off with a core session. The players and staff then interacted with the fans before posing for selfies and signing autographs.

by Abhishek Shukla

AFC Competitions Committee’s decision published regarding ISL and I-League

Following a recommendation from the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the Competitions Committee gave special dispensation for the Indian Super League (ISL) which will be played simultaneously with the I-League for six or seven months in 2017 and 2018 as a temporary short-term ‘bridging solution’.

AIFF’s recommendation to the AFC was that the ISL will replace the Federation Cup, whose winner is currently allocated an AFC Champions League Play-Off place AFC  Cup preliminary stage place.

Therefore, the Committee approved that the I-League champions will play in the AFC Champions League Play-off round and the ISL Champions will play in the AFC Cup preliminary stage – as long as all clubs adhere to the AFC rules and regulations, particularly club licensing, from 2018.

The situation will be reviewed on a yearly basis with conditions which, in addition to adherence to club licensing regulations, include promotion, production, a player allocation system and the following of the Road Map agreed between the AFC and Indian football stakeholders at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur on June 7, 2017.

by Abhishek Shukla

MFA Super Cup 2017: Chhinga Veng FC lift trophy

Chhinga Veng FC came out on top in a one-sided final of the MFA Super Cup today (24th July,  2017) ,thoroughly beating their opponents Chanmari West FC in a 5-0 victory.
They collected a beautiful trophy and a cash prize of Rs 2,00,000 from the wife of late Mr Lalbiakliana,  who’s family sponsored the tournament.
After heavy clouds disrupted play twice about a couple of minutes into the first half, Chhinga Veng FC enjoyed more possession and were able to threaten their opponents.
They got their breakthrough in the 31st minute with a flurry of goals where CVFC scored 3 in the space or four minutes. Striker Malsawmfela scored in then 31st minute and again 3 minutes later, with Laldingngheta adding a third less than a minute gone.
The second half began in the same manner with striker Malsawmfela completing his hattrick on the 49th minute and making it near impossible for the West Warriors to salvage anything out of the game.
MIdfielder R Malsawmtluanga then scored their fifth goal fifteen minutes from time.
63 clubs from various divisions of Mizoram football participated in the tournaments where the two Mizoram Premier League clubs met in the final.
Result:
Chhinga Veng 5-0 Chanmari West FC
(Malsawmfela 31′, 34′, 49′, Laldingngheta 35′, R. Malsawmtluanga 78′)
Awards:
Best Goalkeeper : Laltanpuia, Mizoram Police FC
Best Defender : Lalrinchhana Tochhawng, Chhinga Veng FC
Best Midfielder : R Malsawmtluanga, Chhinga Veng FC
Best Forward : Malsawmfela, Chhinga Veng FC
Fair Play Award : Chhinga Veng FC
by Abhishek Shukla

Bengaluru FC to train in Spain ahead of AFC Cup clash

Bengaluru: A new-look Bengaluru FC side will kick off their pre-season training this week in the city before heading to Spain early next month for a 10-day training camp. The Blues will train at the state-of-the-art facilities at Pinatar Arena in Murcia during their stay in the Mediterranean region. Having finalized their squad on Sunday at the ISL Draft, Bengaluru FC Head Coach Albert Roca will now have an eye on the crucial AFC Cup Inter-Zonal semifinal against North Korean side April 25 SC as he prepares his squad for the first leg at home onAugust 23.

“The facilities at Pinatar Arena are top-class and I thank the management for providing us with this opportunity. The arena will provide us with everything we need to get up and running as fast as possible. Among all the other ISL teams, we’ll be in action first in the AFC Cup and it’s important that we utilize this time well so that our team settles in quickly. While we have managed to retain the core of our team, there are a lot of new signings which means that we need to put in that extra effort in pre-season to gel as a unit,” explained Roca.

During their stay, the Blues are set to face Spanish Segunda-B Division side UCAM Murcia CF (August 9) and 2016-17 UAE Pro League side Baniyas S&R(August 15) in friendly games.

The Blues base – the Pinatar Arena – boasts of six natural grass (Bermuda and ray grass) floodlit football pitches at FIFA standards with special areas designated for goalkeepers and a stadium with a capacity of 3,500 spectators that hosts friendlies and tournaments. The Arena also has top-class fitness centers with all the latest equipment from health and fitness innovators.

While the facility recently hosted an U21 tournament between national teams of Australia, Austria, Finland and Netherlands, they have regularly hosted training camps of top-flight clubs from all over Europe. A few of them include, German heavyweights Borussia Dortmund and FC Kaiserslautern, Spanish sides Levante UD and UD Almeria, Russian powerhouses CSKA Moscow and FC Zenit apart from Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea), FC Twente (Netherlands), Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) and Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine).

This will be the second time the Blues travel abroad for a pre-season training camp having earlier visited China at the start of the 2014-15 season. Back then, the Blues faced off against Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Guangzhou R&F FC (0-3) from the Chinese Super League and Hong Kong Premier League’s Eastern AA (0-2).

The 23-man team departs from India on August 5th and is scheduled to return on August 16th.