FC Bengaluru United to kick-off their Hero I-League Qualifiers against Rajasthan United

AIFF Media

FC Bengaluru United is set to start their Hero I-League Qualifiers 2021 on October 6, 12.30 PM against Rajasthan United at the Bangalore Football Stadium. The event will be kicked off at the Bangalore Football Stadium in Bengaluru, on Monday, October 4, and is set to conclude on Saturday, October 23, 2021.

With 10 teams participating in the tournament, the clubs have been divided into two groups of five each, and the action gets underway on Monday October 4, with two debutants, Madan Maharaj FC and Hyderya Sports Kashmir FC squaring off at 12.30 PM IST, in Group A.

Meanwhile, the action from Group B kicks-off a day later, when Kerala United FC take on Kenkre Sports at the same venue at 12.30 PM IST.

As per the tournament format, the group stage will see two matches being played daily – the first one at 12.30 PM IST, and the second at 3.45 PM IST.

A total of 26 matches are set to be played in the entire tournament, with 20 of them being in the group stage, while six matches will be played in the Final Round.

The teams finishing at the top of the two groups will proceed to the Final Round, where they will play against each other once in a round-robin format. The team that finishes top after the end of the 26 matches will earn promotion to the Hero I-League 2021-22 season.

The venues and kick-off timings for the final matchdays of Group A, Group B, and the Final Round are to be decided (TBD), based on the standings of the respective teams at that time.

Group Draws

• Group A
  Rajasthan United FC, Hyderya Sports Kashmir FC, Ryntih SC, Madan Maharaj FC, FC Bengaluru United
• Group B
  Corbett FC, Kenkre Sports, ARA FC, Kerala United FC, Delhi FC 

FCBU's Fixture 

• October 6, 12.30 PM: Rajasthan United vs FC Bengaluru United  
• October 8, 3.45 PM: FC Bengaluru United vs Madan Maharaj FC  
• October 11, 12.30 PM: FC Bengaluru United vs Ryntih SC 
• October 13: Hyderya Kashmir FC vs FC Bengaluru United 

 

KSFA kicks off football season with Women's A Division event from tomorrow

The Karnataka State Football Association (KSFA) will open their 2O21-22 season with the Sporting Planet Trophy, a qualifying event for the Women's A Division from tomorrow, Sept 1, 2021.

Ten new clubs have been placed in two groups and two top teams will advance to the next stage. Along with one best third placed teams these five clubs will join the three existing A Division clubs - Modern Girls FC, Roots Football School, and GRK Girls FC in the A Division League to be played later.

Supported by Belgaum's Sporting Planet Company this event will decide the eight teams which will qualify for the A Division while the remaining clubs will play in the B Division.

Group A
Bangalore Panthers, Sai Sports Academy, Young Gems, United Kodagu FC, Young Stars FC

Group B
Joe's United, Pioneer Women's FC, Pink Panthers, Pass FC, Bangalore Blues FC

In Wednesday's opening matches Bangalore Panthers face Sai Sports Academy at 2:30 pm while Young Gems face United FC Kodagu at 4pm. AII matches will happen at the Bangalore Football Stadium in Ashoknagar

Subhash Singh, Sanju Pradhan join FC Bengaluru United along with Denil and Bedashwor

FCBU Media 

FC Bengaluru United (FCBU) have added four new players to their squad, as part of their preparations for the 2021/22 season. Ahead of the much-awaited Durand Cup, the BDFA Super Division Champions have signed up striker Subhash Singh and midfielders Sanju Pradhan, Denil Rebello and Bedashwor Singh.

The 31-year-old forward Subash Singh is a seasoned I-League campaigner, having played for various clubs including Air India, East Bengal, Salgaocar, Pune FC, Shillong Lajong, Bharat FC, Mohun Bagan, NEROCA FC, Real Kashmir and Mohammedan SC. He was also part of the Indian Super League side Mumbai City FC for the 2014 season.

"I am excited to be part of the United journey," said Subash. "I strongly believe that we have the team - both in terms of personnel and spirit - to put in a great showing at the Durand Cup and qualify for the I-League as well," added the versatile striker, who has also featured at the U-19 and U-23 level for India.

Bolstering the midfield will be Sanju Pradhan, who brings in valuable I-League and ISL experience. The 31-year-old player joins FCBU from RoundGlass Punjab. Having started his professional career with Air India, Sanju went on to play for East Bengal in 2008 - he played four seasons and was part of multiple trophy winning campaigns for them. He made 72 appearances for Air India and scored 10 goals. He was part of the ATK side that clinched the inaugural ISL title in 2014. The midfielder has played 55 ISL matches playing for various ISL clubs such as NorthEast United, FC Pune City and Mumbai City FC.

