English club Reading FC signs MOU with Arunachal Pradesh FA

200px-Reading_FC.svgItanagar, Sept. 30 : Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki set yet another record today, by ensuring the signing of an MoU between English Premier League club Reading FC and the Arunachal Pradesh Football Association (APFA) for promoting hidden soccer talent in the state.

Reading FC adviser Tomo Nomuk and APFA president and Lok Sabha member Takam Sanjoy signed the MoU in the presence of Chief Minister Tuki, Sports Authority of Arunachal Pradesh Chairman Tapuk Taku and Vice Chairman Likha Tara, several lawmakers and state government officials in Itanagar.

Expressing his happiness, Tuki said despite the procedural and bureaucratic delay, Arunachal has become the first state in India to ink such agreement with an Englsih Premier League club.

He informed that his government would provide grant of Rs 35 lakh to the APFA through the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs (DoSYA) for meeting the expenses of to and fro expenses, training, lodging and the boarding and lodging of two senior coaches the club would be engaging for six months for hunting soccer talent throughout the state.

The club would also assist and advice in the setting up of a football academy in the state.

During the recent U-19 football tournament, the Arunachal team beat all states except Kerala and Mizoram, which reflected the abundance of hidden talent in the state, Tuki said, adding that the MoU is in tune with his government’s policy to promote sports and games, and to convert the negative energies of the Arunachalee youth to positive to make them vibrant and self-reliant while contributing to nation building.

The chief minister also proposed that state’s best soccer team could be taken to London to play with the Reading Club on an exposure trip or vice versa.

Sanjoy joined Tuki in appreciating Nomuk for his initiative that led to the agreement. He said the coaches would conduct week-long camp in cluster basis to hunt talent before training them and assured that the APFA would ensure the dream of the state government to produce national and global level footballers turn a reality.

Pointing out that physical fitness and diet hold the key to become a top footballer, Pollution Control Board chairman Ralom Borang suggested to set up a gym and an artificial turf for the players to practice.

Shillong in the entire North East region has two turfs, he said, and welcomed the exposure trip of state’s soccer team.

“The MoA would be a unique opportunity for the young footballers of the state with the huge impact of the training by both the coaches. Besides coaching the coaches would educate them about healthy living. Football is more about tactical, technical, physical and social,” Nomuk said.

Assuring the best efforts of the club to offer world class training, Nomuk said that the club has decided to set up a football academy in Jharkhand soon and the same expertise could be given to Arunachal as well.

Agriculture Marketing Board chairman Techi Kaso, DoSYA assistant director Tadar Apa and OSD Ramesh Lingi were present on the occasion.

“Arunachal Pradesh can produce world-class footballers if the abundant talent is properly harnessed. There is no reason why budding footballers in the state cannot graduate to the world level”, was the comment of Eamonn Dolan and Lee Heron, both renowned coaches of Reading FC.

The duo had during their maiden tour of the state in October last year had interacted with the students of Sange Lhaden Sports Academy and watched many football matches including of the famous Tadar Tang Memorial State Level Football Tournament at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Naharlagun.

Eamonn, also director of the Club, is one of the top football academy managers in the world, credited with playing for the Republic of Ireland under 21.

Report sourced from : ANI – EPL club Reading-APFA sign MoU to help Arunachal soccer soar

Video : Krishna Pandit scores for India U-16 against Kuwait U-16

Even though India lost the final game against Kuwait 2-1 and failed to qualify, our boys played some scintillating football in the tournament. Krishna Pandit’s sublime goal against Kuwait is a testimony for the talent India has at hand.

Check out Krishna’s goal that was scored in the 64th minute of the match. Also listen to the rapturous cheer from 2000 strong NRIs that came to support the team in the stadium.

 

East Bengal complain to AFC against Kuwait SC

Kf_east_bengal_logoEast Bengal has registered a formal complaint to AFC against Kuwait SC over the shabby treatment meted out to the Indian team so far.

First there was the visa issue where 3 players and 4 officials did not receive visas on time. This left captain Mehtab Hossain, defender Arnan Mondal and Gurwinder Singh in lurch and they could only travel to Kuwait late last night.

East Bengal is also unhappy about the accommodation as they accused not enough drinking water was available in the players’ rooms. East Bengal secretary Kalyan Majumdar accused that Kuwait SC is playing games to unsettle East Bengal.

Read more : Fuming East Bengal complain to AFC against Kuwait SC

Heart break for Kerala in the finals (Tier II) of Junior National Football Championship

Image Courtesy : Kerala Coach Purushothaman Thekkathara T G’s facebook profile.

Image Courtesy : Kerala Coach Purushothaman Thekkathara T G’s facebook profile.

Kerala lost to Sports Authority of India team 5-2 in the finals ( Tier 11) Junior National Football Championship for B.C Roy Trophy that was held at Bokaro in Jharkhand.

Kerala was in fine form throughout the championship, scripting huge margin wins against Jammu Kashmir, Rajasthan and then edged out Arunchal Pradesh on a solitary goal in the group stages. In the semifinal Kerala pipped a strong Chandigarh team 3-0.

