Pune FC to be featured in BBC World News

Pune FC, India, Football, BBC World News, India Direct, February, 2014, Elections, Soccer, DalitBBC News has confirmed that they will be airing India Centric Programmes in February 2014 preceding the general elections. BBC says the program India Direct is an opportunity for the world audience to see everyday life in India. One among the stories in this series from India would be of Pune FC‘s.

The series is expected to run across two weeks from 8 February 2014.

One Square Mile – Pune FC (TBC)

Tim Samuels – a confirmed football fan and award-winning reporter – travels to Pune, one of India’s fastest growing cities with a burgeoning manufacturing and entrepreneurial sector. He visits Pune FC, in India’s premier league, meets the players, and their Dutch manager and goes to a premier league match. Tim learns who watches football and hears about the sport’s allure in a country traditionally enamoured with cricket. He also meets another football team, one made up of dalits, who can only aspire to the big time. – bbc.co.uk.

We had earlier mentioned that with the influx of European players especially from U.K, I-league has garnered attention from the U.K media. Sky Sports and The Scotsman has already carried stories on players and coaches who are part of the league.

The BBC the program may not follow that suit but this would definitely pave way for our footballing stories to reach a global audience which otherwise is buried under a heavy heap of cricket.

Veda FC Crowned Nagaland Premier League Champions

Nagaland Premier League, Footbal, North East, Kohima, Veda FC, Kohima Komets, Indianfootball, SoccerDebutants Veda FC were crowned the champions of the Nagaland Premier League season 2 following a 4-0 win over Dynamic FC at DDSC Stadium, Dimapur Monday. Nagaland Premier League, NPL, Football, North East, Veda FC, Indianfootball, Kohima

Kohima Komets finished on second place with a victory over Doyang FC at Kohima, while Dimapur United FC defeated last year champion, Barak FC 2-0 to finish on third position. Naga Tornadoes beat United Redskins 3-1 to fourth.

Earlier, Rhitsho Mero opened the account for Veda in the 5th minute. After the break Veda FC added three more goals with K. Thopi scoring two goals, second and fourth in 59th and 88th minutes.

The third goal for Veda FC was scored by Kezevituo in the 67th minute. In the first session, Dynamic FC lost number of real opportunities.

Nagaland Premier League Season 2 :

NPL Table

Mohammed Rafi Could Join Mumbai FC on Loan

Mohammed Rafi, Football, Kerala, Churchill Brothers, Mumbai Tigers, IMG - Reliance, Kasargode, Soccer, Yesterday we reported that former India international and Kerala player N.P Pradeep has joined Mumbai FC on loan.

Goal.com is reporting that Mumbai FC will sign four players on loan from IMG – Reliance. Including N.P Pradeep,  Mohammed Rafi, Peter Costa and Khelemba Meetei could join the outfit.

Like N.P Pradeep, Rafi is also an experienced player in Indian football circuit appearing for Mahindra, Churchill Brothers, and as recently for Mumbai Tigers before signing on for IMG – Reliance.

N.P Pradeep Joins Mumbai FC

 N.P Pradeep, Football, I-league, Mumbai FC, Idukki, Mahindra, Mohun Bagan, Mumbai Tigers, IndianFootball, Socceer, LeagueFormer India and International and Kerala player N.P Pradeep has joined Mumbai FC on loan. By this Mumbai FC becomes the third team in I-League to sign players attached to IMG – Reliance League.

Pradeep comes with loads of experience in Indian Football circuit. From 2000 onwards, Pradeep has appeared for various clubs such as Mahindra, Viva Kerala, Mohun Bagan and lately signed for Dodsal FC which was later renamed to Mumbai Tigers.

Pradeep also has 50 international caps for India and featured heavily in the national team during Bob Houghton era. With Mumbai Tigers pulling out from I-league, Pradeep had inked deal with IMG- Reliance for their upcoming IPL Style league.

With IMG – Reliance League getting postponed, Mumbai FC has taken the plunge to sign the midfielder that will add a lot of experience to their current I-league squad. So far, Rangdajied United, Mohammedan Sporting and Mumbai FC has signed players contracted with IMG – Reliance.

I-League Could Tie-Up with SAP for High-end Analytics

SAP, I-league, SAPA HANA, India, Clubs, Football, Bengaluru FC, Pune FC, Sunandho Dhar, SoccerSAP has made its foray in to sports in a big manner with the announcement of the SAP HANA system. SAP HANA an in-memory database, analytics, mobile software combined with other technologies can help teams to gauge performance of their players, collect real time data and do much.

