Michael Chopra heading to India?
Our excitement level sub-zero.
- Michael Chopra heading to India?
This is a potboiler, should be better than a Vivek Oberoi movie! đ
Tag: Football
Sunil Chhetri Signs Up as the Brand Ambassador of Eric Benny Sports Management
Keeping youth football as the primary focus, Sunil Chhetri today announced that he would be representing Eric Benny Sports Management and all Eric Bennyâs initiatives across the country.
In a press conference held at the Football House, the AIFF witnessed Sunil Chhetri and Eric Benny making their collaboration public, a partnership that will help Indianfootball at the grass-roots level reach the next stage. Sunil Chhetri, Captain of the National Football Team, shared his thoughts and feelings on why the development of youth football in India is important, and how Eric Benny is one of the few people in this country who shares a similar focus with him. Chhetri discussed that although he has seen and heard of a lot of academies and collaborations, he was really impressed by FC Metz, a French Ligue 1 club with whom Eric has partnered to help improve the quality of football, with education a priority. Chhetri said, âEveryone wants to do well, but no one knows how. This collaboration with Eric Benny Sports Management is a small step towards a greater cause.â He then emphasised on providing education, the right values and discipline to the players, as he believes that only then will a player go on and become a better human being. âOver the years I have seen many players vanishing because they did not have the discipline and the right values.â
Mr Kushal Das, General Secretary of the AIFF, was also a part of the panel, andhe acknowledged and appreciated the work and effort put in by Eric Benny. âMore people like Eric is what India needs and Iâm glad that there are people such as Chhetri and Eric who are doing such great things.â Mr Das also mentioned that the next big focus for the AIFF is investing in football at the grass-roots level.
Eric Benny, Chief Executive â Eric Benny Sports Management, spoke about his time spent in Europe to search for the right club to partner with, a club that looks at a collaboration beyond money and profit, and actually wants to invest time in India. He said, âIt took me a while to find the club, but I did it, and FC Metz was on the same wavelength as me. They do not differentiate between French and Indian players and that is extremely important, as is keeping education as a priority.â
Eric also took time to announce Metrifit as an official partner. He said, âIt is important to link technology and sport, and Metrifit will help us to achieve our goals in terms of preventing injuries, looking after lifestyle, and other aspects important to a player.â
Rudoph Monnet, Counsellor of Sports and General Affairs â French Embassy in India, was a part of the panel, and he assured the support of the French Embassy in all ventures in the future. âWe at the Embassy believe in Ericâs work and have also seen why his work makes him stand out. This Indo-French relationship in the field of sports will not only enable to leverage more youth in the right direction but also educate and nurture, as we and Eric believe.â
Six Kerala kids in Goa Academy for the 2017 U-17 World Cup Camp
Many lists came and went, but there were no names from Kerala any more in the Indian football team in the recent years. Â This development is a much need solace for that existential agony Kerala Football was facing for some years now.
Malayalam media reports  that 6 kids from Kerala has been selected for the 2nd batch that will train in AIFF Goa Academy, the preparatory camp for the 2017 U-17 World Cup that will be hosted in India. There are already two Kerala boys training at the academy – Rishi Dutt from Thrissur and Abu Thahir from Idukki.
They are joined by Rahul (Thrissur), Inayat (Kozhikode), Favad (Malappuram) and Ajin Tom 
(Wayanad). These kids were selected from the sub-junior national championships that took place in May 2013. The selected bunch were screened in Goa and an 18 member squad was selected.
Four of these kids are part of SEPT training centers in the state. Rahul from Thrissur trains at the Parappur Center, Favad from the Therattammal center, Inayat from the Mavoor center in Kozhikode and Ajin Tom through the Naduval center of SEPT. This a splendid achievement for SEPT who has been involved in grassroots football development in the state.
The preparatory camp in goa will start this monday.
Who will Qualify as a Marquee Player in I-league?
With AIFF set to introduce the “Marquee player” policy in the next season’s I-League, here is a graphic by us which explains what kind of players will qualify as a Marquee player.
Here is AIFF’s definition of Marquee Player – Marquee Player Defined.
IFB Boca Football Champs Select Players to Train with Boca Juniors, Argentina
- IFB in association with Club Atlético Boca Juniors from Argentina launched the IFB Boca
Football Champs, a football tournament for schools and colleges across India and a scouting camp intended to reward talented players with an opportunity to travel to Argentina, train under the CA Boca Junior coaches and play friendlies with the club. - Over 4500 school and college players from 8 cities participated in the ambitious program
- 30 shortlisted players from the tournament participated in a one week training camp in Goa conducted by coaches from Club Atlético Boca Juniors, out of which 14 selected players will travel to Buenos Aires shortly.
