Should Aizawl FC be relegated?

Aizawl FC, North East, Football, Mizoram, Aizawl, I-league, Relegation, Gowth, development

Before Aizawl FC played their first I-league match against Mohun Bagan,  I had not seen them play ever. Against Bagan, under their Spanish coach, Manuel Retamero Fraile, they played some amazing football. Short crisp passing and movement, which is not a very usual sight in Indian football.  Even though they lost the match 3-1, they did not look like a team who were newly promoted and looked like a solid unit. Joy to watch but not efficient enough. For all that flair and style, Aizawl was not able to convert their chances. When they played at home, matches were sold out and got good support all through the league. Eventually, they fell short and is about to get the boot from I-league. But do they really deserve to be relegated?

Should have been more ambitious and pragmatic?

Aizawl played good football but they lacked a good striker to convert those chances. It was clear that they wouldn’t have escaped relegation without some quality players. But instead of recruiting some players, they went ahead and sacked their coach.

Aizawl under Manuel Retamero Fraile : L D L W L L
Aizawl under Jahar Das : D W L D L W L D L W

As evident, their fortunes did not change drastically even after they replaced their coach. Under Jahar Das, AFC did add Joel Sunday, a Nigerian striker who scored quite a few goals for them. However, I feel they should have retained their Spanish coach and should have added some more quality players to their side. If I-league players were too costly, they should have checked for some 2nd division players. Some more quality in their squad would have definitely helped their case.

Should Aizawl FC stay up?

The northeastern region in India is currently the hotbed of Indian football, especially Mizoram. They have a very promising set up in the state in terms of league and development. No wonder there are over 40 players from Mizoram playing in I-league. This was not achieved overnight. It is the fruition of a dedicated effort over the years – the results are there to show. Mizoram’s Santosh trophy win in 2014 and their victory at the National Games is a testament to that commitment. Aizawl FC’s entry into I-league after topping the 2nd division is a gradual and logical progression in Mizoram’s football journey. The question is should we have to forcefully halt that progression?

Over the last few years, we have had many clubs coming in and going out of I-league, especially from North East. If Rangdajied was thrown out, Royal Wahindoh decided to shut down their senior team after a swashbuckling appearance in I-league. And now Aizawl is on the brink of relegation. Whatever the reasons are, this is some serious injustice to clubs from the North East where football is undergoing considerable growth and is a huge market.

Resources of these clubs from North East might not match with others in the league, but what they have is sheer passion and commitment towards the sport. Take Royal Wahingdoh for example. They withdrew from I-league, but they have been a strong presence in the U-15 League, of which they were the runners-up after going down to Minerva on penalties.

If we are to reward the North East region and their football, instead of being a destructive force, stakeholders in Indian football should handhold these clubs to success. That could only lead to more aspiring clubs from North East to vie for spots in I-league and 2nd division.

The latest edition of I-league was a nine-team affair after Royal Wahindogh and Bharat FC backing out. If Aizwal is retained in the league and with another team promoted from the 2nd division, the number of teams in the I-league for the next edition could be a respectable ten.

As the data from the poll, I conducted on FNI suggests, a lot of fans are in favor of Aizawl FC staying up in the league. It’s time the voices are heard out loud and clear – let’s hope someone is taking a note.

That’s how the North East kicks it!

Football, North East, Charity, Community, Royal Whingdoh, Shillong Lajong, Cherrapunjee, Meghalaya, Assam, KolkataA glimpse of the football scene in Assam and Meghalaya!

When we planned a trip to the North East this December, I was all excited. Football, that was in my mind. When we had to replan our initial itinerary to avoid Tawang from the list and settle for Meghalaya and Assam, I was, even more, happy. Guwahati FC, Guwahati Town Club and the Shillong football scene was in my mind. It’s a year-end trip, my wife has yearned for a long trip for a long long time, all this meant I couldn’t outrightly tell her that I was looking forward only for football. I did not do that mistake! Will never do that!

However, I did send a message to Riewdondor Khongwir ( A good friend from Indian football Live FB Group) alerting him that I will be landing in Shillong and would love to meet up with him! We landed in Kolkata and took a train to Guwahati. While on the train we spotted a few football grounds in Bengal, however, I was terribly sad that I could not go to Salt Lake or feel that football frenzy in Kolkata. We did, however, see some hoardings of Atletico De Kolkata though.

Landed in Guwahati, took a cab all the way to Kaziranga and the whole place is littered, yes, littered with scenic football grounds. I hate tight schedules. For a laid back man like me, its a downer. In Assam too, I missed out seeing a stadium or a football match!