"I am excited about sharing my experience with the younger players in the team," said Sanju. "The club is run extremely professionally, and I am really happy to be a part of it. I am looking forward to good game time and performing to my potential."

The third signee is 23-year-old Denil Rebello who started his youth career at Salgaocar FC and played for their senior team in the 2019-20 Goa Pro League season. He was then signed by fellow Goan side Vasco Sports Club for the 2020-21 season.

FCBU have also roped in rising star Bedashwor Singh. A product of the AIFF Elite Academy, Bedashwor spent his youth days with ISL club Chennaiyin FC as a developmental player. During this time, he was loaned out to Minerva Punjab and Fateh Hyderabad in the 2016-17 and 2018-19 seasons respectively before joining I-league side TRAU FC in 2019, where he spent two seasons.

Commenting on the new signings, Richard Hood, Head Coach, FC Bengaluru United said "Sanju comes to us with a massive reputation - he has captained important teams and knows what a winning dressing room is like. He will bring us a lot of stability in building our attack and his track record of creating chances and finding gaps into the opponent's final third is the primary reason the staff made sure that we secured him as soon as his availability was brought to our attention. Subash is an explosive athlete who has the ability to beat players and destabilize defenses with skill and speed while being a proven scorer of goals. Having joined our season from day one, we see that he takes his training hours seriously and is committed towards continuous improvements, which has rubbed off on others."

 

10 teams to participate in Hero I-League Qualifiers 2021 in Bengaluru

AIFF Media 

The Indian Football domestic season is all set to get underway with the Hero I-League Qualifiers 2021, which is set to take place at the Bangalore Football Stadium in Bengaluru, Karnataka, from October, 2021.

A total of 10 teams will represent as many states in the Hero I-League Qualifiers 2021, from within a centrally organised Bio Bubble in Bengaluru.

This edition of the Hero I-League Qualifiers will also see as many as seven teams make their debut – Hyderya Sports FC (J&K), Corbett FC (Uttarakhand), Delhi FC (Delhi), Madan Maharaj FC (Madhya Pradesh), Rajasthan United FC (Rajasthan), Kerala United FC (Kerala), Ryntih SC (Meghalaya). Meanwhile, the likes of ARA FC (Gujarat), Kenkre FC (Maharashtra), and FC Bengaluru United (Karnataka), who have played in the competition before, complete the lineup.

The aforementioned clubs have all gone through the process of nomination by their respective state FAs, and have successfully submitted the required documents for the league and club licensing on time.

The 10 teams who will be playing in the Hero I-League qualifiers are as follows:

• Hyderya Sports FC (J&K)
• Corbett FC (Uttarakhand)
• Delhi FC (Delhi)
• Madan Maharaj FC (Madhya Pradesh)
• Rajasthan United FC (Rajasthan)
• ARA FC (Gujarat)
• Kenkre FC (Maharashtra)
• FC Bengaluru United (Karnataka)
• Kerala United FC (Kerala)
• Ryntih SC (Meghalaya)

 

Bengaluru FC to conduct Academy trials

Bengaluru FC Media  

Bengaluru FC have announced trials for their U8, U10 and U12 Academy teams. The trials, scheduled to be held across 6th, 7th and 8th of September at the Bangalore Football Stadium, in Ashok Nagar, will be for entry to the club’s non-residential Academy in Bengaluru, and for children born between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2015. For more information, contact 8892386170 or 8197209753.

Schedule 

• Under 8: September 6, 2021 
• Under 10: September 7, 2021 
• Under 12: September 8, 2021

Bengaluru FC sign Brazilian midfielder Bruno Ramires

Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC, on Saturday, confirmed the signing of Brazilian midfielder Bruno Edgar Silva Almeida, more commonly known as Bruno Ramires, on a two-year deal that will run until the end of the 2022-23 season. Ramires, who most recently played for Portuguese Primeira Liga side Belenenses SAD, is Marco Pezzaiuoli’s ninth signing of the summer.

A product of the Bahia Youth Academy, Ramires turned out for Brazilian sides Vitoria and Cruzeiro before making his first team debut for the latter in 2014. With Cruzeiro, Ramires was part of the team that secured the Brazilian domestic double in 2014, winning the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A and Campeonato Mineiro.

“I am very happy to have signed with Bengaluru FC. It’s a new challenge for me and I hope to have a good season with my new teammates. My primary target is to fight for trophies with this club, because I know this team has a winning mentality. I want to work hard with my new teammates, play as much as I can and contribute to the team in the best possible way,” Ramires said after completing formalities.

