Rob Baan: I'm extremely pleased with Papas' work

This comes just during the FED Cup fracas. Rob Baan, the Technical Director of AIFF was right here at the Garden City, witnessing the inaugural ceremony of the FIFA Futuro III Grassroots seminar. 

He is really in a different league, a man to helm Indian Football - not seen in the presentation dais, hobnobbing with the top officials, be it AIFF, AFC, or FIFA. 

Rather he chooses a front row – seating next right to media folks. My late entry to the venue ensured a front row (with much insistence from the Football Association officials), and much to my surprise, I was seated next to Rob!
 

The function went on as scheduled followed by a press meet - read here.
Though not in my initial plan, thought let’s do a quick informal one while our man is right here. 

GCSStars.com: Hello Bob, aren’t you going to Fed Cup?
Rob: No, not me this time, I’ve other priorities. Wim is very much there.
 

GCSStars.com: U-22 coach Arthur Papas fits in your scheme of things and you’re instrumental in getting him in India.  
Rob: Yes, he’s a talented coach, and I’m extremely pleased that way he has been working with the team (India U-22 /Pailan Arrows) so far.
 

GCSStars.com: Do you have a long term plan with Arthur Papas? 
Rob: Arthur Papas is on a 2-year contract for now, we’ll decide when the contract comes to an end. Saying that Arthur is extremely talented, sure he’ll be having other offers by that time.
 

GCSStars.com: After you came on board, you’ve chose wards from academies, they initially played well for Arrows and later continued doing the same for country, in U-22 Asian Cup Qualifiers. Any specific plans you have for them? 
Rob: Yes, the idea was to provide a platform for the talents who are yet to be identified by the Indian clubs. They get to play regularly for an I-League team (Arrows), raise their standard, and within few seasons they get integrated with other I-League teams.

 
Looking at their progress, again, I’m highly satisfied!

[File pic] AIFF’s Technical Director Rob Baan makes a point during the first coaches workshop in December 2011

Selection trials for Jolly Brothers

Jolly Brothers Football Club, a BDFA C Division club will conduct selection trials for this season on Sunday, September 30, from 3 to 6 pm at the HAL Sports Club, Old Airport Road. 

For more information, please contact at 080-41475441, +919901036868. 

FIFA FUTURO III Grassroots program commence in Bangalore

FUTURO III Grassroots course, FIFA’s initiative on educating the football instructors at grassroots-level commenced today at Bangalore. The seminar, concentering South Asian countries will go on from Monday September 24 thru Saturday, September 28.

FUTURO III primarily focuses on educating the member association instructors in coaching, refereeing, administration and management and sports medicine. 

Grassroots course is a driving force and key element of the governing body’s football development efforts. This program is aimed at getting as many people as possible involved in the game, instilling human values and, above all, bringing enjoyment to all simply by letting them take part.

FIFA FUTURO III Grassroots course will be headed by FIFA instructor Vincent Subramaniam, former National coach of Singapore and AFC instructor Chan Hiu Ming from Hong Kong.

The inauguration program was attended by Rob Baan, Technical Director, AIFF, Kushal Das, General Secratory, AIFF, Shaji Prabhakaran, FIFA Development Officer, plus several officials from the state (KSFA) and district football association (BDFA).

FIFA Development Officer, Shaji Prabhakaran said that FIFA is committed to strengthen the hands of AIFF, and fortunate that the program is happening in Bangalore, which boasts the artificial turf under FIFA's Win in India with India initiative. 

This Grassroots program would be a four-day course for the instructors, followed by a football festival for the children – both boys and girls between 6 and 12 years. The last day of the event reserved for the football festival.

Participants

• Afghanistan: Eltafuddin Kahimi, Hayatullah
• Bangladesh: Bayazid Alam Zubair Nipu, Qazi Altaful Huq
• Bhutan: Ugyen Dorji, Chokey Nima
• India: John Kenneth Raj, Kundan Chandra, Surinder Singh, Hilal Rasoolparray, Tarun Roy, Maymol Rocky,
• Maldives: Ibrahim Shafiu, Ahmed Shareef
• Nepal: Kumar Thapa, Madhu Karki
• Sri Lanka: Damodaram Chandrasiri, Don Gamini Nihal Madurawala
• Fifa Instructor: Vincent Subramaniam (Singapore)
• AFC Instructor: Chan Hiu Ming (Hong Kong)

Logo courtesy: FIFA 
    

L - R
Standing - Surender Singh (India), Don Gamini Nihal Madurawala (Sri Lanka), Maymol Rocky (Ind), Ahmed Shareef (Maldives), Ibrahim Shafiu (Maldives), Tarun Roy (Ind), Madhu Karki (Nepal), KumarThapa (Nepal), Bayazid Alam Zubair Nipu (Bangaladesh), Chokey Nima (Bhutan), Qazi Altaful Haq (Bangaladesh), C John Kenneth Raj (AIFF)

