Airtel to sponsor I-league
In a surprising and hugely positive move Airtel has been roped in as the title sponsor of I-league!
Here is not short note from AIFF on Airtel’s decision to sponsor I-league : Airtel roped in as I-League’s Title Sponsor
Tag: Soccer
Curious case of Yohei Iwasaki, the Rangdajied United recruit
Image Courtesy : http://www.footballzz.com
While news trickled in yesterday about Rangdajied United’s new recruit Yohei Iwasaki, the Japanese who last played for a Paraguayan outfit Independiente F.B.C, most interesting aspect about the player is his extensive experience in Latin American football. In his two years stay in Brazil, he seems to have appeared for five clubs!
The 26 year old has been plying his trade in Brazil from 2008 before he made a move to Albirex Niigata, a J-league team in 2010. A year after he seemed to have signed on with another Japanese club Ganju Iwate and made seven appearances for the club. In 2012 he returned to Latin America playing for the Paraguayan outfit Independiente F.B.C
While you would see a lot of Brazilians plying their trade across the world, i guess it is not very common to see Asian professional footballers plying their trade in Latin America. However Japan and Brazil has a unique connection and Brazil is home to the largest Japanese population outside Japan. I tend to digress here.
Getting back to Yohei Iwasaki, Rangdajied United got a prize catch in him and he seems to have got in to strides already. He scored an 81st minute goal for the Rangdajied United in Shillong Premier League against Malki and was adjudged Man of the match.
Hope that Yohei Iwasaki brings in some Latin American flair and Japanese efficiency in helping the newly promoted Shillong side Rangdajied United.
Rangdajied United will face United SC at Kolkata in their first match. The newly promoted North-Eastern club has announced their team for upcoming season – Rangdajied announce I-League squad
From the battle field – Amad Ahmad Al Kaddour from Syria plays for Churchill Brothers
Image Courtesy : dnaindia.com
Syrian footballer Amad Ahmad Al Kaddour has signed for Churchill Brothers for the upcoming season of I-league. The talented forward spoke to DNA about the ongoing civil strife in his nation. He is from Aleppo, a city which has been featuring in international news very often these days as it it a city where fierce battle between the opposition and Syrian Army is taking place.
While football is the top sport in Syria, the ongoing civil strife has forced footballers to move abroad to ply their trade. He recounted the horror of getting hit by missiles and gunfire while practicing in Aleppo.
Read more : Syrian football striker Amad Ahmad Al Kaddour urges Indians to pray for the safety of his family back home
Tolgay Ozbey ecstatic but Luciano Sabrosa out for at least a month!
Image : http://www.footballnsw.com.au
Tolgay Ozbey, the Turkish descent Australian footballer was visibly ecstatic after a sparkling performance from him guided Mohammedan Sporting to victory in the 126th edition of Durand cup.
“It’s taken a great toll on my body having played four matches in eight days. But if this is the outcome, then I am ready to sacrifice and bear the pain over and over again,” he said to NDTV.
However injury to Luciano Sabrosa dampened the spirits a bit. It looks like he will be out for at least six weeks.
Read more : Mohammedan Sporting can win big matches, now proved: Tolgay Ozbey
Mohammedan Sporting win Durand Cup after 73 years
Image : ndtv.com
Mohammedan Sporting, the 122 year old Kolkata club won the 126th edition of the prestigious Durand Cup. Sporting defeated ONGC 2-1 in the finals. They last won the cup before independence in 1940 when they defeated the Warwickshire Regiment. Durand Cup is Asia’s oldest football tournament.
Australian striker Tolgay Ozebey was the hero for Mohammedan sporting by setting up a goal in the 36th minute and scoring one in the 44th minute. ONGC scored a goal in the 56th minute through free-kick but couldn’t eventually match sporting
Read more : Mohammedan Sporting create history, win Durand Cup after 73 years
Will a Kerala team participate in Federation cup?
