Arunava about Football

VIDEO: Asian Football Awards 2012

2012-02-01T13:30:00.000+01:00

The first-ever Asian Football Awards were held on January 24, 2012 at the iconic Wembley Stadium's ballroom. Here a look back at the event and the winners!

2012 AFC Challenge Cup: India's 30 Probables named

2012-02-01T11:00:00.000+01:00

Indian national coach Savio Medeira has named his 30 probables for his training camp ahead of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup, which will be held in Nepal from March 8.

The probables camp for Team India will kick-off in Dubai from February 15. The squad will assemble in New Delhi on February 13 and leave for Dubai the next day. The final list of 23-Players for the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup would be named towards the end of the camp.

Savio has called-up a number of players for the first time to a senior national team probables camp like Kingshuk Debnath, Arnab Mondal, Lester Fernandez, Manish Mathani, Lenny Rodrigues and Manandeep Singh; who have been performing well in the I-League. Others like Anwar, Anthony Pereira and Joaquim Abranches have been recalled.

The AFC Challenge Cup will also mark the first assignment for Team India with Baichung Bhutia, Climax Lawrence and Mahesh Gawli having resigned.

A proposed camp in Blackburn organised by the Blackburn Rovers owners Venky's was turned down by the AIFF and once more Dubai was chosen as venue for the camp.

India Probables

Goalkeepers
Arindam Bhattacharya (Churchill Brothers SC), Subhasish Roy Chowdhury (Dempo SC), Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar SC), Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (East Bengal Club)

Defenders
Anwar (Mohun Bagan AC), Nirmal Chetri (East Bengal Club), Kingshuk Debnath (Mohun Bagan AC), Raju Eknath Gaikwad (East Bengal Club), Arnab Mondal (Prayag United SC), Syed Rahim Nabi (Mohun Bagan AC), Sameer Subash Naik (Dempo SC), Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh (Churchill Brothers SC), Gurjinder Singh (Pune FC)

Midfielders
Francis Fernandes (Salgaocar SC), Lester Mark Fernandez (Pune FC), Adil Khan (Sporting Clube de Goa), Rocus Lamare (Salgaocar SC), Manish Mathani (Mohun Bagan AC), Clifford Miranda (Dempo SC), Anthony Pereira (Dempo SC), Jewel Raja Sheikh (Mohun Bagan AC), Lalrindika Ralte (Churchill Brothers SC), Lenny Rodrigues (Churchill Brothers SC), Baldeep Singh (Pune FC), Reisangmi Vashum (East Bengal Club)

Forwards
Joaquim Abranches (Dempo SC), Sunil Chhetri (Mohun Bagan AC), C.S. Sabeeth (Pailan Arrows), Manandeep Singh (Air India), Sushil Kumar Singh (Shillong Lajong FC)

Climax Lawrence retires from international football

2012-01-31T21:10:00.000+01:00

33 year old midfielder Climax Lawrence has retired from the Indian national football team. Climax took this decision earlier today after hearing that national coach Savio Medeira has dropped him from the 30 player probables list for the upcoming 2012 AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal.

Speaking to the agency IANS Climax said, "I had to retire. Age is not on my side. But this is not the way you treat a senior player. During the SAFF Cup, Savio said I have two years of international football left in me. And now he does a U-turn."

"If he had told me earlier then I would have retired after the SAFF Cup or the friendly against Bayern Munich. It really hurts to be treated badly after serving the country for more than a decade," added a clearly hurt Climax, who indirectly criticized national coach Savio Medeira.

Climax had started his international career in 2002 under then national coach Stephen Constantine. Over the years he has been a key midfielder for India and in recent times Climax has captained on a number of occasion - 2011 AFC Asian Cup (as back-up to Baichung Bhutia), 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, 2011 SAFF Cup.

Talking about his retirement Climax said, "I was thinking about retirement and thought I would hang up my boots after the AFC Challenge Cup. But it was not to be. I am retiring with a heavy heart."

Over his career Climax has been a very loyal player. He started his professional career with Salgaocar SC in 1998, then played for East Bengal Club in the 2004/05 season and since 2005 has been playing for Dempo SC.

PLS Players Auction: Franchises pay high prices

2012-01-31T17:15:00.000+01:00

After the auction of the Premier League Soccer franchises in Kolkata on Sunday, yesterday it was now the turn of the auction of the foreign players and coaches. With Haldia unsold there were 20 spot as players and five as coaches up for grabs. Indian players would be auctioned in the coming days.

The highest price was paid by Barasat for former Argentina striker Hernan Crespo at USD 840,000 followed closely by Siliguri, who paid USD 830,000 for Italian World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro.

Former Portuguese international Fernando Couto was the highest paid coach at USD 240,000 by the Howrah franchise with all the other coaches set to be paid between USD 200,000 to 210,000.

Barasat
Coach: Teitur Thordarson (US$ 210,000)
Icon Player: Hernan Crespo (US$ 840,000)
Asian: Byoung-Gyu Park (US$ 90,000)
Joaquin Botero (US$ 180,000)
Christian Lara (US$ 200,000)

Durgapur
Coach: Samson Siasia($210,000)
Icon Player: Jay Jay Okocha (US$ 550,000)
Asian: Bong-Kyeom Kim (US$ 115,000)
Jose Carlos Castillo (US$ 80,000)
Alonso Solis (US$ 200,000)

Kolkata
Coach: Peter Reid (US$ 200,000)
Icon Player: Robbie Fowler (US$ 530,000)
Asian: Ji-Seung Park (US$ 140,000)
Daniel Varela (US$ 110,000)
Robert Egbeta (US$ 350,000)

Howrah
Coach: Fernando Couto (US$ 240,000)
Icon Player: Robert Pires (US$ 800,000)
Asian: Yoon-Chui Byun (US$ 115,000)
Jose Gabriel Rios (US$ 180,000)
Diego Madreigal (US$ 120,000)

Siliguri
Coach: Marco Etcheverry($200,000)
Icon Player: Fabio Cannavaro (US$ 830,000)
Asian: Gyu-Hwan Hwang (US$ 90,000)
Santino Quaranta (US$ 180,000)
Limberg Gutierrez (US$ 180,000)

Under-14 Football Fest kicks-off in Kalyani

2012-01-31T12:01:00.001+01:00

The Under-14 Football Fest conducted by the AIFF kicked-off at the picturesque Kalyani Stadium Ground in Nadia district of West Bengal on Tuesday, January 31 morning. The Fest, aimed in spotting players for the various AIFF-FIFA Regional Academies and the National Age-Group Teams was inaugurated by Minister for Food Processing and Horticulture, West Bengal, Mr. Ujjwal Biswas.

Mr. Biswas marked the opening with the traditional lighting of the lamp in presence of Dr. Pradip Kumar Sur, Chairman, Kalyani Municipality, who is also the President of the Organising Committee.

Scott O'Donnell -- Technical Manager, Regional Academies; Colm Toal – Head Coach, Youth Development Programme and Shubhankar Mukherjee, Director, National Teams, were also present on the occasion. Mr. Gobinda Chandra Naskar, Member of Parliament, Bongaon, was also part of the proceedings.

The 27 teams represented by 594 kids participating in the Fest which concludes on February 4 were also treated to a Cultural Programme. Besides, Guinness Book record-holder Uttam Das demonstrated his juggling skills on a motorbike, much to the appreciation of the boys.

The teams have been divided into 7 groups of four-teams each. Each team would be playing three matches of 30-minute duration after which they would again be classified in separate groups – for stronger teams and weaker teams.

AIFF's spotters for the Fest: Scott O'Donnell, Savio Medeira, Colm Toal, Marcus Pacheco, Aqueel Ansari, Francisco Bruto da Costa, Gautam Ghosh, Tarun Roy and Hilal Rasool Parray.

THE GROUPS

Group 1: Meghalaya, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Delhi

Group 2: Haryana, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat

Group 3: Uttarakhand, Manipur, Pondicherry, Goa

Group 4: Maharashtra, Kerala, Chattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh

Group 5: Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal

Group 6: Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Sikkim (did not turn up)

Group 7: Orissa, Mizoram, Bihar, Chandigarh

Carlsberg brings the UEFA EURO 2012™ Trophy to India!

2012-01-30T11:15:00.000+01:00

For almost a quarter of a century, Danish brewery Carlsberg has been the official sponsor of the UEFA European Championships (EURO) - the world's second largest football event - and, in 2012 Carlsberg continues this successful partnership.

This year, the tournament will be held for the first time in Eastern Europe – in the exciting growth markets of Poland and the Ukraine - from June 8 to July 1, 2012. Carlsberg India, for the first time ever, will bring the UEFA EURO 2012™ Trophy to fans across a few cities in India this year, further endorsing Carlsberg's reputation as one of the most committed sponsors of football in the world.

Announcing this exciting initiative Carlsberg India MD Soren Lauridsen said, "True to our commitment of providing the best possible experience to Indian consumers, this association with UEFA EURO 2012™ represents another milestone to cement the relationship. We are extremely pleased and proud to be able to bring the Trophy to India for the first time and add to this nation's growing enthusiasm for football. Over the next few months, we will be implementing some exciting campaigns which will create further excitement about football and EURO 2012, at the same time allowing consumers and fans to connect with the Carlsberg brand."

Carlsberg India has kicked off a 'Vote to get the Trophy to your city' campaign, encouraging fans to vote for their city in order that it has a chance to qualify and host the Trophy. The three cities out of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Goa, Kochi and Pune will get a chance to host this coveted Trophy.

Fans will battle it out by simply liking the page and voting for their cities. The cities with the maximum votes will host the Trophy. Each fan can track the status of their city through The 'Glass-o-Meter' tracker on the vote to get the Trophy to your city page. To make sure your city hosts the UEFA EURO 2012™ Trophy, log on to www.facebook.com/Carlsberg and cast your vote now.

PLS franchises auctioned, Barasat costliest

2012-01-30T02:00:00.000+01:00

The six franchises of the Premier League Soccer, a new concept West Bengal city league modelled on the IPL cricket, were auctioned yesterday in Kolkata. Five of the franchises were sold for substantial amounts with Barasat the costliest of the lot at Rs 251,5 Million (25,15 crore), but the Haldia franchise could not be sold.

Barasat, which went into the auction at only 80 lakhs, was picked-up by URO Infra Reality India Ltd. The second highest bid was made by Aajay Consultants for the Siliguri franchise at Rs 180 Million (18 crore). The Kolkata franchise came third at Rs 115 Million (11,5 crore) and was bought by the Camellia Group. The Howrah franchise went to Syncsys Infotech Ltd at Rs 90 Million (9 crore), while Durgapur was sold at Rs 76 Million (7,6 crore) to Tulip Inofrnet Pvt. Ltd.

But the Haldia franchise could not be sold and the first season of the PLS might start with five instead of six teams. A sixth bidder was part of the auction process, but they did not bid for Haldia and when offered the franchise he did not accept.

The franchises have been sold by the organisers Indian Football Association (West Bengal) and Celebrity Management Group for a period of 10 years and they will have to spend between USD 2 to 2,5 Million per season on their players. The players auction is set to be held sometime today.

The list of 'icon' players is inpressive which includes Italian World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro, French World Cup winner Robert Pires, former Argentina captain Juan Pablo Sorin, Argentina striker Hernan Crespo, England striker Robbie Fowler and Nigeria midfielder Jay Jay Okocha.

Indian Football: Transfer Season 2011/12 - Version 13

2012-01-29T04:25:00.003+01:00

Here is the latest updated list of Transfers 2011/12 from across India of the I-League, 2nd Division sides and further clubs. The squads are now mostly complete with additions plus I have added some more non-I-League sides.

Here an updated list of Transfers 2011

SALGAOCAR SC - GOA
RETAINED: Karanjit Singh, Macklas Moraes, Jaspal Singh Parmar, Rino Anto, Luciano Sabrosa, Irungbam Khelemba Singh, W. Tomba Singh, Cajetan Fernandes, Rocus Lamare, Francis Fernandes, Anthony Barbosa, Gilbert Oliveira, Beevan D'Mello, Ryuji Sueoka, Milagres Gonsalves, Marcus Mascarenhas
NEW: Presley Mascarenhas, Keenan Almeida, Roy Rodrigues, Aliston Fernandes, Godfrey Silva, Cliften Dias, Bobbychan Singh, Rosario Mendes (all Salgaocar Juniors), Nicolau Colaco, Augostinho Fernandes, Gagandeep Singh, Vivek Singh Kaira (all Sesa Football Academy), Chidi Edeh, Ishfaq Ahmed, Biswajit Saha (all Mohun Bagan AC), Rahul Kumar, Randeep Singh, Balwant Singh (all JCT), Vinay Singh, Thounaojam Dinesh Singh (both Churchill Brothers SC), Mehrajuddin Wadoo (East Bengal Club), Elijah Obagbemiro Junior (United SC), Mohammad Dada Nabeel (Air India), Karthik Kisku (Mohammedan Sporting Club)
LEFT: Arnab Das Sharma, Monotosh Ghosh, Syed Farid, Govin Moirangthem Singh, Khangembam Thoi Singh (all United Sikkim FC), Chinta Chandrashekar Rao, James Lukram Singh, Yakubu Yusif (all United SC), Baldeep Singh, Singam Subash Singh (both Pune FC), William Colaco (Dempo SC), Peter Costa (Mumbai FC), Jagdeep Singh (Viva Kerala), Dawson Fernandes (Sporting Clube de Goa), Daniel Albert Vales (Sesa Football Academy), Sukhwinder Singh, Alvito Rodrigues, Jagrup Singh, Sohail Akhtar, Eneke Ikenwa
COACH: Karim BENCHARIFA (MOROCCO)

EAST BENGAL CLUB - KOLKATA
RETAINED: Sandip Nandy, Abhra Mondal, Jayanta Pal, Saikat Saha Roy, Thokchom Naoba Singh, Nirmal Chetri, Uga Okpara, Gurwinder Singh, Sunil Kumar Thakur, Soumik Dey, Ravinder Singh, Sanju Pradhan, Reisangmi Vashum, Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Susanth Mathew, Mehtab Hussain, Penn Ikechukwu Orji, Alvito D'Cunha, Beingaichho Beokhokhai, Tolgay Ozbey, Baljit Singh Sahni, Robin Singh, Budhiram Tudu, Biswarup Deb
NEW: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Abhishek Das, Raju Eknath Gaekwad, Subodh Kumar (all Indian Arrows, returns from a one year loan), Robert Lalthlamuana, Charan Rai, Khanthang Paite (all Churchill Brothers SC), Sunil Kumar (Pune FC), Branco Vincent Cardozo (United SC), Seiminl Doungel (JCT), Debjit Majumdar (United Sikkim FC), Alan Gow (Notts County FC, ENGLAND); Edmilson Marques Pardal (Southern Samity, in the season)
LEFT: Naseem Akhtar, Bikash Narzary (both Mohammedan Sporting Club), Mehrajuddin Wadoo (Salgaocar SC), Syed Rahim Nabi (Mohun Bagan AC), Rajib Ghosh (Indian Arrows), Sushil Kumar Singh (United Sikkim FC), Aseem Koraliyadan Kutty (Central Excise, Chennai), Sukumal Santra, Lalchhuan Awma, Alexandro da Silva Santos; Abhra Mondal (Pune FC, on loan), Alan Gow
COACH: Trevor MORGAN (ENGLAND)

DEMPO SC - GOA
RETAINED: Subhashish Roy Chowdhury, Laxmikant Kattimani, Luis Xavier Barreto, Tyson Caiado, Valeriano Rebello, Mahesh Gawli, John Charles Dias, Creson Antao, Covan Lawrence, Dominic Noronha, Samir Naik, Debabrata Roy, Shallum Pires, Anthony Pereira, Climax Lawrence, Godwin Diogo Franco, Micky Fernandes, Peter Carvalho, Marcus Peixito, Jessel Carneiro, Aaron Fernandes, Clifford Miranda, Nicolau Borges, Joe Rodrigues, Johnny D'Cruz, Bharat Thapa, Joaquim Abranches, Ranty Martins Soleye, Clifton Gonsalves, Myron Fernandes, Terence Fernandes, Mandar Rao Dessai
NEW: Brian Mascarenhas, Richard Fernandes, Romeo Fernandes, Aniston Fernandes, Reagan Juliao (all Dempo Juniors), Savio Fernandes, Koko Sakibo, Joy Ferrao (all Vasco SC), William Colaco (Salgaocar SC), Rowilson Rodrigues (Churchill Brothers SC), Selwyn Fernandes (Pune FC), P.K. Anil Kumar (Viva Kerala), Sidroy Alfonso (Sesa Football Academy), Romeo Fernandes (Margao SC), Densill Theobald (Caledonia AIA, TRINIDAD&TOBAGO)
LEFT: Roberto Mendes Silva (Churchill Brothers SC), Cavin Peter Lobo (Mumbai FC), Ogba Kalu Nnanna (Sporting Clube de Goa), Aikan Dias (Vasco SC), Samson Fernandes (Sesa Football Academy), Roy Colaco, Flann D'Souza, Rouhollah Samieinia; P.K. Anil Kumar (Chirag United Kerala, in the season)
COACH: ARMANDO COLACO

CHURCHILL BROTHERS SC - GOA
RETAINED: Arindam Bhattacharya, Lalit Thapa, Denzil Franco, Yumnam Raju Mangang, Sudhakaran Naveen Kumar, Joshua Rebello, Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh, Dharmaraj Ravanan, Ashley Fernandes, Rauf Sher Khan, Steven Benedic Dias, Chitrasen Chandam Singh, Lenny Rodrigues, Mundampara P. Sakeer, Savio Diogo Carneiro, Israil Gurung, Melroy Fernandes, Durga Boro, M. Mohammed Rafi, T. Bineesh Balan, Jaison Vales, Sabino Bryan Rodrigues
NEW: Jerry Zirsanga, Nascimento Silveira, Melwyn Rodrigues (all United SC), Y. Jaikumar, Xavier Vijayakumar (both HAL, Bangalore), Thangjam Saran Singh, Jagpreet Singh (both JCT), Roberto Mendes Silva (Dempo SC), Lalrindika Ralte (Indian Arrows, returns from a one year loan), N.D. Opara (ONGC), Felix D'Souza (Sporting Clube de Goa), S. Parthiban (Chennai Customs), Henry Antchouet (Moreirense FC, PORTUGAL), Antun Mathew Kovacic (Richmond SC, AUSTRALIA), Felipe Gomes, Lionel Rodrigues, Ovlito Dias, Nicholas Fernandes, Richard Costa
LEFT: Robert Lalthlamuana, Charan Rai, Khanthang Paite (all East Bengal Club), Vinay Singh, Thounaojam Dinesh Singh (both Salgaocar SC), Rowilson Rodrigues (Dempo SC), Odafe Onyeka Okolie (Mohun Bagan AC), Kayne Vincent (United SC), Konsam Ajitkumar Singh (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC), Warundeep Singh (Sporting Clube de Goa), Noel Fernandes, Amit Rajbhansi, Jayanta Rajbhansi, Sunil Barla, Hardeep Singh, Vimal Pariyar, Amaury Gentil Nunes, Boima Karpeh
COACH: Manuel GONSALVES GOMES (PORTUGAL/new)

PUNE FC - PUNE
RETAINED: Subrata Pal, Othallo Tabia, Caitano Costa, Kamaljeet Kumar, Gurjinder Kumar Singh, Rollingson Hungyo, Shanmugam Venkatesh, J. Prasad, Asim Hassan, Lester Mark Fernandez, Paresh Shivalkar, Izumi Arata, Mandjou Keita
NEW: Baldeep Singh, Singam Subash Singh (both Salgaocar SC), Shahinlal Meloly, Karma Tsewang (both Viva Kerala), Amrinder Singh, Surjit Singh (both Harbhajan SC, Punjab), Thangjam Arung Meetie (Mohun Bagan AC), Anes Edathodika (Mumbai FC), Chika Wali (United SC), Jeje Lalpekhlua (Indian Arrows, returns from a one year loan), Ramu Srikanth (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC), Maninder Singh (JCT), John Benedict (Bengal Mumbai FC), Nirmal Kumar (BEML(EM)), Sarif Molla (Milan Samity, Kolkata), Karthik Govind (Bangalore FC), Lalrimawma Lianhna Rintea (Tamthar FC, Mizoram), William Lalnunfela (Pui Pui FC, Mizoram), Lalrempuia F. (Bazar Veng FC, Mizoram), Preemjeet Singh (Barielly Hostel FC, Uttar Pradesh), Jeh Williamson (Pune FC Reserves), Douhou Sey Djidja Pierre; Nanjangud Shivananju Manju (United Sikkim FC, in the season), Abhra Mondal (East Bengal Club, on loan)
LEFT: Krishnan Nair Ajayan, Gunashekar Vignesh, Manoj T.M. (all Viva Kerala), Lamine Tamba, Sandesh Gadkare (both Air India), Velington Rocha, Valito Cruz (both Margao SC), Sunil Kumar (East Bengal Club), Selwyn Fernandes (Dempo SC), Soram Poirei Anganba (Shillong Lajong FC), Thokchom Roshan Singh (Sesa Football Academy), Johny Khamrang (NISA, Manipur), S. Vinobagandhi (Indian Bank), A. Sherin (AGORC, Chennai), K. Vigneshwaran (Tamil Nadu), Edmar Figueira (CD Feirense, PORTUGAL), Narshiman Balaji; Abhra Mondal (East Bengal Club, on loan)
COACH: Derrick PEREIRA

MOHUN BAGAN AC - KOLKATA
RETAINED: Shilton Pal, Sangram Mukherjee, Sudipta Banerjee, Irungbam Surkumar Singh, Kingshuk Debnath, Anwar, Rakesh Masih, Nallappan Mohanraj, R. Dhanarajan, Gouranga Datta, Satish Kumar Jr, Manish Mathani, Souvik Chakraborty, Dipendu Dowary, Snehashis Chakroborty, Ashim Biswas, Jose Ramirez Barreto
NEW: Sheikh Jewel Raja, Jagtar Singh (both Indian Arrows, return from a one year loan), Daljit Singh, Sakatar Singh (both JCT), Souvik Mondal, Sourav Chakraborty (both Techno Aryan Club), Syed Rahim Nabi (East Bengal Club), Odafe Onyeka Okolie (Churchill Brothers SC), Bungo Thokchom Singh (Mumbai FC), Sunil Chhetri (United SC), Naduparambil Pappachan Pradeep (Viva Kerala), Joseph Muralidharan (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC), Simon Storey (AUSTRALIA), Hudson Lima da Silva (BRAZIL), Daniel Carl Zeleny (AUSTRALIA, in the season)
LEFT: Chidi Edeh, Ishfaq Ahmed, Biswajit Saha (all Salgaocar SC), Sheikh Azim, Suman Datta, Surabuddin Mollick (all Mohammedan Sporting Club), Deepak Kumar Mondal, Jayanta Sen (both United SC), Harpreet Singh, Karan Atwal (both United Sikkim FC), Sagram Mandi, Santosh Oraon (both Bhawanipore Club, Kolkata), Thangjam Arung Meetie (Pune FC), Amar Deb (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC), Nazimuddin Mollick (Southern Samity), David Lalbiakzara (Pune FC Reserves), Pralay Datta, Rahul Kumar, Parminder Singh, Jacken Sebastian, Subair Muritala Ali, Owky Diamondstar, Simon Storey (released in the season); Subhashish Roy Chowdhury (Prayag United SC, on loan)
COACH: Steve DARBY (ENGLAND/new - resigned) - Subrata BHATTACHARJEE (new)