After a loan spell at Portuguese side Moreirense, Ramires returned to Brazil and plied his trade at Centro Sportivo Alagoano in 2019. A year later, Ramires joined Portuguese LigaPro side Feirense, before making a transfer to Belenenses in the Primeira Liga for an undisclosed fee in 2020. At Belenenses, Ramires made 32 appearances across all competitions, as the side finished 10th in the League.

Speaking on the signing, Bengaluru coach Marco Pezzaiuoli said, “Bruno is a young, influential and a very versatile player who can play in many positions in the midfield. He makes his presence felt on both ends of the pitch, and with his experiences playing in Brazil and the Portuguese First Division, I am sure he will help what is a relatively young squad. His signing will lend the team solidity as we look forward to the Indian Super League season.” 

Ramires will join the squad for pre-season training ahead of their upcoming Indian Super League campaign.

 

FCBU retain 13 players for upcoming domestic season

FCBU Media 

FC Bengaluru United have released a list of 13 retained players ahead of the 2021-22 domestic season. Having been crowned BDFA Super Division Champions earlier this year, the Bengaluru club will be keen to carry forward the momentum as they launch their bid to qualify for the I-League in September.

 

"We have always been clear and focused on our goal - to bring Bengaluru back to the I-League,” said Gaurav Manchanda, Owner, FC Bengaluru United. “We are thankful to all the players who have played an integral role in the journey thus far. Continuity plays a key role in building a robust team structure and we are glad we have the core strength to ensure this going forward into the new season.”  

Among the retained players are some notable names, including attacking midfielder Hayden Fernandes and Arun N, who was adjudged the best midfielder in the 2019-20 BDFA Super Division. Ronaldo Oliveira, who top scored for the club in the recently concluded BDFA Super Division League, has also been retained, as has long-time FC Bengaluru United goalkeeper Srijith Ramesh.

“Since last October last year, all decisions have been made keeping in mind the upcoming Qualifiers,” said Richard Hood, Head Coach, FC Bengaluru United. “We immensely value and respect the contributions of the players who have not been able to continue with us. The BDFA Super Division was a crucial platform to assess our squad for strengths and gaps - and the retained players have displayed the qualities to build on our game model with which we want to secure competitive success and promotion to the I-League.”

The full list of the thirteen players retained by FC Bengaluru United for the 2021-22 season is as follows:

 

1. Srijith Ramesh – Goalkeeper
2. Kunzang Bhutia – Goalkeeper
3. Robin Gurung – Defender
4. Anup L – Defender
5. Brandon Green – Defender
6. Asraf Mondal – Defender
7. Asrar Rehbar – Midfielder
8. Hayden Fernandes – Midfielder
9. Arun N – Midfielder
10. Jaison Vaz – Striker
11. Ronaldo Oliveira – Striker
12. Naro Shrestha – Striker 
13. Chelston Pinto -- Defender 

FC Bengaluru United sign strikers Luka Majcen and Pedro Manzi

FCBU Media 

Ahead of the upcoming domestic season, BDFA Super Division Champions FC Bengaluru United (FCBU) have signed Luka Majcen and Pedro Manzi, as the club looks to add additional firepower to its attack for the upcoming domestic season. The foreign duo’s first assignment for the club will be the Durand Cup. The tournament begins in Kolkata next month and FCBU are one of the 16 teams invited to participate in it. 

The 32-year-old Slovenian forward Luka Majcen joins FCBU as a free agent, following a one-season stint with Churchill Brothers in last season's I-League. Majcen finished the I-League season with an impressive return of 11 goals; a tally which saw him finish second in the Golden Boot race in the league. He also registered two assists to go with his 11 goals. Before his entry into the Indian domestic football circuit in 2020, Majcen plied his trade in Slovenian football, representing several top clubs in the region. He is a two-time winner of the Slovenian Cup, which is the top knockout tournament in Slovenian football.

“I am delighted to join FC Bengaluru United for the new season," Majcen said. "The club has a clear goal and vision about where they see themselves in the coming years - which is to be playing in the I-League. My objective is to help the team win and achieve this goal together with my new teammates. I am excited about the opportunity and am looking forward to working with Head Coach Richard Hood, whose reputation as one of the sharpest coaches in Indian football precedes him,” said Majcen.

Luka Majcen will be looking to form a partnership in attack with fellow new signee Pedro Manzi. Manzi took Indian football by storm in his debut season with Chennai City FC in the 2018-19 I-League. The Spanish forward finished that season as the Golden Boot winner in the I-League with 26 goals. His exploits led Chennai City FC to the I-League crown that season, and FCBU will be hoping that their new recruit will be able to recreate his goal scoring form from that particular season.