But that was not the case in Meghalaya. I met Riewdondor on the very first day I landed there. He assured me that he will take me to the JN stadium in Shillong. Again, we had so many places to visit and I was afraid if we could make it to the stadium. On our second day in Shillong, we took a trip to Cherrapunji. The wettest place on earth!

But the real surprise was a banner that welcomed us in Cherrapunji. An exhibition match between Shillong Lajong FC and Royal Wahindoh being played in a local ground. I had read about an exhibition match between the two sides some time ago. I thought the banner would be an old one.

We went around Cherrapunji and while we were on our way back, I could see crowd trickling to the ground and immediately told my cab driver to stop. We got down, walked up to the ground. What we saw afterwards is inexplicable. Junior teams from Lajong and Wahindoh was fighting it out on the field, and the stands were brimming with the crowd!

The best part was that the crowd had youngsters and elderly people, men and women, and even children holding hands and walking on the sides. Everyone cheering every single move! Unbelievable! Football in Meghalaya is a community festival. There were vendors selling all kinds of stuff around the ground, there were people perched on all possible parts of the field wanting to watch the match! It was an incredible experience! Sheer love for the game! I said to myself, this is the best part of my trip so far!

Next morning, Riewdondor came down to the hotel and we took a long walk to the Shillong JN stadium. All the way, we spoke about football, the huge role it plays in North East and, of course, the dismal affairs of Indian football. But a morning spent discussing football is definitely not any ordinary morning. We walked all the way to the stadium, saw the Polo grounds, newly laid artificial turf where Royal Wahindoh juniors were prepping for an upcoming match and then the stadium itself. JN stadium, which attracts huge crowds for the Lajong and Wahindoh matches, was in full glory under the morning sun. Riewdondor noticed that bucket seats were installed in the stadium. We stood there for a while chatting and he accompanied me back to the hotel. Thank you Riewdondor for taking me there!

The day before, I had managed to sneak into the Lajong office as well. I was bit late, though. Folks over there seemed pleasantly surprised seeing a football fan from down south barging into their office. However, they were kind enough to tell that if I could make it early in the morning the next day, I could meet the coach! 

There is no North East without football. For people there, the game is in their blood, to be nurtured as a community festival than a game, that bring people together, and keep their bonding with each other strong. If you are a football fan, and if you ever visit the North East of India, do watch a match there – your love for the game would just double! 

Credits to wifey for the pics and editorial support!

Guwahati FC raring to go in the 2nd Division I-League

Guwahati FC, Football, Axom Sports, North East, Club, New, Proffesional, Soccer, Friendly, Anthem, Launch, Assam, 2nd division, I-league, Durga Boro, Subhash BhowmickNewly formed club appoints Subhash Bhowmick as Technical Director, will face Mohammedan Sporting in the first match

Guwahati, India:  Newly formed Guwahati FC is raring to go as they prepare for the 2nd Division I-League 2015-16. The club is aiming for promotion to the first tier of Indian football and is leaving no stone unturned in its quest. They have appointed legendary former Indian National player and Coach, Subhash Bhowmick as their Technical Director. Mr Bhowmick has previously managed top clubs such as East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Churchill Brothers, Salgaocar among others. He comes on board as a mentor and guide and the team will benefit greatly from his vast experience.

 

Durga Boro, Guwahati FC, Football, Axom Sports, North East, Club, New, Proffesional, Soccer, Friendly, Anthem, Launch, Assam, 2nd division, I-league, Durga Boro, Subhash BhowmickGuwahati FC has also recently successfully held trials for its first team, with some top talent being recruited from top division clubs in India. They have announced the signing of top Assamese attacker, Durga Boro, who will bring a lot of quality to the first team. They will be announcing many more exciting signings in the days to come.

The club will face Mohammedan Sporting in their first match of the 2nd Division I-League on 14th November in Kolkata. The other teams in the Eastern Conference are Neroca FC, Himalayan Gangtok SC and Fateh Hyderabad FC. Three teams will qualify from the Conference for the main Group.

 

The club has recently tied up with Delhi-based Anglian Management Group (AMG) and Brazil’s Clube Atlético Paranaense (CAP) to set up the first international football Academy in North-East India based out of Guwahati. The Academy plans to train a hundred elite youth footballers from various age groups each of the next three years as well as run numerous programmes throughout the year aimed at attracting many more youth to the sport.To kick off their youth programs, they will be competing in the U-18 and U-15 I-League 2015-16 which will start in November.

 

Guwahati FC, which was formed at the end of 2014, aims to establish itself by developing local talent in partnership with AMG and CAP. The club intends to leverage AMG’s international connections and experiences managing football clubs in India and in Europe as well as CAP’s globally-renowned youth football programmes.