MUMBAI FC - MUMBAI
RETAINED: A.C. Nithinlal, Ishan Debnath, Faizal Rehman M.A., Goutam Debnath, Nihal Chandran, Karan Amin, Peter Siddiqui, Ashutosh Mehta, Nicholas Lewis Rodrigues, Dane Lloyd Pereira, Keegan Pereira, Salil Usman, Chhangte Malswamkima, Sampath Kumar Kuttymani, Noel Anthony Wilson, Ebi Theophilus Sukore, Abhishek Yadav, Pachau Lalam Puia, Jayesh Rane
NEW: Neeraj Sharma, Ritesh Perambara, Rolfred Coutinho, Rohit Mirza, Manuel D'Souza, Tushar Poojary (all Mumbai FC Under-19), L. Dhanachandra Singh, Darren Caldeira (both Air India), Peter Costa (Salgaocar SC), Cavin Peter Lobo (Dempo SC), Mintu Saha (Bengal Mumbai FC), Sanjiban Ghosh, Ajmaludheen M., Kingsley Chioma, Gbeneme Friday, Amiri Islam (AFGHANISTAN, in the season)
LEFT: Ramandeep Singh Randhawa, Ezeh Nna Henry (both Air India), Anes Edathodika (Pune FC), Bungo Thokchom Singh (Mohun Bagan AC), Pradeep Mohanraj (Viva Kerala), Deepak Prakash (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC), Hiralal Chetri (United Sikkim FC), Lihaz Koya, Sheikh Mustakin, Nishant Mehra, John Coutinho, Evans Quao
COACH: Khalid JAMIL

PRAYAG UNITED SC - KOLKATA
RETAINED: Abhijit Mondal, Somnath Khara, Bapi Saha, Sukhen Dey, Subhashish Roy Chowdhury, Anupam Sarkar, Arnab Mondal, Justine Stephen, Narugopal Hait, Shylo Malswam Tulunga, Gouranga Biswas, Subhas Chakraborty, Denson Devadas, Lal Kamal Bhowmick, Soumik Chakraborty, Sheikh Shabbir Ali, Josimar da Silva Martins, Shankar Oraon, Mohammed Rafique
NEW: Chinta Chandrashekar Rao, James Lukram Singh, Yakubu Yusif (all Salgaocar SC), Parimal Burman, Arjun Chakraborty, F. Liandala (all United SC Under-19), Deepak Kumar Mondal, Jayanta Sen (both Mohun Bagan AC), Kayne Vincent (Churchill Brothers SC), Jagroop Singh (Indian Arrows), Bello Razaq (Viva Kerala), Thoudam Joychandra Singh (Sporting Clube de Goa), Tanmoy Ghosh (United Sikkim FC), Francis Xavier (Southern Samity), Snehashish Dutta (Techno Aryan Club), Crispin Chetri (Tollygunge Agragami), Gourshankar Dutta (Railway FC, Kolkata), Sena, Suhas S.N.
LEFT: Jerry Zirsanga, Nascimento Silveira, Melwyn Rodrigues (all Churchill Brothers SC), Noushad K., Asif K. (both Viva Kerala), Elijah Obagbemiro Junior (Salgaocar SC), Sunil Chhetri (Mohun Bagan AC), Branco Vincent Cardozo (East Bengal Club), Chika Wali (Pune FC), Safar Sardar (Mohammedan Sporting Club), Munna Mallick (Techno Aryan Club), Ram Malik (Kalighat Milan Sangha), Subhojit Majumdar (Bhawanipore Club, Kolkata), S. Santha Kumar (Integral Coach Factory), Swarup Das, Bibhash Ghosh, Subho Kumar, Sirajudeen C., Sergei Tokov, Young Il Choi; Subhashish Roy Chowdhury (Mohun Bagan AC, on loan)
COACH: Sanjoy SEN (new)

PAILAN INDIAN ARROWS - KOLKATA
RETAINED: Ravi Kumar, Kamaljeet Singh, Deepak Devrani, Vishal Kumar, Lalrozama Fanai, Souvik Ghosh, Prathamesh Maulingkar, Bikramjit Singh, Tirthankar Sarkar, Ongnam Milan Singh, Shilton Sydney D'Silva, Jibon Singh, Malsawmfela
NEW: Naveen Kumar, Gurtej Singh Sr, Amarwant Singh, Gurtej Singh Jr, Ajay Singh (all JCT), Rajib Ghosh (East Bengal Club), C.S Sabeeth (Viva Kerala), Bijendra Rai (Royal Wahingdoh SC), Loukik Jadhav (Bengal Mumbai FC), Avinaba Bag (Kalighat Milan Sangha, Kolkata), Narayan Das, Shenaz Singh, Prabir Das, Krishanu Banerjee, Lalnunka, Lalnunpuia, Holicharan Narzary
LEFT: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Abhishek Das, Raju Eknath Gaekwad, Subodh Kumar (all East Bengal Club), Sheikh Jewel Raja, Jagtar Singh (both Mohun Bagan AC), Lalrindika Ralte (Churchill Brothers SC), Jeje Lalpekhlua (Pune FC), Jagroop Singh (United SC), Manandeep Singh (Air India), Ravindra Kumar, Inderpreet Singh, Akshay Kumar Mall
COACH: Sukhvinder Singh (TD)

CHIRAG UNITED KERALA (formerly VIVA KERALA) - KANNUR/COCHIN
RETAINED: Sharath K., Charles Dzisah, Faisal T., Sherin Sam, Jimshad U., C.K. Vineeth, O.K. Javed
NEW: Krishnan Nair Ajayan, Gunashekar Vignesh, Manoj T.M. (all Pune FC), Noushad K., Asif K. (both United SC), Jagdeep Singh (Salgaocar SC), Pradeep Mohanraj (Mumbai FC), Shahbas Shaleel (ONGC), Gurjinder Singh (Peerless SC, Kolkata), Arindam Ghosh (Kolkata), Alex Carioke (Moto Club de Sao Luis, BRAZIL), Isaac Boakye (Young Africans SC, TANZANIA), Michael Matricciani (MetroStars, AUSTRALIA), Shyjumon; Sukhwinder Singh (Air India, in the season), P.K. Anil Kumar (Dempo SC, in the season), David Sunday (in the season), James Effiong (in the season)
LEFT: Shahinlal Meloly, Karma Tsewang (both Pune FC), P.K. Anil Kumar (Dempo SC), Naduparambil Pappachan Pradeep (Mohun Bagan AC), Bello Razaq (United SC), C.S Sabeeth (Indian Arrows), Muhammed Shafi M. (Air India), Bimanyu Bimal Birua (Peerless SC, Kolkata), Felix Chimaokwu; Alex Carioke (released, in the season)
COACH: P.K. KUNHIKRISHNAN (fired); Mohamed Nizam Packeer ALI (SRI LANKA/new)

AIR INDIA - MUMBAI
RETAINED: Kunal Sawant, Arup Debnath, Avijit Ghosh, Haobijam Napoleon Singh, Uttam Leishangthem Singh, Chanchal Saha, Collin Abranches, Vijith Shetty, Santosh Koli, Hringsolal Thomte, Allan Dias, Bijay Baspore, Manjit Singh, Alex Mario Ambrose, Soccor Velho, Kumar Samson Singh, T. Narender Meetei
NEW: Lamine Tamba, Sandesh Gadkare (both Pune FC), Ramandeep Singh Randhawa, Ezeh Nna Henry (both Mumbai FC), Manandeep Singh (Indian Arrows), Muhammed Shafi M. (Viva Kerala), Pawan Kumar (JCT), Sandeep Sangha (ONGC), V. Prem Kumar (United Sikkim FC), Oken Singh (Kenkre FC), Harshad Meher (Bengal Mumbai FC), Abhishek Matthew (Union Bank of India, Mumbai), Nisthar Kali Alaudeen (Central Excise, Chennai), Satvinder Singh (Punjab State Electricity Board), Royston D'Souza (Mahindra United Under-19), Takayuki Omi (Japan), Amit Nandy, Pratek Chaudhury, Bhuvan Krishna Joshi, Satwinder Singh, Abhishek Ambekar, Rahul Bhere
LEFT: Eduardo Chacon Coelho Lacerda, Soraisam Dharamjit Singh, Babin Biswas (all Southern Samity), Mohammad Dada Nabeel (Salgaocar SC), L. Dhanachandra Singh (Mumbai FC), Amrit Pal Singh (Mohammedan Sporting Club), Praneel Mendon (Mumbai Customs), Amulya Mondal (Peerless SC, Kolkata), Okorogor Nnabuike Praise, Yusuf Ibrahim; Sukhwinder Singh (Chirag United Kerala, in the season)
COACH: Santosh KASHYAP

HAL SC - BANGALORE
RETAINED: Pramod P., Femi Joseph Adeola, Liliyan Kennath, Goutam Debnath, Prakash Koley, Sargolsem James Singh, Rajendra Prasad, Abdullah Hamza Amaba, R.C. Prakash, Kshetrimayum Malamnganba Meitei, Satish Kumar Sr,
NEW: Sarbjeet Singh, Chandandeep Singh (both JCT), Bhola Prasad, Kaushik Bose (both ONGC), T.V. Biju Kumar, Muttath Sudheesh (both Vasco SC), Ramesh, J. Karthigeyan (both BEML (EM), Bangalore), Konsam Ajitkumar Singh (Churchill Brothers SC), Amar Deb (Mohun Bagan AC), Deepak Prakash (Mumbai FC), Bijoy Das (United Sikkim FC), Ethesham Bucks (Mohammedan Sporting Club), Sukalpa Mondal (Techno Aryan Club), Praveen Kumar (Josco FC), B. Prakash (Postal FC, Bangalore), Vinoth Kumar V. (Railway Wheel Factory, Bangalore), Aleksandar Sujdovic (Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, BANGLADESH), Sunder Raj Rajan
LEFT: Y. Jaikumar, Xavier Vijayakumar (both Churchill Brothers SC), Ramu Srikanth (Pune FC), Joseph Muralidharan (Mohun Bagan AC), Deepak K. (Southern Samity), P. Karthik (Indian Bank), Rohit Chand (NEPAL), T. Karthikeyan, Vijesh Kumar, Sanath Kumar R., Shekar Muralidharan, Bengkok Nameirakpam, Arun S., D. Samuel Dhinakaran, B. Karthik, Shahas K., Meikinlung
COACH: Thayarajan

JCT - PHAGWARA
LEFT: Naveen Kumar, Gurtej Singh Sr, Amarwant Singh, Gurtej Singh Jr, Ajay Singh (all Indian Arrows), Prasanta Dora, Barjinder Pal Singh, Parveen Kumar, Amandeep Singh, Jaswinder Singh (all Tollygunge Agragami), Rahul Kumar, Randeep Singh, Balwant Singh (all Salgaocar SC), Omkar Singh, Jatinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh (all Calangute Association, Goa), Thangjam Saran Singh, Jagpreet Singh (both Churchill Brothers SC), Daljit Singh, Sakatar Singh (both Mohun Bagan AC), Sarbjeet Singh, Chandandeep Singh (both Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC), Baldeep Singh, Harish Sharma (both United Sikkim FC), Seiminl Doungel (East Bengal Club), Maninder Singh (Pune FC), Pawan Kumar (Air India), Lalchuanmawia (Shillong Lajong FC), Nurain Kareem Omolaja (Royal Wahingdoh SC), Vijay Hooda (Hindustan FC, Delhi), Navtej Singh (Delhi United FC), Inderjit Singh (Shahdara FC, Delhi), Thangjam Manikanta Singh (USA, Manipur), Rajbir Singh (Mauri SC, Kolkata), Rakinderjit Singh, Sehij Pal Singh, R. Sriram, Abhishek Yadav, Mandeep Singh, Balraj Singh, Badru Keke Ibrahim

ONGC - MUMBAI
RETAINED: Bilifang Narzary, Krishna Shirodkar, A. Naresh, M.C. Dhanesh, Bimal Minz, Jatin Singh Bisht, F. Lalmuanpuia, Kailash Patel, Kenistan C.
NEW: Sachin Gawas, Joel Sequeira (both Vasco SC), J. Modi, Reuben D'Souza, Wahid Mohammed, Ashish Pandey
LEFT: Kamal Thapa, Robin Gurung, Bikash Jairu (all Ar-Hima FC), Bhola Prasad, Kaushik Bose (both Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC), Tapan Maity, Surojit Bose (both Mohammedan Sporting Club), N.D. Opara (Churchill Brothers SC), Shahbas Shaleel (Viva Kerala), Sandeep Sangha (Air India), Gour Naskar (Southern Samity), K.V. Lalu (Josco FC), Sudipta Kar (Bhawanipore Club, Kolkata), Ricky Joy (Postal FC, Bangalore)
COACH: Caetano PINHO (new)

SHILLONG LAJONG FC - SHILLONG
RETAINED: Lalthuammawia Ralte, Gumpe Rime, Aibor Khongjee, Wailadmi Passah, Zomingliana Ralte, Rodingson Sangma, M. Subhas Singh, C. Lallawmzuala, Mashangva Genius Zenith, Samson Ramengmawia, Boithang Haokip, Lalramluaha, James Giblee, P.C. Lahlimthara Mahlima, Samuel Shadap, Racy Khiangte Lalrengmawia, Saikhohau Tuboi, Lalnunmawia
NEW: Henry Gangte, L. Romenjit Singh (both Bengal Mumbai FC), Soram Poirei Anganba (Pune FC), Lalchuanmawia (JCT), John D. Menyongar (United Sikkim FC), Eugeneson Lyngdoh (Ar-Hima FC), Tuishim Mashangva (Southern Samity), Iyikwobe Christopher Chizoba (Kalighat Milan Sangha/Mohammedan Sporting Club), H. Lalmuamkima (Sport & Youth Service, Mizoram); Potsangbam Renedy Singh, Sushil Kumar Singh (both United Sikkim FC, in the season); Mathew Osvaldo Mayora (AUSTRALIA, in the season)
LEFT: Marcus Basumatary, Keleche Okoye (both Ar-Hima FC), Marlanki Suting (Royal Wahingdoh SC), Ochei Emeka Michael (George Telegraph SC), Thanggoulal (AIM, Manipur), Jonathan Mgochukwu Kingsley (Nagpur FC), Anil Gurung (Manang Marshyangdi Club, NEPAL), Kryshan Lyngshing, Niwan-O-Gatphoh, Roming Thanga, Henry Marboh, Jenga Rongmei, Gaiham Rongmei, Million Mwenge Butshire
COACH: Pradhyum REDDY

SPORTING CLUBE DE GOA - GOA
RETAINED: Gerald D'Mello, Fulganco Cardozo, Boubacar Keita, Mathew Gonsalves, N. Samananda Singh, Singam Rojen Singh, Rovan Pereira, Konthoujam Boboi Singh, Michael Faleiro, Joyner Lourenco, Adil Ahmed Khan, Mauricio Freeman Peixoto, Jovel Martins, Pedro Gonsalves, P. Niroshan Mani, Lairenjam Bisheshwor Singh, Wilton Gomes, Mackroy Peixote, Angelo D'Souza, Joseph Pereira, Rowlinn Borges, Avelino Fernandes, Ningthounjam Pritam Singh, Valzinho Fernandes, Stephen Barretto
NEW: Milagrio Medeira, Prajot Naik (both Vasco SC), Dawson Fernandes (Salgaocar SC), Warundeep Singh (Churchill Brothers SC), Ogba Kalu Nnanna (Dempo SC), L. Ashok Singh (Ar-Hima FC), Charanjit Singh (Kenkre FC), Gabriel Fernandes (Sesa Football Academy), Mohammed Ali (Calangute Association, Goa), Victorino Fernandes (Santa Cruz Club of Cavellosim), James Moga (Mukti Joddha Sangsad, Bangladesh), Kailo Karpeh (Bayswater City FC, AUSTRALIA)
LEFT: Bibiano Fernandes, Mario Mascarenhas, Daison Cardozo (all Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim, Goa), Elvino Fernandes, Agnelo Colaco (both Vasco SC), Felix D'Souza (Churchill Brothers SC), Thoudam Joychandra Singh (United SC), Ayeni Bidemi Daniel (United Sikkim FC), Steven Fernandes (Sesa Football Academy), Siddesh Morje (Goa Velha SC), Ashokan Guru (Integral Coach Factory, Chennai), Thangjam Itomba Singh (Tiddim Road Athletic Union, Manipur), Joston Pereira, Koushik Ghosh, Sena Liandala, Jeswil D’Souza, Randell Dias, Gary D'Mello, Mackenze Fernandes, Emmanuel Akwuegbu, Joshua Maguire; Mohammed Ali (Calangute Association, Goa; on loan)
COACH: Ekendra SINGH (new)

VASCO SC - GOA
RETAINED: Julius Irabor Akpele, Agnelo Barreto, Subhankar Dey, Menino Fernandes, Aniket Dilip Jadhav, Jerose Oliveira, Jose Colaco, Christofer Borges
NEW: Milind Shinde, Rahul Kandulkar, Rohan Sagar (all Brasil Futebol Academia, Goa), Elvino Fernandes, Agnelo Colaco (both Sporting Clube de Goa), Aikan Dias (Dempo SC), Agnelo Noronha (Goa Velha SC), Sarvanand Korgaonkar, Sagar Bhatkande, Sunil Sharma, Andrew Igado
LEFT: Savio Fernandes, Koko Sakibo, Joy Ferrao (all Dempo SC), Sachin Gawas, Joel Sequeira (both ONGC), Milagrio Medeira, Prajot Naik (both Sporting Clube de Goa), T.V. Biju Kumar, Muttath Sudheesh (both Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC), Basileo Rego, Xavier Estrocio (both Goa Velha SC), Thomas Joaquim D'Souza (Calangute Association, Goa), Remus Gomes (Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim, Goa), Martin Frederick Okwagbe
COACH: Valentine EZEUGO (new)

UNITED SIKKIM FC - GANGTOK
RETAINED: Pranesh Dewan, Sagar Rai, Potsangbam Renedy Singh, Martin Louis Joseph Daniel, Jiten Rai, Nim Tshering Lepcha, Quinton Norman Jacobs, Mayal Dok Lepcha, Baichung Bhutia, Tenzing Tsephel Bhutia
NEW: Arnab Das Sharma, Monotosh Ghosh, Syed Farid, Govin Moirangthem Singh, Khangembam Thoi Singh (all Salgaocar SC), Harpreet Singh, Karan Atwal (both Mohun Bagan AC), Baldeep Singh, Harish Sharma (both JCT), Sushil Kumar Singh (East Bengal Club), Hiralal Chetri (Mumbai FC), Ayeni Bidemi Daniel (Sporting Clube de Goa/Shillong Lajong FC), Mumtaz Akhtar (Mohammedan Sporting Club), Babatunde John Oladele (Techno Aryan Club), Ong Teshering Lepcha (Bengal Mumbai FC), Nganingmi Shimran (Denzong Boyz), Prantosh Roy (Calcutta Port Trust), Vikram Singh Gill (Youngmen SC, Delhi), Sanasam Basant Singh (Manipur), Afzal Ansari, K. Romen Singh, Mayosing Khongreiwo
LEFT: Debjit Majumdar (East Bengal Club), Tanmoy Ghosh (United SC), V. Prem Kumar (Air India), Bijoy Das (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC), John D. Menyongar (Shillong Lajong FC), Lalrinfela (Southern Samity), Mutum Bijen Singh (NISA, Manipur), Sukhdeb Ghosh (Mohammedan Sporting Club), Tashi Tseten Bhutia, Mituski Ichihara, Muttath Suresh, Sumit Thapa, APD Carvalho, Kalia Kulothungan, Pradip Hembrom, Joseph Lapira; Potsangbam Renedy Singh, Sushil Kumar Singh (both Shillong Lajong FC, in the season), Nanjangud Shivananju Manju (Pune FC)
COACH: Stanley ROZARIO (fired) - Philippe de RIDDER (BELGIUM/new)

MOHAMMEDAN SPORTING CLUB - KOLKATA
RETAINED: Suman Dey, Debkumar Sashmal, Mohammed Adeola Hassan, Sudip Das, Mohammed Mukhtar, Han Wook, Gautam Kujur, Suraj Mondal
NEW: Sheikh Azim, Suman Datta, Surabuddin Mollick (all Mohun Bagan AC), Naseem Akhtar, Bikash Narzary (both East Bengal Club), Tapan Maity, Surojit Bose (both ONGC), Safar Sardar (United SC), P. Ummer Farooque (Viva Kerala), Amrit Pal Singh (Air India), Sukhdeb Ghosh (United Sikkim FC), Cyprian Stanley Okoroigwe (Techno Aryan Club), Sovan Das (Peerless SC, Kolkata), Gobinth Adhikari (Faria Strikers, Goa), Felix
LEFT: Manas Barua, Dipendu Biswas, Satyajit Bose (all Bhawanipore Club, Kolkata), Habibur Rehman Mondal, Nilendra Dewan (both Southern Samity), Saheb Ali Mondol, Zotin Liana (both Peerless SC), Karthik Kisku (Salgaocar SC), Ethesham Bucks (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC), Mumtaz Akhtar (United Sikkim FC), Tenzing Dhondup (Royal Wahingdoh SC), Priyant Kumar Singh (Tollygunge Agragami), Sarfaraz Khan (Calcutta Port Trust), Tharangachan Tungshang (Langsning SC), Satvir Singh (Ahbab FC, Delhi), Sandip Rai, David Mkandawire, Musibau Olenrewaju Adebayo
COACH: Aloke MUKHERJEE (new)

SOUTHERN SAMITY - KOLKATA
RETAINED: Pronoy Roy, Rajib Ahmed, Gurpreet Singh, Mriganka Sharma, Chandan Das, Debayan Saha, Jamir Ali Mandal, Edmilson Marques Pardal
NEW: Eduardo Chacon Coelho Lacerda, Soraisam Dharamjit Singh, Babin Biswas (all Air India), Habibur Rehman Mondal, Nilendra Dewan (both Mohammedan Sporting Club), Nazimuddin Mollick (Mohun Bagan AC), Gour Naskar (ONGC), Deepak K. (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC), Lalrinfela (United Sikkim FC), Zico Zorengsanga (Ar-Hima FC), Prasanta Chakraborty (Peerless SC, Kolkata), Thang Somi Ruivah (BEML (EM), Bangalore), R.K. Jimmy Kazip (New Delhi Heroes), Prateek Joshi (RCF, Mumbai), Moirangthem Basanta Singh (RCU, Manipur), Matthew Mayora (Sydney Olympic, AUSTRALIA), Gopal Das, Abhijit Das, Sheikh Moidul, Sanku Debbarma, Eehe Zara, Kaushik Biswas, Basant Singh, Suman Ghosal, Sheikh Sanjib, Thuksuma Boy
LEFT: Manas Das, Marcos Alexandro de Carvalho Pereira (both Bhawanipore Club, Kolkata), Rahul Bhattacharya, Madhab Kumar Das (both Police AC), Francis Xavier (Prayag United SC), Tuishim Mashangva (Shillong Lajong FC), P.T. Somy (Josco FC), Amit Singha Roy, Binod Mallick, Anit Kumar Ghosh, Karthik Chatterjee, Mahesh Sarkar, Uken Debbarma, Sasthi Duley, Pradip Nag, Deepak Sharma, S. Heman Singh, Adebayo Tokunbo Adewusi; Edmilson Marques Pardal (East Bengal Club, in the season), Eduardo Chacon Coelho Lacerda
COACH: Carlos Roberto PEREIRA da SILVA (BRAZIL/fired)

