Bengaluru FC sign right-back Prabir Das from Mohun Bagan

Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC, on Monday, announced the signing of right-back Prabir Das from Mohun Bagan on a three-year-deal set to run until the end of the 2024-25 season. Das, a product of the Pailan Arrows Youth Academy, brings with him the experience of having played for a number of clubs, and has won the Federation Cup and Indian Super League.

“I am very happy at having signed for Bengaluru FC because this is a football club that I have admired for a while now. I have played at the Kanteerava and the atmosphere is always high-energy, and I am waiting to experience it while wearing the Bengaluru shirt. I am eager to play a big part in bringing back the success that this club is used to and I am grateful to the owners and management for showing faith in me, and for wanting me to be a part of their ambitions,” said Das, after completing the formalities on his deal.

Following a breakthrough 2012-13 season with Arrows, Das moved to Dempo and then went on loan to FC Goa and Delhi Dynamos in the inaugural editions of the Indian Super League. Having signed with I-League side Mohun Bagan in 2015, the 28-year-old has spent the last seven years in Kolkata with ATK and Mohun Bagan. 

“Prabir is a player we had set our sights on for some time now, and we’re happy to  have him commit his future to Bengaluru FC. Having a plethora of talent on the left, what the team needed was strengthening on the right. With Prabir and his experience, BFC have found a trusted and able player who makes us stronger. We are confident we can give Prabir the platform to excel and get back to the national team, while helping Bengaluru FC achieve its goal of getting back to where we belong – right at the top,” said club Director, Parth Jindal.

In the 2019-20 campaign, Das recorded the joint-highest assists by a defender with five, eventually winning the title with ATK. With Mohun Bagan, Das made 39 appearances over the last two seasons. 

Das has been capped at the National level, having made his debut for the India U19s in the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship qualifiers against Turkmenistan. In 2015, he made his India U23 debut against Syria in an AFC U23 Championship qualifier. 

Rebels lift BDFA A Division title, South India FC secure B Division title

Rebels FC (30 pts) won the BDFA A Division League 2021-22 and took the Mirza Sher Ali Baig rolling trophy. Friends United FC being the second-best team (27pts) took the Habibulla Khan rolling trophy. 

Both teams are promoted to Super Division for the next season 2022-23.

With CIL having withdrawn from the League and Postal securing lowest spot in the table are relegated to B Division for the 2022-23 Season.

B Division Winners 

South India FC securing the top position and Sri Gajanana ending as runners-up won the Bangalore Blues rolling cup.

1. South India FC (24 pts)
2. Tilak Memorial (21 pts)
3. DYES (19 pts)
4. Sri Gajanana (19 pts) 

All four teams are promoted to A Division for the 2022-23 season. Sunrise FC and Bangalore Mars are relegated to C Division for the 2022-23 season.

 

Aadira to lead state team in U-17 Women’s National Championship

Aadira Ghosh of Modern Girls FC, winner of KSFA Women's A Division League 21-22 will lead the Karnataka team in Under 17 Women’s National Championship. The junior nationals will be played at Guwahati, Assam from June 21 to July 4, 2022. 

Karnataka is placed in Group B along with Mizoram, Uttar Pradesh, and Chaattisgarh.  

The team is coached by former state footballer Ashwitha Shetty while another former state footballer Shivashankari will don the role of team manager. The squad will leave for Guwahati tomorrow. 

Team 

Aadira Ghosh (C), Marion Jones (VC), Aruni Singh (GK), Shivani Savanth (GK), Ria Glains, AMB Chandhinee, Simran Bhargava, Sayali Desai, Swetha Elangovan, Aahana Purohit, Marion Jones (VC), Varshitha Vijay, Rivka Ramji, Mythili Parvati Vaidya, Tanvi V Gawade, Lipika Gupta, Meher Kaur Mehta, Aarushi Santhosh, Treia Menon, Jiya Vora, Rachana Shetty 

Ashwitha Shetty – Coach, Shivashankari P - Manager

Fixture

• June 21, 2022: Uttar Pradesh 0 Vs Karnataka 1  
• June 23, 2022: Mizoram 2 Vs Karnataka 0
• June 25, 2022: Chaattisgarh Vs Karnataka 

Karnataka enter semi-finals of Khelo India Youth Games

Karnataka pulled-off a victory against Haryana in a must win game to reach the last four of Khelo India Youth Games. Sarath Rajkumar scored the all-important goal, from a pass from Macarton Louis. 