14 promising school and college level football players have been selected to fly to Buenos Aires, Argentina and train with the legendary Club Atlético Boca Juniors from Argentina as part of the IFB Boca Football Champs football scouting initiative. The boys will be leaving for Argentina shortly.
Launched in December 2013 by IFB Industries Ltd, the football scouting initiative included a national football tournament for school and college students across the country which culminated with the finals being played in Goa. Sixteen teams from eight cities â Delhi, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Bangalore, Kozhikode, Shillong, Pune and Goa â battled it out in Goa for the top spot.
IFB roped in the very best technical partners to carry out its sports mission – the Argentinian Club, Club AtlĂ©tico Boca Juniors who have had players like the legendary Diego Maradona and other players including Gabriel Batistuta, Juan Sebastian Veron, Riquelme, Claudio Canigga, Gago and Carlos Tevez.
30 shortlisted players from the tournament participated in a one week training camp in Goa conducted by coaches from Club Atlético Boca Juniors, Alejandro Javier Blasco and Alberto Jose Estevez along with Head Scout at the IFB Boca Football Champs, Jamshid Nassiri, who has been keeping a keen eye on the players at selections across the country scouting for potential talent.
Said an official from IFB Industries Ltd, âThe IFB Boca Football Champs initiative has enabled us to reach out to and bring together talented players from several parts of the country to uncover some of the best and dynamic football talent. Many of the promising players come from economically backward sections of society for whom this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We are happy to facilitate and offer this incredible break to this group of 14 very talented players. We have always believed that India has immense sporting talent. Through our association with one of the worldâs best football club Club AtlĂ©tico Boca Juniors from Argentina and the amazingly talented Jamshid Nassiri we look forward to nurturing football talent in the country.â
Added coach and officials from Club AtlĂ©tico Boca Juniors, Alejandro Javier Blasco and Alberto Jose Estevez who are down in Goa from Argentina for the final selections, âWhen we arrived , we had many doubts about the level of the players, but we are very pleased with the results and have seen the efforts the boys have put in. The players can work more on their individual techniques, tactics , strategy and mental strength. In the last week, the players worked hard to improve their level. We are sure that the selected players who will travel to Argentina are prepared to face the next challenge.â They added, âItâs wonderful that IFB is supporting and encouraging football in the country. We appreciate the courtesy and kindness with which we were treated in Goa and look forward to reciprocating the same in Argentina. Thank you Goa and thank you India.
Added Jamshid Nassiri, Head Scout, IFB Boca Football Champs, âThe level of football we have seen over the last few months is encouraging. During the course of the selections and trials across cities, we have come across some wonderfully talented football players who could become stars in the futureâ
The IFB Boca Football Champs initiative kicked off in December 2013 is a grassroots level football tournament organized by IFB Industries in association with Argentinean club, Club Atlético Boca Juniors. The sports initiative drew over 4,000 players from 270 schools and 186 colleges from 8 cities across the country.
List of players selected to train in Argentina :
| Sl No | Name of the player | City | School |
| 1 | Inonito Zhimomi | Delhi | Genesis Global School |
| 2 | Liam Bain | Kolkata | Frank Anthony Public |
| 3 | Cladeo Nongpluh | Pune | Spicer HS |
| 4 | Domnic Soares | Goa | Fr Agnel School Pilar |
| 5 | Guru Raj | Bangalore | Parikrma Centre for Learning |
| 6 | Jishnu Balakrishnan | Calicut | MSP HSS |
| 7 | Khusen Manger | Shillong | St Anthony’s H.S.S |
| Sl No | Name of the player | City | College |
| 1 | Nikhil Prashar | Chandigarh | SGGS College (Khalsa College) |
| 2 | Yohan Confectioner | Kolkata | St Xavier’s College |
| 3 | Mojaffar Ali | Kolkata | Barasat College |
| 4 | Banpynkhrawnam Nongkhlaw | Shillong | St Anthony’s College |
| 5 | Aibormiky Suchiang | Shillong | Shillong College |
| 6 | Clencio Pinto | Goa | Rosary College |
| 7 | Subithlal M | Calicut | Zamorins Guruvayurappan |
| 8 | Akshay Hurria | Delhi | Venkateshwara College |
Sajid Dar from Jammu and Kashmir appointed Head Coach of U-17 Football Team
Reports in Kashmiri media suggest that Sajid Dar has been appointed as the head coach of U-17 national team that is set to participate in the U-17 football World Cup 2017 to be held in India.