SESA FOOTBALL ACADEMY - GOA
RETAINED: Bruno Colaco, Neves Fernandes, Andrew Don Bosco, Jayganesh Goltekar, Shishuram Chutia, Valinton D'Silva, Amol Salgaocar, Charles Miranda, Gaurish Naik, Pratesh Shirodkar, Inacio Colaco, Marcus Fernandes, Valentino Rodrigues, Edwin Lucas, Lesly Fernandes, Rakshak Naik
NEW: Daniel Albert Vales (Salgaocar SC), Samson Fernandes (Dempo SC), Thokchom Roshan Singh (Pune FC), Steven Fernandes (Sporting Clube de Goa), Agnelo Quadros (Goa Velha SC), Shadab Shaikh (Calangute Association, Goa), Chikudi Chukwama (Sesa Juniors), Daniel Fernandes, Amritpal Singh, Jonychand Singh, Joston Lourenco, Richard Colaco, Felix Barreto
LEFT: Nicolau Colaco, Augostinho Fernandes, Gagandeep Singh, Vivek Singh Kaira (all Salgaocar SC), Sidroy Alfonso (Dempo SC), Gabriel Fernandes (Sporting Clube de Goa), Don Tshering Lepcha (Royal Wahingdoh SC), Jason D'Mello (Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim, Goa), Pradeep Kumar (Indian National FC), Haolengou Kipgen (United Sports Association, Manipur), Shayan Roy, Ivo Fernandes, E. Shivamani, Richard Colaco, Anthony Fernandes
COACH: Clifford CHUKWAMA

GOA VELHA SC
RETAINED: Soma Korgaonkar, Valerio Vaz, Cruz Gomes, Randell Dias, Gary D'Mello, Nelson Fernandes, Alber Gonsalves, Saprem Diukar, Trevor Dias, Zico Costa, Augusto Monteiro, Clyde Dias, Cliff Fernandes, Donald Rocha
NEW: Basileo Rego, Xavier Estrocio (both Vasco SC), Wellington Fernandes, Tyson Fernandes (both Dempo Juniors), Joseph Rodrigues, Atish Shetgaonkar (both Holiday SC, Arpora, Goa), Siddesh Morje (Sporting Clube de Goa), Pio D'Sousa (Raia Sporting Club), Elias D'Sousa (Goa Police SC), Bruno Fernandes (Penha de Franca, Goa), Parsuram Kaddinawar (Peddem Bomm, Goa), Denzil Pritto (AA de Moira, Goa), Nestor Dylan Dias (Saligao United, Goa), Morbimore Pinto (Young Boys of Dhobitala, Goa), Jolan Lourenco (St Sebastian, St Cruz, Goa), Gautam Kanconkar (Sao Miguel de Taleigao, Goa), Royden Camelo (Young Boys of Tonca, Goa), Volvino Rego, Freddy Oliveira, Kunal Rodrigues
LEFT: Loyed Mascarenhas, Gaurish Naik (both Calangute Association, Goa), Agnelo Noronha (Vasco SC), Agnelo Quadros (Sesa Football Academy), Vishant Pednekar (retired, Goa Velha assistant coach), Rowan Colaco, Edwin Carvalho, Joston Lourenco, Khan Paite, Michael Dias, Oliver D'Souza, Pankaj Fondekar, Stanley D'Silva, Savio Fernandes, Ramesh Martins Palkar, Samir Agarwadekar, Reagan Fernandes, Stanley D'Silva, Stanley Lopes, Joy Gonsalves, Elvis Lopes, Gauresh Mandrekar, Blake Haldankar
COACH: Lino PEREIRA

CALANGUTE ASSOCIATION
RETAINED: -
NEW: Omkar Singh, Jatinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh (all JCT), Loyed Mascarenhas, Gaurish Naik (both Goa Velha SC), Alesh Sawant, Faizal Sheikh (both Brasil Futebol Academia, Goa), Thomas Joaquim D'Souza (Vasco SC), Sugitesh Mandraker (Faria Strikers, Goa), Gurinder Pal Singh (Harbhajan SC, Punjab), Freddy Faria, Sukhdeep Singh, Preepal Singh Gill, Jatminder Somu Singh, Sukhwinder Kumar, Charanjit Singh, Sarjit Singh, Varinderjit Singh, Hanson D'Sousa, Amar Haldankar, Frazer Picardo, Selwyn Fernandes, Marc Fernandes, Lawrence Fernandes, Ryan D'Sousa, Joaquim Gonsalves, Lestern Martins, Drupesh Dessai, Dominic Fernandes, Ologon Isaiah, Festos O.J. Avah, Mohammed Ali (Sporting Clube de Goa, on loan)
LEFT: Mohammed Ali (Sporting Clube de Goa), Shadab Shaikh (Sesa Football Academy), Sunford Cardozo (Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim, Goa), Agnelo Fernandes, Richard Costa, Stanley Coutinho, Frankie Pereira, Vesvino Miranda, Pedro Gonsalves, Siddesh Kesarkar, Manuel Crasto, Haresh Diukar
COACH: Vishwas GAONKAR (new)

TATA FOOTBALL ACADEMY - JAMSHEDPUR
RETAINED: Ricardo Cardozo, Mohammed Moniruzzaman Ansari, Bilal Khan, Suraj Kumar, Kamaldeep Singh, Gurpreet Singh, S.K. Rohit, Jarmanjeet Singh, Rocky Singh, Sanjiv Kumar, Manas Sarkar, Harpreet Singh, Biswajit Sardar, Chingkhei Meetei, Baidyanath Das, Amit Kumar, Vineet Rai, Deepak Tirkey, Mohammed Irfan Khan, Udanta Singh, Randhan Meetei
NEW: -
LEFT: -
COACH: P. Vijay KUMAR

India to face Oman in friendly on February 23

2012-01-28T16:15:00.000+01:00

As part of their preparations for the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal in March 2012 the senior Indian national football team will be playing a friendly international against Oman on February 23 in their capital Muscat.

India have been drawn in the AFC Challenge Cup's tough Group B along with former champions North Korea and Tajikistan along with rising the Philippines.

Middle Eastern side Oman are presently ranked 90 in the latest FIFA World rankings while India are in 158th position.

The squad for the friendly and the AFC Challenge Cup would be announced on a later date.

VIDEO: The Future of Football???

2012-01-28T05:00:00.000+01:00

Norwegian scientists have been working on creating a security cover (shield) for footballers, which could avoid injuries in the future. The outcome doesn't look so realistic to me, but still the test run is fun to watch and maybe something Lionel Messi would like to wear and avoid the rough tackles...

Here excerpts from a Norwegian TV show trying out the suits

AFC U-22 Asian Cup draw on February 14

2012-01-27T20:30:00.000+01:00

The Asian Football Confederation is plugging the gap between the Under-20s and the senior national sides by creating the new AFC U-22 Asian Cup and 39 member nations have submitted their interest to participate.

The draw date has been set for February 14, 2012, at 11:00 hrs, at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, for the qualification campaign which will be held this year.

The first edition of the AFC U-22 Asian Cup is expected to be held in June 2013 while the next edition of the biennial competition will serve as qualifiers for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

The 39 countries who had submitted their intention to participate by the deadline of January 13 are

Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor Leste, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

Leverkusen: Ballack signing a mistake

2012-01-27T09:00:00.000+01:00

German Bundesliga side Bayer 04 Leverkusen had high hopes when they resigned former Germany captain Michael Ballack in summer 2010. They had hoped Ballack could bring back the golden days of the early 2000s when the club finished second in all competitions - UEFA Champions League, Bundesliga, German Cup - in the 2001/02 season.

But things haven't worked out the way the club had hoped then in his first season Ballack was more often injured then on the field and also the younger players were better then Ballack forcing him often onto the bench when match fit.

Leverkusen chairman Wolfgang Holzhäuser has said in the Express tabloid, "This transfer didn't work for us. We expected more from him."

Ballack's stats speak for themselves. Last season he played 17 matches and didn't score a goal, this season he has played 14 times scoring twice. Ballack has been better this season, but both Jupp Heynckes last season and now Robin Dutt are said to have their problems with the ageing star.

The former Germany 'Capitano' has not been able to deliver what he has been able to perform in the past. The club has been disappointed that Ballack hasn't helped in pushing the young team in the right direction. And what has surprised many observers is the fact that Ballack has a lot of support from fans, who happen to be critical of coach Robin Dutt.

Holzhäuser ended by saying, "He (Ballack) has three months of contract left. We will finish it off professionally."

Doesn't sound like Leverkusen willing to offer Ballack a new contract in the summer. A sad finish at the club where Ballack became a big player.

The Asian Football Awards 2012

2012-01-26T12:05:00.002+01:00

The first ever Asian Football Awards supported by The FA and Kick It Out, with Sporting Equals as its legacy partner saw leading figures come out to support the glitzy event at the home of football, Wembley Stadium.

Guests for this event included David Bernstein (FA Chairman), Paul Elliot, Graham Le Saux, Piara Powar, Mihir Bose, Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham) and award winners Michael Chopra and Manish Bhasin.

The AFA managed to engage with key representatives of those individuals working hard to engage with their communities and develop Asians within the game. The event brought together representatives of clubs and organisations such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspurs, Aston Villa, QPR, Wolves, Charlton, Liverpool, The PFA and many
leading Asian organisations.

Imran Hassan, Co-Founder of the Asian Football Awards, said, "It was really pleasing seeing so many key figures supporting and enjoying the awards, but the hard work begins now in our legacy programme."

"A very big congratulations to all the nominees and winners, it really was truly inspirational to see so many role models, in particular nominees like Rikin Shah and Lifetime Achievement recipient Jarnail Singh."

Baljit Rihal, Co-Founder of the Asian Football Awards, said, "The first ever Asian Football Awards was a celebration of the success of Asians in all aspects of UK football. We are proud to have created the awards which we are confident will be an annual high profile event."

Sporting Equals CEO Arun Kang sadi, "Sporting Equals was delighted to be a partner at the first ever Asian Football Awards. It was a fantastic evening celebrating the significant contribution that British Asians are making in the game at all levels, congratulations to all the nominees. I believe the strength of the awards is that they not only showcase elite players like Michael Chopra the Player of the Year, but also the considerable impact that Asians are making in coaching, sports medicine and administration, creating new role models and inspiring the next generation. We are now looking forward to finding talent, engaging and empowering communities through SE Talent id the legacy programme of the Asian Football Awards 2012."

Russell Atkinson, Managing Director Lebara Mobile added, "We are proud to be a part of the first ever Asian Football Awards, recognising excellence and inspiring future generations of Asians into the sport. At Lebara, we are passionate about supporting activities, such as football, that are important to our customers. We are honoured to be associated with Michael Chopra, a highly deserving winner of the Player of the Year Award."

The Asian Football Awards will be shown by TV partner Sony Entertainment Network on February 10 in the United Kingdom.

Here the detailed list of the The Asian Football Awards 2012 - The Winners

The Asian Football Awards 2012 - The Winners!

2012-01-25T19:30:00.000+01:00

The inaugural Asian Football Awards were held last night at London's Wembley Stadium with the support from The FA and Kick It Out. The event has been made possible through a partnership between Initiate Sports and Inventive Sports.

Here are the winners in each category!

Player of the Year
Michael Chopra (Ipswich Town)

Coach of the year
Nas Bashir (Hayes & Yeading FC)

Asian Woman in Football
Rimla Akhtar (Muslim Women's Sports Foundation)

Young Player of the year
Danny Batth (Wolves FC – on loan Sheff Weds)

Football Development project of the year
Diversity Academy (Nottingham)

Football Foundation of the year
Osmani Trust

Investors in Football
Lakshmi Mittal and Tony Fernandes (QPR)

Football behind the scenes award - 'Administration'
Raj Athwal (Watford FC) – Commercial Manager

Football behind the scenes award - 'Medical'
Dr Zaf Iqbal (Liverpool)

Football Media award
Manish Bhasin (BBC)

Grass Roots Heroes
Bal Singh (Khalsa Football Academy)

Asian Community Club of the year
London Tigers (London)

Inspiration Award
Permi Jhooti (FIFA Ambassador)

Lifetime Achievement Award
Jarnail Singh (Referee)

Congratulations from my side to all winners!!!

2nd Division I-League: Change in Group B Fixtures

2012-01-25T11:00:00.001+01:00

There have been changes to the fixtures of Group of the 2nd Division of the I-League due to other commitments of Techno Aryan Club in the championship-leg of the Calcutta Premier League.

Aryan's fixtures have been adjusted according of Group B, which will be played in Cuttack. The Cuttack fixtures would now end a day later on February 21.

Otherwise the fixtures remain the same for all participating teams.

Group 1 - Silchar
Green Valley SC (Guwahati), Eagles FC (Kochi), Southern Samity (Kolkata), Bhowanipore Club (Kolkata), United Sikkim FC (Gangtok), Ar-Hima FC (Shillong), Aizawl FC (Mizoram)

Fixtures
01-Feb-2012: Ar-Hima FC - Aizawl FC
01-Feb-2012: Southern Samity - Eagles FC
02-Feb-2012: United Sikkim FC - Bhowanipore Club
04-Feb-2012: Southern Samity - Green Valley SC
04-Feb-2012: Bhowanipore Club - Ar-Hima FC
05-Feb-2012: United Sikkim FC - Eagles FC
07-Feb-2012: Bhowanipore Club - Ar-Hima FC
07-Feb-2012: Eagles FC - Aizawl FC
08-Feb-2012: United Sikkim FC - Green Valley SC
10-Feb-2012: Eagles FC - Ar-Hima FC
10-Feb-2012: Green Valley SC - Aizawl FC
11-Feb-2012: United Sikkim FC - Southern Samity
13-Feb-2012: Eagles FC - Bhowanipore Club
13-Feb-2012: Green Valley SC - Ar-Hima FC
14-Feb-2012: Southern Samity - Aizawl FC
16-Feb-2012: Green Valley SC - Bhowanipore Club
16-Feb-2012: Southern Samity - Ar-Hima FC
17-Feb-2012: United Sikkim FC - Aizawl FC
19-Feb-2012: Green Valley SC - Eagles FC
19-Feb-2012: Southern Samity - Bhowanipore Club
20-Feb-2012: United Sikkim FC - Ar-Hima FC

Group 2 - Cuttack
Royal Wahingdoh SC (Shillong), Sesa Football Academy (Goa), Quartz SC (Kozhikode), Kalighat Milan Sangha (Kolkata), Techno Aryan Club (Kolkata), Guwahati Town Club (Assam), Kenkre FC (Mumbai), Samaleshwari FC (Orissa)

Fixtures
01-Feb-2012: Royal Wahingdoh SC - Samaleshwari FC
01-Feb-2012: Sesa Football Academy - Kenkre FC
02-Feb-2012: Quartz SC - Guwahati Town Club
02-Feb-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - Techno Aryan Club
04-Feb-2012: Samaleshwari FC - Techno Aryan Club
04-Feb-2012: Guwahati Town Club - Kalighat Milan Sangha
05-Feb-2012: Kenkre FC - Quartz SC
05-Feb-2012: Royal Wahingdoh SC - Sesa Football Academy
07-Feb-2012: Sesa Football Academy - Samaleshwari FC
07-Feb-2012: Quartz SC - Royal Wahingdoh SC
08-Feb-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - Kenkre FC
19-Feb-2012: Techno Aryan Club - Guwahati Town Club
10-Feb-2012: Samaleshwari FC - Guwahati Town Club
11-Feb-2012: Kenkre FC - Techno Aryan Club
10-Feb-2012: Royal Wahingdoh SC - Kalighat Milan Sangha
11-Feb-2012: Sesa Football Academy - Quartz SC
13-Feb-2012: Techno Aryan Club - Royal Wahingdoh SC
13-Feb-2012: Guwahati Town Club - Kenkre FC
14-Feb-2012: Quartz SC - Samaleshwari FC
14-Feb-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - Sesa Football Academy
16-Feb-2012: Samaleshwari FC - Kenkre FC
16-Feb-2012: Royal Wahingdoh SC - Guwahati Town Club
17-Feb-2012: Sesa Football Academy - Techno Aryan Club
17-Feb-2012: Quartz SC - Kalighat Milan Sangha
20-Feb-2012: Kenkre FC - Royal Wahingdoh SC
20-Feb-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - Samaleshwari FC
21-Feb-2012: Techno Aryan Club - Quartz SC
21-Feb-2012: Guwahati Town Club - Sesa Football Academy

Group 3 -
Mohammedan Sporting Club (Kolkata), Vasco SC (Goa), Golden Threads FC (Kerala), Luangmual FC (Mizoram), Simla Youngs FC (Delhi), Langsning FC (Shillong), PIFA-Colaba FC (Mumbai), KGF Academy (Bangalore)

Fixtures
01-Feb-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club - KGF Academy
01-Feb-2012: Vasco SC - PIFA-Colaba FC
02-Feb-2012: Golden Threads FC - Langsning FC
02-Feb-2012: Luangmual FC - Simla Youngs FC
04-Feb-2012: KGF Academy - Simla Youngs FC
04-Feb-2012: Langsning FC - Luangmual FC
05-Feb-2012: PIFA-Colaba FC - Golden Threads FC
05-Feb-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club - Vasco SC
07-Feb-2012: Vasco SC - KGF Academy
07-Feb-2012: Golden Threads FC - Mohammedan Sporting Club
08-Feb-2012: Luangmual FC - PIFA-Colaba FC
08-Feb-2012: Simla Youngs FC - Langsning FC
10-Feb-2012: KGF Academy - Langsning FC
10-Feb-2012: PIFA-Colaba FC - Simla Youngs FC
11-Feb-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club - Luangmual FC
11-Feb-2012: Vasco SC - Golden Threads FC
13-Feb-2012: Golden Threads FC - KGF Academy
13-Feb-2012: Luangmual FC - Vasco SC
14-Feb-2012: Simla Youngs FC - Mohammedan Sporting Club
14-Feb-2012: Langsning FC - PIFA-Colaba FC
16-Feb-2012: KGF Academy - PIFA-Colaba FC
16-Feb-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club - Langsning FC
17-Feb-2012: Vasco SC - Simla Youngs FC
17-Feb-2012: Golden Threads FC - Luangmual FC
19-Feb-2012: Luangmual FC - KGF Academy
19-Feb-2012: Simla Youngs FC - Golden Threads FC
20-Feb-2012: Langsning FC - Vasco SC
20-Feb-2012: PIFA-Colaba FC - Mohammedan Sporting Club

Bundesliga: A Four-way title race

2012-01-24T19:00:00.000+01:00

Over the weekend the German Bundesliga returned to action after a four week winter break. And Round 18 started off with a big bang to open-up the title race with now four clubs with a chance of winning the title.

The second-leg of the Bundesliga opened on Friday evening with a classic Borussia Mönchengladbach vs FC Bayern Munich game. Bayern Munich came into the game as winter champions, but Mönchengladbach's young turks showed the Bavarians what they are made off as Gladbach went on to win 3-1 on the night.

On Saturday FC Schalke 04 followed with a 3-1 win against VfB Stuttgart and then Borussia Dortmund demolished Hamburger SV 5-1 away to make it a successful start in 2012 for the three west German clubs chasing the mighty Bavarians.

After match day 18 the top four teams are only divided by one point. Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and FC Schalke all have 37 points, while Borussia Mönchengladbach is fourth on 36 points. But Bayern remain top of the league with a superior goal difference.

The Bundesliga has had interesting two or three-way races for the title, but never ever has it experienced such a four-way race. One will have to see how things pan out in the weeks to come, if Bayern Munich slip further or if they can regain their form and keep their rivals at a distance. Then one thing remains the same - the title favourites are Bayern Munich.

Jeje Lalpekhlua doubtful for 2012 AFC Challenge Cup

2012-01-24T12:01:00.001+01:00

India could have to play the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal in March without young striker Jeje Lalpekhlua as he has been advised eight-weeks rest, which would mean he would miss the tournament.

Jeje suffered an injury on his left knee during his club Pune FC's I-League match against Air India. His MRI report reveals bone contusion and grade 2/3 injury to MCL of the left knee. The striker is being treated by Dr. Anant Joshi and has been advised non-weight bearing with crutches for three weeks. It will be followed by a minimum rehab for another three weeks under Dr. Joshi's supervision.

If confirmed then Jeje would be the second absentee like his club team mate goalkeeper Subrata Pal, who had earlier been ruled out of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup.

With injuries to other key players or these returning from injuries like Sunil Chhetri and Syed Rahim Nabi, one hope that India can play its best possible side in the tournament.

India have been drawn in the tough Group B along with North Korea, Tajikistan and the Philippines. India begin their campaign against Tajikistan on March 9, 2012.

Pele critical of Messi's achievements so far

2012-01-22T11:45:00.001+01:00

Brazilian legend Pele is one of the greatest footballers to have played the game, some regard him as the best of all time. And the now 71 year old is open and direct with his opinions when asked by the media.

The French newspaper Le Monde has recently interviewed Pele and when asked about 24 year old Argentinian Lionel Messi being compared to him Pele simply said, "When Messi's scored 1,283 goals like me, when he's won three World Cups, we'll talk about it."

Now that is Pele at his best and he has a point here which he reiterated by adding, "I like Messi a lot, he's a great player! Technically, we're practically at the same level. He's a great player for (FC) Barcelona, but when he plays for Argentina he doesn't have the same success."

Messi's club coach Pep Guardiola was critical of Pele's assessment of his star player, but Messi has often not been able to recreate that magic for Argentina which he shows when he wears a Barca jersey.

Many say Messi is only as good as he is at FC Barcelona due to the blind understanding he has with long-time team mates like Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Carlos Puyol and the others; which is simply not there in the Argentinian team.

Three UEFA Champions League titles with Barca are good to have, but the legends of the game are matched by at least one FIFA World Cup triumph. Argentina and Messi have not been close to such a feat since Diego Maradona in 1990, when Argentina lost out to West Germany in the finals.

Here Lionel Messi has to prove his international class in the years to come...

VIDEO: Tolgay's funny push header against Pailan Arrows

2012-01-20T13:45:00.000+01:00

On Tuesday afternoon East Bengal Club scored a fluent 4-1 win against the Pailan Arrows in the I-League. But the match will be most remember for the blunder in the Arrows defence which lead to Tolgay going down to his knees and heading the ball across the goal-line. This wasn't liked by his coach Trevor Morgan, who directly took him off.

Asian Football Awards Shortlist Announced for Wembley Stadium extravaganza

2012-01-19T10:00:00.000+01:00

The first ever Asian Football Awards (AFA) will take place at Wembley Stadium on 24th January 2012 where outstanding UK Asians will be honoured. This inaugaral event is expected to attract a premier list of guests to gather, support and celebrate outstanding Asians in football.

The AFA has been launched to recognise the great contribution to both the professional game and grassroots initiatives by individuals and groups across the UK with South Asian heritage. The FA and Kick It Out are supporting this landmark initiative.