“We are looking forward to a great campaign in the 2nd Division I-League and will definitely aim to qualify to the top tier. We will remain passionate and dedicated about the cause of building the sport of football in India from the bottom up, as evidenced by our setting up the Guwahati FC Youth Academy in partnership with Anglian Management Group and Clube Atlético Paranaense.” said Sanjive Narain Co-owner Guwahati FC.

Kerala Announce team for the Final Round of Santosh Trophy 2015

Kerala, Football, Association, Manjeri, Stadium, Payyanad, South Zone, Football, Soccer, Malappuram, SquadKerala Football Association today announced the team that will be participating in the final round of Santosh Trophy 2015to be held in Punjab from 1st to 16th March.

Team :

Goal keepers :

Nishad (Malappuram), Midhun (Kannur), Akhil Soman (Kottayam)

Defenders :

Surjith V V (Captain, Thriussr) , Sajith T (Kasaragod), Johnson N (Trivandrum), Sreerag V G (Thrissur), Rahul Raj (Trivandrum), Othello Tabia (Goa)

Midfielders :

Shyjumon (Trivandrum), Jimshad (Malappuram), Sajesh M (kannur), Jijo Joseph (Thrissur), Ashkar V S (Malappuram), Usman Ashique (Palakkad), Seeson S (Trivandrum), Muneer K (Wayanad), Sujil N S (Idukki)

Midfielders :

Suhair V P (Palakkad), Nazarudeen (Malappuram),

Reserves :

Danny (Defender, Trivandrum) Kiran C Krishnan (Goal keeper, Tamil Nadu)

Management :

Chief Coach : P K Rajeev

Asst Coach : Bino George

GK Coach : K K Hameed

Physio: Ashly T G

Manager : Achu S.

Schedule :Santosh Trophy, Football, Soccer, South, North, West, East, North East, Zone, Manjeri, Morigaon, Assam, Kerala, Rajkot, Goa, Ludhiana, Punjab, Jalandhar

Santosh Trophy 2014-2015 Fixtures and Results

Santosh Trophy, Football, Soccer, South, North, West, East, North East, Zone, Manjeri, Morigaon, Assam, Kerala, Rajkot, Goa, Ludhiana, PunjabHere are the fixtures and results for the 69th National Football Championship played for the Santosh Trophy.

Services – 2015 Santosh Trophy Champions.

Santosh Trophy, Football, Soccer, South, North, West, East, North East, Zone, Manjeri, Morigaon, Assam, Kerala, Rajkot, Goa, Ludhiana, Punjab

 

Final Round Groups [March 1-15, Punjab]

Final

[match id=1214]

Semi Final

[match id=1212]

[match id=1213]

Group A

Punjab, Assam, Maharashtra, Services, West Bengal

Group B

Delhi, Mizoram, Goa, Kerala, Railways

Group A Standings

[standings league_id=21 group=A]

Group B Standings

[standings league_id=21 group=B]

Final Round Fixtures

Group A

[matches league_id=21 group=A]

Group B

[matches league_id=21 group=B]

Santosh Trophy 2015 Format :

The format of the tournament is as follows.

Zonal Round

State teams from various zone will fight it out to gain a place in the final round of the tournament.

Final Round

Ten teams qualified from the Zonal Round, will be divided into two groups of Five teams each and the top two teams from each group will qualify for the Semi-Finals.

Semi Finals

Four teams qualified from the Final Round, will play in the cross Semi-Finals

Finals

Semi winner 1 vs Semi Winner 2

Final Round to be held in Punjab

Punjab will host the final round of Santosh Trophy. The matches will take place in Ludiahna and Jalandhar from March 1-15, 2015. Group matches in the final round will be held at both venues while the semifinal and final will take place in Ludhiana. Last time Punjab hosted the event was in 1974. Santosh Trophy, Football, Soccer, South, North, West, East, North East, Zone, Manjeri, Morigaon, Assam, Kerala, Rajkot, Goa, Ludhiana, Punjab, Jalandhar

Teams Qualified for final Round

Santosh Trophy, Football, Soccer, South, North, West, East, North East, Zone, Manjeri, Morigaon, Assam, Kerala, Rajkot, Goa, Ludhiana, Punjab

Zonal Qualifying Rounds [East, West, North, South and North East]

Teams from each zone will be divided into two/single group/s depending upon the
number of participants and the top two teams from each zone will qualify for the Final round of the competition.

Zonal Groups

[table id=9 /]

[table id=10 /]

 

Fixtures & Results Zonal Rounds

[matches league_id=11 season=2015]

 

Mizoram Announce Santosh Trophy 2014-15 Squad

Mizoram, Football, Association, MFA, Soccer, Santosh Trophy, Assam, 2014, 2015Mizoram announced their 20 players squad for the 69th National Football Championships for the Santosh Trophy. The north-east zone matches will be played in Morigaon, Assam.