Rear Standing - Hayatullah (Afghanistan), Eltafuddin Rahimi (Afghanistan), Ugyen Dorji (Bhutan), Hillal Rassol Parray (Ind), Kundan Chandra (Ind)

Seating - M P Swami (Chairman BDFA), Shaji Prabhakaran (FIFA Development Officer), E Krishna Narayana (Gen Secretary KSFA), A R Khaleel (President KSFA), Kusahal Das (Gen Secretary AIFF), Vincent Subramaniam (FIFA Instructor) 

Selection trials for Students Union Football Club

Sure this will be a great news to the budding players looking out for a top football club in the Garden City. We get to see several posts by the aspiring footballers on our Football in Bangalore wall and various ones messaging the same -  asking for clubs and trials.

So here is this for you...  
 

Open selection trials for the Students Union football team will be held at the Bangalore Football Stadium from today, September 21 thru Sunday, September 23, 3pm – 5pm.
 

Students Union is a BDFA Super Division team, they were promoted to Super Division last season. Also, they are the only privately managed club playing in Super Division.
 

Last season they started their campaign stupendously by defeating HAL. However, they lost focus midway owing to player’s injury a decent bench-strength, and somehow avoided relegation.

India retain SAFF Women’s Championship

Defending Champions came back from a goal down to retain the Women’s SAFF Championship when they defeated Nepal 3-1 in the SAFF Women’s Championship Final today.

Down by a third minute goal scored by Nepal’s Dipa Adhikari, Supriya Rout Roy restored parity for India five minutes later. Both the teams were locked 1-1 at the interval. Changing over, India doubled the score in the 64th minute through Bem Bem Devi. Kamala Devi completed the rout in the 87th minute.

Bem Bem Devi and her gang might have scored at an average of 6.6 goals per match, however, they played against much weaker teams from the South Asian region. India is ranked 52nd in world, Bangladesh perhaps comes closer with 115 rank, rest - Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Nepal, at cellar position of 128.The step going forward is to create impact at Asian-level.

AIFF congratulated the Women’s Senior Team for retaining the Women’s SAFF Championship in Colombo.

In a message, Mr. Praful Patel, President of AIFF hailed the performance of the team. “The Women’s team displayed exemplary character both on and off the field as they breezed past every obstacle on the way. I congratulate the players and support staff for the achievement,” he said.

Mr. Kushal Das, General Secretary, AIFF, also had a word of praise for the winning squad. “The AIFF left no stone unturned for the preparation of Women’s Team and the results are in front of us. I congratulate the team for the success.”

“Football in India is on the rise. AIFF’s aim stays to popularise the sport among the women. I’m sure the result will go a long way in inspiring a new generation to take up the sport,” he added.

AIFF might have left no stones unturned for the built-up to this tourney, however, one need to really understand the condition of women's football in India. 

How many states/cities hosts league regularly? Where is a league at the National-level? How many domestic tournament these girls gets to play in a year round? 

There's no women's league in Bangalore, sure the situation is same even in most of the football-popular Indian cities/states. 

Lets hope this win will help the cause!

Results
======

Group stage

• India 3 (Yumnam Kamala Devi-64', Oinam Bem Bem Devi-76', Alochona Senapati–88') Vs Bangladesh 0
• India 5 (Suprava Samal–16', Rina Roy–22', Parmeshwari Devi–50', 65', Pinky Bompal–52') Vs Sri Lanka 0
• India 11 (Tuli Goon–14', Yumnam Kamala Devi–25', Sasmita Mallick–29'(PEN), Ashem Romi Devi–30', Pinky Bombal–41', 49', 65', Parmeshwari Devi–43', 63',  Montesori Chanu–62', Supriya Routray–73') Vs Bhutan 0

Semi final

• India 11 (Yumnam Kamala Devi–4', 57', 90', Prameshwori Devi–31', Oinam Bem Bem Devi–40', 70', Sasmita Mallick – 43', 60', 61', 78', Pinky Bompal–80') Vs Afghanistan 0

Final

• India 3 (Supriya Rout Ray–8', Bem Bem Devi–64', Kamala Devi–87') Vs Nepal 1 (Dipa Adhikari–3')

BDFA Juniors to participate in AIMA-TFA Shield

BDFA junior team will be playing at the AIMA-TFA Shield organized by the Tamilnadu Football Association, Chennai. This is one of the oldest football tournament, which has been revived recently.

This team was not the original choice, and was invited only after Sikkim Football Academy pulled out at the last moment. BDFA decided to sent a relatively young side comprising of the college boys who have shown their skills at the recently concluded BDFA league. 

