IMG in IMG – Reliance Sold Off

IMG, IMG-Reliance, Football, India, Soccer, InternationalInternational Management Group (IMG)  the global sports, entertainment and fashion agency has sold off to competitors William Morris Endeavor (WME) and their financial backer Silver Lake Partners.William-Morris-Endeavor

 

 

IMG – Reliance the Indian version of the management agency caused a stir among the Indian football fans with the now postponed Indian Super League. We will have to wait and see what beholds the Indian Super League now.

Federation Cup 2013-14 – Kochi & Manjeri – Fixtures

Football, Indianfootball, Federation Cup, Kerala, Soccer, Kochi, Federation Cup 2013-14 , Manjeri, Football, Kerala, indianfootball, I-League, Payyanad, StadiumFederation Cup 2013-14 comes to kerala. Kochi and Manjeri will host the matches. Teams are divided in to four groups – A,B,C &D.

Group A & C matches will take place in Kochi and Group B & D matches at Manjeri.

Football fans in Malappuram has been waiting for ever for a top level tournament to take place in the district.  They will be duly rewarded when they get to see top I-league teams and a host of other teams looking to get promoted to the top tier of the country playing.

The semi-finals and finals of Federation Cup 2013-14 will take place in Kochi.  Eagles FC is the only Kerala out fit in the competition.

Group A [JNStadium, Kochi] :

[matches league_id=6 Group=A]

Group B [MDS Complex, Manjeri] :

[matches league_id=6 Group=B]

Group C [JNStadium, Kochi] :

[matches league_id=6 Group=C]

Group D [MDS Complex, Manjeri] :

[matches league_id=6 Group=D]

Nethaji Sports Club – Chennai, Bought Over by a Young Entrepreneur

Nethaji SCNethaji Sports Club one of the oldest clubs in Chennai have a new owner in Rohit Ramesh. 27 year old Rohit bought over the club from one of the stalwarts of Chennai football, Mr. T. R. Govindarajan.

The club established in 1946 was steered by Govindarajan till date. Due to the lack of sponsorship and other resources the club was relegated from the senior division 3 years ago.

In the event of this take over, Football News India caught up with Rohit to ask about his plans for the club. Rohit emphasized that his immediate concern is to get the club on track and play well in the Chennai League which starts off in February. He also pointed out that they are looking for international age-group tournaments where Nethaji Club could participate.

As of now team’s 18 players have been retained and the club is scouting to add four of five more players to their roster to strengthen.  Rohit told The Hindu“So our major perspective is to change Indian football. Especially in Tamil Nadu, as there is no team from here in the I-league. And football is growing and I think we are ‘in’ at the right time,”

Kochi and Manjeri to host Federation Cup 2014

Football, Indianfootball, Federation Cup, Kerala, SoccerBringing joy to all football fans in Malappuram, AIFF has confirmed that Federation Cup 2014 will be played in Kochi and Manjeri starting from January 14th. Sixteen teams divided in to four groups will battle it out in the competition.

With the withdrawal of Lansing FC, the hosts Kerala will be represented by Eagles FC Kochi.

The venues are as follows:

Group A and Group C: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Cochin

Group B and Group D: MDS Complex, Manjeri

Semifinals and Final: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Cochin

Bengaluru FC’s Ashley Westwood rebuffs offers from England

Ashley Westwood

Ashley Westwood

According to Teamtalk.com Bengaluru FC’s  Ashley Westwood has been linked with coaching positions at Crawley FC and Bury FC. However Ashley Westwood has gone on record saying that he is concentrating on Bengaluru FC as of now.

The I-league table topper’s manager said to teamtalk.com –

“Of course in the future I will return to Europe and its nice to be recognised for your work. However I’m just focusing on the next game for Bangaluru,” he said.

“The last three months have involved early starts and long days but when you see the lads react to the information you give them then it’s very rewarding. We’ve got a long way to go yet.”

Another I-league Club to Shut Shop?

Airtel I-league, TenActionRumors are rife that another I-league could be shutting shop soon. After the chit fund scandal in West Bengal, United SC has been struggling to find sponsors after their last season sponsor Prayag abandoned them. Ironically United SC were one of the clubs that spent massively on their squad last season.

Club officials have been trying to rope in a sponsor for the club from the starting of this season with no success.  “It’s not possible to run a club solely on borrowed money. It’s getting difficult each passing day. We want to keep hoping for the best instead of throwing in the towel. But nothing positive seems to be happening.”  “If things carry on in this manner, we’ll have to give up,” club secretary Alokesh Kundu told Telegraph.

While I-league seems to be very competitive this time around with quality foreigners and better managed teams, it has to be noted that there is still not much of money in play. Clubs still find it difficult to find sponsors and the large outlay required to field  a team in the national league is not helping their cause.

Read the article from Telegraph which speculates on United SC’s future here.

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.

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