“I am very happy to return to India and play for FC Bengaluru United. Bengaluru has a great sporting culture, and the fans really support their team. I would like to use all my career experience to help the team grow, whether it is with my offensive tactical play, assists for goals and also the way I apply pressure with my defensive skills," Manzi said. "Being part of the FC Bengaluru United journey will help me in my own professional journey. I was excited to accept this challenge and look forward to playing a leading role in guiding the club to the I-League. The club has seamless processes in place and has enjoyed a great growth journey over the last few years – the results are there for all to see. So, it was very easy for me to accept the offer after speaking to their head Coach, Richard Hood and General Manager, Somanna CS," Manzi said. 

"With 2 foreign players allowed on the pitch there was a lot of effort behind the analysis that went into identifying and securing our prime targets for our promotion bid," said Richard Hood, Head Coach, FC Bengaluru United. "In Luka we have a thorough team player who brings a lot of hunger, intensity and ferocity with every minute that he is involved in. There is a tremendous work ethic and desire to win that complements our playing style from the front both on and off the ball. His efforts are sure to get us a lot of goals. Pedro is lethal in the final third of the pitch and has proven that with plenty of conviction in two campaigns of the I-League. Apart from his scoring and high assist track record - we recognised his strong play making abilities around which we have built a squad that will control the game and progress the attack with pace and precision."

ADE to conduct trials for the coming BDFA Super Division season

BDFA Super Division team, defence research and development organization, ADE will be conducting trials for the coming football season. Per the BDFA calendar, Super Division League will be commenced in October. 

ADE produced players like Daksinamurthy, Sunil Kumar, and Gnanapraksh, even the assistant coach of Indian Senior Team and head coach of Indian Arrows Shanmugham Venkatesh played for ADE. 

ADE won BDFA Super Division league in 2013–14 season only to get relegated the next season. They came back in Super Division in the 2018–19 season. ADE finished second to last in a 13-team super division last season. 

Here’re the details:

• Date: 28-08-2021
• Time: 8.30 am
• Venue- HAL Football Ground
• Contact: 9448810444, 9901159453, 9448083935

Bengaluru round off AFC Cup campaign with 6-2 win over Maziya

Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC’s frontmen had a field day at the National Stadium in Male, as Marco Pezzaiuoli’s side ended their AFC Cup campaign with a 6-2 win over Maziya S&RC, on Tuesday. Udanta Singh, Cleiton Silva and Leon Augustine scored first half goals, before strikes from substitutes Sivasakthi Narayanan and Bidyashagar Singh’s brace kept the Blues’ lead intact after Hamza Mohamed and Asadhulla Abdulla had pulled two back for the hosts. 

Earlier, Pezzaiuoli made five changes to the team that was held to a goalless draw by Bashundhara Kings, handing starts to Sarthak Golui, Pratik Chaudhari, Rohit Kumar, Udanta and Leon, while goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu captained the side in the absence of Sunil Chhetri. On the other bench, Risto Vidaković made three changes to the Maziya team that lost to ATK Mohun Bagan.

The Blues started the game on the front foot and broke the deadlock just six minutes from kick-off when Sarthak and Leon combined down the right flank. The eventual cross from the Bengaluru right-back found Udanta arriving in the box, and the winger made no mistake in burying his header to put Bengaluru 1-0 up.

Only moments later, Pezzaiuoli’s men were knocking on the Maziya door again, through Udanta and then Leon. Rane’s attempted cross for Udanta was a yard ahead of him before Udanta’s cross found Leon, but the latter skewed his shot wide.

The Blues scored their second goal in fortuitous circumstances when Brazilian striker Cleiton Silva poked the ball home in the 19th minute. Attempting to collect a long punt, Maziya ’keeper Shareef misjudged the flight of the ball and Silva chased the ball down and scored from close range, past the reach of Shareef. Silva would put the ball in the back of the net once again on the half hour mark, only for the assistant to raise his flag for offside.

Maziya were forced into a change when Shareef was stretchered off and substitute custodian Mamatkhonov Mirzokhid was called into action. Mirzokhid’s first involvement saw him pick the ball from the back of the net, when Leon managed to beat the offside trap and slot home through  the Uzbek ’keeper’s legs to make it 3-0. 

Leon came close to scoring his second of the game on the other side of the break, but Mirzokhid was well positioned to save his effort. Jesus Blanco was alert to make two crucial blocks right after, from Jayesh and Suresh, to deny the Blues a fourth.