The seven states of North east India have been divided into two groups. Group A is consists of Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh while Group B consists of three states – Mizoram, Meghalaya and Tripura.

Team :

Gks : Lalawmpuia, Malsawmtluanga

Defs: Ronald Zothanzama, Zothanpuia, Lalrinchhana, Lalrinzuala Khiangte, Lalruatthara , C Lalrosanga

Mid: Samson Ramengmawia, Ricky Lallawmawma, Lalruatdika, Lalbiakhlua, H. Lalmuankima, Johny Lalfakzuala, Laldingngheta

Fwds :  Lalruatfela Zote, Joseph Lalnunpuia, F. Lalrinpuia, Malsawmfela, Lalrinfela

Officials :
H. Vanltlathlanga (Coach), H.C. Zarzoliana (Assistant Coach), Lalbiakzuala (Manager)

New Professional Football Club unveiled in Assam – FC Guwahati

FC Guwahati, Football, Axom Sports, North East, Club, New, Proffesional, Soccer, Friendly, Anthem, Launch, AssamAxom Sports Enterprose Pvt Ltd is proud to present Guwahati’s own football team, FC GUWAHATI. For a long time it was felt that it was imperative for Axom to have its own Professional club football to bring our past glory back. FC Guwahati is the answer to this aspiration of football loving public of Axom. This initiative will give impetus to talented footballers of Axom who can aspire to play professional football for their own ‘Axomi Moromi’ team. FC Guwahati is co-owned by individuals who by their own right have achieved in their respective fields. They have combined together to create a platform for aspiring footballers of Axom. FC Guwahati plans to play top-level professional football in the years to come.

The co-owners are

  1. Sanjive Narain
  2. Jayanta Baruah
  3. Bipul Saikia
  4. Capers Investments ( Assam) Private Limited
  5. Zubin Garg
  6. Dudul Choudhary
  7. Kamal Chandra Das
  8. Pulak Goswami

Today we are unveiling the logo of FC GUWAHATI, which expresses the vibrancy of the game of football played in Axom, meanwhile co-owner Zubin Garg is giving the finishing touches to FC GUWAHATI’s anthem-song and the kits of players will be formally released during the launching ceremony.

The process to select a professional management team is currently on. For the coaching positions foreign coaches have been short-listed and we will finalize them very soon.

Currently we are on a talent-sourcing endeavour to create the first batch of players of FC GUWAHATI. We are chalking out an integrated and comprehensive football development plan to nurture the talent of footballers of Axom. We will share on this once the plan is ready. This will include a football academy with own grounds, a swimming pool, a gymnasium, a hostel among others.

.FC GUWAHATI will be formally launched in a gala-ceremony playing a foreign football team in an exhibition match. Many personalities from Bollywood and sports fraternity will be invited, & this mega event will precede the exhibition match.

We have requested Assam Football Association (AFA) and Guwahati Sports Association (GSA) for all their support to make this team a success which they have also assured to do wholeheartedly.

Press Note : Axom Sports

Shillong Sports Association’s First Division football league fixtures

Ten clubs will fight it out in Shillong’s first division football league that will start on July 4th.  Shillong Sports Association has released the first twenty fixtures of the league. The participating clubs are Mawlai, Pohkseh, Lawmali Pyllun SC, Nongkrem SC, Smit SC, Laitlyngkot SC, Shillong United FC, Imson FC, Laban and Laitumkhrah.

(All matches at 4:00pm at JN Sports Complex)

July 4: Mawlai SC vs Pohkseh SS&CC

July 5: Lawmali Pyllun SC vs Nongkrem SC

July 7: Smit SC vs Laitlyngkot SC

July 8: Shillong United FC vs Imson FC

July 9: Laban SC vs Laitumkhrah S&CC

July 10: Nongkrem SC vs Mawlai SC

July 11: Pohkseh SS&CC vs Lawmali Pyllun SC

July 12: Laitlyngkot SC vs Shillong United FC

July 14: Laitumkhrah S&CC vs Smit SC

July 15: Imson FC vs Laban SC

July 16: Mawlai SC vs Shillong United FC

July 17: Smit SC vs Lawmali Pyllun SC

July 18: Laban SC vs Nongkrem SC

July 19: Pohkseh SS&CC vs Laitumkhrah S&CC

July 21: Laitlyngkot SC vs Imson FC

July 22: Lawmali Pyllun SC vs Mawlai SC

July 23: Shillong United FC vs Laban SC

July 24: Nongkrem SC vs Smit SC

July 25: Laitumkhrah S&CC vs Laitlyngkot SC

July 26: Imson FC vs Pohkseh SS&CC

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