The report suggest that according to a statement issued by Jammu and Kashmir Football Association, Dar was chosen by All India Football Federation to prepare the side for the global event.
âIt is a great honour for any coach to be part of the world cup team. Thanks to Almighty for getting this assignment. I am been working with national teams from last three years and I have always tried to help players and add to their knowledge. It is the biggest thing that has happened in my entire sports career,âsaid Sajid Dar to Kashmir reader.
Sajid who is an AFC instructor possess coaching diploma from SNIS Patiala. He also holds AFC C, B and A licenses.
French Club Paris Saint-Germain [PSG] to Open Academy in India
French Club Paris Saint-Germain will open their first academy in the NCR region in July.
Here are the excerpts of PSG coach Laurent Blanc’s teleconference with PTI :
“Well, the goal of the academy is to get the people to know French football and try to develop youth football in India,” .
“But the academy more strongly has a social objective to allow the young players of India and may be, the kid in need to know social success through football and we are pretty sure that academy will bring such a thing forward.”
“India is a great country, great population, very strong youth population. So sports has to be present. Football is the most popular sports in the world. Therefore, I’m not really surprised that India decides to open up to football and that’s why I’m really happy at the launch of PSG academy in India.”
“I think it’s a good thing for French football to open up to India and gain some interest in India and most importantly it’s a very good thing for the youth of the country.”
Foreign clubs are making a bee-line to set up academies in India. PSG being the latest in that list!
More information on the academy here – http://psgfootballacademy.in/
Poll : AFC A license Requirement & Marquee Players
The two most discussed items from the AIFF Executive Committee meeting.
Now, you can have your say!
[socialpoll id=”2201414″]
[socialpoll id=”2201413″]
I-league to start in December, Fedration Cup not axed!
AIFF Executive Committee met at the All India Football Federation Headquarters, Football House in the Capital on May 14, 2014 (Wednesday). Here is all you need to know about the decisions that were arrived upon in the meeting!
- Mr. Praful Patel in his visit to Zurich has expressed interest to the FIFA Boss Sep Blatter about hosting the FIFA World Club Cup in 2017 and also in 2018. The outcome of these bids will be known in December 2014.
- Indian Super League, the new franchise league will kick off in September 2014.
- A special committee to advice the technical structure of 2017 U-17 FIFA World cup to be constituted. Baichung Bhutia, National Captain Sunil Chhetri and the Current coach of Salogaocar club Derrick Periera to be part of the panel.
- The  Coca-Cola Cup (National Sub-Junior Tournament) will be the main scouting platform for players for the 2017 U-17 World Cup. Boys born on or after January 1, 2000 will be eligible for the Championship.
- An U-15 league which involves teams from clubs, AIFF regional academies and others was also proposed!
- 3 crore budget allotted for the preparations for U-23 team for Incheon Asian Games.
- Unlike earlier speculation in the media, Federation Cup to be hosted in Jammu and Kashmir in May 2015.
- Appointed an integrity officer to deal with corruption and match-fixing by June 2104 as stipulated by AFC and FIFA.
- Centralized registration of players to kick-in by July 31, 2014. Further to this, all inter-State transfers to take place through this online system.
On I-league :
- I-league to kick off in the first week of December.
- Coaches / Technical Director of I-league teams should be an AFC A-License holder. Even entry to the dressing rooms of a team is barred if you don’t hold AFC A-License!
- All clubs to sign a marquee player among their foreign recruits. If failed to do so, the entire foreign contingent of players will not be allowed to play. AIFF’s definition of marquee player to be intimated to the clubs very soon.
- The I-league licensing committee to meet on May 21 and decide on the future of clubs on the licensing criteria front.
Mohun Bagan tie-up with Himachal Pradesh Football Association
Mohun Bagan Athletic Club, the oldest professional Club of Asia today entered into a tie-up with Himachal Pradesh Football Association. The two entities disclosed this tie-up at a Press Conference held at Nahan at Sirmour District of Himachal Pradesh. By way of this understanding, Mohun Bagan Athletic Club will provide technical inputs and support for the development of Youth Football in Himachal Pradesh.
The Press Conference was attended by Mr Deepak Sharma, Hony General Secretary of Himachal Pradesh Football Association and Mr Prince Rufus, General Manager of Mohun Bagan Athletic Club. Speaking on this occasion Mr Deepak Sharma said that he was very optimistic that such tie-up would usher in a new era in the Football of the State.
Both the entities will work closely on a long term perspective in this regard.