Bengaluru sign Ajith Kumar from Chennai City

Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC have signed left-back Ajith Kumar on an undisclosed fee from Chennai City FC, the club announced on Saturday. The 23-year-old joins on a three-year deal, as Carles Cuadrat’s side add depth to their squad ahead of the 2020-21 Indian Super League campaign.

Having been selected through trials into the Chennai City FC system in early 2018, Ajith played a crucial role in the South Indian side’s I-League triumph the following year, appearing in every one of his side’s 20 games in the 2018-19 campaign.

“I am thrilled to have become a Bengaluru FC player. This is a club I admire a lot and while I did have a few options to choose from, Bengaluru was top of that list at every stage of my decision making. The chance to share a dressing with a legend like Sunil Chhetri who I hope to learn so much from, and so many of the national team boys is very exciting for me,” said Ajith. 

Ajith also said that while there would be pressure on him to perform, he hopes to adapt quickly. “I’ve watched a lot of Bengaluru FC games and have a fair idea of how the coach likes to play. I am happy to be part of any plan that he has for me. One thing is for sure, I will be giving one hundred percent every time I am on the pitch.”

The Chennai-born full-back faced off against the Blues in a Super Cup quarterfinal earlier in 2019, putting on a solid show down the left flank as Chennai City FC secured a 2-1 win.

“We have been pursuing Ajith for some time now, tracking his progress in the I-League and his performances with Chennai in the AFC Cup. He is a bright young footballer, and we believe that with the right guidance he has all the qualities to fit into our system,” said club CEO Mandar Tamhane.

Bengaluru FC are scheduled to begin their Indian Super League campaign in November, with the season set to be played behind closed doors in Goa. The JN Stadium, in Fatorda has been designated as the Blues’ ‘home’ venue for the duration of the tournament. 

U18 Youth League: Bengaluru register 5-0 win against Chennai City

Bengaluru FC Media

Bengaluru FC continued their impressive start to their U18 Youth League campaign with an impressive 5-0 win over Chennai City FC in a Round-3 encounter at the BFC Residential Academy Ground in Vidyanagar, on Tuesday.

Having kept complete control of the game, Biswa Kr. Darjee broke the deadlock in the 11th minute before Lalrintluanga Chawnglut (30') and Lalrinfela (44’) made it 3-0 going into the break. Second half goals from Jacob John Kattookaren (75') and substitute Lalengzama Vangchhia (89') wrapped up the Blue Colts' third win on the trot.

The result also took Bengaluru FC's tally to 9 points as they stay top of the Chennai-Karnataka zone.

Luck evades Bengaluru again as Chennai deny them the elusive away win

Bengaluru FC Media

Bengaluru FC endured another frustrating night, this time at the Nehru Stadium, in Chennai, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Chennai City FC on Wednesday. A second-half own-goal from John Johnson had given Chennai the lead only for Daniel Lalhlimpuia to equalize on a night when the Blues rued missed chances.

Albert Roca made changes to the side that beat Minerva Punjab FC 1-0 in Ludhiana over the weekend, choosing to start with Daniel, Mandar ahead of CK Vineeth and Jugovic.

Bengaluru had Chennai on the ropes from the get-go when Mandar saw his header from a cross, kept out by Karanjit Singh in the 4th minute. Daniel then had a shot on target kept out by Celesitine Echezona as the Blues attacked from all over the pitch. Sunil Chhetri too saw an attempt on goal from an Udanta cutback, saved.  

But for all of Bengaluru’s authority on the game, it was Chennai who found themselves with the lead in the 53rd minute when John Johnson headed a seemingly harmless cross from Nandhakumar on the right and watched in horror as it flew past Arindam Bhattacharya and into the Blues’ net.

A quick response was what Bengaluru needed and they found one within five minutes of conceding. Sent on a chase he won down the right, Udanta’s cross was pushed away by Karanjit Singh only to fall at Daniel’s feet and the striker calmly shot home the equaliser.

Sensing the need to build on the momentum, Roca brought on striker Marjan Jugovic for Mandar Rao Dessai as the Blues relentlessly pressed for a second. They came agonizingly close in the 63rd minute when Juanan saw a header from a corner saved off the line by Debabrata Roy.

Nishu Kumar then saw two delightful low crosses roll across the face of the goal with no Bengaluru body close enough to get a foot on them. Looking to shake things up a little, Roca made his final two changes in quick succession, replacing Cameron Watson and Daniel with Eugeneson Lyngdoh and Vineeth.

Bengaluru then had a shout for handball turned down deep into injury time but the Blues’ best chance of the half came when Lyngdoh’s looped free-kick into the area was nodded into a dangerous area for Dharmaraj Ravanan to clear off the line in what was to be the last action of the night.

The Blues next face Mohun Bagan at the Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday.

Bengaluru take on Chennai, look to keep momentum going

Bengaluru FC Media

Buoyed by a tough win away from home on Sunday, Bengaluru FC will look to keep the momentum going when Albert Roca’s side take on Chennai City FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Chennai, on Wednesday. Lenny Rodrigues headed home the Blues’ winner at Minerva on a pitch far from fit to play on and Roca believes it will take more such grit if his side are to get past Chennai City and build on the win.

“The circumstances we find ourselves in demand that we fight harder than we have ever needed to. The boys showed that in Punjab where the conditions were far from the best to play football in. Chennai are going to be tough opponents given their position on the table,” said Roca on the eve of the game.

Chennai, sitting only above Mumbai FC on the table, were denied three points on Sunday against DSK Shivajians when they conceded an equaliser in the last minute to share points with the Pune side.

