Nothing but football.
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.
NEW 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
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
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).
Image Courtesy : http://i-league.org
Joaquim Abranches will earn the distinction of being the only Indian player to have played two AFC Cup Semi finals, as East Bengal appears in this year’s AFC Cup semi final.
Abrnaches appeared in the semi final of AFC Cup earlier with Dempo in 2008.
Here is a nice article on how Armando Colaco who discovered Joaquim Abrnaches is excited about his protege : Colaco smiles in Abranches’ moment of glory
India held Tajikistan to a draw (1-1) in their first match in AFC U-16 qualifiers at Kuwait. At half time, India were trailing 1-0 with Tajikistans’ Saidov Karomatullo scoring a goal from a corner in the 36th minute of the match.
India managed to equalize when we got a penalty after an Indian player was brought down in the Tajikistan box. Prosenjit Chakraborty managed to convert from the spot making it 1-1.
From what we managed to watch over a jittery stream, Tajikistan did look like a very formidable opposition and Indians did put a good show. While on paper the result looks good, in terms of qualification for the final rounds happening in Thailand next year, this is not a good result. To qualify we have to either win the group or be in the top five runner-up teams from a total of 10 groups in fray. You can check India’s upcoming fixtures and the rules and regulations that guide the qualification here.
Match summary and Stats here : India Vs Tajikistan
Dug out a live streaming link of AFC U16 Qualifiers happening in Kuwait.
Click here to see the live stream : India Vs Tajikistan
India is in Group A comprising Kuwait, Tajikistan, Lebanon and Bhutan. India will start of the qualifiers campaign by taking on formidable Tajikistan on 21-sep. There are a total of ten groups and the winners from all the groups and the best five runners-up will qualify for the finals happening next year in Thailand.
India’s fixtures for the qualifiers are as follows.
| 21-Sep | Tajikistan Vs INDIA | 19.20 IST |
| 25-Sep | INDIA Vs Lebanon | 23.20 IST |
| 27-Sep | INDIA Vs Bhutan | 23.20 IST |
| 29-Sep | Kuwait Vs India | 23.20 IST |
AFC general secretary, Alex Soosay has voiced AFC’s support for India’s bid to host the U-17 World Cup in 2017.
Even though the Union cabinet has cleared AIFF’s proposal to host the U-17 World Cup, FIFA requires government guaranty on tax exemption, security, visa, foreign exchange and transport. AIFF has not been able to secure these guarantees so far.
The bid proposal has to be submitted before September 30th to FIFA else we risk the chance of hosting to other nations such as Ireland, Uzbekistan and South Africa who are also in contention.
Read more : AFC backs India’s U-17 World Cup bid
East Bengal will take on Semen Pedang from Indonesia in the first leg of AFC Cup Quarter final on 17th September.