With Kerala being the hosts for the next Federation Cup, the big question is will a Kerala team get to participate?
With no team in the fray for I-league and no team reaching the final stages of I-league second division last time around, technically there is no place for any Kerala team in the Federation Cup.
If Malayalam media reports are to go by, Kerala FA will be placing a request to AIFF to include a Kerala team for Federation Cup. Kerala Police, SBT and Eagles FC are the names that are being touted. AIFF’s indifference towards departmental clubs means, if a slot is allowed, Eagles FC has a fair chance to make it.
Manjeri, in Malappuram district would be the venue if the ongoing stadium construction gets completed by the time of the championship.
Tamil Nadu announce team for Junior National Championship
Tamil Nadu has announced their 20 member team for the 49th Junior National Football Championship, for BC Roy Trophy.
Tamil Nadu is placed in Group C of Tier I. The other team in the group are Jharkhand, Assam, and Delhi. Tamil Nadu will take on Jharkhand on September 20th, Assam on 22nd September and Delhi on the 24th of September.
The Tamil Nadu team is as follows :
Team: A John Roshan (goalkeeper), M. Kabilan (goalkeeper), M Udhaya Kumar, P Yuvaraj, R Kumaravel, G Suresh Kumar, R Suganthanraj, S Pretham, S Ahamed Asrarul, A Sikkandar Batcha, S Samu, P Sundara Moorthy, M Raj Kumar, J Ranjith, SA Bebitto, Y Puvirajan, K Gopinath, A Abdul Gafoor, Ajith, Dane Aaron Anthony. Coach: LR Titus.
Bengaluru FC I-League match tickets available on Bookmyshow.com
Tickets for the I-league matches of Bengaluru FC that will take place at the Sri Kanteerava Stadium is now available for purchase on bookmyshow.com.
Tickets are definitely affordable and starts from Rs. 40 and the costliest one priced at Rs.1200.
This is a great initiative to attract fans from the IT city, who also wouldn’t want to take the hassles of purchasing tickets at the stadium counter.
Buy I-League match tickets Bengaluru FC : Bookmyshow
Delhi and Maharashtra announce squad for Junior National Championship
Delhi and Maharashtra announced squads for the 49th Junior National Football Championship, for BC Roy Trophy.
Delhi Squad :
Goalkeepers: Varun Bisht, Raju Kumar, Zameer. Defenders: Gaurav Nora, Rishabh Bhandari, Asish Rai, Mukul Mawari, Mannan Balooni.
Midfielders: Rohhit Kumar (captain), Basant, Akash Prasad, Vivek Chhetri, Vijay Malhotra, Shashwat Dev, Hrithik Arora.
Forwards: Safwan Hashmi, Saurav Rawat, Rpshan C, Nitin Joshi, Jai Minocha, Vikrant Bhati.
Delhi is grouped in Tier-I along with Jharkhand, Assam and Tamil Nadu. Delhi’s first match is against Assam on September 20th.
Maharashtra Squad:
Unmed Kumar at, Abhishek Thote, Ebad Ansari, Rohnit Jain, Kartik Yenurkar, Shahu Mandlik, Maz Ansari, Rahul Das, Shushant Jadhav, Kunal Kunder, Sagar Yadav, Advait Shinde, Ashish Sharma, Jitendra Bining, Vineel Poojary, Ashotosh Bane, Gulsher Ansari, Salim Shaikh, Shoaib Ansari, Sagar Waghela (From wifa.in)
Maharashtra plays their first match against Bihar on September 19th.
I-league matches on Ten Action +
The official I-league twitter account has confirmed that the following two matches will be telecast on Ten Action + on the opening weekend.
| 21-Sep | 4.00 pm | Churchill Brothers | vs | Salgaocar FC | Ten Action+ |
| 22-Sep | 4.00 pm | Bengaluru FC | vs | Mohun Bagan | Ten Action+ |