Sandjar Ahmadi, Afghanistan international joins Mumbai FC

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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

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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

India U-16 maul Bhutan 8-1

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Image Courtesy : AIFF Media

Image Courtesy : AIFF Media

U-16 boys playing the AFC U-16 Championship qualifiers in Kuwait showed their class yet again. They mauled Bhutan 8-1 in their third match of the qualifiers played at the at the Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium in Kuwait.

India opened scoring in the 4th minute through Jayananda Singh and did not have to look back from then on except for a blip in the 41st minute when Bhutan through Yoesel Dorji scored their only goal for the day.

U-16 boys played some excellent football, at times totally dominating the Bhutan side. However a bigger score line would have helped our qualification and done justice to the football the boys showcased in the match.

India will take on the hosts Kuwait in their final group stages match on 29-sep, which will now be a crucial tie considering the rules that AFC has set for qualification.

India team :

Dheeraj Singh (Goalkeeper), Amey Ranawade, Jayananda Singh (Kishan Singh – 46th), Amit Tudu, Jerry Lalrinzuala; Kharlukhi (Captain) (Aaron Rodrigues – 79th), Prosenjit Chakraborty, Anirudh Thapa, Nuruddin, Nijwm Muchahary (Edmund Lalrindika – 65th), Bedashwor Singh.

Goal Scorers (India) :

Jayananda Singh – 4th minute

Prosenjit Chakraborty – 13th and 31st minute

Jerry Lalrinzuala – 20th Minute

Bedashwor Singh – 33rd and 47th minute

Edmund Lalrindika – 74th minute

Nuruddin – 75th minute

IMG – Reliance league auctions to be held by October end

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Image Courtesy : http://www.sportzpower.com/

Image Courtesy : http://www.sportzpower.com/

Reports suggest that the auctions for the IMG – Reliance IPL style league would be held by October end. The tournament modeled on Indian Premier League, will have eight franchises across the country.

Two auctions, one for the franchisees and the other for players will be held at the end of October. The tournament will be held between January 18 and March 30 of the next year. Supposedly 20 corporates have expressed their interest in franchises.

Every franchise will have 10 foreign players including a marquee player, 7 Indians and 4 U-21 players in their roster. IMG – Reliance have shortlisted nine cities across India – Guwahati, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Bangalore, Chennai and Kochi, out of which one will be dropped later.

Reports also suggest that after numerous rounds of discussion with the I-league clubs, both parties have agreed upon a middle ground.

Read more : Indian football auctions to be held soon

Kerala reaches the final of Junior National Championship

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

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

Continuing their great form in the tournament, Kerala team has sailed to the finals of Tier II by defeating Chandigarh 3-0 in the semifinal that took place in Ranchi.

65 minutes of the match was played yesterday before it had to be stopped due to thunderstorms in Ranchi. Kerala was already leading 2-0 in the match and they knocked in one more goal to take the tally to 3-0 in the rest of the 25 minutes that was played today morning.

Kerala will take on the Sports Authority of India (SAI) team in the finals of Tier II.

The malaise of age-fraud makes a return at the Junior National Football Championship

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For the last few days rumors were abound on the internet where sources close to various state football associations hurling accusations that certain teams participating in the 49th Junior National Football Championship has over aged players in their team. It was interesting to note that a state run sports body who is fielding their team was also accused of age-fraud.

Putting the rumors to bed is an article from The Telegraph which quotes an AIFF official.

“Bengal are one of the few states, who stuck by the rule book and fielded a side that had footballers within the stipulated age,” said an AIFF official. “Teams like Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya also adhered to the age restriction.

“For the rest of the states, it has become a free for all,” claimed the official.

Age-fraud is a serious malaise that needs to curbed else all these national level age-group tournaments turn worthless and associations that comply to the rules are made a laughing stock.

We at Football News India believe, AIFF,  for the greater good of the game should ban State/District associations for a certain period of time if they are found fielding an over-age team in an age-group tournament.

 Quotes in the article is sourced from  – Age-fudging at AIFF meet

Kerala based NRI appointed as logistics manager for 2013 U-17 World Cup

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Pic Courtesy : http://www.mathrubhumi.com

Pic Courtesy : http://www.mathrubhumi.com

Reports in Malayalam media suggest that Kerala based NRI C.K.P. Shanavas has been appointed as the logistics manager for the FIFA U-17 World Cup scheduled to start October 17th in UAE.

Shanavas is a lover of the beautiful game hailing from the city of Kozhikode. He is also an active member of the grass-root football academy – SEPT in the city. Shanavas is the son of late T.M. Rahman who was also the secretary of Kozhikode Football Association.

Shanavas is currently working in a UAE bank – Emirates NBDO.  His employer has granted him 50 days of leave to be part of FIFA U-17 world Cup, which will start on October 17th and go on till November 8th.

Lalit Modi to shape up IPL style football league in India

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Image Courtesy : http://static.guim.co.uk

Image Courtesy : http://static.guim.co.uk

Tainted and exiled former IPL chariman – Lalit Modi turns his attention to football now. Lalit Modi was recently banned from BCCI.  According to a report in The Indian Express, Modi has had Initial discussion with AIFF president about starting a IPL style league.

Read More : Lalit Modi may now dabble in IPL-style football league

India U-16 wins 4-1 against Lebanon

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Image Courtesy : AIFF Media

Image Courtesy : AIFF Media

The Indian U-16 team put up a very good show against Lebanon by defeating them 4-1 at the Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium in Kuwait.

India went ahead in the 9th minute when Nuruddin fly past 30 yard screamer in to the Lebanon goal. India had to wait till the dying moments of the first half to score again through Jayananda Singh.

In the second half of the match, Lebanon through  Ali Kharoubi made it 2-1. From then on India mounted pressure and scored two goals in succession. Anirudh Thapa in the 61st minute and Bedashwor Singh in the 65th minute making it 4-1 in favor of India.

India went on to play some eye-catching football then on, but failed to increase the score line. This may work against us in terms of qualification. However, India can take heart about the performance and the talented youngsters at our disposal.

Due credits to coach Goutam Ghosh as well, under whom the India U16 team won the SAFF cup earlier this year and is now making good progress.

India will play Bhutan on 27th September.

Goals :  India – Nuruddin – 9′, Jayananda Singh – 43′, Anirudh Thapa – 61′, Bedashwor Singh – 65′

Lebanon :  Ali Kharoubi – 58th

INDIA: Dheeraj Singh (Goalkeeper), Amey Ranawade, Jayananda Singh, Amit Tudu, Jerry Lalrinzuala; Kharlukhi (Deependra Singh Negi – 46th) (Bodo Baoringdao (86th),  Prosenjit Chakraborty, Anirudh Thapa, Nuruddin (Krishna Pandit — 90th), Nijwm Muchahary, Bedashwor Singh (Captain).

Can India’s football mania sell more beer?

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Image Courtesy : coloribus.com

Image Courtesy : coloribus.com

In 2007 Sepp Blatter, FIFA president said India is a “sleeping giant” when it comes to football. Football is constantly growing and marketing avenues related to football is seeing exponential growth these days in India.

Brands are scampering to associate with football to advertise their products. Of the lot alcohol companies seems to reaping the biggest reward. And beer undoubtedly seems to be the winner among the alcoholic beverages when it comes to football . With increasing European football screenings in Indian metro’s, pubs and sports bars are selling more beer than ever before.

Here is an interesting article that appeared in today’s Economic times are about the beer-boom in India because of football : Will football be to beer what cricket has been for the colas?

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