Michael Chopra heading to India?
- Michael Chopra heading to India?
This is a potboiler, should be better than a Vivek Oberoi movie! 😀
Nothing but football.
This is a potboiler, should be better than a Vivek Oberoi movie! 😀
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.
The two most discussed items from the AIFF Executive Committee meeting.
Now, you can have your say!
[socialpoll id=”2201414″]
[socialpoll id=”2201413″]
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!
McDowell’s No.1 Indian Football Awards by the Football Players’ Association of India [FPAI] was given out yesterday in a function at Kolkata. West Bengal Governor M.K. Narayanan and former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly were the chief guests for the occasion.
The winners of the awards are as follows :
Lifetime Achievement: P.K. Banerjee
Young Player of the Year: Alwyn George (Dempo)
Foreign Player of the Year: Darryl Duffy (Salgaocar)
Football ka No.1 Spirit: Jose Ramirez Barreto
Fans’ Player of the Year: Boithang Haokip (Shillong Lajong FC)
Coach of the Year: Ashley Westwood (Bengaluru FC, Absent)
Indian Footballer of the Year: Balwant Singh (Churchill)
Even though the term Bangalored has a negative connotation to it, when you see what unfolded in the 2013-2014 I-league season, it is pretty much obvious that Bengaluru FC Bangalored the I-league title. Since its inception in 2007, I-league has been synonymous to the victory of Goan clubs. In 2013-14 season, Bengaluru FC smoothly captured the reigns and brought the title home!
When Bengaluru FC backed by JSW was announced in July 2013, two tasks were in front of them. Of course building competitive team would have been the first priority, but the second wouldn’t have been that easy. Bangalore is a football loving city, when local clubs like ITI and HAL play, a good number of crowd is present in the stadium cheering these teams. The challenge in front of the newly formed Bengaluru FC would have been to appease the traditional football crowd and attract a new gamut of crowd who are mainly followers of European football. With 23 matches into the league and the title in pocket, it is obvious that Bengaluru FC managed this fete with aplomb. With promotions, smart tie-ups and social media presence, the club managed an average attendance of 7500 in every home match.
The team, captained by national captain Sunil Chhetri also lived up to the expectations. When the club was formed in July, there were not many players to choose from as other clubs had already snapped up players. However, shrewd recruitment and excellent coaching from Ashley Westwood saw many players who were earlier bench-warming with other clubs rise to the occasion. Players like Beikhokhei Beingaichho, Darren Caldeira and Thoi Singh are prime examples. While all other I-league clubs hired and fired overseas players all through the season, Bengaluru FC’s foreign contingent has been top performers for the team.
With high attendance on even week-days, Bengaluru FC with their vociferous supporters made the home turf an impregnable fortress. Of the twelve home matches, they lost a match, drew four and won all others. Though there were frailties in away matches, the team managed to rope in victories while traveling too. With winning the I-league title, AFC Champions League matches will be on cards for Bangalore.
Bengaluru FC has been a fresh whiff of air in the otherwise morose footballing scene in India. It is almost like after the team was formed they never put a foot wrong. Let us hope Bengaluru FC’s success is emulated by other I-league clubs by reinventing themselves.
Bengaluru FC’s Long road to I-league 2013-14 title
If reports in Malayalam media is anything to go by, AIFF’s controversial player registration scheme will kick-in from next season.
It is reported that Kerala Football Association has notified state clubs to register their players through an online system. Clubs will have shell out 100 INR for each player they are registering. The new system allows clubs to register as many players as they want. Clubs can also register Sub-Junior players as part of the new system. Currently a club can only register 30 players.
Kerala Football Association will also conduct workshops in each district to create awareness on the new system that will be kicking in from next season. Player registration scheme from AIFF had earlier received flak from state associations and there was resistance from the associations to implement the scheme. The reduction of registration fee from what was touted earlier is to be seen as a move to placate the state associations.
Depending upon a grading system, clubs will have to shell out money to register their players. I-league clubs will have to shell out 10,000 INR for Indian players and 15,000 INR for foreign players.
While this a good initiative from AIFF as the registration system would allow them to create a database of active footballers across the nation, it should also be kept in mind that remuneration for a match in many of the district leagues would be as low as the registration fee that is being currently implemented.
Cash strapped United SC is planning to divest shares and is looking for potential suitors from Kerala, reports Malayalam media.
United SC official Nabab Bhattacharya is quoted in Malayala Manorama saying that maintaining a foreign coach and foreign players for the last six months without any sponsors has hurt the club massively and hence they are planning to divest shares. Nabab also said that even though there are many footballers in Kerala with some playing in I-league, the state do not have a club representation in the national league. This is also a factor in seeking avenues from Kerala.
C.K Vineeth who is currently on loan to Bengaluru FC and K. Asif were the Malayali players in United SC. Dutch coach Eelco Schattorie quit the club earlier due to financial constraints and reports have surfaced today that their star Nigerian striker Ranti Martins will be moving to the Shillong outfit Rangdajied United on loan.
The move to seek investors from Kerala could be a last ditch effort to save the sinking club. We will have to wait and watch if any investors from kerala would come and rescue this reasonably successful and established club from Kolkata. If that happens would the club move to Kerala lock, stock and barrel? We will soon find answers.
Vastly experienced kerala player Sushant Mathew has joined Shillong outfit Rangdajied United on loan from IMG-Reliance.
Sushant Mathew who had a splendid career with big clubs such as Mahindra United, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan is currently in Kerala with Rangdajied United squad for the upcoming Federation Cup.
“Sushanth is a talented player and I know him very well. He always comes out with hundred per cent effort and that will help us in Federation Cup and remaining I-League matches,” said Santosh Kashyap to TOI.
We wish Sushant Mathew a successful stint with Rangdajied United.
Here is an ultra cool gif of a Sunil Chhetri goal. This goal against Mohammedan Sporting has to be one of the best goals scored in this I-league Season.
Captain Fantastic!