The events primary objective is to create an awareness of the positive efforts made by Asians within the UK football industry. It also aims to engage with organisations and individuals to help increase Asian participation levels in the UK.

The AFA are proud to announce that Sporting Equals are to be the Legacy Partner for the 2012 event. There has been tremendous support since the announcement of the awards last November that the organisers have decided that all profits will be used for legacy projects and future bursary disbursements for young elite Asian players.

Some of the AFA nominations include: Michael Chopra (Ipswich Town), Danny Batth (Wolves FC/Sheff Wed), Dr Zaf Iqbal (Liverpool FC), Manish Bhasin (BBC), The Zesh Rehman Foundation, Anwar Uddin (Barnet FC), Permi Jhooti (FIFA Ambassador), Chelsea Asian Soccer Star, Javed Khan (Premier League), Tony Fernandes and Lakshmi Mittal (QPR FC).

FA Chairman David Bernstein said, "The FA is committed to diversity and inclusion across all areas of the game and I'm delighted that the Asian football community are celebrating their achievements at Wembley Stadium."

Baljit Rihal, Co-Founder Asian Football Awards, "We have received hundreds of inspiring nominations from across the country. It is such a pleasure to know that so many Asians are involved and passionate about the game of football. We hope that the Asian Football Awards can play a part by recognising great individuals, organisations and initiatives."

"Our vision has always been to support the growth of Asians in UK football. Since we announced the event last year, the media attention and support from all across the industry has been phenomenal. I can proudly say that the Asian Football Awards will most definitely encourage more Asians to get involved in every aspect of the game.

Sporting Equals CEO Arun Kang said, "Sporting Equals are delighted to be the legacy partner of the Asian Football Awards and believe that our Talent ID Programme, will provide real opportunities for talented young people to be exposed to high performance coaching, developing their skills and encourage more diversity in professional football.

We believe our partnership with the AFA can both deliver a meaningful legacy and continue to support our wider work.

Sporting Equals welcomes and recognises the importance of celebrating the achievements of Asians in football, looks forward to the AFA becoming a key annual event for the future, and working with them and other partners to facilitate change."

Shalin Patel, Head of UK Marketing, Sony Entertainment Network, "As an organisation, we have always had a close association with raising the profile of sport in the British Asian community and the Asian Football Awards are an exciting initiative which we are proud to associate with and help build support for. Good luck to everyone involved."

INDIA move-up to 158th in World Rankings

2012-01-18T17:01:00.001+01:00

The world football governing body FIFA released the latest FIFA World Rankings earlier today in which India gained four spots to be now 158th amongst the 208 ranked nations and territories, while within Asia India moved to joint 28th amongst 46 nations in the rankings.

India is joint 158th along with neighbours Bangladesh behind the Philippines and ahead of Madagascar with 138 points, seven more then last month. The points came through the change of points on the year to year calculations.

India's next assignment will be the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal from March 8 to 19, 2012. There India could get some useful points to move-up the FIFA World Rankings.

Meanwhile there has been no change amongst the top five of the FIFA World Rankings. World champions Spain (1,564 points) stay at the top with the Netherlands (1,365), Germany (1,345), Uruguay (1,308) and England (1,173) behind them.

PSG Champions of the inaugural Al Kass U-17

2012-01-17T22:30:00.001+01:00

In a spectacular finale to ten days of relentless battling for the first Under-17 international championship, French side FC Paris Saint-Germain earned their right to the Golden Cup, which was brought down to the field by the Qatar Armed Forces' Paratroopers.

PSG had beaten Juventus after the lines man discounted a goal they scored in the last minute as an offside led to tense penalty kicks that they won 5-4, after three-time Juventus Man of Match Matiello Federico surprised the crowd and his fans by missing the third kick. An earlier match on the same evening over third and fourth places saw Ajax Amsterdam beat Kashima Antlers 1-0.

Chairman of the Al Kass Local Organizing Committee Issa Abdulla al-Hitmi congratulated the winners and the rest of the teams on the eye-opening experience gained during the tournament, which acted as a simulation of the World Cup to the international players.

"Though none of our local or regional teams made it to the finals, I was happy to hear their coaches, after every match, speak of the growth and the improvement they saw," he said. "I am proud that Qatar has been home to the opportunity for these budding talents to experience how football is played on the international stage; whether in pace, technique or strategic tactics everyone here has become a better player than they were before the tournament, and that is what the U-17 is about."

Coaches of the four Arab teams participating agreed. Abdulrahman Arrammal, coach of the U-17 Al Jazira team said, "This tournament has been a great benefit to Al Jazira. It helped us develop our skills and expose our players to big names and to an international tournament."

Arrammal's team had finished in 10th place followed by Egypt’s Al Ahly, while Qatar’s Aspire International and Aspire Qatar finished in the 7th and 8th places respectively.

"This is the first time that the Al Ahly club plays with international teams. Because of that we were able to see our level compared to other teams," said Mamdouh Eid, director of co-ordination and PR for Al Ahly.

The inaugural Al Kass U-17, which marks a new yearly event on the FIFA calendar, was also praised by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani, President of the Qatar Football Association (QFA) and Qatar Stars League in a special letter to the tournament's organizers.

"2012, has been marked by another milestone achievement with the launch of the Al Kass International Cup U-17. Such a tournament has not only become an additional asset to our football legacy in supporting and showcasing the football stars of the future, but it has also given other talents the chance to step up and shine," he remarked.

"We hope that we have extended our football family and have made new friends with whom we shall grow and enjoy this journey together. Who knows; we may see some of the young men as national team players representing their countries in the 2022 FIFA World Cup."

Rivaldo signs for Angolan club

2012-01-16T08:20:00.002+01:00

Brazilian 2002 FIFA World Cup winner Rivaldo, whose full name is Rivaldo Vítor Borba Ferreira, has surprisingly signed a contract with Angolan club side Kabuscorp SC. Rivaldo had last played for FC Sao Paolo in his home country.

For the Angola Premier League club Kabuscorp Sport Clube do Palanca, who finished second last season, bringing in Rivaldo is a massive signing; but locally amongst the Angolan media there is scepticism if the ageing former superstar is more a PR signing then a real strengthening of the team.

Rivaldo, who turns 40 in April this year, has been a globetrotter throughout his carrier. He has not only played in Spain and Italy for football giants like FC Barcelona and AC Milan but also in leagues in Greece and Uzbekistan.

Rivaldo explained his signing in Angola with the reason that they speak the same language and he will be wearing the number 9 jersey.

Earlier there were rumours that Rivaldo's agent was trying to find a club for his client in Europe, but no one wanted to take the risk of signing a nearly 40 year old.

No 'Super Football' on January 23 in Kolkata

2012-01-15T17:00:00.001+01:00

JPR Events today informed the media that the 'Super Football' event planned for January 23 at the Saltlake Stadium in Kolkata has been postponed indefinitely. On that day former stars like Brazilians Cafu, Pele and others would have graced the occasion, but that is not to be. A new date would be announced soon, but the organisers still wanted to organise something and are therefore doing something in Sikkim.

Now on January 22 a Worldstar XI vs Sikkim United FC would take place at the Paljor Stadium in Gangtok, which will feature some of the players originally scheduled to make the Kolkata trip who will be joined by some former Indian stars. But the names of the players have not been announced. Some of them will also come to Kolkata to have a youth clinic with kids as part of the organisers commitment to develop and better football in the state of West Bengal.

The organisers JPR Events also regreted any inconvenience caused to the public as well as the FPAI (Football Players Association of India) for the postponement of the match.

Interestingly reports had appeared in the Indian media in recent days which asked the validity of the organisers claims of having certain players coming for the match, with no sponsorship sold plus tickets not out in the market.

One would hope the match in Gangtok takes place as per the latest announcement.

The Asian Football Awards 2012 - Nominations Shortlist

2012-01-15T08:15:00.000+01:00

The inaugural Asian Football Awards will be held on January 24, 2012 at London's Wembley Stadium with the support from The FA and Kick It Out and it is a partnership between Initiate Sports and Inventive Sports.

Here are the top five nominations shortlist in each category!

Player of the Year
Zesh Rehman (Kitchee SC – Hong Kong)
Anwar Uddin (Barnet FC)
Michael Chopra (Ipswich Town)
Indy Aujla (RRFC Montegnee - Belgium)
Netan Sansara (Paeek FC - Cyprus)

Coach of the year
Nilio Bagga (Samba Soccer Schools)
Nas Bashir (Hayes & Yeading FC)
Bal Singh (Khalsa Football Academy)
Taff Islam (ProTouch and Arsenal)
Chris Dolby

Asian Woman in Football
Vanisha Patel (Charlton Women)
Rimla Akhtar (Muslim Women's Sports Foundation)
Sophia Rashid (Women United AFC)
Priti Trivedi (Scottish Premier League)
Sangi Patel (QPR)

Young Player of the year
Jasbir Singh – (Solihull Moors FC)
Danny Batth (Wolves FC – on loan Sheff Weds)
Adil Nabi (West Bromwich Albion)
Aaron Singh Sekhon (Partick Thistle FC)
Malvind Benning (Walsall FC)

Football Development project of the year
Young Asian Voices (Sunderland)
Chelsea Asian Soccer Star
QPR – Player Development Centre (West London)
Samba Soccer Schools (Warwickshire)
Diversity Academy (Nottingham)

Football Foundation of the year
Zesh Rehman Foundation
Punjabi Wolves
Muslim Women's Sports Foundation
Osmani Trust
London Tigers

Investors in Football
Ilyas Khan (Accrington Stanley)
Lakshmi Mittal and Tony Fernandes (QPR)
Venkatesh and Balaji Rao (Blackburn)
Shahid Azeem

Football behind the scenes award - 'Administration'
Priti Trivedi (SPL) - Admin & Finance Manager
Raj Athwal (Watford FC) – Commercial Manager
Sunil Kaikini (Head of Media Premier League)
Ravinder Masih (Aston Villa FC) – Community Relations Manager
Javed Khan (Finance Director Premier League)

Football behind the scenes award - 'Medical'
Sangi Patel (QPR) - Physio
Dr Zaf Iqbal (Liverpool)
Jazz Sodhi (Wolves) – Head Academy Physio
Dr Ansar Zaman (Wigan FC)
Poora Singh (Birmingham FC) - Physio

Football Media award
Rajvir Rai (The Daily Telegraph)
Manish Bhasin (BBC)
Mayur Bhanji (World Sport Group)
Vaishali Bhardwaj (Freelance)
Karthi Gnanasegaram (BBC)

Grass Roots Heroes
Ash Rahman (ProTouch)
Bal Singh (Khalsa Football Academy)
Butch Fazal (Luton AFC)
Karl Sanghera (Concorde Juniors)
Mamun Chowdhury (Beamont Athletic)

Asian Community Club of the year
Albion Sports (Bradford)
London Tigers (London)
Sporting Khalsa (Birmingham)
London APSA (London)
Sporting Bengal (London)

Inspiration Award
Rikin Shah (power chair user – Coach – UEFA level B)
Butch Fazal (Asian Football Forum)
Permi Jhooti (FIFA Ambassador)
Piara Powar (Director FARE)
Dinesh Vijayan (Arsenal FC)

Congratulations to all that made the shortlist!!! Looking forward to meeting you on January 24, 2012 at London's Wembley Stadium.

Many thanks to all those that put forward nominations. It was great to read about so many inspirational Asians doing fantastic work in football.

web: www.asianfootballawards.co.uk
twitter: @AFootballAwards

2nd Division I-League: Groupings & Fixtures out

2012-01-14T19:09:00.004+01:00

The 2nd Division of the I-League will kick-off with the three group preliminary round on February 1 with 23 teams divided into groups of seven or eight teams. The groups would be played in Silchar, Cuttack and Delhi with only the top two sides making it to the next round where they would be joined by last years relegated I-League side ONGC.

The draw is an interesting one with the seven team Group A the toughest of all the three groups. To name favourites is difficult then in such a single-leg format it all depends on how you start into the tournament and if you can keep the momentum going through such a group phase.

Group 1 - Silchar
Green Valley SC (Guwahati), Eagles FC (Kochi), Southern Samity (Kolkata), Bhowanipore Club (Kolkata), United Sikkim FC (Gangtok), Ar-Hima FC (Shillong), Aizawl FC (Mizoram)

Fixtures
01-Feb-2012: Ar-Hima FC - Aizawl FC
01-Feb-2012: Southern Samity - Eagles FC
02-Feb-2012: United Sikkim FC - Bhowanipore Club
04-Feb-2012: Southern Samity - Green Valley SC
04-Feb-2012: Bhowanipore Club - Ar-Hima FC
05-Feb-2012: United Sikkim FC - Eagles FC
07-Feb-2012: Bhowanipore Club - Ar-Hima FC
07-Feb-2012: Eagles FC - Aizawl FC
08-Feb-2012: United Sikkim FC - Green Valley SC
10-Feb-2012: Eagles FC - Ar-Hima FC
10-Feb-2012: Green Valley SC - Aizawl FC
11-Feb-2012: United Sikkim FC - Southern Samity
13-Feb-2012: Eagles FC - Bhowanipore Club
13-Feb-2012: Green Valley SC - Ar-Hima FC
14-Feb-2012: Southern Samity - Aizawl FC
16-Feb-2012: Green Valley SC - Bhowanipore Club
16-Feb-2012: Southern Samity - Ar-Hima FC
17-Feb-2012: United Sikkim FC - Aizawl FC
19-Feb-2012: Green Valley SC - Eagles FC
19-Feb-2012: Southern Samity - Bhowanipore Club
20-Feb-2012: United Sikkim FC - Ar-Hima FC

Group 2 - Cuttack
Royal Wahingdoh SC (Shillong), Sesa Football Academy (Goa), Quartz SC (Kozhikode), Kalighat Milan Sangha (Kolkata), Techno Aryan Club (Kolkata), Guwahati Town Club (Assam), Kenkre FC (Mumbai), Samaleshwari FC (Orissa)

Fixtures
01-Feb-2012: Royal Wahingdoh SC - Samaleshwari FC
01-Feb-2012: Sesa Football Academy - Kenkre FC
02-Feb-2012: Quartz SC - Guwahati Town Club
02-Feb-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - Techno Aryan Club
04-Feb-2012: Samaleshwari FC - Techno Aryan Club
04-Feb-2012: Guwahati Town Club - Kalighat Milan Sangha
05-Feb-2012: Kenkre FC - Quartz SC
05-Feb-2012: Royal Wahingdoh SC - Sesa Football Academy
07-Feb-2012: Sesa Football Academy - Samaleshwari FC
07-Feb-2012: Quartz SC - Royal Wahingdoh SC
08-Feb-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - Kenkre FC
08-Feb-2012: Techno Aryan Club - Guwahati Town Club
10-Feb-2012: Samaleshwari FC - Guwahati Town Club
10-Feb-2012: Kenkre FC - Techno Aryan Club
11-Feb-2012: Royal Wahingdoh SC - Kalighat Milan Sangha
11-Feb-2012: Sesa Football Academy - Quartz SC
13-Feb-2012: Quartz SC - Samaleshwari FC
13-Feb-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - Sesa Football Academy
14-Feb-2012: Techno Aryan Club - Royal Wahingdoh SC
14-Feb-2012: Guwahati Town Club - Kenkre FC
16-Feb-2012: Samaleshwari FC - Kenkre FC
16-Feb-2012: Royal Wahingdoh SC - Guwahati Town Club
17-Feb-2012: Sesa Football Academy - Techno Aryan Club
17-Feb-2012: Quartz SC - Kalighat Milan Sangha
19-Feb-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - Samaleshwari FC
19-Feb-2012: Techno Aryan Club - Quartz SC
20-Feb-2012: Guwahati Town Club - Sesa Football Academy
20-Feb-2012: Kenkre FC - Royal Wahingdoh SC

Group 3 -
Mohammedan Sporting Club (Kolkata), Vasco SC (Goa), Golden Threads FC (Kerala), Luangmual FC (Mizoram), Simla Youngs FC (Delhi), Langsning FC (Shillong), PIFA-Colaba FC (Mumbai), KGF Academy (Bangalore)

Fixtures
01-Feb-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club - KGF Academy
01-Feb-2012: Vasco SC - PIFA-Colaba FC
02-Feb-2012: Golden Threads FC - Langsning FC
02-Feb-2012: Luangmual FC - Simla Youngs FC
04-Feb-2012: KGF Academy - Simla Youngs FC
04-Feb-2012: Langsning FC - Luangmual FC
05-Feb-2012: PIFA-Colaba FC - Golden Threads FC
05-Feb-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club - Vasco SC
07-Feb-2012: Vasco SC - KGF Academy
07-Feb-2012: Golden Threads FC - Mohammedan Sporting Club
08-Feb-2012: Luangmual FC - PIFA-Colaba FC
08-Feb-2012: Simla Youngs FC - Langsning FC
10-Feb-2012: KGF Academy - Langsning FC
10-Feb-2012: PIFA-Colaba FC - Simla Youngs FC
11-Feb-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club - Luangmual FC
11-Feb-2012: Vasco SC - Golden Threads FC
13-Feb-2012: Golden Threads FC - KGF Academy
13-Feb-2012: Luangmual FC - Vasco SC
14-Feb-2012: Simla Youngs FC - Mohammedan Sporting Club
14-Feb-2012: Langsning FC - PIFA-Colaba FC
16-Feb-2012: KGF Academy - PIFA-Colaba FC
16-Feb-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club - Langsning FC
17-Feb-2012: Vasco SC - Simla Youngs FC
17-Feb-2012: Golden Threads FC - Luangmual FC
19-Feb-2012: Luangmual FC - KGF Academy
19-Feb-2012: Simla Youngs FC - Golden Threads FC
20-Feb-2012: Langsning FC - Vasco SC
20-Feb-2012: PIFA-Colaba FC - Mohammedan Sporting Club

VIDEOs: Baichung's Moment of International Retirement

2012-01-14T11:00:00.000+01:00

Yes, I have written Videos then here are the Indian and German versions of Baichung Bhutia walking off the pitch one final time in a Team India jersey.

INDIAN version

GERMAN version

VIDEO: CNN-IBN post match analysis

2012-01-13T17:00:00.001+01:00

Following the India vs FC Bayern Munich match on Tuesday night there was an analysis of the game on news channel CNN-IBN between anchor Digvijay Singh Deo and football expert Novy Kapadia. It makes interesting following...

VIDEO: NewsX India vs FC Bayern post-match report

2012-01-13T09:00:00.000+01:00

Here the post-match report by news channel NewsX on the India vs Bayern Munich match, which contains the first Baichung Bhutia post match interview which I carried out for TenAction+. Due to rights issues you can only hear Baichung and myself, but can't see us while we speak.

VIDEO: Bayern Munich goals against Team India

2012-01-12T17:44:00.001+01:00

Here are the four goals that FC Bayern Munich scored against Team India at the Audi Football Summit on Tuesday evening in New Delhi through striker Mario Gomez, winger Thomas Mueller (two) and midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger in the first session itself.

FC Bayern Munich win, but India not humiliated

2012-01-11T11:00:00.000+01:00

German Bundesliga giants FC Bayern Munich beat the Indian national football team 4-0 in the Audi Football Summit at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi last night infront of around 35,000 spectators. The match also marked the farewell of long-time Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia.

Team India got great support from the crowds with the 'India, India' chants at some stages reaching deafening levels, but the Indians looked overawed by the occasion early on as Bayern Munich kept on the pressure. But they had to wait 14 minutes before star striker Mario Gomez gave them a deserving lead. Winger Thomas Mueller added two more in the 29th and 37th minutes to ensure FCB had a healthy lead before the break; but Bastian Schweinsteiger added a fourth in the 43rd minute, the goal of the afternoon as he curled one in beating an outstretched Karanjit Singh in the India goal.

It looked India could be in for a hammering as FCB went into the break with a 4-0 lead, which the team could not get their act together.

But after the break things changed as both coaches made numerous substitutions and once more it showed that FCB's bench isn't as strong as the first eleven plus the team didn't play with the same purpose as in the first half. But also credit to India then the young substitutes like Jeje Lalpekhlua, Lalrindika Ralte and others did a good job to keep the Bavarians without a goa in session two with India looking not as scared and vulnerable as before the break.

Then came the big moment of farewell as Baichung was substituted in the 84th minute under the thunderous applause of the crowd. Most players shock hands with Baichung before he came off. It was a very, very emotional moment for the Sikkimese sniper.

It ended 4-0 for FC Bayern Munich as India after a weak first half pulled up its socks and played much better and organised football, as FCB coach Jupp Heynckes said afterwards India were able to close down the gaps after the break.

Chhetri given AIFF Player-of-the-Year Award

2012-01-10T23:00:00.000+01:00

Even as Baichung Bhutia, Team India and FC Bayern Munich hogged the limelight at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, there was a significant presentation which happened during the match.

Team India striker Sunil Chhetri was awarded the 2011 AIFF Player-of-the-Year award during the interval. The Award was handed over to Chhetri by the AIFF president Praful Patel. Mr. Patel handed Chhetri a silver plaque and a Cheque of Rs. 200,000 (2 lakh).

In his message Mr. Patel congratulated Chhetri and wished him more success in the years to come. "Sunil Chhetri is a deserving recipient of the Award. I hope this will spur him on to bring more laurels for the National Team in the near future. I wish him success in coming years," Mr. Patel said.

For the first time the Award was decided in a democratic manner where all the coaches of the I-League playing teams voted unanimously on the four short-listed footballers.

An elated Chhetri thanked all his team-mates and coaches and the AIFF without whose support "the Award wouldn't have been possible at all."

"This is an inspiration to do better. 2011 has been good for me – I had earlier received the Arjuna Award and now the AIFF Player-of-the-Year Award. It feels nice when your achievements are recognised," Chhetri added.

Chhetri who scored 24 goals (13 International goals and 11 goals for Clubs) in 2011 had earlier received the Award in 2007.

Bayern Munich stars to bid farewell to Baichung Bhutia tonight

2012-01-10T03:47:00.003+01:00

The Audi Football Summit will be played today at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi with the Indian national football team taking on German football giants FC Bayern Munich. The match also marks the farewell game for long-time India captain Baichung Bhutia and proceeds from the game will go to the victims of the Sikkim earthquake.

Bayern Munich arrived yesterday afternoon in the Indian capital ahead of the match against India. It is the fifth visit by a team from FCB in the last six years, but the first time that their full first team squad has travelled to the subcontinent.

At the pre-match press conference Philipp Lahm made the point that he was happy to be in India and had seen a little bit of country on the way from the airport to the team hotel and he hoped to interact with Indians to get feel of the country.

Baichung Bhutia was happy and proud that in his final match for Team India he would get the chance to face a team of the calibre of Bayern Munich. Baichung wants to go out on a high and will try to play as long as possible, ideally 90 minutes.

For Bastian Schweinsteiger the match is part of his comeback preparations following a collar bone fracture ahead of the start of the return-leg of the German Bundesliga on January 20 against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

And coach Jupp Heynckes added, "We are taking this match seriously. We are here to show what top European club football is all about and hope to entertain the Indian crowds."

The match will kick-off at 18.00 local time at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The match will be shown live in India on TenAction+, while Germany's Sat1 will show the a match recording at 18.00 CET.