Pezzaiuoli rang in the first of his five changes when Danish Farooq replaced Rohit Kumar, and made further substitutions later, sending on Ajay Chhetri, Bidyashagar Singh and Sivasakthi Narayanan. Maziya pulled one back in the 67th minute through Hamza, who beat the offside trap and slotted home past Pratik’s attempted tackle and Gurpreet’s stretch to make it 3-1. However, the Blues responded just three minutes later, as Sivasakthi latched onto a cross from Udanta with a neat touch and finish, for his first goal in Bengaluru colours.

Maziya reduced the deficit once again in the 80th minute, against the run of play, when Abdulla latched onto a pass from Mohamed and slotted home from close range. Udanta had a late chance to add to his exploits, but having controlled well and cut in on his left, his finish was found wanting. Keen to get in on the act, substitute Bidyashagar scored twice in seven minutes, both times from close range, to put the game beyond the reach of Vidakovic’s men. 

The result confirmed a third place finish for Bengaluru, who ended their Group D campaign with four points from three games. The Blues are in action next at the 130th edition of the Durand Cup, having confirmed their participation in the tournament that’s set to take place in Kolkata, in September.

Bengaluru to conclude AFC Cup campaign with clash against Maziya S&RC

Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC will look to end their AFC Cup campaign on a good note when they take on Maldivian side Maziya S&RC at the National Stadium, in Male, on Tuesday. Although both sides are out of the running for the knockout stages of the competition, there’s much to play for with a win potentially lifting the Blues to second place on the group, while defeat will mean a bottom-placed finish.

“It’s true that Maziya have played two games and lost both, but we need to respect them as a team. We need to focus on our style and do our best against them. From the game against Tribhuvan Army FC in April to the one against Bashundhara Kings on Saturday, we have made several steps forward. Ours is a young team and we are looking to progress with each game we play,” Pezzaiuoli said.

The Blues fell 2-0 to Mohun Bagan in their opening group stage clash before a goalless draw against Bangladesh Premier League champions Bashundhara Kings on Saturday. Despite the stalemate confirming their elimination from the tournament, Pezzaiuoli maintained that his side were eager to finish on a high.

“In football it’s not always about winning. Yes, we wanted to do well in the AFC Cup but it wasn’t to be. It was tough to accept, but we trained this morning and I saw good team spirit and mentality from my players. We are eager to do well and finish on a good note against Maziya,” the Italian added.

The Blues’ boss confirmed that winger Ashique Kuruniyan would continue to miss out, having suffered an ankle injury in their playoff clash against Club Eagles. In a bid to give minutes to different players across positions, Pezzaiuoli handed debuts to summer signings Danish Farooq, Bidyashagar Singh, Rohit Kumar, Jayesh Rane, Alan Costa and Sarthak Golui in the first two group stage games. B Team graduate Sivasakthi Narayanan also clocked his first minutes for the senior team. 

Maziya, who began their AFC Cup group stage with a 2-0 loss to Bashundhara Kings, fell 3-1 to Mohun Bagan on Saturday, confirming their elimination from the tournament. The Blues have faced Maziya six times in the AFC Cup, winning on four occasions, and losing twice.

Kick-off at the National Stadium, in Male, is scheduled for 9.30 pm IST and will be telecast live on the STAR Sports Network, Disney+Hotstar and JioTV.

Olympian Hakim no more

Syed Shahid Hakim, 82 years, part of the Indian Football team at 1960 Rome Olympics, and son of the legendary football coach SA Rahim passed away yesterday at a hospital in Gulbarga, North Karnataka. 

Hakim, who was also a FIFA badge holder referee supervised many international matches. He was employed with Indian Air Force during his playing days. Hakim was part of a Santosh Trophy-winning Services squad in 1960 and went on representing Services at national level from 1960 thru 66. Hailing from Hyderabad, Hakim represented City College Old Boys before joining the Indian Air Force. 

Hakim was the former Assistant coach of the Indian National team during PK Banerjee’s time. He coached Mahindra and Mahindra in 1998-99 and guided them to win the Durand Cup in 1998. Also, he coached Salgaocar SC, Hindustan FC, and Bengal Mumbai Club.

He was conferred the Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. 

During his last phase of life, he was settled in Gulbarga, helping the growth of football in the district. 

 

Bengaluru bow out of AFC Cup with a goalless draw against Bashundhara Kings

Bengaluru FC Media 

Marco Pezzaiuoli’s Bengaluru FC side bowed out of the reckoning in the group stages of the 2021 AFC Cup, following a goalless draw against Bashundhara Kings, at the National Stadium in Male, on Saturday. The result meant the Blues stayed third in Group D with one point, while Bashundhara climbed to the top with four points, ahead of ATK Mohun Bagan’s late clash against Maziya S&RC.