By the time the kerala team reached the finals, they had scored over 26 goals and conceded none. However, when it came to the final Kerala fell short and lost to the SAI team. The last time Kerala won the Junior National Football Championship was in 1973. This defeat quashed Kerala’s effort to clinch the title again after 30 years. Even though not an excuse, the ground was almost unplayable due to the torrential rain that lashed in Bokaro the day before the finals.

The silver lining however is that by qualifying for the finals of Tier II, Kerala has secured a place in the Tier I of the next edition of  tournament. Kerala’s dismal performance during the recent years had them demoted to the Tier II of the tournament.

Video : Interview with Zohib Islam Amiri, Afghanistan captain and Mumbai FC defender

Watch this excellent interview with Zohib Islam Amiri,  Afghanistan captain and Mumbai FC defender, where he talks about winning SAFF Championship, his opinion on Indian football, how was it to live in Afghanistan as a child and so on.

Due to credits to Firstpost.com on this excellent interview.


Also make sure you read this excellent transcript of the whole interview : Running from bombs: The stunning story of Afghan footballer Zohib Amiri 

India’s bid for for 2017 U-17 FIFA World Cup on track

fifa_logoAccording to AIFF president Praful Patel, India will submit the bid for U-17 FIFA world cup shortly. Recently there were reports that FIFA had extended the dates for bid submission to November 15th.

Praful Patel said that the guarantees required by FIFA for hosting the world cup has been supported by Union Cabinet and the states where the matches will take places are asked to give the guarantee.

Eyeing the world cup, recently India had endowed the FIFA emblem legal protection as well.

Read More : AIFF to submit bid shortly for U-17 FIFA World Cup

U-19 National Squad for the AFC U-19 Championship (Qualifiers) announced

738X503_11781732425246c9f6cf239NEW DELHI: The 23-member Indian U-19 National Squad for the AFC U-19 Championship (Qualifiers) to be held in Doha, Qatar from October 4, 2013 has been announced.

The Squad, which drew 1-1 with Goa Pro League outfit SESA Goa in the latest Friendly match, will be reaching Doha on Sunday (September 29, 2013).

India have been clubbed with hosts Qatar, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Nepal in Group A. The U-19 Boys, formed out of Goa’s Elite Academy, will be playing the hosts in their opener on October 4, 2013 followed by dates with Nepal (October 6), Uzbekistan (October 10), and Turkmenistan (October 12) respectively.

The 23-member Squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Chinmaya Shekhar Behera, Supratim Bhattacharjee, Vishal Kaith

Defenders: Gurba Gagrai, Nim Dorjee Tamang, Pawan Kumar, Sarthak Golui, Sajid Mohd. Dhot, Soraisam Pritam Kumar Singh, Rupert Lamlang Nongrum

Midfielders: Souvik Das, Joseph Lalfakzuala, Germanpreet Singh, Alen Deory, Lalramzauva Khiangte, Isaac Vanmalsawma Chhakchhuak, Lalrempuia Fanai

Forwards: Kumam Udanta Singh, SK Faiaz, Daniel Lalhlimpuia, Naro Hari Shreshtha, Shaiborlang Kharpan, Uttam Rai.

Head Coach: Colm Joseph Toal

Content and Image Courtesy : AIFF Media

Sandjar Ahmadi, Afghanistan international joins Mumbai FC

Image Courtesy : http://www.ndr.de/

Image Courtesy : http://www.ndr.de/

There were reports about Mumbai FC being in talks with Sandjar Ahmadi, the Afghan international who was playing for the German side  – SC Vier-und Marschlande. Yesterday it became obvious when Zohib Islam Amiri, Afghanistan captain and Mumbai FC defender put a picture of him and Sandjar on his Facebook page, taken from Mumbai.

I cross checked with  Zohib  and he confirmed that Sandjar Ahmadi has in fact joined the Mumbai outfit. Sandjar plays as a winger and impressed with his good performances at the recently concluded 2013 SAFF championship. He also scored two crucial goals in the championship, the solitary goal against Nepal in the semifinal that took Afghanistan to the finals and the second goal that sealed the final against India.

At 21 years, Sandjar Ahamadi is a good addition to the Mumbai FC squad and Zohib’s presence in the Mumabi FC squad would have definitely influenced his decision to join the Mumbai outfit.

I-league Round-2 Fixtures and Telecast details

I-League_logo.svgThis weekend I-league will move to its 2nd round. Here are the fixtures and telecast details.

Round-2 Fixtures

Date

Home

Away

Kick-off

Telecast

28-Sep-13

Churchill Brothers

 Mohun Bagan A.C

3:30 PM

Ten Action

29-Sep-13

United Sports Club

Sporting Clube de Goa

3:00 PM

29-Sep-13

Shillong Lajong FC

Pune FC

3:30 PM

29-Sep-13

Bengaluru FC

Rangdajied United FC

4:00 PM

Ten Action

29-Sep-13

Mumbai FC

Dempo Sports Club

4:00 PM

1 2 3 11