More information about the match and where to buy tickets online are available at www.audifootballsummit.in

The official Twitter account of the Audi Football Summit can be found under www.twitter.com/AudiFS2012 .

VIDEO: Baichung speaking ahead of his Farewell match

2012-01-09T09:10:00.000+01:00

Baichung Bhutia is back one final time to play for Team India. And the interest this has generated amongst the media is something great to see.

NewsX did an interview with Baichung at the Team India hotel, here it is

FC Bayern Munich arrive into Delhi today

2012-01-09T01:30:00.000+01:00

German Bundesliga giants FC Bayern Munich arrive in New Delhi this afternoon ahead of the Audi Football Summit tomorrow in which they face the Indian national football team at the floodlit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

From the original 24 players squad which had been announced in late-December by the Bavarians there is only one change. FC Bayern will fly from the Qatari capital Doha to Delhi with only three goalkeepers in the squad as fourth keeper Maximilian Riedmueller stayed at home, while talented 17 year old midfielder Emre Can was brought along by coach Jupp Heynckes to get a feel of the first team.

The week long Qatar camp has been very harmonious with only a second of bother when star striker Mario Gomez limped off after only a few minutes in a friendly against Egyptian giants Al Alhi, Cairo on Saturday. FC Bayern kept their 100% record in 2012 intact with a injury time 2-1 win. Both goals came from Croatian Ivica Olic. Yesterday FC Bayern's second team took on the ASPIRE Academy Under-19 boys and won 5-0 with Japanese recruit Takashi Usami scoring all five goals in the win.

Earlier on Thursday FCB had played a match against Qatari second Division side Al Sailiya SC and they went on to win the match in emphatic fashion. It ended with a 13-0 trashing for the Qataris.

The Audi Football Summit will kick-off at 4.30 pm with the national India finals of the FC Bayern Youth Cup, while the India vs Bayern Munich game will start at 6 pm.

Tickets for the match are still available and will be sold across counter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

FC Bayern München

Goalkeepers
1-Manuel Neuer, 22-Hans-Joerg Butt, 32-Rouven Sattelmaier

Defenders
2-Breno, 5-Daniel van Buyten, 13-Rafinha, 17-Jérôme Boateng, 21-Philipp Lahm, 26-Diego Contento, 28-Holger Badstuber

Midfielders
7-Franck Ribéry, 10-Arjen Robben, 14-Takashi Usami, 23-Danijel Pranjic, 27-David Alaba, 30-Luiz Gustavo, 31-Bastian Schweinsteiger, 39-Toni Kroos, 44-Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Emre Can

Forwards
9-Nils Petersen, 11-Ivica Olic, 13-Thomas Mueller, 33-Mario Gomez

Officials
Jupp Heynckes (coach), Peter Hermann (Assistant Coach), Hermann Gerland (Assistant Coach), Toni Tapalovic (Goalkeeper Coach)

More information about the match and where to buy tickets online are available at www.audifootballsummit.in

The official Twitter account of the Audi Football Summit can be found under www.twitter.com/AudiFS2012 .

Indian players look forward to take on FC Bayern Munich stars

2012-01-08T14:55:00.000+01:00

On a cool Sunday morning the Indian national football team had their first training session at Delhi's Ambedkar Stadium as they eagerly await to face FC Bayern Munich in the Audi Football Summit on Tuesday, January 10.

When the India players were asked about the players whom they like to face on Tuesday or who they admire most then the names of Thomas Mueller, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Arjen Robben were the most often named. Here some of the Team India statements and comments.

2010 AIFF Player-of-the-Year Gouramangi Singh said, " There are a lot of players I like at Bayern Munich. I admire Philipp Lahm as a Germany captain, but also we will be able to see from close players like Mueller and Gomez, who we normally only watch on television. Especially having to face Gomez will be a test for our defence."

India's utility player Syed Rahim Nabi said, "I have played against Thomas Mueller in Kolkata, but the player I really like is Arjen Robben. It isn't about winning or losing, but about learning from players who have played at World Cups."

Defender Nirmal Chetri said, "I will lookout for a number of players, but my pick has to be Thomas Mueller. The best part is that three years ago when I first played against him he was an unknown youngster, but now he one of the stars in world football. It is great to see his progress, lets see how we can stop him."

Wing-back Samir Naik said, "I'd like to play against Schweinsteiger, Bastian Schweinsteiger. He is my favourite because I love the way he plays his game."

Meanwhile Baichung Bhutia was happy to be back amongst the Team India players and there was huge media interest to hear from him ahead of his farewell match. When asked about whom at Bayern Munich he most wants to see in action, a diplomatic Baichung said, "They are all world stars, but to take out one is difficult though surely I look forward to seeing Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Arjen Robben in action here in Delhi."

"It is a good chance for our youngsters to learn from the best, then the Bundesliga is one of the strongest leagues in the world," Baichung added.

More information about the match and where to buy tickets online are available at www.audifootballsummit.in

The official Twitter account of the Audi Football Summit can be found under www.twitter.com/AudiFS2012 .

Voeller: Calls for Ballack farewell from German FA!

2012-01-08T11:10:00.000+01:00

Bayer 04 Leverkusen Director of Sports Rudi Voeller, who happens to be a former Germany coach, has called on the German Football Association (DFB) to give long-time captain Michael Ballack a dignified farewell.

It seemed last summer the topic had been sorted for once and for all after a patch-up between coach Joachim Loew and Ballack seemed unlikely, but Voeller is making another effort to make that match happen.

Voeller only on Friday spoke to the DFB president-designate Wolfgang Niersbach, who is currently the DFB's General Secretary, about the issue. Voeller said, "We discussed the issue at length and some more talks will have to follow, then with a book and a handshake it isn't enough but for such a game to happen Michael Ballack will also have to cooperate."

Voeller hopes that Niersbach is able to bring Loew and Ballack to the table as Leverkusen's General Manager Wolfgang Holzhaeuser has also made similar statements in recent days.

Though his club Leverkusen is pushing for a farewell game Michael Ballack himself continues to be reserved on the matter, while he has said that he has moved on and too many things have happened during the course of issue which cannot be turned back.

Team India Players visit FC Barcelona Camp in Delhi

2012-01-08T04:10:00.000+01:00

Some of India's finest football talents in captain Climax Lawrance, defender Gouramangi Singh, winger Clifford Miranda plus strikers Jeje Lalpekhlua and C.S. Sabeeth yesterday visited the FCBEscola (FC Barcelona football school) training camp at The Heritage School in Gurgaon.

The Indian footballers interacted with the young participants, who got the chance to ask question, take autographs and also played a series of friendly seven a-side matches with the Team India players involving FCBEscola coaches Aleix Gibert Buxeda and Antoni Claveria.

FC Barcelona through FCBEscola in association with Conscient Football is running two training camps in the National-Capital-Region. The first camp was held at The British School, Delhi between December 30, 2011 - January 4, 2012 and the second ongoing camp is being held at The Heritage School, Gurgaon. A total number of 360 children are part of the two camps in the age group Under-8, Under-10, Under-12, Under-14 and Under-17, including 20 girls and 18 children from the economically weaker sections.

Ex-Barcelona player and now coach at FCBEscola Josep 'Pep' Moratalla is leading the training assisted by two Spanish coaches, six coaches from Conscient Football and six assistants.

Baichung Bhutia looks forward to final Indian match against Bayern Munich

2012-01-07T19:44:00.000+01:00

Baichung Bhutia is set to play one last time for the Indian national football team in his farewell match on Tuesday, January 10 in the Audi Football Summit against German Bundesliga giants FC Bayern Munich at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.

For the 35 year old Baichung his international journey ends with this game, but he will still continue to play for his own club United Sikkim FC for another two/three years before retiring fully from active football.

For Baichung such a finale is a great honour and he said, "It is a tough finale for my international career as Bayern Munich is one of the best teams in European club football. But it is a challenge in which I want to succeed."

The Sikkimese striker started his international career in a 1995 Nehru Cup match against Uzbekistan and he would go on to score in that game, the youngest goal scorer for India at the time at the age of only 19. Baichung would go on to represented India in 107 international matches and score an impressive 43 goals.

Talking about his career Baichung said, "I just wanted to play for India. I would have never dreamt of playing 100 plus matches."

India defender Gouramangi Singh said, "Baichung is a legend in Indian football, a role model for us footballers and I am honoured to be part of his final match."

As his biggest achievement at international level Baichung rated the qualification (2008 AFC Challenge Cup triumph) and participation in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar, the first continental appearance by India in 27 years. But the tournament was also a big disappointment for Baichung as he only was able to play the final 12 minutes against South Korea due to a persistent injury and in August 2011 he then called it quits on his international career.

Baichung wanted to sign off by saying, "I want to thank Audi India, FC Bayern Munich and the All India Football Federation for organising such a farewell match for me!"

More information about the match and where to buy tickets online are available at www.audifootballsummit.in

The official Twitter account of the Audi Football Summit can be found under www.twitter.com/AudiFS2012 .

VIDEO: Bayern Munich score 13 goals in friendly!

2012-01-07T17:13:00.000+01:00

In a short notice organised friendly on Thursday, January 5 against Qatari second Division side Al-Sailiya SC at the Aspire Sports Complex FC Bayern Munich scored a impressive 13-0 win in their first match of the year.

Here are all the 13 goals put together in a match report by FCB.tv

Team India arrives in Delhi ahead of Bayern Munich match

2012-01-07T14:40:00.000+01:00

The first contingent of Indian international footballers arrived in the capital on Saturday morning with the rest of the players awaited from Kolkata after playing the local league derby this afternoon. The team will face German giants FC Bayern Munich in the Audi Football Summit exhibition match.

The young strike duo of Jeje and Sabeeth, both of whom have been together for the Under-23 Olympic qualifiers, just couldn't wait to get on the field against the Bayern Munich side.

"This is a life-time opportunity for us," Jeje said. "International scheduling in football doesn’t permit one to get on the same field against such renowned clubs. But here we are playing against Bayern Munich," Jeje who turned 21 on Saturday, expressed.

"All of them are international stars. The entire footballing fraternity will be keeping a close eye on the match," Jeje added.

"We speak of Exposure Tours every alternate minute. Can any Tour get bigger than this?" Sabeeth, putting on his boots, quipped. "I'm lucky to be in the squad for this match. It's for us to learn, the more the better for us," Sabeeth joined in.

The duo hasn't yet played together with legend Baichung Bhutia and that makes it all the more significant for them. "Baichung has been the most deadly Indian striker I have seen," Sabeeth quipped. "His commitment and his reflexes are a lesson for any young player."

Jeje added, "It's fortunate that I get to play with Baichung. It's unfortunate that I won't ever get a chance to play with him again. He is such a great player."

"Baichung was such an aggressive striker. He always had the ability to put the rival defence under pressure," Sabeeth maintained.

Gouramangi Singh, the 2010 AIFF Player-of-the-Year, feels it's an honour for him to be playing in Baichung's farewell match. "I have always looked upto him! To be a part of his Farewell Match is indeed an honour for me," Mangi opined.

Team India will be having their first practice session at the Ambedkar Stadium on Sunday morning.

INDIA

Goalkeepers
Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar SC), Subhasish Roy Chowdhury (Dempo SC), Felix D'Souza (Churchill Brothers SC)

Defenders
Jaspal Singh Parmar (Salgaocar SC), Samir Naik (Dempo SC), Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh (Churchill Brothers SC), Govin Moirangthem Singh (United Sikkim FC), Nirmal Chetri (East Bengal Club), Syed Rahim Nabi (Mohun Bagan AC), Adil Khan (Sporting Clube de Goa), Gurjinder Singh (Pune FC)

Midfielders
Reisangmi Vashum (East Bengal Club), Jewel Raja Sheikh (Mohun Bagan AC), Climax Lawrence (Dempo SC), Rakesh Masih (Mohun Bagan AC), Baldeep Singh (Pune FC), Clifford Miranda (Dempo SC), Lalrindika Ralte (Churchill Brothers SC), Rocus Lamare (Salgaocar SC)

Forwards
Jeje Lalpekhlua (Pune FC), Baichung Bhutia (United Sikkim FC), Sushil Kumar Singh (United Sikkim FC), C.S. Sabeeth (Pailan Arrows)

More information about the match and where to buy tickets online are available at www.audifootballsummit.in

The official Twitter account of the Audi Football Summit can be found under www.twitter.com/AudiFS2012 .

Steve McClaren returns to Twente Enschede

2012-01-06T19:30:00.000+01:00

The Dutch Eredivisie side FC Twente Enschede have reappointed Englishman Steve McClaren as their coach. McClaren has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Dutch side, which could keep him with them until 2014. 50 year old McClaren replaces Co Adriaanse, who was fired with Twente in third position in the Dutch Eredivisie.

McClaren returns to a club, who under him won their first-ever Dutch title in the 2009/10 season. Thereafter the former England boss McClaren had worked for German Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg and English Championship side Nottingham Forest, but he failed at both clubs.

At Twente McClaren knows everything and hopes for another successful era after his first two year stint had ended with the Dutch Eredivisie title.

McClaren said, "I know the club very well. I know the people at the top. I can work with the people at the top. I think that is the most important thing. I had a good relationship with them the last time. I know where the club is coming from."

"I know what their vision is. I know what their ambitions are. It is still there. That was the key thing for me," McClaren ended.

VIDEO: Some of Baichung Bhutia's unseen goals

2012-01-06T14:40:00.001+01:00

Someone has uploaded a video on YouTube with some of Baichung Bhutia's older goals for Team India, in the NFL and Calcutta Football League plus a goal for Bury FC. A real treat to watch!

India Game on the mind of Bayern Munich players

2012-01-05T14:34:00.000+01:00

It's one of the most high-profile visit of an international football club to India, waiting for its football talent to be explored and tapped. Make no mistake, the FC Bayern stars are preparing for the launch of the second half of the Bundesliga season, but their stars are also eagerly waiting for their first glimpse of Delhi at the Audi Football Summit on January 10.

Football has the uncanny ability to make even strangers bond over a 90-minute game. The Germans are already aware of the contribution that Bhaichung Bhutia has made single-handedly to Indian football. At an interaction here after training, Bayern captain Philipp Lahm said, "At FC Bayern, we would like to contribute to the growth of Indian football. It is a great idea to play in Delhi." French international and star winger in the Bayern outfit, Franck Ribery is looking forward to his maiden trip to India. The 28-year-old Ribery said, "Football has taken me to places, which I would not have gone otherwise. I look forward to add India to that list."

Youngster Thomas Mueller, who had been to India earlier, is the 'official' guide for the trip, joked some of his team-mates. This will be Muller's first tour to the country after he shot into the limelight in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The winner of the 2010 World Cup 'Golden boot' award said, "A lot has happened since I visited India with the FCB second team in January 2009. I look forward to renew my ties with your country."

The Bayern camp is also upbeat about the return of star midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger after his two month lay-off due to a collarbone injury. The 27-year-old Schweinsteiger is one of the most sought-after sporting icons in Germany. It's quite evident that the Bayern vice-captain is raring to be back in action soon. Schweinsteiger is equally thrilled about taking the flight to Delhi on January 9. Schweinsteiger said, "I am returning from an injury, so the India match is crucial to see how I have recovered ahead of a hectic second phase of the season." Another star in the midfield, Dutch international Arjen Robben shares his aim for their Indian fans. Standing tall at six-feet, Robben said, "I know you love your cricket, but for 90 minutes next week we hope to show you quality football."

More information about the match and where to buy tickets online are available at www.audifootballsummit.in

The official Twitter account of the Audi Football Summit can be found under www.twitter.com/AudiFS2012 .

VIDEO: Goalkeeper Tim Howards Goal!

2012-01-05T07:08:00.003+01:00

Goalkeepers rarely score and one of such instances was last night, when Everton's US goalkeeper Tim Howard scored with a clearance from his own box against Bolton Wanderers. Howard is only the fourth goalie in English Premier League history to score. Earlier Peter Schmeichel, Brad Friedel and Paul Robinson had been able to achieve this feet.

Reus confirms summer transfer to Borussia Dortmund

2012-01-05T01:32:00.002+01:00

Borussia Dortmund and German international Marco Reus have both confirmed that the 22 year old will be joining last seasons Bundesliga champions in the summer of 2012 from rivals Borussia Mönchengladbach. The transfer fee will be 17,1 Million Euros.

The transfer was only possible due to Reus having a release clause in his contract which was to run until 2015. Not only Dortmund, but also FC Bayern Munich and some foreign clubs had shown interest in signing Reus, who is one of Germany's brightest talents.

For Dortmund Reus is the first big transfer in years and with the money from the UEFA Champions League coming in they can afford the attacking midfielder, who has signed a five year contract. Reus meanwhile returns home, then he was born in Dortmund having played in the youth teams of Borussia Dortmund before leaving for RW Ahlen and then Gladbach.

Though Reus also said that his parents and girlfriend living in Dortmund wasn't a factor in his decision, he knows the club very well and wanted to join an ambitious club which Dortmund is according to him.

For Mönchengladbach it was a big shock then they are currently playing their best season in years with Reus the standout player in the team. Gladbach had signed then teenager Marco Reus for only a million Euros from then 2.Bundesliga side RW Ahlen and since then he has scored 28 goals in 80 Bundesliga matches with manymore assists.

Phenomenal response to the first FCBEscola camp in Delhi

2012-01-04T19:00:00.001+01:00

The training camp of the FCBEscola (FC Barcelona football school) that concluded at The British School, Chanakyapuri in New Delhi today, witnessed 180 participants in the age group of Under-8s to U-17s being trained in the FC Barcelona training methodology. The second camp will take place at The Heritage School in Gurgaon.

The camp was for five days with extensive 15 hours coaching. There were 10 girls who participated in the different age groups at the camp. The training focused on technique, ethics, partnership and team building. Led by ex-Barcelona player and now coach at FCBEscola Josep 'Pep' Moratalla along-with to Spanish coaches and 12 coaches from Conscient Football, the training had a coach to player ratio of 1:6.

Pep Moratalla was very positive about the camp and said, "The enthusiasm in learning is the key factor for progress. We, at FC Barcelona instill the value of true sportsman's spirit and that is necessary for holistic development of a child. In Delhi, amongst all the participants at the camp, we saw unparalleled camaraderie. There is huge potential in the children and we hope that they will benefit from the initial training and continue to hone their skills."

Anupama Jain, Conscient Football Director, said, "This camp is just the beginning of a long relationship of FC Barcelona in India. FC Barcelona has extensively trained our coaches to carry forward the training methodology."

Bayern Munich arrive in Qatar, prepare for India friendly

2012-01-03T23:55:00.000+01:00

German Bundesliga giants FC Bayern Munich landed in Doha, Qatar on Monday, January 2 afternoon for their week-long mid-season training camp ahead of the friendly against the Indian national team at the Audi Football Summit in New Delhi.

FC Bayern are staying at the Grand Heritage hotel, which is part of the beautiful Aspire Sports Complex in Doha, an unbelievable world class sporting facility. FC Bayern had their first feel of beautiful lush green on Tuesday morning and while they where training on one pitch, the adjacent field was being used by French Ligue 1 leaders FC Paris Saint-Germain and from Wednesday onwards Bundesliga rivals FC Schalke 04 will also join them in Doha.

FC Bayern were supposed to come with a 24 players squad to Doha, but the Brazilian Rafinha was delayed by a day due to visa problems and joined the squad on Tuesday evening. Otherwise the 23 players were seen in action amongst them midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who had his first full team training session after his collar bone fracture in early-November and in good news for his Indian fans, Schweinsteiger will be seen in action in Delhi on January 10 as per coach Jupp Heynckes.

Meanwhile Jupp Heynckes was in a jovial mood in his interaction with the media. They took great interest in the season so far, his thought about some of his players and the May 19 UEFA Champions League final in Munich. But seasoned coach Heynckes said, "I am mainly focused on the upcoming matches in the Bundesliga, German Cup and UEFA Champions League then in February, March and April you have to have substance to succeed in the big matches towards the end of the season."

More information about the match and where to buy tickets online are available at www.audifootballsummit.in

The official Twitter account of the Audi Football Summit can be found under www.twitter.com/AudiFS2012 .

'Super Football' on January 23 in Kolkata

2012-01-02T06:00:00.000+01:00

In their first venture into football JPR Events will be organising the 'Super Football' match on January 23, 2012 at the Saltlake Stadium with a number of former worldstars set to play in the City of Joy. Originally the match had been scheduled for January 15, but due to the Gangasagar Mela the local police could not provide cover, so the match had to be pushed back by a few days.

The Superstars XI would be led by Brazilian World Cup winning captain Cafu and the organisers are trying to get Brazilian legends Pele and Ronaldo to come and play in the match. Others former footballers taking part are Regi Blinker (Netherlands), Marcel Desailly (France), Paolo Maldini (Italy), Denilson (Brazil), Pierre van Hooijdonk (Netherlands), Ansgar Brinkmann (Germany), Winston Bogarde (Netherlands), Christian Karambeu (France), Roland Kopp (Germany), Ronald de Boer (Netherlands), Rene Higuita (Colombia) and Marcel Oerlemans (Netherlands). The Superstars XI will be coached by Dutch legend Ruud Gullit.

The Indian Dream XI would be announced later in the week at a press conference in the city. What is known is that Baichung Bhutia would led the Indian side which will be put together by the Football Players Association of India with Shyam Thapa to be the coach.

On the morning of the matchday the players from both sides would have a training session. It is slated for 08.00 to 10.00h with the venue to the announced later. The tickets for the match have been priced between Rs. 300 to 500 with the VIP tickets by invitation only.

Post-match there would be an auction dinner at the Hyatt Regency hotel's pool side, which would also be strictly by invitation only and then there would be an After Party at the Hyatt Banquets which would go on between 23.00h and 01.00h with tickets for the After Party priced at Rs. 3,000. Dutch DJ Afrojack would be at the turntables to entertain the crowds.

Member of the German rockband the Scorpions would also be in town for the event and could play in the Superstar XI and later in the evening they would auction a signed guitar of theirs.

FC Bayern Munich start journey to Qatar & India

2012-01-01T20:45:00.001+01:00

German record league champions FC Bayern Munich start their preparations for the return-leg (second phase) of the German Bundesliga tomorrow with a week long training camp in Qatar and a visit to New Delhi for friendly match against India on January 10.

The clubs players had 12 days of holiday and rest over the christmas and new year period, now the preparations start in full earnest. A squad of 24 players will leave for Doha tomorrow morning from Munich for a week long camp in the Aspire Academy, one of the best training facilities in the world.

Coach Jupp Heynckes and his team will try and set to base to regain the Bundesliga title, which restarts on January 20 with a match against old rivals Borussia Mönchengladbach. The Bavarians still have the chance to win three titles - UEFA Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup.

But it isn't only about training for Heynckes and his men. FC Bayern will take on Egyptian giants Al Ahli at the Al Sadd Stadium, Doha on January 7, while on their way back Bayern Munich will visit New Delhi to play a friendly match against Team India at the Audi Football Summit which is the international farewell match for Indian football icon Baichung Bhutia.

More information about the India vs Bayern Munich match and where to buy tickets online are available at www.audifootballsummit.in

The official Twitter account of the Audi Football Summit can be found under www.twitter.com/AudiFS2012 .

VIDEO: Team India's goals in 2011

2012-01-01T18:00:00.001+01:00

Under the title of An Introduction to Indian Football someone has uploaded onto YouTube most of the goals that Team India scored in the 2011 calendar year. A nice video to watch and some really good goals in there as well!!!

