Nothing but football.
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.
Football Champs, a football tournament for schools and colleges across India and a scouting camp intended to reward talented players with an opportunity to travel to Argentina, train under the CA Boca Junior coaches and play friendlies with the club.14 promising school and college level football players have been selected to fly to Buenos Aires, Argentina and train with the legendary Club Atlético Boca Juniors from Argentina as part of the IFB Boca Football Champs football scouting initiative. The boys will be leaving for Argentina shortly.
Launched in December 2013 by IFB Industries Ltd, the football scouting initiative included a national football tournament for school and college students across the country which culminated with the finals being played in Goa. Sixteen teams from eight cities – Delhi, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Bangalore, Kozhikode, Shillong, Pune and Goa – battled it out in Goa for the top spot.
IFB roped in the very best technical partners to carry out its sports mission – the Argentinian Club, Club Atlético Boca Juniors who have had players like the legendary Diego Maradona and other players including Gabriel Batistuta, Juan Sebastian Veron, Riquelme, Claudio Canigga, Gago and Carlos Tevez.
30 shortlisted players from the tournament participated in a one week training camp in Goa conducted by coaches from Club Atlético Boca Juniors, Alejandro Javier Blasco and Alberto Jose Estevez along with Head Scout at the IFB Boca Football Champs, Jamshid Nassiri, who has been keeping a keen eye on the players at selections across the country scouting for potential talent.
Said an official from IFB Industries Ltd, “The IFB Boca Football Champs initiative has enabled us to reach out to and bring together talented players from several parts of the country to uncover some of the best and dynamic football talent. Many of the promising players come from economically backward sections of society for whom this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We are happy to facilitate and offer this incredible break to this group of 14 very talented players. We have always believed that India has immense sporting talent. Through our association with one of the world’s best football club Club Atlético Boca Juniors from Argentina and the amazingly talented Jamshid Nassiri we look forward to nurturing football talent in the country.”
Added coach and officials from Club Atlético Boca Juniors, Alejandro Javier Blasco and Alberto Jose Estevez who are down in Goa from Argentina for the final selections, “When we arrived , we had many doubts about the level of the players, but we are very pleased with the results and have seen the efforts the boys have put in. The players can work more on their individual techniques, tactics , strategy and mental strength. In the last week, the players worked hard to improve their level. We are sure that the selected players who will travel to Argentina are prepared to face the next challenge.” They added, “It’s wonderful that IFB is supporting and encouraging football in the country. We appreciate the courtesy and kindness with which we were treated in Goa and look forward to reciprocating the same in Argentina. Thank you Goa and thank you India.
Added Jamshid Nassiri, Head Scout, IFB Boca Football Champs, “The level of football we have seen over the last few months is encouraging. During the course of the selections and trials across cities, we have come across some wonderfully talented football players who could become stars in the future”
The IFB Boca Football Champs initiative kicked off in December 2013 is a grassroots level football tournament organized by IFB Industries in association with Argentinean club, Club Atlético Boca Juniors. The sports initiative drew over 4,000 players from 270 schools and 186 colleges from 8 cities across the country.
| Sl No | Name of the player | City | School |
| 1 | Inonito Zhimomi | Delhi | Genesis Global School |
| 2 | Liam Bain | Kolkata | Frank Anthony Public |
| 3 | Cladeo Nongpluh | Pune | Spicer HS |
| 4 | Domnic Soares | Goa | Fr Agnel School Pilar |
| 5 | Guru Raj | Bangalore | Parikrma Centre for Learning |
| 6 | Jishnu Balakrishnan | Calicut | MSP HSS |
| 7 | Khusen Manger | Shillong | St Anthony’s H.S.S |
| Sl No | Name of the player | City | College |
| 1 | Nikhil Prashar | Chandigarh | SGGS College (Khalsa College) |
| 2 | Yohan Confectioner | Kolkata | St Xavier’s College |
| 3 | Mojaffar Ali | Kolkata | Barasat College |
| 4 | Banpynkhrawnam Nongkhlaw | Shillong | St Anthony’s College |
| 5 | Aibormiky Suchiang | Shillong | Shillong College |
| 6 | Clencio Pinto | Goa | Rosary College |
| 7 | Subithlal M | Calicut | Zamorins Guruvayurappan |
| 8 | Akshay Hurria | Delhi | Venkateshwara College |
Reports in Kashmiri media suggest that Sajid Dar has been appointed as the head coach of U-17 national team that is set to participate in the U-17 football World Cup 2017 to be held in India.