SAP has already taken a dive in to this vertical as they have already signed up NBA in this regard. SAPA HANA system offer teams a scouting platform, it can grab media and data from social sites and thereby gauging fan sentiments and could over all improve the experience of spectators in the stadium.

German Bundesliga outfit TSG 1899 Hoffenheim is using the latest technology offered by SAP. Where trainers use Google Glass in combination with this technology to gauge player performances.

Video of  Hoffenheim using SAP HANA technology :

AIFF has published an article about representatives participating in the recently concluded SAP Forum for Sports and Entertainment  in Germany.  SAP India Managing Director Anirban Dey told AIFF  – “SAP believes that this can also be leveraged by the I-League clubs,”

AIrtel I-league CEO Sunandho Dhar said that a Pilot Project is being chalked out between SAP India and Airtel I-league. “We are trying to work out a deal with SAP India on whether the technology can be brought to India, if not on the same scale but parts of it. A Pilot Project may be in the offing.” said Sunandho Dhar to AIFF Media.

Kerala – 50th Inter-District Football Tournament Starts

Kerala, Football, Kerala Football Association, India, Indianfootball, Soccer, KFAThe 50th Inter-District Football Tournament commenced in Wayanad on the 24th of November.

Matches will be played in the Arappetta ground (which indeed is a picturesque one! ).

Defending champion Malappuram and last year’s runner-up Kasaragod have been given a direct entry into the quarterfinals. Malappuram will play the winners from the Kannur vs Pathanamthitta match and Kasaragod will take on the winners from the Thirvananthapuram vs Alappuzha match.

Fixture :

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[matches league_id=9 match_day=4]

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Soccer School in Memory of V.P.Sathyan in Kozhikode

V.P. Sathyan, Soccer School, Football, Kozhikode, Anitha, Kerala, India, CaptainA football coaching school in memory of former Indian football team captain and defender V.P Sathyan will start functioning in Kozhikode from November 24th.

After seven years of his untimely demise, Sathyan’s wife Anitha has come forward to set up the school. The proposed V.P Sathyan Soccer School will adopt the 2002 batch of Sports Promotion and Education Trust (SEPT) footballers. SEPT is another academy based out of Kozhikode. The first batch of V.P Sathyan Soccer School will comprise of 20 kids.

Kerala Football Association president K.M.A Mather, Kozhikode Sports Council president K.J. Mathai and Former India international U. Sharaf Ali will be caretakers of the venture.

Sathyan’s friends, V.P Sathyan trust in Thalassery and well wishers offered support for the venture said Anitha. The objective is to give superior training and mold good players, she said. On November 24th, minister M.K. Muneer will inaugurate the soccer school.

Louis Saha Confirms Interest from India

Image Courtesy : http://forzaitalianfootball.com/

Image Courtesy : http://forzaitalianfootball.com/

Before Indian Super League got postponed, a slew of announcements came in about star players that were going to be involved in the league.  Louis Saha, former Manchester United and Everton player was one among them.

Louis Saha has now officially confirmed about the interest from India. In an interview with with http://www.manutd.com, titled Life after United, Saha said the following –

“I like to discover new things. If I could help launch another league, I would be happy to discuss that. At the same time, things have to be clear with me and I will think about it, that is for sure. India is something that would be exotic,”

Subrata Paul gets a deal with top Denmark club

 FC Vestsjaelland, Denmark, Subrata Paul, Subrata Pal, Denmark, Goal Keeper

Pic Courtesy : Topnews.in

According to reports, India’s top goal keeper Subrata Paul has been offered  a six-month contract with Danish Superliga football team FC Vestsjaelland. Subrata has been asked to report at the club on January 3rd.

FC Vestsjaelland climbed to the top tier of the 12 team Denmark League this year. If the deal works out Subrata Paul will be the fourth Indian to play his trade in Europe. (If you have an addition to this list, let us know! ) The others being Mohammed Salim who appeared for Celtic in the 30’s, Baichung Bhutia who played for Bury FC in England and Sunil Chhetri who appeared for Sporting Lisbon B.

Subrata Paul earlier had training stints with  Red Bull Leipzig in 2012, a third division German football club.

We wish Subrata Paul all the best for his stint with  FC Vestsjaelland.

Here is a link to the HT story.

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