Brasil Futebol Academia to launch Football School in Goa

2012-01-01T13:20:00.001+01:00

Brazilian footballers in India Roberto Mendes Silva (Beto) and Jose Ramirez Barreto are taking a step further to develop football in India by starting a Football School to unearth young gems between the age group of 6-12 which will function along with the Brasil Futebol Academia and will be headed by the Brazilian management whose objective is to align the Brazilian style of play from childhood.

The school will be headed by BFA Academy Manager Glauco Moraes who has enormous amount of knowledge and experience in football, also having worked with some of Brazil's footballing greats who are now internationally acclaimed stars namely Lucas Leiva of FC Liverpool, Anderson of Manchester United and Ronaldinho Gaucho at Gremio FC.

The aim of the school is to make football more beautiful, more entertaining thereby encouraging young players to imitate and align the flamboyant Brazilian style. The school will be offering youngsters of all abilities, the opportunity to improve their game and to play football in the Brazilian way and will be groomed to perfection in such a way that they will be directly absorbed into the Academy.

Football isn't just about techniques and skills; it's about enjoyment, fitness and social skills. The players here will enjoy the beautiful game, have fun and also make friends.

Youngsters will be divided into three categories of different age groups with different training module

- 6 to 8 - Basic training
- 9 to 10 - Developmental stage
- 11 to 12 - Advanced training

A strong emphasis will be placed on developing the technical skills of every child. Skills from basic to complex will be broken down into easily learnable phases for children and then these moves will be taught and repeated many times in small games.

"We believe that children do not spend enough time training. They may spend a lot of time playing matches, but generally children do not spend enough time working on their skills. As a result BFA Football School plans to change the way that football is played thereby changing the way that we train children to play the game. However this cannot happen without children spending increased time practicing their skills," a BFA release said.

The sessions will last for two-hours and will be entirely devoted to training core skills. The school which will operate on a fee basis and will open on Monday, January 2 at the Chowgule Sports and Fitness Centre in Margao. The BFA Football School will train on the Chowgule artificial football pitch on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4-6 pm.

From six years and upwards, boys or girls can come along and enjoy playing the game.

If you are interested in any aspect of the BFA football school, kindly call on 0832-2217008
For details on how to register contact Elton De Sousa on 98508 59497.

Connect with Brasil Futebol Academia on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest updates, you can also visit the website at www.bfaindia.in

Happy New Year 2012!!!

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000+01:00

I wish you, all my readers and well-wishers, a very happy New Year 2012!!!

Most importantly I wish good health to you all and your families, achieve your personal goals and lets hope for a great year in football.

If you want to follow me on social media besides my blog, check out:

Follow me on Facebook: Arunava Chaudhuri Fanpage

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My Indian football Highlights in 2011

2011-12-31T11:11:00.002+01:00

2011 ends later today and I wanted to take a look back at the year gone by in Indian football. It was another year which promised a lot, but did it keep up to its promise or let us down? A difficult question, which does not have a definite answer. Read and make your own opinion...

2011 AFC Asian Cup

The year started with India playing at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar, 27 years after its last appearance at the continental champions. India coached by Bob Houghton were drawn in the Group of Death along with Australia, South Korea and Bahrain. We lost 0-4 against Australia, 2-5 against Bahrain and 1-4 against South Korea. 3-13 goals speak a clear language, but if one knows the gulf in standard between the best in Asia and a developing football nation like ours then it was an overall a good show by Team India.

The tournament also marked the career highlight for a generation of Indian footballers led by striker Baichung Bhutia, who was mostly injured and so could only play the final 15 minutes against South Korea. The others were Mahesh Gawli, Deepak Kumar Mondal, Samir Naik, Climax Lawrence, Renedy Singh and Abhishek Yadav; who all have done their bit for Indian football.

But one should not forget the fans. India had the best crowd support in Doha! It was like a home tournament for us...

The Sacking of Bob Houghton

Englishman Bob Houghton did a credible job to qualify India to the 2011 AFC Asian Cup and thereafter at the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers in March 2011 in Kuala Lumpur he started to rebuild his team for the years ahead. But that was cut short by the All India Football Federation as the national body was not happy with the fact that Bob openly criticised the infrastructure and administration as the reason of India's non-development in football. Especially at the Asian Cup in Doha Bob was vocal about the problems that Indian football faces.

The end of the story is a complete disgrace. The AIFF labelled false charges of racism against Bob Houghton for statements he is said to have made against Indian fourth official Dinesh Nair in a international friendly match last year in Pune.

In the end Bob looked fed-up and left the country in haste after the AIFF dropped the charges in April 2011. After nearly five years of being India coach Bob certainly didn't deserve a send-off like this.

I-League: Salgaocar SC champions

The surprise champions of the 2010/11 I-League with 56 points were Salgaocar SC under the able guidance of Moroccan coach Karim Bencharifa. The Goans surprised everyone with their football and after snatching the lead from early leaders East Bengal Club, they never really looked back as they won the championship in style. Their foreigners in Luciano Sabrosa, Ryuji Suoeka and Yakubu Yusif were top besides young Indian talent in Gilbert Oliveira, Francis Fernandes and Anthony Barbosa emerging plus seasoned Karanjit Singh, Jaspal Singh Parmar, Khelemba Singh and Rocus Lamare playing their part.

I-League: JCT relegated, close down

Punjabi side JCT, who have been fighting relegation for the last few seasons, finally went down at the end of last season as they finished 13th amongst 14 teams. It not only ended their stay in the NFL/I-League since the launch of the league, but their management decided to close down the football club overall to concentrate on the Academy and youth development.

It marks the end of an era, leaving Punjab and North India without I-League representation. JCT not only were the flagbearers of the North but also a club to develop talent through the JCT Academy. The players often moved from the Academy to the senior team and there made a name for themselves.

The closure of JCT follows a season after Mahindra United had decided to take the same drastic measure as the clubs say that they cannot sustain themselves without earning revenues. Still things don't seem to change with the clubs unable to generate revenues and other clubs could go this way.

2014 FIFA World Cup: India out at first hurdle

The qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil were over before they had really started for India. This time around seeded into the second Round of Asian qualifiers India had to face the mighty United Arab Emirates and progress would have meant a real upset.

But only 23 minutes into the match in Al Ain it looked all over for India after having goalkeeper Subrata Pal and defender Debabrata Roy send-off for two separate incidents with the team down to nine men and 0-2 behind. It ended 0-3 for the UAE, a credible result for India under the given circumstances, and India earned a hard-fought 2-2 comeback draw at a monsoon flooded Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi, but the overall aggregate of 5-2 speaks a clear language.

Indian Arrows become Pailan Arrows

Over the summer it looked like the Indian Arrows could be shutting shop due to the high costs involved in running the India developmental side in the I-League. But then Kolkata-based Pailan Group came forward and adopted the Arrows, the AIFF rebranded the team as Pailan Arrows and as such they will now play in the I-League in the coming seasons.

The good thing about the Arrows is the fact that their future for the next few years is secure and the youngsters will get a continued chance to play in the I-League with the team not to be relegated. This exposure is necessary and will do Indian football a great service in the future.

Baichung Bhutia retirement

Striker Baichung Bhutia was an upset man that he couldn't help his beloved Team India more at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in January in Qatar due to an injury. He tried a comeback ahead of the India vs Pakistan Series in the UK, but he had to pull out due to a never-ending injury and then Baichung decided and announced his retirement from international football in August 2011 in New Delhi.

Later on in October 2011 the India vs FC Bayern Munich match came around and it will give Indian fotoball the chance to give Baichung a fitting farewell on January 10, 2012 in New Delhi at the Audi Football Summit.

SAFF Cup: India triumph!

The year ended as it started with an international assignment for Team India. But this time around India wasn't the underdog, but rather the overwhelming favourite besides defending champions. And though the team had their problems in the tournament and faced some tough competition India did trash Afghanistan 4-0 in the SAFF Cup final though the result does not really reflect the match with the Afghans the positive surprise of the tournament.

International interest in Indian football

FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation continue to say that Indian football has huge potential and international interest in the Indian market continues to grow, but the necessary development isn't seen as in my opinion a lot of effort goes in vain or is commercially driven rather then by the game.

Surely we have now tons of camps from European top clubs for big city children, but development needs to be taken to the smaller cities and the rural areas where talent lies uptapped.

These are my Indian football highlights from 2011...

Ancelotti named new FC Paris Saint-Germain coach

2011-12-31T08:00:00.001+01:00

As had been expected over the last few days Italian Carlo Ancelotti has been named as the new head coach of French Ligue 1 leaders FC Paris Saint-Germain following the sacking of Antoine Kombouare. The ambitious new owners of PSG - Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) did not think that Kombouare was the man to push their big European ambitions.

Ancelotti, who successfully has coached at AC Milan and FC Chelsea, comes to to the French capital knowing that here is a club which has aspirations as his two former clubs in Milan and Chelsea also have. While he won the UEFA Champions League twice at Milan, he somewhat failed in London though winning the league and cup double.

Though on top of the French Ligue 1 Kombouare's downfall has been the fact that PSG were eliminated from the group stage of this seasons UEFA Europa League with the Ligue 1 title not big enough for the ambitious Qataris though it would be only PSG's third national title, while Kombouare wasn't also a big enough name as a coach.

Ancelotti knows about the task on hand and said at the press conference, "We have huge ambitions, naturally we want to win the title, we want to play in the Champions League and do the best possible in that."

"The discussion is not: '1st is good, 2nd is not good', the project is bigger than that. The objective is to grow, that the club is both competitive in France and especially in Europe."

"I have a huge responsibility, because the team is first," Ancelotti added.

Former PSG captain Claude Makélélé has been appointed assistant coach with the club looking to bring in more talent over the winter transfer window. The name of Englishman David Beckham is making the rounds, but if he will sign at PSG will have to be seen. Likewise other names in Chelsea's Florent Malouda, Milan's Alexandre Pato or Real Madrid's ex-Milan out of favour playmaker Kaka are being linked to PSG.

Coaching Camp for Indian Women's Team

2011-12-30T19:35:00.000+01:00

In a very positive step for Women's football in India the All India Football Federation is organising a camp for the Indian Senior Women's national football team at the Sports Authority of India Centre in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

The camp does not conclude with any assignments, but chief coach Shahid Jabbar has called 30 women footballers to work on the finer aspects of the game and prepare for future assignments. The camp will continue until January 30, 2012.

INDIA Women's Camp

Goalkeepers
Anjana Saikia, Usharani Das, Swarnamayee Samal, Rashmi Kumari

Defenders
Romi Devi, Radharani Devi, Rebika Devi, Rashmita Patra, Ashalata Devi, Bijay Laxmi Sahu, Suprava Samal, Tuli Goon, Ansha, Bijaya Devi

Midfielders O. Bembem Devi, Manisha Panna, Kamala Devi, Supriya Routray, Amoolya, Premi Devi, Montessori Chanu

Forwards
Parmeshwari Devi, Nima Lamhu Bhutia, Michel Margaret Castanha, Swati Rawat, Pinky Bompal Magar, Sasmita Malik, Naobi Chanu, Rina Roy, R. Suganya

Officials
Shahid Jabbar (Chief Coach); Shukla Dutta (Assistant Coach), Pratima Biswas (Assistant Coach), Surmala Chanu (Assistant Coach), Minati Roy (Assistant Coach); Ranjita Mohanty (Goalkeeping Coach); Kruti Marolia (Physiotherapist); Poulami Ghosh (Trainer)

FCBEscola camp kicked-off in Delhi today

2011-12-30T18:10:00.001+01:00

The much awaited FCBarcelona football training camp has started in Delhi. The FCBEscola, the FC Barcelona football school, in association with Conscient Football; began the first of the two camps at The British School, Chanakyapuri in New Delhi today, while the second camp will take place at The Heritage School in Gurgaon.

With 180 participants, the camp has been divided in two batches of 90 children each. The first phase of the camp is being held from today up to January 4, 2012 with January 1, 2012 being an day off. All participants received an official FCB Camp kit to wear during their 15 hours of FCBEscola training.

Ex-Barcelona player and now coach at FCBEscola Josep 'Pep' Moratalla is leading the training assisted by two other Spanish coaches, six coaches from Conscient Football and six further assistants. The participants are in the following age groups - Under-8, Under-10, Under-12, Under-14 and Under-17.

The camp is open to both boys and girls of all football playing abilities. During the intense sessions, participants will be trained in the same manner as the FC Barcelona players back in Spain.

Anupama Jain,Conscient Football Director, said, "This has been a great start as we have received phenomenal interest from players in Delhi as well as from other cities around the country. The participants represent over 80 schools and we have a number of girls who have registered for the camp which reflects the growth of football in India."

Al Kass International Cup Under-17 2012 in Doha, Qatar

2011-12-30T06:30:00.000+01:00

Some of the biggest clubs in world football will be sending their youth teams to the Qatari capital Doha to compete in the first edition of a new international football tournament to be named as the Al Kass International Cup Under-17. The annual event will be held from January 8 to 17, 2012 at the outdoor football pitches at Aspire Zone in Doha.

The competition is being organized by Al Dawri & Al Kass Sports Channel (Al Kass), together with the Qatar Football Association (QFA) and Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF).

"This is going to be the first edition of an annual event that is set to further contribute to building on the foundations of a proud footballing nation up to the FIFA World Cup 2022 and beyond," said Issa Bin Abdulla Al-Hitmi, general manager of Al Kass.

The initiative is expected to benefit the global youth football movement as emerging junior teams from top clubs such as FC Paris Saint-Germain (France), Vasco da Gama (Brazil), Juventus (Italy), AFC Ajax Amsterdam (Netherlands), FC Barcelona (Spain), Kashima Antlers (Japan), Al Jazira (UAE) and Al Ahly (Egypt) discover new frontiers, build partnerships and make lifelong friendships.

The teams will be competing to win the the trophy for first place along with a 200,000 USD cash prize to be allocated to the winning club. There will also be awards given to the most valuable player of each match. The local Aspire Academy will also have two teams participating in the Cup, Aspire Qatar and Aspire International.

"Aspire Zone is honoured to be hosting such an innovative tournament to support youth development in football. The Aspire Academy has a strong history of hosting visiting youth football teams for friendly matches against our Aspire teams and the Al Kass International Cup U-17 will give our boys valuable experience. The players on display could be the future stars of world football so we just may see them returning to Qatar in 2022 to play in the FIFA World Cup," observed Ivan Bravo, Director General of Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence.

"Through the friendships forged during the annual Al Kass International Cup U-17, clubs will build a lasting relationship and intimacy with Qatar and its beautiful football stadiums leading all the way up to World Cup 2022," said Hamad Al-Mannai, director of the Al Kass International Cup U-17.

"We already know that Qatar is investing in the future of football and Doha is propelling itself as one of the leading sports capitals of the world, and we look forward to having a world class level of sportsmanship at the tournament," added Al-Mannai.

Officials said that all three stakeholders behind the initiative stand to gain from each other's expertise and contribute collectively to the growth of a footballing culture in Qatar and around the region.

With the tournament being held during football's winter break and located in a part of the world that truly bridges the East and the West, Ward Abdallah, head of the tournament's media committee, asserted that Al Kass U-17 has the tools required to communicate with the world's football community, "We will be launching a new website and using social media tools to ensure that we can reach and communicate directly with our Al Kass U-17 football community."

A number of key sponsors have already signed up to become part of a tournament of Al Kass International U-17's standing. These include Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, Qatar National Bank, Fifty One East, Qatar Stars League, Q.media, Ritz Carlton Hotel, Mannai Air Travel, QVision, Qatar Airways, The Look Company, and Swiss Open Air.

FC Bayern Munich to come with whole squad of stars to New Delhi

2011-12-29T18:00:00.000+01:00

German Bundesliga giants FC Bayern Munich will come with their full 24 player squad to New Delhi to face Team India in the Audi Football Summit on January 10, 2012 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

The Bavarians will be led by captain Philipp Lahm, who also captains the German national team, in the exhibition match which is a farewell for the Indian football icon Bhaichung Bhutia from the Indian national football team.

FC Bayern Munich boasts of some of the best talent in the world. Captain Lahm is a class apart as a defensive wing-back, their attack is led bz star striker Mario Gomez, while the club has one of the strongest midfield in the business, led by Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and Bastian Schweinsteiger which also includes
the 'Golden Boot' winner of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Thomas Mueller.

FC Bayern Munich are using the match against India as part of their mid-season preparations after the mid-season break in the Bundesliga following their week-long training camp in Qatar.

The AIFF had earlier released the Team India squad list for the match .

FC Bayern München

Goalkeepers
1-Manuel Neuer, 22-Hans-Joerg Butt, 24-Maximilian Riedmueller, 32-Rouven Sattelmaier

Defenders
2-Breno, 5-Daniel van Buyten, 13-Rafinha, 17-Jérôme Boateng, 21-Philipp Lahm, 26-Diego Contento, 28-Holger Badstuber

Midfielders
7-Franck Ribéry, 10-Arjen Robben, 14-Takashi Usami, 23-Danijel Pranjic, 27-David Alaba, 30-Luiz Gustavo, 31-Bastian Schweinsteiger, 39-Toni Kroos, 44-Anatoliy Tymoshchuk

Forwards
9-Nils Petersen, 11-Ivica Olic, 13-Thomas Mueller, 33-Mario Gomez

Officials
Jupp Heynckes (coach), Peter Hermann (Assistant Coach), Hermann Gerland (Assistant Coach), Toni Tapalovic (Goalkeeper Coach)

More information about the match and where to buy tickets online are available at www.audifootballsummit.in

The official Twitter account of the Audi Football Summit can be found under www.twitter.com/AudiFS2012 .

VIDEO: Odafe scores a brilliant goal!

2011-12-29T06:41:00.000+01:00

Mohun Bagan's Odafe Onyeka Okolie scored a briliant goal against Air India yesterday. The Nigerian as only he can do simply beat four defenders and then the Airmen goalkeeper Pawan Kumar to score his clubs third goal of the day to seal the match.

The video clip shows all all four goals in the 3-1 Mohun Bagan win, but wait and watch the final one from Odafe. It is worth it!

Courtesy of Sabuj Maroon Swapno, who have uploaded the video

Medeira names 23 players squad for Bayern Munich match

2011-12-28T23:55:00.002+01:00

India national football team head coach Savio Medeira has named his 23 players squad for the Audi Football Summit in which his side will face German Bundesliga giants FC Bayern Munich on January 10, 2012 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.

The match also marks the official farewell from Team India of long-time captain Baichung Bhutia, who will lead the national side for one last time.

The players have been asked to report in Delhi on January 7, 2012; but there could be controversy waiting then on that day East Bengal take on Mohun Bagan in the Calcutta Premier League and the Indian Football Association (West Bengal) along with the two clubs has asked for the release of their players on that day. If granted then the players would join the camp a day later.

Team India will be missing recent SAFF Cup hero Sunil Chhetri due to injury, while players in Adil Khan, Gurjinder Singh and Reisangmi Vashum have gotten their first senior India call-up.

INDIA

Goalkeepers
Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar SC), Subhasish Roy Chowdhury (Dempo SC), Felix D'Souza (Churchill Brothers SC)

Defenders
Jaspal Singh Parmar (Salgaocar SC), Samir Naik (Dempo SC), Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh (Churchill Brothers SC), Govin Moirangthem Singh (United Sikkim FC), Nirmal Chetri (East Bengal Club), Syed Rahim Nabi (Mohun Bagan AC), Adil Khan (Sporting Clube de Goa), Gurjinder Singh (Pune FC)

Midfielders
Reisangmi Vashum (East Bengal Club), Jewel Raja Sheikh (Mohun Bagan AC), Climax Lawrence (Dempo SC), Rakesh Masih (Mohun Bagan AC), Baldeep Singh (Pune FC), Clifford Miranda (Dempo SC), Lalrindika Ralte (Churchill Brothers SC), Rocus Lamare (Salgaocar SC)

Forwards
Jeje Lalpekhlua (Pune FC), Baichung Bhutia (United Sikkim FC), Sushil Kumar Singh (United Sikkim FC), C.S. Sabeeth (Pailan Arrows)

More information about the match and where to buy tickets online are available at www.audifootballsummit.in

The official Twitter account of the Audi Football Summit can be found under www.twitter.com/AudiFS2012 .

Could Berbatov be set for a Leverkusen return?

2011-12-27T20:22:00.001+01:00

Yesterday Dimitar Berbatov got one of his rare starts at Manchester United this season and the Bulgarian scored three goals in the 'Boxing Day ' fixture against Wigan Athletic in his clubs 5-0 win. But it could be one of the last few matches for the Red Devils as United might not renew his contract which ends next summer.

Berbatov has dropped down manager Alex Ferguson's strikers pecking order to number four, which isn't the best for a striker of his class who scored 21 goals for Manchester United last season in the English Premier League.

Now reports say that Berbatov's former club Bayer 04 Leverkusen are interested to bring the seasoned striker back to the German Bundesliga. If the striker would be available on a free transfer, then Leverkusen could be tempted to bring Berbatov back as he was a sensation from 2001 to 2006 in the Bundesliga with 69 goals in 154 matches before he moved to Tottenham Hotspurs.

A winter transfer looks out of the question due to the possible transfer fee which Manchester United c(w)ould demand, but if available then Leverkusen could be tempted to make a move.

Internally Berbatov's return would open a fight for places on the Bayer 04 strike department roaster between former Germany striker Stefan Kießling and Swiss international Eren Derdiyok, who haven't scored too many goals this season and the club has ambitions for which it needs a top striker who scores regularly. Berbatov would surely fit that bill especially as he has been at the club.

Schweinsteiger: I aim for four titles!

2011-12-27T15:40:00.000+01:00

German international and FC Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has big plans for 2012. He wants to win all possible titles with club (UEFA Champions League, German Bundesliga, German Cup) and country (2012 European Championships) in the coming six months.

"If I could chose, then I would pick Champions League and Euro2012," says a recovering Schweinsteiger to German media, "but I would also like to win the Bundesliga and German Cup as well."

Typical Schweinsteiger it comes out cooly, but the 27 year old midfielder is much more mature then in the years gone by. He has the conviction that all this is achieveable.

Schweinsteiger had hoped to make a surprise comeback before the Bundesliga winter break, but coach Jupp Heynckes had vetoed any such move as he see's Schweinsteiger crucial to the clubs plans for the second half of the season.

But Schweinsteiger knows that winning the UEFA Champions League title would be tough with FC Barcelona currently the best football club side in the world, so he see's winning the Euro2012 title as a more realistic aim.

Mourinho eyes an EPL return

2011-12-27T11:00:00.000+01:00

The 'Special One' as Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho likes to be called is eyeing a return to the English Premier League. But the current coach of Spanish giants Real Madrid is not eyeing an imminent return to the EPL, but Mourinho rather wants his next assignment to be with an EPL club. The if and when Mourinho hasn't put a date to it then his contract with Real Madrid runs until summer 2014.

It is an open secret that Jose Mourinho is a big fan of English club football after he coached FC Chelsea there from 2004 to 2007. He won the EPL title twice along with the FA Cup and League Cup before being fired by the west-London club. Something which Chelsea has not overcome as managers have come and gone over the last few years since Mourinho's forced departure.