The report suggest that according to a statement issued by Jammu and Kashmir Football Association, Dar was chosen by All India Football Federation to prepare the side for the global event.
“It is a great honour for any coach to be part of the world cup team. Thanks to Almighty for getting this assignment. I am been working with national teams from last three years and I have always tried to help players and add to their knowledge. It is the biggest thing that has happened in my entire sports career,”said Sajid Dar to Kashmir reader.
Sajid who is an AFC instructor possess coaching diploma from SNIS Patiala. He also holds AFC C, B and A licenses.
French Club Paris Saint-Germain will open their first academy in the NCR region in July.
Here are the excerpts of PSG coach Laurent Blanc’s teleconference with PTI :
“Well, the goal of the academy is to get the people to know French football and try to develop youth football in India,” .
“But the academy more strongly has a social objective to allow the young players of India and may be, the kid in need to know social success through football and we are pretty sure that academy will bring such a thing forward.”
“India is a great country, great population, very strong youth population. So sports has to be present. Football is the most popular sports in the world. Therefore, I’m not really surprised that India decides to open up to football and that’s why I’m really happy at the launch of PSG academy in India.”
“I think it’s a good thing for French football to open up to India and gain some interest in India and most importantly it’s a very good thing for the youth of the country.”
Foreign clubs are making a bee-line to set up academies in India. PSG being the latest in that list!
More information on the academy here – http://psgfootballacademy.in/
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!
Mohun Bagan Athletic Club, the oldest professional Club of Asia today entered into a tie-up with Himachal Pradesh Football Association. The two entities disclosed this tie-up at a Press Conference held at Nahan at Sirmour District of Himachal Pradesh. By way of this understanding, Mohun Bagan Athletic Club will provide technical inputs and support for the development of Youth Football in Himachal Pradesh.
The Press Conference was attended by Mr Deepak Sharma, Hony General Secretary of Himachal Pradesh Football Association and Mr Prince Rufus, General Manager of Mohun Bagan Athletic Club. Speaking on this occasion Mr Deepak Sharma said that he was very optimistic that such tie-up would usher in a new era in the Football of the State.
Both the entities will work closely on a long term perspective in this regard.
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is celebrating the 2nd ‘AFC Grassroots Day’ on the 15 May, 2014 . The purpose and objective of the celebration is to ensure awareness of the necessity of Grassroots activities with a vision for tomorrow with effective foundation of football.
Reports suggest that around 480 kids aged between 6 and 12 will participate in football festivals conducted across 7 centers in Kerala. In Thiruvanthapuram, the festival will be conducted in Kovalam and it is expected that Kovalam FC will be playing a major role in the festival there. Kollam District Football Academy, Alappuzha Santos FA, Unity Soccer in Idukki, Maradu FA in Ernakulam, Nilambur United FC in Malappuram, Wayanad United F.A are the other centers that will be hosting the festival in Kerala.
Update : Two more venues will be hosting the AFC Grassroots day today in Kerala. In kozhikode, the Calicut Coaches Club along with KDFA will be conducting a football festival. It also reported that a similar fest will take place in Pathanamthitta too.
Club Logo
We had earlier reported that Sports Education and Promotion Trust [SEPT], the Kerala based football academy will be unveiling their professional club on May 4th in Kozhikode. In a gala function that took place yesterday in Mananchira Maidhan, SEPT unveiled their professional club named Jaithra Kerala and the club logo.
Club Launch
Jaithra Kerala will function under SEPT Sports and Entertainment Pvt Ltd. The club is aiming for an I-league slot in the next four years. The current trend in Kerala football is forming clubs with active particpation of communities. SEPT is also duly following the model. SEPT is rolling out membership and has manged to rake in a good number of supporters for their effort. It is being reported that anyone can secure a membership by paying INR 1800.
SEPT has drafted in players from their U-17 academy for the club. With over 50 active football coaching centers across the Kerala, SEPT is planning to use these centers as the catchment area to select footballers to the club. It is also said that talented players outside the centers would also be drafted into the club through a selection process.
In the 10th year of existence, the formation of a professional club is a massive step forward for SEPT. By this SEPT also becomes the first football academy in Kerala to graduate to a full professional set up. Their vast experience is training and coaching youngsters across the state would hold in good stead for their progress. SEPT players are the main stay of all the age group teams from Kerala and around five SEPT players have represented Indian age group teams. SEPT is also planning to commence operations of two residential academies in Kerala.
