Author: footballnewsindia

Fixtures : India’s matches in AFC U-16 Qualifiers

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afc_2012_sqIndia is in Group A comprising Kuwait, Tajikistan, Lebanon and Bhutan.  India will start of the qualifiers campaign by taking on formidable Tajikistan on 21-sep.  There are a total of ten groups and the winners from all the groups and the best five runners-up will qualify for the finals happening next year in Thailand.

India’s fixtures for the qualifiers are as follows.

21-Sep Tajikistan Vs INDIA 19.20 IST
25-Sep INDIA Vs Lebanon 23.20 IST
27-Sep INDIA Vs Bhutan 23.20 IST
29-Sep Kuwait Vs India 23.20 IST

 

Bengaluru FC coach Ashley Westwood featured in skysports.com

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

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

Indian football aficionados are in a delirium after news broke out that Airtel is sponsoring I-League. Before the euphoria settles, we at Football News India wants to share yet another incredible piece of news – Bengaluru FC coach Asley Westwood is featured in skysports.com

There has been quite a buzz about Bengaluru FC, the new entrant to I-league. We have heard our national team captain Sunil Chhetri saying that European standards are set at the club but we never got to know the finer details. Well, this interview brings out the kind of initiatives that Bengaluru FC is bringing to the table.

Sample this :  “We had to get over to them really that this isn’t Indian football as it was in the past where they are used to bringing in their bag, dropping it by the side of the field, doing your two hours, then picking your bag up to go home and that’s it – you’re a footballer for two hours a day. We’ve had to get them to understand they are a footballer 24 hours a day. We supply the top heart-rate monitors, we’ve got recovery monitors and sleep monitors. We give them protein shakes and electrolyte drinks. We have breakfast together an hour before training. We have lunch together and supply four chefs at the lads’ apartment where they all live together.

Read the excellent piece put together by skysports scribe Adam Bate :  Indian adventure

Curious case of Yohei Iwasaki, the Rangdajied United recruit

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Image Courtesy : http://www.footballzz.com

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

I-league to start off with no telecast and title sponsor

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I-League_logo.svgI-league will kick off this Saturday but there is no confirmation on the telecast and title sponsor.  Even though AIFF published an article on their website saying that fans would be able to watch the season opener between Churchill Brothers vs Salgaocar FC, broadcaster Ten Action has not so far put up the schedules on their website.

If you are to go by available reports, there will be no telecast for the 1st round of matches. Supposedly the broadcaster has not been able to recce of the stadiums so far and they are going to do it at the earliest.

I-league will also be without a title sponsor this season as well. IMG-Reliance, the marketing partners of AIFF have been striving to rope-in  a sponsor but so far that efforts have not been fruitful.

From the battle field – Amad Ahmad Al Kaddour from Syria plays for Churchill Brothers

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Image Courtesy : dnaindia.com

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!

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Image : http://www.footballnsw.com.au

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

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Image : ndtv.com

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?

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Fed_CupWith 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.

Eagles_FC_Kerala

 

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

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250X250_2915920375180d69b6d912Tamil 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.

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