Surely Mourinho is not an easy character, many do not like him, but he is a man who does everything for success without looking back. Be it as a translator for Bobby Robson at FC Barcelona, then at Union Leiria, FC Porto, FC Chelsea, Inter Milan and now Real Madrid as head coach. He was successful in his work everywhere.

Mourinho has said a few times that he did not want to lose out on the chance to coach at Real Madrid in 2010 after winning the UEFA Champions League with Inter Milan, but his heart lies with England football and there he would like to return one day.

One of the possibilities is that Mourinho replaces Sir Alex Ferguson once he does retire at Manchester United. This is a rumour which has been making rounds for years, while Chelsea could look at him as a possible replacement if his former assistant Andres Villas-Boas fails at the Blues. Though the question of the equation between owner Roman Abramovich and Mourinho could decide any such move.

Mahesh Gawli retires from International Football

2011-12-26T14:45:00.000+01:00

32 year old Mahesh Gawli has decided to end his international career for India just weeks after winning the 2011 South Asian Football Federation Championships in New Delhi. The defender informed the All India Football Federation of his decision through a letter in which he thanked the AIFF, his coaches and team mates, his clubs and fans for their support throughout his international career.

In the letter Mahesh Gawli wrote, "It is delightful and so appropriate to have a perfect farewell to my International career on winning the SAFF Championship 2012 which is more heartening." Gawli, currently playing for Dempo SC, added that he will continue to play club football for some 'more years'.

Mahesh is best known for being a top central defending pair with Deepak Kumar Mondal at club and country. The duo had a blind understanding in their haydays with Mahesh having won the LG Cup (Vietnam), Nehru Cups, SAFF Cups and the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup.

Mahesh Gawli is a product of the Tata Football Academy ho has played in the club career for FC Kochin, Churchill Brothers SC, East Bengal Club, Mahindra United and Dempo SC until now.

Thanks Mahesh for everything!!!

Could Thierry Henry make a short return to FC Arsenal?

2011-12-25T15:15:00.000+01:00

French coach Arsene Wenger of English Premier League side FC Arsenal is considering to bring back countryman Thierry Henry on a two-month loan deal from Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls as reinforcement for strikers Gervinho (Ivory Coast) and Marouane Chamakh (Morocco) who both would be at next months 2012 Africa Cup of Nations for their respective national teams.

Henry is a living legend at Arsenal, the record goal scorer at the North London club with an impressive 226 goals in 370 matches from 1999 to 2007. And recently that status was cemented when a statue of the French striker was unveiled outside the Emirates Stadium.

Arsene Wenger has stated in the press that he is thinking about Henry with whom he had a very successful time at the club. During his eight years at the club Henry won two English Premier League and three FA Cup titles besides reaching the finals of the 2006 UEFA Champions League.

Now the former FIFA World Cup and European Championship winner Henry would be the ideal short-term replacement for the to African strikers and he could also bring in some much needed inspiration at Arsenal to save them this season. And the fans surely would love to see their favourite striker back at the club, even if it is only for two months.

Is Spain's Del Bosque considering a Raúl comeback?

2011-12-25T11:00:00.000+01:00

The severe injury to FC Barcelona striker David Villa has upset the plans of Spain coach Vicente del Bosque for the upcoming 2012 European Championships in Poland and the Ukraine next summer. And if Villa doesn't make it in time, then del Bosque will have to find a suitable alternative, then Spain will go into the tournament with the aim to defend their title won four years back in Austria and Switzerland.

A few days ago I had written about the speculation if Villa will make it in time in: Will David Villa be fit again for Euro2012?

A difficult question to answer then one never knows how an injury will heal. The name which seems to ignite old love and passion in Spain is that of 34 year old striker Raúl González Blanco, currently playing the German Bundesliga for FC Schalke 04.

The former Real Madrid star is a legend in his home country. He has played 102 international matches scoring 44 goals for Spain between 1996 and 2006. Many see him still as a top striker which he is proving at Schalke with 10 goals so far this season and especially the three goals against Werder Bremen on the last match day before the mid-season break has caught the attention of the Spanish.

It will be interesting to see if Raul can make an international comeback for Spain.

2012 Audi Football Summit - India's best vs Germany's finest

2011-12-24T07:17:00.000+01:00

The Audi Football Summit will be played on January 10, 2012 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi with the Indian national football team taking on German football giants FC Bayern Munich. The match also marks the farewell game for long-time India captain Baichung Bhutia and proceeds from the game will go to the victims of the Sikkim earthquake.

FC Bayern Munich are the most successful club in the history of the Bundesliga, the top tier of German football. They have won 21 Bundesliga titles since the inception of the league in 1963 along with 15 German Cup (DFB Pokal) trophies. The club has also four UEFA Champions League wins to their name besides the 1967 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and the 1996 UEFA Cup (now UEFA Europa League) titles. The Bavarians are financially the most stable and profitable club in Europe with a state-of-the-art stadium in the Allianz Arena, a 69,000 capacity venue.

Currently Bayern Munich are coached by seasoned Jupp Heynckes, who is with the club since the start of the season for a third stint. The club is captained by Philipp Lahm, who also happens to be the Germany captain. Other star players at the club include Frenchman Franck Ribéry, Dutchman Arjen Robben besides German internationals Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Mueller, Manuel Neuer and Mario Gomez to name a few. The club has players from nine nations as part of their 24 player professional squad.

Team India is in a transitional phase. The generation of the Baichung Bhutia's, Renedy Singh's, Mahesh Gawli's, Deepak Mondal's, Climax Lawrence's and co had their last big hurrah at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in January in Qatar. It was the first time in 27 years that India qualified for Asia's showpiece football event, but now after the tournament new, young players have come into the national team with the aim to push Indian football to new unknown heights in international football.

The star players of Team India are striker Sunil Chhetri, goalkeeper Subrata Pal, defender Gouramangi Singh and utility player Syed Rahim Nabi with 20 year old Jeje Lalpekhlua the brightest young prodigy. A lot will be expected from these players against Bayern Munich. The match also marks the end of an era as Baichung Bhutia is set to don the India jersey for one last time, nearly 17 years after his first match for India and over 100 internationals later.

On the sidelines of the big match there will also be the India finals of the FC Bayern Youth Cup. The preliminary rounds with close to a 1,000 children participating were held in Delhi (October 2011) and Mumbai (December 2011) with the scouted boys facing each other at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The best will be chosen by FCB scouts to represent India at the international FC Bayern Youth Cup in Munich in May 2012.

German carmaker Audi AG, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen AG, has a long-standing relationship with sports, especially with the game of association football. Though motorsports does come more naturally for a carmaker, football has been something which has grown in importance for the company in recent years.

Audi has its best known tie-up in football with German Bundesliga giants FC Bayern Munich, where Audi is not only a sponsor but also a 10% stakeholder in the Bavarian club. Audi further is sponsor/partner of European football giants FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Zenit St. Petersburg (Russia) besides Bundesliga sides Borussia Mönchengladbach, Hamburger SV, 1.FC Nürnberg, 1899 Hoffenheim and Hertha BSC Berlin. Audi sponsors its local home town team FC Ingolstadt 04, who currently play in the 2.Bundesliga (second tier).

More information about the match and where to buy tickets online are available at www.audifootballsummit.in . Tickets are priced between Rs. 100 and 3,000.

The official Twitter account of the Audi Football Summit can be found under www.twitter.com/AudiFS2012 .

2011/12 I-League: A really close affair

2011-12-23T18:35:00.001+01:00

11 Rounds of the I-League season 2011/12 have been played so far with the league as close as never before with the top seven clubs separated by six points. Dempo SC are back on top of the league with 24 points ahead of East Bengal Club and Churchill Brothers SC both on 23 points ahead of Mohun Bagan AC on 21 points with Air India completing the top five on 19 points.

Results from Round 11
21-Dec-2011: Churchill Brothers SC 0-2 Pune FC
21-Dec-2011: Prayag United SC 1-1 Shillong Lajong FC
22-Dec-2011: Dempo SC 3-2 Sporting Clube de Goa
23-Dec-2011: Chirag United Kerala 0-2 East Bengal Club
22-Dec-2011: Mohun Bagan AC 0-0 Salgaocar SC
22-Dec-2011: Mumbai FC 4-0 HAL SC
23-Dec-2011: Air India 2-0 Pailan Arrows

Dempo started off with seven wins, but then came three losses in a row, now Dempo SC returned to winning ways with a hard earned 3-2 victory against local rivals Sporting Clube de Goa to go back top of the I-League. This was only possible due to the fact that Churchill Brothers SC were beaten 2-0 at home by Pune FC, while East Bengal Club closed in on the top sides with a 2-0 away win against Chirag United Kerala.

Besides Pune FC the team of the hour are Air India, who have moved into the top five with another impressive performance, this time a 2-0 win against Pailan Arrows. The disappointment of the season so far are HAL SC, who suffered another heavy loss, this time a 0-4 against Mumbai FC. They remain on only one point.

-# TEAM ------------------- -M - -W--D--L - GF-GA -GD PTS
01. Dempo Sports Club ----- 11 - 08-00-03 - 28-10 +18 24
02. East Bengal Club ------ 11 - 07-02-02 - 23-07 +16 23
03. Churchill Brothers SC - 11 - 07-02-02 - 17-09 +08 23
04. Mohun Bagan AC -------- 11 - 06-03-02 - 21-14 +07 21
05. Air India ------------- 11 - 06-01-04 - 17-16 +01 19
06. Prayag United SC ------ 11 - 04-06-01 - 19-10 +09 18
07. Pune FC --------------- 11 - 05-03-03 - 18-16 +02 18
08. Sporting Clube de Goa - 11 - 03-04-04 - 19-19 +-0 13
09. Salgaocar Sports Club - 11 - 03-04-04 - 12-13 -01 13
10. Shillong Lajong FC ---- 11 - 03-04-04 - 08-19 -11 13
11. Mumbai FC ------------- 11 - 03-02-06 - 14-20 -06 11
12. Chirag United Kerala -- 11 - 02-02-07 - 10-18 -08 08
13. Pailan Arrows --------- 11 - 00-06-05 - 04-16 -12 06
14. HAL SC ---------------- 11 - 00-01-10 - 07-30 -23 01

2011/12 German Cup: Quarterfinal draw out

2011-12-23T14:40:00.000+01:00

The draw for the quarterfinals of the 2011/12 German Cup (DFB Pokal) were held Wednesday evening as part of the ARD Sportschau. German women's national team midfielder Melanie Behringer did the honour of pulling out the fixtures. And she did pull out some really mouth watering clashes.

The top match of the round will be the south Germany derby between VfB Stuttgart and record cup winners FC Bayern Munich. In another Bundesliga match-up Hertha BSC Berlin will host Borussia Mönchengladbach as Hertha continue to aim to reach the finals in their home stadium for the first time, while it marks the return of former Hertha coach Lucien Favre with his current club Gladbach.

1899 Hoffenheim host 2.Bundesliga SpVgg Greuther Fürth in a tricky fixture, while the only amateurs left in the competition fourth division side Holstein Kiel who host Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund.

The matches will be played on February 7/8.

QUARTERFINALS

1899 Hoffenheim - SpVgg Greuther Fürth
Hertha BSC Berlin - Borussia Mönchengladbach
VfB Stuttgart - FC Bayern München
Holstein Kiel - Borussia Dortmund

VIDEO: Prayag Utd's Josimar's great goal vs Lajong

2011-12-23T11:32:00.000+01:00

Brazilian striker Josimar da Silva Martins of Prayag United SC scored a lovely goal on Wednesday in his teams I-League match against Shillong Lajong FC.

Here it is for you all to watch

Baichung & Team India look forward to Bayern Munich match

2011-12-23T08:50:00.001+01:00

Baichung Bhutia will don the India jersey and lead his team onto the pitch for one last time on January 10, 2012 in the Audi Football Summit against FC Bayern Munich at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.

Speaking about his career Baichung said, "My career has been a great learning for me, a wonderful experience. My 16 year international football career has made me richer in experience and I have grown as a person. Playing my final India match against Bayern Munich is a great honour, but also a tough finale for me. Bayern are one of the best teams in the world and I rate them currently as better than Germany."

"Indian football is moving in a positive direction with the Indian team qualifying for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup after a gap of 27 years. In addition to this, the junior and developmental teams are making good progress on the Asian front. I believe that it will not be long before we see Indian players plying their trade on the international club circuit," added Baichung.

Also for India coach Savio Medeira it is a big match after the SAFF Cup triumph earlier this month. Savio said, "It's not every day that you get a chance to play against the best in the world. It would be a learning experience for us."

Sunil Chhetri, the SAFF Cup's Player of the Tournament and AIFF Players of the Year, is set to miss the match due to an injury. But talking about the match Chhetri said, "With the phase which Indian football is going through, the more we play stronger opponents, the better for us. You get to play Bayern Munich possibly once in a lifetime. We ought to make the most of it."

Striker Jeje Lalpekhlua is India's brightest young talent and he will get a chance to play alongside the legendary Baichung Bhutia for the first-time in the national team. Jeje said about the upcoming match, "The opportunity to play with one of the top clubs would be an experience indeed. It gives us the opportunity to improve ourselves."

India's dependable defender Gouramangi Singh said, "It will be a great opportunity to be playing on the same field that too against such star players. It's also an honour to be a part of Baichung Bhutia's farewell match. I'm looking forward to it."

For young midfielder Jewel Raja Sheikh it is an opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the world's greatest midfielders as he said, "The match gives us an opportunity to learn from international stars. You don't let go of such an opportunity for sure."

Playing FC Bayern Munich will be a tough assignment for Team India, but it is also about giving Baichung Bhutia a fitting farewell after 16 years of service for the Indian national football team. And it isn't only about the players, but also the fans who hopefully will make it a fitting farewell in New Delhi on January 10.

More information about the match and where to buy tickets online are available at www.audifootballsummit.in

The official Twitter account of the Audi Football Summit can be found under www.twitter.com/AudiFS2012 .

Premier League Soccer look to bring former stars to Bengal

2011-12-22T19:15:00.000+01:00

An IPL-style football league is set to be launched in West Bengal under the name of Premier League Soccer by the local football body Indian Football Association (West Bengal) along with event organisers Celebrity Management Group. This was announced this afternoon at the Stadel in Kolkata at an official press conference attended by CMG's Bhaswar Goswami, Dharamdutt Pandey and IFA Honorary Secretary Utpal Ganguli.

The press conference was intended to name potential former stars who would come to the state to be part of the league as icon players to give the PLS the necessary profile to establish itself as a new competitive seven week league within Indian football. The league is set for a late-February launch.

Amongst those who have been confirmed are Robert Pires (France); Jay Jay Okocha (Nigeria) and Portuguese duo Maniche and Sérgio Conceição with former Argentina captain Juan Pablo Sorin also said to have confirmed his participation.

The six franchises are set to be coached by foreign coaches of repute in Englishmen Peter Reid, John Barnes and Tony Adams besides Samson Sia Sia (Nigeria), Marco Etcheverry (Bolivia) and Teitur Thodarson (Iceland).

The coaches will have between 25 to 30 players to chose from. There can be upto four foreigners, six Under-21 players, six catchment players and 10 to 14 Indian players.

"The tournament will give excellent opportunity to the youngsters to play with the big names in the six-eight weeks under highly experienced coaches," Indian Football Association (IFA) Secretary Utpal Ganguli said.

Asked about its limited presence in the six towns of Bengal, Ganguli said, "We are starting off with these six towns. But the aim is to have a pan-India presence. "There will be television telecast through which we will get a national presence. We are targeting at the youth segment who are hooked to the English Premier League," CMG's Bhaswar Goswami said.

The PLS' inaugural season would initially see six franchises in action, who would be based in Kolkata, Barasat, Howrah, Haldia, Durgapur and Siliguri. The six franchises will be chosen through competitive bidding with the base price set to be fixed at Rs 5 to 10 Million (50 lakh to 1 crore).

The organisers have understood that costs have to be kept under check. The franchises will be allowed to spend upto 2 Million USD per season, while the icon player can cost between 400,000 to 600,000 USD, the other foreigners upto 200,000 USD and the young foreigner upto 100,000 USD.

A lot still needs to be done and organised before the league can get into action in two months time with more information to be released by the organisers in the weeks to come.

Will David Villa be fit again for Euro2012?

2011-12-22T06:00:00.000+01:00

Spain and FC Barcelona striker David Villa is out for five to six months, which means the 30 year old all-time highest goal scorer for Spain could miss the 2012 European Championship in Poland and the Ukraine for the defending champions.

Villa fractured his shin bone in the FIFA Club World Cup semifinal against Al Sadd from Qatar last week and the striker has said his aim would be to be back latest by May 29, 2012; the day of the final of the UEFA Champions League. If he achieves this then we could also play at Euro2012.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has been quiet about the issue so far. He has time on his side, but the media in Spain is already discussing possible replacements for David Villa, then FC Chelsea striker Fernando Torres remains off colour at his club.

The names mentioned are those of FC Valencia striker Roberto Soldado and FC Sevilla's Alvaro Negredo. Some are even calling for a comeback of former Real Madrid striker Raul Gonzalez, who is having a good season at German Bundesliga club FC Schalke 04.

INDIA stay 162nd in latest FIFA World Rankings

2011-12-21T18:45:00.000+01:00

The world football governing body released the latest FIFA World Rankings earlier today in which India remain 162nd amongst the 208 ranked nations and territories, while within Asia India remain 29th amongst 46 nations in the rankings.

India is 162nd behind Fiji and ahead of Guinea-Bissau with 131 points, 12 more then last month. The points came from the title defence of the SAFF Cup but due to the loss of earlier points India couldn't make any progress in the rankings.

India's next assignment will be the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal from March 8 to 19, 2012. There India could get some useful points to move-up the FIFA World Rankings.

Meanwhile there has been no change amongst the top five of the FIFA World Rankings. World champions Spain (1,564 points) stay at the top with the Netherlands (1,365), Germany (1,345), Uruguay (1,308) and England (1,173) behind them.

VIDEO: One of the best Own Goals ever!

2011-12-20T18:45:00.001+01:00

A scene from a league match in Hongkong. Festus Baise of Sun Hei vs Citizen AA back heels the ball into his own goal in such beautiful fashion that he would make every striker proud of such a goal. Maybe the best own goal I have seen in my life. A must watch!

Sunil Chhetri is 'AIFF Player of the Year 2011'

2011-12-20T12:46:00.000+01:00

The All India Football Federation has declared Sunil Chhetri as the AIFF Player of the Year 2011. Sunil was chosen as the winner by coaches from I-League club, who voted amongst a list of five players shortlisted for the Award. The criteria for selection was on field performance primarily in India's international matches and general conduct, both on and off the field.

Sunil who has played a total of 17 international matches in the calendar year 2011, scoring an impressive 13 goals in the process, the highest by any Indian footballer in 2011. Besides this he also scored 11 goals in 20 Club matches for Chirag United SC (now Prayag United SC) and Mohun Bagan AC in 2011. He also received the Arjuna Award in 2011 and won the Man of the Championship in the recently concluded 2011 SAFF Championship in New Delhi.

Sunil Chhetri as the AIFF Player of the Year 2011 will receive a cash award of Rs. 200,000 (2 lakh) plus a silver plaque.

AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das congratulated Sunil on his achievement. "I congratulate Sunil for being the AIFF Player-of-the-Year. He has had an outstanding year winning many accolades and I'm sure he will continue his good form in the New Year both for the country and his club," Kushal Das said.

When I spoke to Sunil today, he was overjoyed to receive the award and he hopes to continue to deliver for club and country in the years to come.

Bayern Munich stars look forward to playing in Delhi

2011-12-20T10:30:00.001+01:00

German Bundesliga giants FC Bayern Munich return to India for a fifth visit of a team from the Bavarian side. This time around it will be the full first team squad who will be coming to New Delhi next month for the Audi Football Summit with the club officials and players looking forward to the visit.

FC Bayern Munich AG CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who also happens to be the chairman of the European Club Association, said, "I have heard about the great experiences from our players and coaches when they traveled for Oliver Kahn's farewell match (to Kolkata in May 2008). We are now delighted to bring the full first team to India. Many of us are excited about the country, the city of Delhi, the people and their enthusiasm for football."

For winger Thomas Mueller the trip to Delhi will be his second visit to India. Thomas said, "I am happy to come back after the visit to Kolkata and Siliguri in January 2009." Mueller, the top scorer and 'Best Young Player' at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, sought to motivate young Indian footballers by saying, “Football is the best team sport in the world," and added by saying that he's 'happy that more and more kids are playing the game in India'.

Mueller’s Bayern and Germany team-mate Mario Gomez said that the entire team was looking forward to play against India at the Audi Football Summit. Gomez about whom former Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld had recently said that he was as important to Bayern Munich as Lionel Messi is to Barcelona, had joined the German champion for a record transfer fee from Stuttgart in 2009. The star striker, who has 16 goals from 16 matches in the Bundesliga, said, "The trip to India will be a big experience for us, as most of us have not been to India."

Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes said, he would like to utilize the opportunity to the hilt at the Audi Football Summit. "We are coming to India after a week long training camp in Qatar. We will want to show quality football and want to present ourselves in the best possible manner. Naturally, I would like to utilize the opportunity to learn more about Indian football. I really look forward to it," said Heynckes, a member of the West German side which won the 1972 European Championship and the 1974 FIFA World Cup.

More information about the match and where to buy tickets online are available at www.audifootballsummit.in

The official Twitter account of the Audi Football Summit can be found under www.twitter.com/AudiFS2012 .

VIDEO: Barca's goals against Santos in Club World Cup final!

2011-12-19T20:05:00.000+01:00

FC Barcelona put on Sunday night four goals into FC Santos' net in the final of the 2011 Club World Cup in Yokohama, Japan. Here the goals, which all are great to watch. Enjoy!

VIDEO: Ball bursts in Bayern Munich vs FC Cologne match

2011-12-19T13:00:00.001+01:00

In a rare incidence in a professional football match on Friday evening in the German Bundesliga the match ball burst following a free-kick from Bayern's Belgian defender Daniel van Buyten. And the other players have a laugh...

Club World Cup: FC Barcelona demolish FC Santos

2011-12-19T11:00:00.001+01:00

UEFA Champions League winners FC Barcelona demolished their South America counterparts the Copa Libertadores champions FC Santos from Brazil 4-0 to win their second Club World Cup title in Yokohama, Japan in three years. In 2009 the Catalans had beaten Argentinian side Estudiantes.

The 70,000 spectators in Yokohama were treated to a one-sided game in which Barca showed all their class. The match was billed as the match-up of Lionel Messi vs Neymar, but the seasoned Messi proved that currently he is the best player in the world while teenager Neymar still has a long, long way to go...

Messi gave his side a 17th minute lead through a beautiful chip over Rafael Cabral after a nice Barca combination, while Xavi Hernandez made it 2-0 only seven minutes later with a nice placed shot. On the verge of half-time Barca made it 3-0 after chaos in the Santos defence and a couple of good saves by Rafael Cabral it was Cesc Fabregas who put the ball finally in.

After the break Neymar did have a chance to reduce the deficit, but that was the difference between him and Messi on this night. Messi would score his second and his teams fourth in the 82nd minute. It ended 40 for FC Barcelona and no one doubted the win in the end.

After the match Barca coach Pep Guardiola said, "The reason for our success is the effort of the players. We have very high-quality players and were able to display quality football."