Pezzaiuoli made three changes to the team that faced ATK Mohun Bagan, with Parag Shrivas, Danish Farooq and Bidyashagar Singh replacing Sarthak Golui, Ajay Chhetri and Udanta Singh. At the other end, Oscar Bruzon fielded an unchanged side from Bashundhara's 2-0 win over Maziya S&RC.

The Blues started the game on the front foot, and the first good chance came with just five minutes on the clock when Danish's lob picked out Bidyashagar's run, and the youngster's shot from the edge of the box was blocked by Bashundhara skipper Topu Barman. Jayesh Rane's effort from the rebound rolled wide.

Bashundhara won a free-kick on the edge of the box in the 15th minute after Danish tripped Barman, but Suresh intercepted Robinho's pass and made sure the set piece came to nothing. Naorem Roshan Singh’s long diagonal in the 21st minute found Cleiton Silva, but the Brazilian’s attempted give and go with Bidyashagar found the winger crowded out by the Bashundhara defence. From that move, the Bangladesh side went on a counter-attack that forced Musavu-King into a tackle that saw him pick up the game’s first yellow card.

Three minutes later, Cleiton’s ball into the box was met by a diving Yrondu Musavu-King, whose header was straight into Bashundhara ’keeper Anisur Rahman’s gloves. At the other end, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu did well to get his palms to Jonathan Reis’ effort from well outside the box, to push away Bashundhara’s hopes of a first half goal.

On the stroke of halftime, Pezzaiuoli made the first substitution of the game, bringing on Sarthak in place of Parag. The Blues then had the final chance before the break, when Tariq Raihan Kazi tugged Cleiton back to give away a freekick and pick up a yellow card. The Brazilian’s effort was blocked and Bidyashagar’s shot from the rebound sailed high and wide.

Bashundhara made a change of their own on the other side of the break as Mohammad Ibrahim replaced Mahbubur Rahman. The visitors came close to taking the lead in the 57th minute through Brazilian winger Robinho, whose effort deflected off Gurpreet’s foot and was sailing goalward until Roshan cleared with an acrobatic effort. The ball almost spun back in before Gurpreet pushed away with an outstretched arm.

Attacking with intent, the Blues came close on several occasions. Cleiton skipped past his marker in the 72nd minute and saw his low cross was blocked by Topu. Only minutes later, Alan Costa’s header from Cleiton’s corner deflected off the underside of the bar and bounced on the goal line, before ’keeper Anisur managed to collect.

The Blues had a flurry of late chances as they looked to break the deadlock, with Cleiton involved in the thick of things. The Brazilian’s deflected shot was pushed away by Anisur in the 82nd minute, and Chhetri was first to get the rebound. With the ’keeper off his line, Chhetri found Rane unmarked, but the midfielder’s effort was blocked by Topu. Minutes later, Leon tried to turn Kazi in the box but the defender stood his ground and did enough to block the winger’s attempted shot.

Pezzaiuoli’s final throw of the dice saw B-Team graduate Sivasakthi Narayanan make his debut, replacing Suresh, but it wasn’t enough as both sides took a point each in their penultimate group stage game. 

The Blues will be back in action on August 24, at the same venue, when they take on Maziya S&RC in their final Group D game.

All to play for as Bengaluru face Bashundhara Kings in Malé

Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC Head Coach Marco Pezzaiuoli maintained there was no pressure on his side as they prepare to face Bangladesh Premier League champions Bashundhara Kings, in their penultimate Group D clash of the 2021 AFC Cup, on Saturday. Kings, who ran out 2-0 winners against Maziya S&RC in their first group stage game, will be eager to get the better of the Blues, who went down to Mohun Bagan by the same scoreline.

An own-goal from Mohammed Irufaan, followed by a strike from Brazilian winger Robinho, sealed three points for Oscar Bruzon’s side in their opening clash against Maziya S&RC. Speaking to the press ahead of the encounter, Blues’ boss Pezzaiuoli said the Bangladeshi side were a force to reckon with, having made light work of their League campaign, which they secured with four games left to play.

“We're up against a team from Bangladesh that scored 55 goals in the League and are champions. They conceded only nine goals in the League, and won their first group game 2-0. They score a lot of goals and have a strong defence, are compact at the back and counter very well. We might have to change things a little bit because this is our third game. Our plan will be to maybe go backwards a bit and create space behind them to score goals and create chances,” said Pezzaiuoli.

Bashundhara, who made their AFC Cup debut last season in a campaign that was cut short due to the COVID19 pandemic, retained the 2020-21 Bangladesh Federation Cup in January. Pezzaiuoli handed starts to Ajay Chhetri and Naorem Roshan Singh in the clash against Mohun Bagan, while Leon Augustine, Parag Shrivas and Ajith Kumar came off the bench in addition to summer signings Bidyashagar Singh and Danish Farooq.

