Tag: Soccer

Kerala reaches the final of Junior National Championship

Leave a comment

Image Courtesy : Kerala Coach Purushothaman Thekkathara T G’s facebook profile.

Image Courtesy : Kerala Coach Purushothaman Thekkathara T G’s facebook profile.

Continuing their great form in the tournament, Kerala team has sailed to the finals of Tier II by defeating Chandigarh 3-0 in the semifinal that took place in Ranchi.

65 minutes of the match was played yesterday before it had to be stopped due to thunderstorms in Ranchi. Kerala was already leading 2-0 in the match and they knocked in one more goal to take the tally to 3-0 in the rest of the 25 minutes that was played today morning.

Kerala will take on the Sports Authority of India (SAI) team in the finals of Tier II.

The malaise of age-fraud makes a return at the Junior National Football Championship

Leave a comment

For the last few days rumors were abound on the internet where sources close to various state football associations hurling accusations that certain teams participating in the 49th Junior National Football Championship has over aged players in their team. It was interesting to note that a state run sports body who is fielding their team was also accused of age-fraud.

Putting the rumors to bed is an article from The Telegraph which quotes an AIFF official.

“Bengal are one of the few states, who stuck by the rule book and fielded a side that had footballers within the stipulated age,” said an AIFF official. “Teams like Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya also adhered to the age restriction.

“For the rest of the states, it has become a free for all,” claimed the official.

Age-fraud is a serious malaise that needs to curbed else all these national level age-group tournaments turn worthless and associations that comply to the rules are made a laughing stock.

We at Football News India believe, AIFF,  for the greater good of the game should ban State/District associations for a certain period of time if they are found fielding an over-age team in an age-group tournament.

 Quotes in the article is sourced from  – Age-fudging at AIFF meet

Kerala based NRI appointed as logistics manager for 2013 U-17 World Cup

Leave a comment
Pic Courtesy : http://www.mathrubhumi.com

Pic Courtesy : http://www.mathrubhumi.com

Reports in Malayalam media suggest that Kerala based NRI C.K.P. Shanavas has been appointed as the logistics manager for the FIFA U-17 World Cup scheduled to start October 17th in UAE.

Shanavas is a lover of the beautiful game hailing from the city of Kozhikode. He is also an active member of the grass-root football academy – SEPT in the city. Shanavas is the son of late T.M. Rahman who was also the secretary of Kozhikode Football Association.

Shanavas is currently working in a UAE bank – Emirates NBDO.  His employer has granted him 50 days of leave to be part of FIFA U-17 world Cup, which will start on October 17th and go on till November 8th.

Lalit Modi to shape up IPL style football league in India

Leave a comment
Image Courtesy : http://static.guim.co.uk

Image Courtesy : http://static.guim.co.uk

Tainted and exiled former IPL chariman – Lalit Modi turns his attention to football now. Lalit Modi was recently banned from BCCI.  According to a report in The Indian Express, Modi has had Initial discussion with AIFF president about starting a IPL style league.

Read More : Lalit Modi may now dabble in IPL-style football league

India U-16 wins 4-1 against Lebanon

Leave a comment
Image Courtesy : AIFF Media

Image Courtesy : AIFF Media

The Indian U-16 team put up a very good show against Lebanon by defeating them 4-1 at the Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium in Kuwait.

India went ahead in the 9th minute when Nuruddin fly past 30 yard screamer in to the Lebanon goal. India had to wait till the dying moments of the first half to score again through Jayananda Singh.

In the second half of the match, Lebanon through  Ali Kharoubi made it 2-1. From then on India mounted pressure and scored two goals in succession. Anirudh Thapa in the 61st minute and Bedashwor Singh in the 65th minute making it 4-1 in favor of India.

India went on to play some eye-catching football then on, but failed to increase the score line. This may work against us in terms of qualification. However, India can take heart about the performance and the talented youngsters at our disposal.

Due credits to coach Goutam Ghosh as well, under whom the India U16 team won the SAFF cup earlier this year and is now making good progress.

India will play Bhutan on 27th September.

Goals :  India – Nuruddin – 9′, Jayananda Singh – 43′, Anirudh Thapa – 61′, Bedashwor Singh – 65′

Lebanon :  Ali Kharoubi – 58th

INDIA: Dheeraj Singh (Goalkeeper), Amey Ranawade, Jayananda Singh, Amit Tudu, Jerry Lalrinzuala; Kharlukhi (Deependra Singh Negi – 46th) (Bodo Baoringdao (86th),  Prosenjit Chakraborty, Anirudh Thapa, Nuruddin (Krishna Pandit — 90th), Nijwm Muchahary, Bedashwor Singh (Captain).

Can India’s football mania sell more beer?

Leave a comment
Image Courtesy : coloribus.com

Image Courtesy : coloribus.com

In 2007 Sepp Blatter, FIFA president said India is a “sleeping giant” when it comes to football. Football is constantly growing and marketing avenues related to football is seeing exponential growth these days in India.

Brands are scampering to associate with football to advertise their products. Of the lot alcohol companies seems to reaping the biggest reward. And beer undoubtedly seems to be the winner among the alcoholic beverages when it comes to football . With increasing European football screenings in Indian metro’s, pubs and sports bars are selling more beer than ever before.

Here is an interesting article that appeared in today’s Economic times are about the beer-boom in India because of football : Will football be to beer what cricket has been for the colas?

Kerala in semis (Tier II) of Junior National Football Championship

Leave a comment

Kerala team.
Pic Courtesy : Kerala Coach Purushothaman Thekkathara T G’s facebook profile.

Kerala has been in fine form at the ongoing Junior National Football Championship at Jharkhand. In their last match in Group D, Kerala edged Arunachal Pradesh by a solitary goal. Captain Anatha Murali scored the lone goal against Arunachal Pradesh in the 71st minute of the match. Earlier Kerala had defeated  Jammu & Kashmir and Rajsathan in Group D.

According to reports Kerala will take on Chandigarh in the semifinal of Tier I that will take place on 26th September. Chandigarh from Group B has also been in good form.  Chandigarh defeated Gujarat, Sikkim and Tripura to secure their place in semifinal.

Joaquim Abranches to become the only Indian player to have played two AFC Cup Semi finals

Leave a comment
Image Courtesy : http://i-league.org

Image Courtesy : http://i-league.org

Joaquim Abranches will earn the distinction of being the only Indian player to have played two AFC Cup Semi finals,  as East Bengal appears in this year’s AFC Cup semi final.

Abrnaches appeared in the semi final of AFC Cup earlier with Dempo in 2008.

Here is a nice article on how Armando Colaco who discovered Joaquim Abrnaches is excited about his protege : Colaco smiles in Abranches’ moment of glory

Subroto Cup to have teams from Ukraine, Oman, Bangladesh and Afghanistan

Leave a comment
Image : Subroto Cup facebook page

Image : Subroto Cup facebook page

2013 edition of Subroto Cup will have teams from Ukraine, Oman, Bangladesh and Afghanistan apart from school teams from India. The 54th edition of Subroto Cup has grown bigger with 81 teams battling out for Under-14, Under-17 boys and U-17 girls accolades.

Age fraud which had marred the previous editions of the cup will be tackled harshly this time around says the organizers.

Apart from that organizers have written to all I-league clubs to help them for scouting talent during the country’s biggest inter-school tournament.

Read more : Subroto Cup organisers seek I-league club support

1 … 20 21 22 23 24 … 28