Hertha Berlin fire coach Markus Babbel

2011-12-18T19:30:00.000+01:00

German Bundesliga side Hertha BSC Berlin have fired their 39 year old coach Markus Babbel in one of the most bizarre incidence of a club firing their coach. Babbel has been linked to a number of coaching jobs in German football in recent weeks and the coach had said that he had informed the club a few weeks back that he would not extend his contract beyond summer 2012. The club officials say Babbel only made that announcement to them earlier in the week.

This matter got totally out of control over this weekend and it led to Babbel being fired by the capital club as both sides blamed each other of lies.

"After the developments of the last two days, culminating in the fact that I was called a liar more than once, both the club and I are left with no choice," said Hertha's Director of Sports Michael Preetz when he announced the sacking.

"The relationship of trust is no longer there," he added.

The whole episode leaves all involved scared and damaged, generally in a bad light with Hertha BSC now in search for a new coach as the club aims to stay in the Bundesliga after their return from division two.

2011/12 UEFA Europa League: Round of 32/16 draw out

2011-12-17T08:00:00.001+01:00

The draw for the Round of 32 and pre-quarterfinals (Round of 16) for the 2011/12 UEFA Europa League was carried out yesterday in Nyon, Switzerland. And there are some mouth watering clashes coming early next year.

Defending champions FC Porto take on English Premier League leaders Manchester City, while their city rivals Manchester United face Ajax Amsterdam. The other English entrant left Stoke City have to take on the mighty FC Valencia, while Lazio Roma have been paired with Atletico Madrid. In a low country derby AZ Alkmaar take on Belgian giants RSC Anderlecht.

The Round of 32 matches will be played on February 16 and 23, while the Round of 16 games are scheduled to take place on March 8 and 15.

The Fixtures

Round of 32
FC Porto - Manchester City
AFC Ajax Amsterdam - Manchester United
FC Lokomotiv Moscow - Athletic Bilbao
RedBulls Salzburg - Metalist Kharkiv
Stoke City - FC Valencia
Rubin Kasan - Olympiacos Piräus
AZ Alkmaar - RSC Anderlecht
SS Lazio Roma - Atletico Madrid
Steaua Bucharest - FC Twente Enschede
Viktoria Plzen - FC Schalke 04
Wisla Krakau - Standard Liege
Sporting Braga - Besiktas Istanbul
Udinese Calcio - PAOK Saloniki
Trabzonspor AS - PSV Eindhoven
Hannover 96 - FC Brugge
Legia Warsaw - Sporting Lisboa

Round of 16
Salzburg/Metalist - Rubin/Olympiacos
Legia/Sporting - Porto/Manchester City
Steaua/Twente - Plzen/Schalke
Wisla/Standard - Hannover/Club Brugge
Stoke/Valencia - Trabzonspor/PSV
AZ/Anderlecht - Udinese/PAOK
Lazio/Atlético - Braga/Besiktas
Ajax/Manchester United - Lokomotiv/Athletic

2011/12 UEFA Champions League: Round of 16 draw out

2011-12-16T21:15:00.000+01:00

The draw for the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 was held today in Nyon, Switzerland. And all the remaining clubs in the competition aim to reach the final to be played on May 19, 2012 at the Allianz Arena in Munich. In the draw were 16 clubs from across the continent for Europe's premier club competition.

The first leg would be played on February 14/15 and 21/22, while the return leg would be played on March 6/7 and 13/14. The winners of the group stage first travel away and then host their opponents at home. Once more we have some very interesting fixtures to look forward to with the pick of the matches being the Italy vs London matches - AC Milan vs Arsenal and Napoli vs Chelsea.

Defending champions FC Barcelona have to travel to Bayer 04 Leverkusen in an interesting tie-up. Barca are big favourites to go throughh, but interestingly Leverkusen had beaten Barca on both occasions when they reached European Cup finals - UEFA Cup in 1988 and UEFA Champions League in 2002.

2010 champions Inter Milan face French side Olympique Marseille, record champions Real Madrid have to travel across the continent to face CSKA Moscow in Russia, while Bayern Munich face Manchester United beaters FC Basel.

The PQF Fixtures

Olympique Lyonnais - APOEL Nicosia
SSC Napoli - FC Chelsea
AC Milan - FC Arsenal
FC Basel - FC Bayern Munich
Bayer 04 Leverkusen - FC Barcelona
ZSKA Moscow - Real Madrid
Zenit St. Petersburg - Benfica Lisboa
Olympique Marseille - Inter Milan

Schweinsteiger only back in 2012

2011-12-16T12:00:00.000+01:00

Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger will only make his return from injury in January 2012 with his club FC Bayern Munich not pushing him to return onto the field to play the final Bundesliga game of the year against 1.FC Cologne at home tonight.

Schweinsteiger had broken his collarbone in a UEFA Champions League match against SSC Napoli on November 2, when he had gone up in a one-to-one against Gökhan Inler and fell awkwardly. He was operated that night, but it needed weeks to heal. Schweinsteiger had hoped to make a comeback before christmas, but that hope has now been dashed by the club doctors.

Bastian Schweinsteiger has been back in training for the last few days, but he will only return to full team training in January at the Bavarians mid-season training camp in Qatar.

Fans of the midfielder in India hope that Schweinsteiger will be fit enough to play for Bayern Munich against Team India at the Audi Football Summit on January 10, 2012 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.

Tickets go live for Audi Football Summit: India vs FC Bayern Munich

2011-12-16T04:00:00.001+01:00

The tickets for the Audi Football Summit India vs FC Bayern Munich match on January 10, 2012 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi went live today on Bookmyshow.com! The tickets have been priced between Rs 100 to 3,000 to be affordable for as many fans as possible.

The match is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Indian football fans to see the world's best footballers such as Philip Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Mueller, Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben on Indian soil, while is also marks the farewell game of Indian football icon Baichung Bhutia from the Indian national football team.

For the Audi Football Summit ticketing Audi India has tied-up with Bookmyshow.com to make the tickets easily available through the Internet. The proceeds from the match will go to support the quake-affected people of Sikkim.

Clemens Ollmert, Head of Marketing - Audi India, said; "We, at Audi, believe that football is a perfect fit to our brand values and products. The Audi Football Summit in Delhi is a very prestigious event for us; it is the biggest football game in India. We hope to attract millions of Indians to enjoy the game and inspire thousands of children to play football. It is going to be one of the high points for Indian football fan to see the world's best footballers such as Thomas Mueller, Philip Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben in India. We are very happy to partner with BookMyShow.com, the leading entertainment ticketing website in India. With our partners, we want to deliver world class experience to sports lovers and match the expectations of football fans in India and abroad."

On the exclusive association Ashish Hemrajani, Founder and CEO of Bookmyshow.com said, "We at Bookmyshow.com are in constant pursuit to keep our customers updated with the latest happenings in the country. Our main focus is to deliver superior experience to the customer and to make the entire ticket buying process extremely user friendly and simple. Bookmyshow.com has been proudly associated with a variety of major sporting events that are being held in the country. Such vast events require the best experience including hassle free ticketing and this is where the true strength of BookMyShow lies".

Tickets for the match range from Rs. 100 to Rs. 3,000 exclusively on www.Bookmyshow.com .

Rene Adler: Stay or leave Leverkusen?

2011-12-15T19:10:00.000+01:00

Bayer 04 Leverkusen goalkeeper Rene Adler has been having a tough time for a while due to numerous injuries. It started ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup with Adler on the verge of going into the tournament as Germany's number one goalkeeper, but it would be the tournament that Manuel Neuer would establish himself as Germany's number one amongst the new generation of goalkeepers.

Then before the start into this season 26 year old Rene Adler once more got injured and Leverkusen signed teenager Bernd Leno on loan from VfB Stuttgart as a stop gap shot stopper. A gamble, but one which paid off as Leno did well and Adler wasn't recovering fast enough from his injury that Leverkusen signed Leno on a long-term contract from Stuttgart, which has put Adler in a spot.

As Adler continues to be injury prone Leverkusen will likely bet their future success on the younger, healthier Leno; while Adler who is said to have had interest from Manchester United and other European top clubs last season is left on the bench and now has to look for alternative options.

Bundesliga rivals Hamburger SV are said to be interested in the German international, but HSV will surely not make any move in the winter transfer window as their Director of Sports Frank Arnesen has said. The risk in Hamburg like in Leverkusen could be for Adler that the current number one Jaroslav Drobny would be also there as competition.

Kalyani could become one of the four Regional Academies

2011-12-15T05:00:00.000+01:00

The All India Football Federation with the help of world football governing body FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation is setting-up four Regional Football Academies for Under-14 and U-17 boys which will work as feeders to the to be set-up National Academy.

On that a decision has been made by the AIFF with the campus of the Pailan Group in Joka, Kolkata set to house the National Academy in connection with the Indian Junior team (Pailan Arrows) playing in the I-League.

Meanwhile the AIFF and their new technical director Robert Baan on their scouting visit through India seem to have found the ideal location for their Eastern Regional Academy. It is set to be the Kalyani Sports Complex, in Nadia district just north of Kolkata, which not only has a stadium but other facilities available as well.

After the visit Baan said, "I have been roaming in India since last two months to visit good football ground and infrastructure to establish football academies and the ground of Kalyani stadium is the best in India."

The southern centre is set to come-up at the Bangalore Football Stadium, while the AIFF is yet to decide where to locate the two other regional centres.

Are Blackburn Rovers in serious financial trouble?

2011-12-14T19:10:00.000+01:00

This is what English media has reported over the weekend and that has caused a major stir at the club and around it, then besides fighting relegation the ownership of the Venky's has been criticised severely since the takeover in November 2010.

Venky's many say have done a lot wrong with criticism from fans, pundits and even sponsors; which has put the club in trouble. Now the troubles seem to have reached a new level with the club having to pay back a 10 Million Pound loan without which salaries from February onwards cannot be guaranteed.

But in a statement the club has vehemently denied this. The statement from Finance Director Karen Silk says

There was a report in "Mail Online" and the Mail on Sunday newspaper last weekend that Blackburn Rovers is heading for a financial crisis and facing a financial meltdown - and that the players and staff wages are in danger.

We strongly refute this story. There is no financial crisis, and, there is absolutely no danger to the players' and staff wages.

Amongst all professional football clubs, finances are regularly assessed and reassessed during the season based on performance, income and costs, and at Blackburn Rovers this is no different.

Barclays Bank and Blackburn Rovers have enjoyed a long relationship over many years and are currently in constructive dialogue about how the bank, along with the owners, can support the club for many years to come.

FC Bayern Youth Cup - Mumbai

2011-12-14T10:40:00.000+01:00

The second India-leg of the 2011/12 FC Bayern Youth Cup was held over the weekend in Mumbai after the first-leg in Delhi in October 2011. The national finals will be held on January 10 in a match ahead of the India vs FC Bayern Munich friendly.

Close to 400 children showed themselves at the Western Railway Sports Association grounds on Saturday and Sunday with Bayern legend Paul Breitner and Under-15 coach Harald Cerny as the scouts along with local Mumbai scouts who included former India international Naushad Moosa.

Children not only from Mumbai, but from other parts of Maharashtra and India came to the Western Railway Sports Association ground to show themselves and their skills with some very talented youngsters amongst them.

A total of 14 children were scouted with four children chosen as back-up to travel to New Delhi in early-January 2012 to train under FCB coaches ahead of the FC Bayern Youth Cup national final. The best children will be chosen to represent Team India at the international FC Bayern Youth Cup in May 2012 with other countries participating in China, Italy, Austria and the hosts Germany.

VIDEO: Edgar Prib's incredible miss

2011-12-13T22:00:00.000+01:00

Striker Edgar Prib from SpVgg Greuther Fürth had an incredible miss infront of an empty goal last night against Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2.Bundesliga in Germany.

Here the link to the video:

Nicolas Anelka signs a contract in China

2011-12-12T23:15:00.000+01:00

English Premier League side FC Chelsea have accepted the transfer request of their French striker Nicolas Sébastien Anelka as the 32 year old has signed a two year contract with Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua which starts in January 2012.

The London club are allowing the striker to leave on a free transfer after Anelka has not been able to get regular first team football under new manager Andre Villas-Boas.

In China they have high hopes of Nicolas Anelka, where they see him as a role model for young, aspiring footballers. China wants to create positive news after all the scandals in recent years with Shenhua owner Zhu Jun willing to spend big to push his team to the top of the league. Anelka team mate Didier Drogba is said to be another transfer market.

Some in the Chinese media have written that Anelka's signing is a milestone for Chinese football and fans look forward to see Anelka in action in their league.

Interestingly Anelka has been a controversial player all his football career. He had left FC Paris Saint-Germain as a teenager to sign for FC Arsenal. He went to play for Real Madrid, FC Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Fenerbahce Istanbul, Bolton Wanderers and then FC Chelsea.

VIDEO: Match Highlights India vs Afghanistan

2011-12-12T16:15:00.000+01:00

India yesterday confirmed their status as the number one team in South Asia by beating Afghanistan 4-0 in the finals to win their sixth SAFF Cup title. But the match wasn't as easy as the result might sound.

Here are the match highlights

2011 SAFF Cup: India retain title against Afghanistan

2011-12-11T23:58:00.000+01:00

Team India has defended the title of South Asian champions by winning the 2011 SAFF Cup with a 4-0 win against Afghanistan at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.

But the result does not reflect the match as India had their problems with a spirited Afghanistan, who had the better chances in the first session; but after the break India regrouped and got better and better.

Things changed for India when Afghanistan goalkeeper Hameedullah Yousufzari brought down Jeje Lalpekhlua with the Afghan captain getting his marching orders which Sunil Chhetri scored from the penalty after it took minutes for the referee to restart the game.

But after losing a man Afghanistan were no match for India as Clifford Miranda made it 2-0 in the 77th minute of a right-footer with Jeje making it three only a couple of minutes later to seal the match with three goals in nine minutes. Substitute Sushil Kumar Singh scored of a spectacular long-ranger in injury time to make it 4-0, a result too harch on the Afghans.

After a shaky start into the tournament India did find its form with especially Sunil Chhetri being instrumental with seven goals to his name with Syed Rahim Nabi also having a great tournament.

INDIA
1-Karanjit Singh; 4-Nirmal Chetri, 14-Mahesh Gawli, 19-Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh, 22-Syed Rahim Nabi; 12-Anthony Pereira (70' 23-Steven Benedic Dias), 8-Climax Lawrence [C], 21-Rocus Lamare, 15-Clifford Miranda (20-Lalrindika Ralte); 10-Jeje Lalpekhlua, 11-Sunil Chhetri (81' 18-Sushil Kumar Singh)

2011 SAFF Cup: Afghanistan final hurdle for India

2011-12-11T06:20:00.000+01:00

Surprise finalists Afghanistan will be the final hurdle for defending champions India in the 2011 SAFF Championship at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium tonight. And if India win, then it will be mission accomplished amongst difficult circumstances.

Once more India will depend on the good goal scoring form of Sunil Chhetri, who has scored six goals in the tournament so far and the Delhi boy will hope to win another trophy with India on home soil after two Nehru Cups and the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup.

"It is still not over as yet. We have just won a semifinal; nothing more than that. The Big Match awaits us. We are yet to win it," a realistic Chhetri said.

But aren't India the favourites in the final? Chhetri shook his head again. "I told you, we haven't won anything as yet. All the good work can go in vain in the next 90 minutes. We shouldn't be so elated," he quipped as he signed autographs after the semifinal win against he Maldives.

You walk away trying to reflect on the final. On paper, India should have it easy. But on the field, Afghanistan threaten to steal a leaf out of India's book. For a country torn by strife and where the sound of gun-shots are common even to a six-month old, this bunch of Men from Afghanistan need to be appreciated too. In fact, more.

Football stays their solace as was evident in their celebrations after reaching the final. No football pundit would have ever advocated such wild celebrations after a semifinal victory - that too after a solitary goal win in extra-time against a vastly improved Nepal. It drains out the players further, they would argue.

Far away from being at their best in their opening encounter against Afghanistan, the Indians have improved with every match. "That was a different match; this will be a different match," echoed Syed Rahim Nabi who tapped in India's opening goal against Maldives in the semifinal. "But we cannot take anything for granted."

For India the SAFF Cup win would be another south Asian trophy to their name, for Afghanistan much more is at stake then they can create football history which would surely lift the spirits back home.

Therefore Team India Coach Savio Medeira stayed cautious as ever. "We know they are dangerous. They have some very good players," he maintained.

Immediately after India had booked their ticket to the final, Sunil Chhetri's gesture to Nabi sums up the spirit in the Indian camp. As the two posed for photographers at the team bench, Chhetri, who had just received his fourth consecutive Man-of-the-match medal, wrapped the medal around Nabi’s neck. "It's a team game," stayed the sentiment. Standing near you could hear all what the players said as they congratulated each other. "Beware, we haven't won the Championship as yet."

The final will kick-off at 18.00 IST with TenAction+ showing the match live.

FCBEscola to start India Camps from December 30

2011-12-10T22:00:00.000+01:00

FCBEscola, the FC Barcelona football school, in association with Conscient Football will start its first Indian football training camps in Delhi and Gurgaon from December 30, 2011 onwards.

Around 300 participants from across the the capital will be trained at two centres – The British School, Delhi and The Heritage School, Gurgaon. The camp at the British School will be held from December 30, 2011 to January 4, 2012 and at The Heritage School it will be held from January 6 - January 10, 2012. These will be five days intensive coaching camps with 15 hours of training given to each participant.

Scientifically developed, the training program is divided into three segments – Introduction, Pre-Training, and Training for youth in the age groups of 6–17 with the objective to provide world-class training under the same successful methodology that has produced leading football stars like Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta. The five day camp will take place on the pitch and in the classroom and will focus on the technical, tactical and off-the-pitch tools necessary to succeed in football and in life.

Ex-Barcelona player and now coach at FCBEscola Joseph Moratalla will be the head coach at the camps. He will be assisted by two Spanish coaches, six coaches from Conscient Football and six further assistants. The participants will be divided in following groups: Under-8, Under-10, Under-12, Under-14 and Under-17.

Announcing the Camp schedule, Anupama Jain, Director of Conscient Football, said, "The initial two camps will be held under the guidance of Joseph Moratalla and we hope that they will be a great start to the project and we will be able to grow them pan India very soon. We have already received interest from many other cities which clearly shows the popularity of football in India."

VIDEO: Match Highlights Maldives vs India

2011-12-10T02:30:00.000+01:00

India played their best match of the 2011 SAFF Cup so far to reach the finals. In the end it was a 3-1 win against the Maldives. Match the video highlights of yesterdays match!

FC Bayern Munich to face Team India on January 10

2011-12-09T19:55:00.001+01:00

German Bundesliga giants FC Bayern Munich announced at an official press conference in New Delhi that they will take on the Indian national football team in a charity match on January 10, 2012 which will also mark the farewell of now former India captain Baichung Bhutia. The match will be played under the title of Audi Football Summit with the German carmaker being not only the sponsors, but also the organisers of the match along with the AIFF.

The press conference at the Leela Palace in New Delhi was attended by Bayern Munich advisor and club legend Paul Breitner, AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das along with Audi India's MD Michael Perschke and Head of Marketing Clemens Ollmert. Baichung Bhutia sadly could not attend as he could not fly into Delhi on Friday, but he was live at the press conference through a telephone link.

The date of the match was known since mid-Otober when the game was first announced, but now more information has been revealed by the organisers. The match will be shown on TenAction+ with the Hindustan Times as the official media partner of the game. A ticketing partner would be revealed by the coming week with the organisers hoping for a packet Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on January 10, 2012.

Paul Breitner announced that Bayern Munich would come with all their first team stars like Philipp Lahm, Thomas Müller, Frank Ribery, Arjen Robben, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mario Gomez. Further the 1974 World Cup winner said that Bayern would come to India to win the game and it would be highly beneficial for Indian football to learn from the big and developed football nations and clubs.

The proceeds of the match will go to the victims of the devastating earthquake that rocked Sikkim in September 2011.

More to come in the coming days...

2011 SAFF Cup: Chhetri goals give India the Final!

2011-12-09T19:00:00.001+01:00

India needed something special from Sunil Chhetri to overcome the Maldives 3-1 in the semifinals at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi to qualify for Sunday's final of the 2011 SAFF Cup.

It wasn't the best of weather in the capital with winter fog making the big Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium a bit gloomy, but a better attendence then in the group stage did seem to lift the Indian spirits. Jeje Lalpekhlua had an early chances, but it was upto an inform Syed Rahim Nabi to give India a 25th minute lead following a Clifford Miranda free-kick. India continued to attack, but they didn't find the necessary second goal.

After the break India continued their attacking game, but it was the Maldives who equalised through a Shamweel Qasim shot in the 59th minute. But India were a composed lot today as Sunil Chhetri was brought down inside the box by Asad Ghani and he himself scored of the resultant penalty in the 68th minute. The match remained tense for the remainder of the game with Chhetri make India's passage to final safe with an injury time strike. It was Chhetri's sixth goal of the tournament.

For India it was an important win which gives the team the chance to defend their title on Sunday, December 11. And like in the opening game India will have to face Afghanistan, who overcame a solid Nepal in extra-time of the second semifinal.

INDIA
1-Karanjit Singh; 4-Nirmal Chetri, 14-Mahesh Gawli, 19-Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh, 22-Syed Rahim Nabi; 12-Anthony Pereira (69' 23-Steven Benedic Dias), 8-Climax Lawrence [C] (83' 28-Jewel Raja Sheikh), 21-Rocus Lamare, 15-Clifford Miranda; 10-Jeje Lalpekhlua (90+' 18-Sushil Kumar Singh), 11-Sunil Chhetri

2011 SAFF Cup: Maldives in India's way to Finals

2011-12-09T01:45:00.000+01:00

Defending champions India take on last time finalists Maldives in the first semifinal of the 2011 South Asian Football Federation Championships at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi today. And one can expect a high voltage affair with both sides knowing each other quite well.

Only in July 2011 the two sides last faced each other an international friendly in which the Maldives held India to a one-all draw. But today there will be a result and in the recent past India has often edged out the island nation, who have improved considerably over the last few years.

India coach Savio Medeira knows that very well and said before the game, "Maldives are a good team. They have some good players."

India go into the match with a nice dilemma to have. The youngsters in Lalrindika Ralte and Jewel Raja Sheikh are pushing for places in the starting eleven, while on the right flank Anthony Pereira and Steven Dias are hoping to get a start as are Samir Naik and Nirmal Chetri in the right back position. Savio did allow the team to play against Sri Lanka which beat Bhutan earlier, so he might continue to stick with the same eleven.

India have been far from their best, but expectations are high then anything else then winning the SAFF Cup is a disappointment and not reaching the finals would be a disaster for Indian football, then the powerhouse of South Asian football have a name and reputation to defend.

Meanwhile the Maldives Hungarian Coach Istvan Bela Urbanyi had said after his team had qualified for the semifinals, "We just don't care as to who we will be playing in the semis. We are ready for any team."

It goes as per Urbanyi's saying that his team would have to beat any opponent in the tournament to lift the trophy. He will once more depend on winger Ali Ashfaq, who had a strong game against Bangladesh.

Later on in the day in the second semifinal surprise side Afghanistan take on Nepal to find the second finalist.

The match will kick-off at 15.00 IST and will be shown live on TenAction+.