After the loss against Meghalaya on Tuesday, both Karnataka and Haryana  were tied at same points, and the state boys needed a win to qualify.

Karnataka finish the group stage with 6 points behind Meghalaya, they face Mizoram in the semi-final on Saturday, while Meghalaya take on Kerala in the other semi-final.

 

Bengaluru FC appoints Simon Grayson as Head Coach

Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru  FC, on Wednesday, announced the appointment of Englishman Simon Grayson as the club’s Head Coach ahead of the 2022-23 season, on a two-year contract. Grayson, who has over 500 appearances as a player in England’s top divisions, moved into management in 2004 and has since overseen the promotion of four teams in the English Division, in a managerial career that has spanned across 728 games and seven clubs. 

“Coming to India was a possibility that I had looked into two years ago. But the pandemic put all things on hold. When the chance came across again, I was excited to look into it. This presents a new opportunity in my football career and it is one that really excites me,” said Grayson, after completing the formalities on his deal.

“When I spoke to the owner, his mindset was the same as mine. I want this club to be winning trophies again. I am aware that BFC has been very successful in the past but the last few years haven’t worked out like everybody would have liked it to. That happens in football - you learn from it and strive to do better - to get players to work harder on the pitch and off the pitch; that’s the exciting part for me,” said Grayson.

Grayson, who hails from North Yorkshire, has overseen the promotion of four teams in the English Division; Blackpool in 2007, Leeds United in 2010, Huddersfield Town in 2012 and Preston North End in 2015. He had short spells at Sunderland, Bradford City and Blackpool before most recently taking charge of Fleetwood Town in League One. 

The fifty-two-year-old said he was impressed by the little he’s managed to see of the team from last season, and is confident that the blend of youth and experience in the Blues’ ranks will serve as a good base from where the club can build. 

“BFC have some very good young players coming through from the academy and hopefully they’ve learned from their minutes in the first team last season. I truly believe that they can be a massive asset to the football club, and coupled with the players who join, I think this is the perfect opportunity for me, especially because it will be a football season with the supporters. I’m coming not just to spend a period of time learning football in a different country. I’m coming here to win trophies at what is a fantastic football club,” added Grayson. 

As a player, Grayson came through the youth ranks at Leeds United, moving on to Leicester City in 1992, where he made over 220 appearances across five seasons. With Leicester, he secured promotion to the Premier League as captain and also won the English League Cup in 1997, scoring in the semifinal against Wimbledon.

Speaking on the appointment of Grayson, Bengaluru FC Director, Parth Jindal said,

“We are delighted to have landed Simon, who is experienced and successful as both – a player and a manager. His records, in what are extremely competitive and difficult divisions in English football, speak for itself. I had meetings with him in London, and it was evident that he shared our vision and desire to bring Bengaluru FC back where it belongs.”

In 2004, while still a player for Blackpool in League One, Grayson moved into a coaching role with the Seasiders’ reserve squad. Two years later, Grayson called time on a playing career that spanned over two decades to focus on management.

“Simon has a great ability to work with young players and bring the best out of them, as well as a very strong sense of how to get the best out of experienced players. The Bengaluru FC team that we are building is a mix of experience and youth, and I believe Simon is the right man to bring the best out of them,” added Jindal.

Bengaluru FC CEO Mandar Tamhane said that Grayson’s experiences as both a player and manager played a vital role in his appointment, with the 52-year-old serving as a captain on several occasions in his playing career. “Grayson comes with vast experience as a leader, having captained Blackpool and Leicester in his playing days. The fact that he has seen four clubs promoted while in charge as manager speaks volumes about his managerial prowess. His experiences as a player and manager made him the right candidate, and we’re excited about what the future holds for this football club,” said Tamhane.