Bengaluru have looked a more composed side since the return of John Johnsons from injury. The arrival of striker Marjan Jugovic too has added strength in attack and the Serbian, who was pulled off around the hour mark against Minerva, could get a longer look in on Wednesday.

The Blues won the home leg of this fixture in January when goals from CK Vineeth and Roby Norales broke down a stubborn resistance from Chennai and Roca said it’s vital that his team does justice to the chances they create. “In most games we are the team that is playing the football but we come undone because we don’t finish off the good work we do up until the attacking third. We’ve been working on these aspects in training and I’m sure it will show in the games ahead.”

Chennai meanwhile, are winless in four games after stalemates against Churchill Brothers and DSK Shivajians and losses to Shillong Lajong and Aizawl FC. The V. Soundararajan-coached side are buoyed by the addition of centre-back Celestine Anyichie, who missed the club’s visit to the Kanteerava, and will look to the Nigerian’s aerial presence to keep the Blues’ attack at bay.

The game kicks off at 7.05 pm and will be telecast live on Ten 2.

Bengaluru super-subs score to maintain all-win record

AIFF Media

On the auspicious day of Sankranti, in what could be termed as a South Indian Derby in the Hero I-league, Bengaluru FC, thanks to late goals from their substitutes Roby Norales and CK Vineeth, defeated Chennai City FC 2-0.

BFC started again with an all-Indian attack leaving Cameron Watson on the bench and having introduced Mandar Rao Dessai in the starting line-up.

Chennai City FC almost had the same first eleven from their last match sans the Afghani international Haroon Amiri and throwing the Brazilian forward duo Charles and Marcus in the starting eleven.

The hosts looked in superior touch from the go in their usual flair – concentrating on possession, trying to build up the game from back. Bengaluru FC were sailing through Chennai City FC defence and came close to scoring.

The first shot for the visitors came only in the 23rd minute of the match. Till then the visitors looked no match for the hosts, a team yet to settle down.

Chennai City FC defence kept doing double duty, focused more on clearing the ball rather building any attack. The strikers managed to squeeze past Bengaluru FC defence in few occasions but were ineffective in front of the goal.

Much to the wonder of supporters, Bengaluru failed to score in the first half.

At the beginning of the second-half, Chennai City FC substituted Marcus for local Bangalore boy Michael Regin.

Bengaluru FC were looking for an opening, brought in debutant Roby Norales for another debutant Mandar Rao Dessai and CK Vineeth for Daniel.

The Much awaited goal finally came in the 77th minute. The Honduran striker, Roby Norales, took advantage of a deflected ball and smashed it into the back of the net.

Bengaluru FC doubled the lead in three minutes from a dexterous cross by Udanta from the right flank, which Vineeth charging inside penalty box banged home.

What a super choice of substitution Albert Roca made, both substitutes came in the goal scoring party!

Bengaluru FC play their next game at their home in four days’ time against arch-rivals Mumbai FC.

Chennai City FC keeper Karanjit Singh was adjudged the Hero of the Match. 

Bengaluru set to host the first South Indian derby of the season

AIFF Media 
Bengaluru FC Media 

In a battle between clubs from the southern India, defending champion Bengaluru FC (BFC) take on the newbie Chennai City FC (CCFC) in the second round of Hero I-League at Shree Kanterava Stadium, Bengaluru tomorrow. 

Not many times the city witnessed a South Indian derby. Last time it was played was in 2011-12 season, between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Chirag United Club Kerala. Last time a match between clubs from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu was played in 2002-03, the seventh edition of erstwhile National Football League. In that season, Chennai had Indian Bank and Bengaluru had Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Indian Telephone Industries (ITI). In a 12-team league, Indian Bank survived relegation while HAL and ITI finished 11th and 12th respectively and were relegated in the next season. 

After a convincing win in the starting of the new season, Coach Albert Roca was upbeat, “We are at a stage to build up something, have to be consistent, and try to make things that we are prepared for. Our intention is to keep the team spirit that we have shown to our supporters in the first game.”

BFC have bolstered defense department by adding National player, Sandesh Jinghan, “Sandesh is a good player, he can help us to be stronger, but we have to give him time to settle down mentally, we can’t pressurize him for tomorrow’s game. I know I’m counting on him and I am sure he’ll be important for us in the future. 

Former Barcelona assistant coach looked content with the existing squad. “We have enough good players, I don’t expect any other players joining us. I am happy, we have a good balance in all departments. This is the squad I like!” 

Roca sounded cautious about his opponent, “CCFC got a good squad with most of the players having experience in playing I-League, they will also be hoping to score and put us in trouble. I am expecting tomorrow’s game to more difficult than the last one”, adds the Spaniard. 

He is not in favor of making too many changes, he concludes, “Our first game was good, I don’t want to make too much changes, but the other players must be ready to get in as we are playing the next two matches within a week. 

Coached by Robin Charles Raja, Chennai City bolstered their lineup by adding players having experience in I-League - Karanjit Singh, Debabrata Roy, and Denson Devadas, foreigners Haroon Amiri and Echezona, and local boys Dharmaraj Ravanan and Dhanpal Ganesh. 

Charles is hopeful for tomorrow’s match, “We have started on a positive note, our first game was a draw, and we surely want to do well in the other matches.”  

With not enough preseason and late signings, they have task cut out. 

CCFC must be seeking inspiration from the other big club from South,”BFC maybe a different club but they too are from the same zone. Heard a lot about BFC. We are looking BFC as a role model, we’re learning, and hopefully we’ll catch up with them in coming days.”

Raja further adds, “We’ll give a tough time to BFC tomorrow, and we’ll do well as a team!”