This tournament is played in the knockout basis. BDFA juniors will play their first match tomorrow against Integral Coach Factory, Chennai

Also playing in this tourney is newly formed Bangalore team South United, however, the team lost their first round match today against Southern Railways, Chennai 1-4.

Santosh (Young Challengers - C Division), Vinod (Bangalore Independents - B Division), Sunil (ADE - Super Divison), Chandrashekhar (Crescent - C Division), Shiva (Bangalore Independents - B Division), Harish (Young Challengers - C Division), Kiran (SAI - A Division), Karthik JB (BUFC - A Division), Sudarshan (SAI - A Division), Rajesh (BTM - C Division), KV Aditya (Excelsior - C Division), Binay (Tilak Memorial - C Division), Syed Khalid (BTM - C Division), Arun (Bangalore Independents - B Division), Zabi (Bangalore Independents - B Division), Ranjan (Blitz - C Division), Stalin (Young Challengers - C Division), Milton (Tilak Memorial - C Division)

Coach - Manivannan
Manager - B Kamal

Results

September 15, 2012: South United 1 Vs Southern Railways, Chennai 4
September 16, 2012: BDFA Juniors 0 Vs Integral Coach Factory, Chennai 6

Manchester United-bound boys for training

Surely going to be a lifetime experience for the 12 kids who toiled hard to bag the coveted Manchester United  Airtel Rising Stars (ARS)!

52 shortlisted players from 16 cities were put through their paces by four Manchester United coaches - Michael McClean, Mick Bennett, Andrew Cunningham, and Kevin O’Connell. The players were divided into four teams of 12 each and were tested on some specific parameters - physical attributes, individual skills, match situations and their performances in actual matches before 12 of the best players were chosen to travel to Manchester United for a week and to train alongside the Manchester United Academy team. 

The 5-day camp was a culmination of the three month long talent hunt that was conducted across 16 cities with the support of the respective state and district associations. 

Selected players

• Mukul Mohindra (GK) – New Delhi
• Kartikeya Swarup – New Delhi
• Russel Lyndoh (Defender) – Shillong
  Favorite team: Barcelona
  Favorite international player: David Luiz (Chelsea)
  Favorite player in India: Kareem Omolaja (Royal Wahingdoh)

• Remitri Thama (Midfielder)– Shillong
  Favorite team: Barcelona
  Favorite international player: Christiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
  Favorite player in India: Eugenson Lynghoh (Shilong Lajong FC)

• Ashish Sharma – Mumbai
• Porus F Shroff  – Mumbai
• Jijo –  Kochi
• Rahul – Kochi
• Afdal – Calicut

• Krishanu Santra (Defender) – Kolkata
  India U-13, -14 international, Mohun Bagan U-15
  Favorite team: Manchester United
  Favorite team in India: Mohun Bagan
  Favorite international player: Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)

• Teja Pawan Kumar – Hyderabad

• Rushabh Dhere (Midfielder)– Pune
  Pune FC U-17, Krida Prabodhini
  Favorite international player: Christiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
  Favorite Indian player: Sunil Chettri (Sporting Clude de Portugal)

Team selected four boys as standbys in case of injury, illness or Passport/Visa problems should occur to any of the selected players. 

• Md Shafi (GK) – Calicut
• Jordan Fernandes – Pune
• Akeraj Martins – Pune
• Joel Fernandes– Goa

HAL in 2012 Federation Cup Qualifiers

HAL will be playing their first match against Aizawl FC in the qualifying round of 34th edition of Federation Cup today at JRD Sports Complex in Jamshedpur. 

HAL is placed in Group 1 alongside Mohammedan Sporting and Aizawl FC. Group 2 consists of Kalighat Milan Samiti, Royal Wahingdoh, and Vasco. 

The winner from each group will join the main tournament teams which will be played in Jamshedpur and Siliguri. 

Qualifying fixture

• [Group 1] September 11, 2012: Mohammedan Sporting 6 (Ashim, [own goal], Muktar, Sunday, Alfred [2]) Vs Aizawl FC 1 (?)
• [Group 2] September 12, 2012: Kalighat Milan Samiti 6 (Christopher [4], James Jiblee, Tanmoy Kundu) Vs Royal Wahingdoh 0   
• [Group 1] September 13, 2012: Aizawl FC 6 (Michael[2], Johny [2], Francis) Vs HAL 1 (RC Prakash)
• [Group 2] September 14, 2012: Vasco 1 () Vs Kalighat Milan Samiti 4 (Christopher [2], James, Tanmoy)
• [Group 1] September 15, 2012: HAL 0 VS Mohammedan Sporting 4 (David Sunday [HT], Ashim Biswas) 
• [Group 2] September 16, 2012: Vasco Vs Royal Wahingdoh 

Chitra Gangadharan to coach U-19 national girls

The national coaching camp for the U-19 girls national team got started from Monday, September 10. The camp will conclude next month, Thursday, October 18. This Camp is aimed at preparing players for the upcoming U-19 AFC Asian Cup, which is commencing on October 20, 2012. 