“In life you cannot be negative. I choose to take the positives from the previous game where we had almost 70% ball possession against Mohun Bagan. I think we only need to improve in certain aspects. There is no pressure. Football is not about pressure. We enjoy the games, and I am sure every team wants to be the number one in the Group. We want to win, and so do Bashundhara Kings. We have worked hard in training, and focused on certain things. We want to better our free-kicks and corners, and create better chances and finish them,” Pezzaiuoli added.

Having made several new foreign signings in Raul Becerra, Jonathan Fernandes, Khaled Shafiei and Robinho (on loan from Fluminense), the Blues will have to be wary of Bashundhara Kings’ attack, with the BPL side scoring as many as 67 goals in all competitions this season.

Kick off between the Blues and Bashundhara Kings at the National Stadium is scheduled for 4.30 pm IST, and will be telecast live on the STAR Sports network, Hotstar and JioTV.

Bengaluru go down 2-0 to Mohun Bagan in AFC Cup opener

Bengaluru FC Media 

A goal in either half, from Roy Krishna and Subhasish Bose, meant a first defeat for Bengaluru FC under Marco Pezzaiuoli, in the Group D opener of the 2021 AFC Cup, at the National Stadium, in Maldives, on Wednesday. 

Marco Pezzaiuoli made two changes to the side that defeated Club Eagles, as Naorem Roshan Singh and Ajay Chhetri replaced Ashique Kuruniyan and Rohit Kumar. The Mariners, who had a busy summer transfer window, handed debuts to Amrinder Singh, Hugo Boumous and Deepak Tangri, while fellow new signings Liston Colaco, Bidyananda Singh, Ashutosh Mehta, Ricky John Shabong, Abhishek Suryavanshi and Kiyan Nassiri found themselves on the bench.

The Blues' first effort of the game came with just four minutes on the clock when Suresh Wangjam and Roshan combined down the left flank to find Cleiton Silva, who picked out an unmarked Jayesh Rane with space outside the area. The midfielder’s effort, however, sailed wide of the post.

ATK MB’s first real opportunity of the game came midway through the first half when Boumous broke free on a counter-attack, shrugged off a challenge from Wangjam and managed to get a shot on target. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, however, got a strong hand to the strike and parried away.

Just past the half hour mark, the Mariners broke free again through Boumous, who played Krishna through down the left flank. The Fiji international’s attempted pass to David Williams was deflected into the Frenchman's path, whose effort was blocked away Gurpreet's outstretched leg. Antonio Habas’ side broke the deadlock in the 39th minute, with three foreign players combining. Carl McHugh's header from a Boumous corner was diverted goalward from point-blank range by Roy Krishna, past a hapless Gurpreet.

Looking to get back into the game, the Blues made a change at the break as Danish Farooq replaced Ajay Chhetri. However, the Mariners doubled their lead just moments after the restart, when Williams found Subhasish in the middle of the box, who turned to find space and smashed the ball low and into the far corner.

Bengaluru’s first chance of the second period came in the 52nd minute, when Cleiton Silva’s swerving effort from the edge of the box forced Amrinder into a good save after Roshan and Wangjam had combined once again in attack.

Leon Augustine, on as a substitute for skipper Sunil Chhetri, looked to make a mark, but his run in the 77th minute was cut short by Sumit Rathi, who picked up a yellow card for the challenge. Cleiton's effort from the resulting free-kick sailed off-target, without troubling Amrinder.

With ATK MB happy to sit back and defend their lead, the Blues threw men forward and dominated possession in the closing stages, but couldn’t find a way past the Mariners’ stubborn backline. Habas made further changes to his side as Bidyananda Singh and Liston Colaco made their bows, closing out what was a tough afternoon for the Blues in Asia.

The Blues will be back in action on August 21, when they take on Bashundhara Kings in their next group stage game, at the same venue.

 

Bengaluru lock horns with Mohun Bagan in AFC Cup today

Bengaluru FC Media

Blues’ Head Coach Marco Pezzaiuoli said his side would have to be at their best, with their Group D campaign in the 2021 AFC Cup set to begin with a clash against ATK Mohun Bagan, at the National Stadium, in Maldives, on Wednesday. Bengaluru, who defeated Club Eagles 1-0 in the playoff on Sunday, are grouped alongside ATK Mohun Bagan, Bashundhara Kings and Maziya S&RC, with only one team set to qualify for the Inter-zone playoff semifinals.