Here is the Facebook Page of Jaithra Kerala, Go ahead and Like them!
With youth development of football in India as its main focus, Eric Benny Sports Management earlier this year announced the launch of “My Chance” – a unique football tournament that would identify indigenous grassroot talent and sponsor their training at the French club, FC Metz which is known for producing world class players such as Robert Pires, Emmanuel Adebayor, Miralem Pjanic amongst others.
This one of a kind talent hunt saw over 75 teams from the NCR sweat it out in the age category of Under 13 and Under 15 years. One of the aims of this unique initiative by the former Indian Team Manager, Eric Benny is to not just promote Indian football but also, add to the already existing team of 6 aspiring young Indian footballers who Eric Benny has placed at the French club over the last 2 years. A firm believer of the small sided version of the beautiful game, Eric Benny ensured that talent was spotted with the smaller age playing 4 v 4 and the elder ones playing 7 v 7 with the technical staff from FC Metz on each pitch at the Ambedkar Stadium here in New Delhi. After 3 days of intense short duration games, Eric Benny along with his FC Metz team announced the 4 individual winners of the tournament.
The four boys that were selected to train at FC Metz for a short stint after the 3 days of this 
unique tournament were: Anand, Rajkumar who were from My Angels Academy, Ramon Bathla from St. Pauls School and Amrendra Tyagi from Sherwood College.
Eric Benny, Chief Executive – Eric Benny Sports Management shared his thoughts on My Chance. “My thoughts and intentions when I announced the initiative earlier this year were clear. I wanted to give those boys a chance who had what it takes to compete alongside other aspiring young boys who come from footballing nations from around the world. It’s easier said than done when someone in India talks about wanting to play in Europe, especially in a club like FC Metz who have one of the best youth development systems in Europe. I would like to thank FC Metz staff and the French Embassy for being a part of this and I appreciate their support in helping me achieve my dream which is to take Indian football to the next stage. These boys who we have selected will go stay at the academy in FC Metz for a period of 3 to 4 weeks where they will not only get the exposure to live and train in an international academy but also realise the importance of how a professional player needs to take care of small aspects such as eating and sleeping right. This is a small step towards bringing the big change towards Indian football”
Denis Schaeffer, Director of Formation- FC Metz Academy who has established a strong relationship with Eric Benny and been to the capital more than once was not shy of making his intentions and observations. He said “When I go back to France this time, I am sure to tell everyone that this trip was more than just a nice weekend in India. It was about finding the right boys who have that hunger to play in Europe. We know that Indian sports is dominated by cricket, and we do not intend to do any harm to that but we believe and we know that the next big thing is football in India and we are glad to be associated with someone such as Eric to help us achieve that.
I have mentioned this a few times before that I am more than happy to come over more than just once or twice a year to find and spot the right talent in India who we at Metz believe can play in a footballing nation such as France”
Alongside Denis Schaeffer was Pierre Gillet, President of the Academy at FC Metz who was in India for the first time and excited to be here. Adding a bit of humour to the air around, he said “This is a very funny moment because my English is not very good”. With the collaboration and My Chance, Pierre shared the same thoughts as Denis. He added “We at Metz believe that this collaboration would only add value to Indian football”
Max Claudet, Cultural Counsellor of the French Embassy, who was also a part of the panel, said “I have always been more than happy to help Eric and his work. We at the Embassy are looking for more ways and ideas to strengthen the Indo-French relationship especially for younger children and when Eric and I spoke a couple of years ago about how he intends to help young Indian boys and girls, we knew that this would be perfect because we believe in the youth. I have not shared this with Eric as of now, but we at the Embassy would be more than happy to help boys or girls who would head to Metz in respect with aspects such as their living abroad or with documentation. We would like to always be a part of this project”.
Eric Benny also took this time to announce the partnership with Mr K.B Chhetri, the Managing Director of Letz Play. Mr K.B Chhetri, father of the Indian national team Captain, Sunil Chhetri said “I am happy to be a part of this unique partnership with Eric Benny Sports Management. What I am also happy to announce is that my son, Sunil Chhetri is more than happy to represent Eric Benny Sports Management and Letz Play making him the brand ambassador for all our future projects and initiatives across the country. Eric Benny believes in developing the youth of this country in football and so do we. I believe that this partnership can only take things forward for Indian football”.