The Camp is attended by 45 girls who will train under Shukla Dutta, Coach, Priya PV, asst. coach) and Chitra Gangadharan, goalkeeper coach. 

The trials for selections took place from August 3 to September 9. Likewise, national coaching camp of U-16 Girls, for the preparation of AFC U-16 Asian Cup 2013, Qualifiers Round1 from 6th to 10th November 2012 at Sri Lanka, will be starting from 16th September to 4th of November 2012 at SAI Centre, Gandhi Nagar. 

Bryan Robson: To develop a country, you need a good youth development program

Manchester United legend and former FIFA World Cup captain for England Bryan Robson was right here at the Garden City. 

Robson, the Global Brand Ambassador of Man U came to the city to inaugurate the final leg of the Airtel Rising Stars (ARS), which will be conducted by the Manchester United (Man U) coaches. 

Robson devoted some good time with the journos, who like many were quite ecstatic to see the living England and Manchester United football legend! 

To be continued... 

This was Bryan Robson when he came to India two years back as the coach of the Thailand national team to play a friendly match against Thailand in Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi
 

 

Airtel Rising Stars to train with Manchester United coaches

The final lot of 52 U-16 Airtel Rising Stars (ARS) will undergo a rigorous 5-day long training under the watchful eyes of the four Manchester United (Man U) coaches – Michael McLean, Mick Bennett, Andrew Cunningham, and Kevin O’Connell. 

Their training will commence from tomorrow, Tuesday, September 11, at the Bangalore Football Stadium.

These players will be divided into 4 teams and will be tested on various footballing parameters. The final 12 selected players will get a lifetime opportunity to travel to Man U for a week to train together with the Man U academy team.

[Video] Nehru Cup 2012

Sure you love to watch the videos, India's road to the glory, Nehru Cup, for the third time in succession!

Hey, catch the match actions in pictures here...

Match 2

25 Aug, 2012: India 3 Vs Maldives 0 

Match 1 

22 Aug, 2012: India 2 Vs Syria 1

Nehru Cup 2012: Road to victory

Preparation for AIFF's Platinum Jubilee Nehru Cup suffered a jolt when the venue was shifted from Jaypee Greens Atlantis, Greater Noida to Bangalore Football Stadium owing to incessant rains across the region. The camp started in Bangalore from Friday, August 3, 2012.  

Read a brief camp report and enjoy the camp pictures from here...

gcsstars.com met Coach Wilhelmus ‘Wim’ Jacobus Koevermans on a day when India’s FIFA ranking hit a new low of 168, and India was the ranked lowest among other participating teams - Cameroon (59), Syria (147), Maldives (161), Nepal (162), India (168)

Definitely, task cut out, coach!

Team went back to its base in Delhi for a final round-up. 

The Indian players train at the Jaypee Greens

The Indian National Team during a practice session

Wim Koevermans makes a point to his team during the morning practice session at the Jaypee Greens

Wim Koevermans makes a point during a practice session

Slice of action from team India's practice session

Sunil Chhetri and Wim Koevermans at a pre-tournament press conference

Match 1 

22 Aug, 2012: India 2 Vs Syria 1

Francisco Fernandes gets past Syria's Alaa Alshbbli

Subrata Pal thwarts a Syrian attack during India's first match in the Nehru Cup

Mehtab Hosain intercepts against Syria

Match 2

25 Aug, 2012: India 3 Vs Maldives 0 - Maul past Maldives

Syed Rahim Nabi heads in India's first goal against Maldives in the Nehru Cup

Sunil Chhetri is being congratulated by his teammates after puttin India in the lead

Syed Rahim nabi is being congratulated by his teammates after scoring India's second goal

Match 3

28 Aug, 2012: India 0 Vs Nepal 0 

Robin Singh in action against Nepal

Lenny Rodrigues runs past the Nepal defence

Mehtab Hossain initiates an Indian attack against Nepal

Match 4

31 Aug, 2012: India 0 Vs Cameroon 1

Clifford Miranda and Jewel Raja initiate an Indian attack against Cameroon

Syed Rahim Nabi breaks through the Cameroon defence

Final

2 Sep, 2012: India 2 (5) Vs Cameroon 2 (4) 

Starting lineup against Cameroon Nehru Cup Final

 

Gouramangi Singh puts India in the lead against Cameroon

Champions Nehru Cup 2012

Team Celebration with Coach

Entire team including support staff with Nehru Cup