“Our last game was only two days ago, so it was a short recovery for the team. It's not really an advantage, but I can see the glass either as half empty or half full, and I choose to see it half full. There was a good spirit and positive energy in the team after the win. We are happy to be in the Group Stage of this competition. This is a new game, a new start and we have a renewed focus. We need to be very sharp against ATK Mohun Bagan, because I am expecting an aggressive game,” said Pezzaiuoli, speaking at the pre-match press conference.

ATK Mohun Bagan, who qualified for the group stages of the competition by virtue of Mohun Bagan’s victorious 2019-20 I-League campaign, have recruited strongly since their defeat to Mumbai City FC in the 2020-21 Indian Super League final, and Pezzaiuoli believes the Blues will have their task cut out on Wednesday. The Kolkata-based side have added several players to their squad over the summer, including the likes of French midfielder Hugo Boumous, Amrinder Singh, Liston Colaco, Ashutosh Mehta, Bidyananda Singh and Deepak Tangri. 

“ATK Mohun Bagan like to play a lot of long passes, go for the second ball and press high up on the pitch, which calls for a different approach from us. But they have also changed things in the summer, by bringing in a French foreigner (Hugo Boumous), among other players. This shows that they want to win the Indian Super League and the AFC Cup. We have to be in good spirit, show good focus and I am certain that we have a chance of winning tomorrow,” Pezzaiuoli added.

Jayesh Rane scored the only goal of the game when the Blues beat Club Eagles, and with only three games to play in the Group Stages, goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu said the task at hand was one that required focus and commitment from all corners. 

“It’s true that things are different this time, because there are fewer games to play in the Group. But it is still difficult, and we have to be focused. It was important for us to get into the Group Stage because we want to do well in Asia, as a club. Now it’s up to us to make sure we put on a good performance and try to do our best in each game,” said Gurpreet.

Kick-off between ATK Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru FC is scheduled for 4.30 PM IST (4 PM local time) and will be telecast live on the Star Sports Network. 

 

Bengaluru FC squad for AFC Cup playoff clash against Club Eagles, Maldives

Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC, on Monday, announced their 29-man squad for the 2021 AFC Cup playoff against Maldivian side Club Eagles, on August 15. Skipper Sunil Chhetri will lead the side, which includes as many as seven new signings. 

Defenders Alan Costa, Yrondu Musavu-King and Brazilian striker Cleiton Silva make up the Blues’ foreign contingent, which also features six new Indian signings in Harmanpreet Singh, Jayesh Rane, Bidyashagar Singh, Sarthak Golui, Danish Farooq and Rohit Kumar.

The graduates from the club’s reserve side include goalkeeper Sharon Padattil, midfielder Muhammad Inayath, as well as strikers Akashdeep Singh and Sivasakthi Narayanan, who finished as top scorer in the Blues’ BDFA Super Division League campaign.

The Blues’ playoff clash against Club Eagles will take place at the National Stadium, in Maldives, on August 15. Victory in the playoff will send the Blues into Group D, which includes Indian Super League side ATK Mohun Bagan, Bashundhara Kings (Bangladesh) and Maziya S&RC (Maldives).

Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Lalthuammawia Ralte, Lara Sharma, Sharon Padattil

Defenders: Pratik Chaudhari, Wungngayam Muirang, Ajith Kumar, Ashique Kuruniyan, Parag Shrivas, Yrondu Musavu-King, Biswa Darjee, Alan Costa, Sarthak Golui

Midfielders: Suresh Wangjam, Namgyal Bhutia, Jayesh Rane, Danish Farooq, Rohit Kumar, Muhammad Inayath, Ajay Chhetri

Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Udanta Singh, Cleiton Silva, Leon Augustine, Naorem Roshan Singh, Bidyashagar Singh, Sivasakthi Narayanan, Akashdeep Singh, Harmanpreet Singh

Head Coach: Marco Pezzaiuoli

Assistant Coach: Naushad Moosa

 

 

Football great Krishnaji Rao no more

Former Indian International Krishnaji Rao, captain of the Santosh Trophy winning team passed away today evening at a hospital in Bengaluru. Football icon Krishnaji, popularly known as Captain was 81 years old and left his wife, a son, and two daughters. He was not keeping well for past few years. 

Krishnaji represented CIL at club level and his association brought lot of laurels; it was regarded as the golden era of CIL. However, Krishnaji’s name will go down in the history of state football as a victorious captain who led his team (then Mysore) against a star-studded Bengal in the final of Santosh Trophy at Sree Kanterava Stadium in 1969.

Krisnaji Rao moved into coaching and successfully coached CIL and HAL for many years, also, he was a part of the Indian Senior National Team as an assistant coach during 80s. 

With Krisnaji passing away brings end to a beautiful era of football in Bangalore.