HAL failed to register a team for the current season

Sometime back we reported that the once football powerhouse of South India, HAL, is dying a slow death (http://www.gcsstars.com/2014/06/football-in-hal-is-dying-slow-death.html). 
Little did we realized that that it would happen anytime soon! 

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Sports Club (HASC), which manages the sports wing of this government institute, could not prepare football team for this season. The primary reason may be attributed to a vigilance-related issue. 

A close source reported that, fund misappropriation to the tune of crores has been surfaced. Apparently, there’s no account for expenses incurred between 2010 till date. 

[PIC] HAL team for 2013-14 season

Presenting HAL football team for 2013-14 season...

Notice: HAL selection trials for 2012-13 season

Right after completing BDFA 2012 league engagement, H Chandrashekar, the newly appointed Technical Manager of HAL football team is setting his eyes for recruiting new players for the 2012-13 season. 

After relegating from I-League, majority of the players have already moved out, looking for greener pastures. Such was the paucity in yesterday’s match against MEG that team could only field 5 out 7 players in the reserve bench, and that too 2 were goal keepers. 

Earlier, Chandrashekar has expressed his displeasure over dependence of out stationed players and not producing enough Bangalore-based players in last couple of seasons, when HAL was in I-league. Looks like prioritizing local talents would be the flavor of the season!

The selection trials will be held at the HAL Sports Complex, from Saturday, June 23, 2012, from 8am onwards. The players will be selected on contract basis. 

Interested players may contact the following co-ordinators:

• Subash Kumar - 7259498703
• U Babu - 9945472706

HAL's quest for a home win

The Aircraftsmen, assured of relegation take on resurgent Pailan Arrows in an I-League encounter at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Saturday, April 28.

This season’s home match performance for the Aircraftmen has been pathetic - last match resulted in a 5-1 thrashing in the hands of Mumbai FC. Failing to register a home win in this season, tomorrow, they have nothing but to play for pride against the rookies from Pailan Arrows.

Pailan Arrows stay on 13 points from 24 matches while HAL Bangalore stays at the bottom of the table with 8 points from 24 outings. 

With a goal difference of -41 so far, perhaps worst ever by an I-League team, HAL’s defense has never been the strength for all season. Central defender Femi Joseph Adeola is out sick, looks doubtful for tomorrow’s game and Biju Kumar is yet to recover from injury. Also, keeper P Pramod’s service will be missed due to some personal commitment.

Pailan Coach Sujit Chakraborty

After their first victory in the League against Chirag Kerala, Pailan Coach Sujit Chakraborty sounded a relieved man. “Our patience has finally paid off. We were unlucky in some of our earlier matches. It’s nice to be rewarded a victory after all the hard work.” 

“It’s true the win came at the fag end of the tournament. But there’s always a beginning.” 

“We have been playing attacking football but weren’t able to convert the chances that came our way. In the last match, everyone executed the plans to perfection,” he added. “The manner in which the midfielders supported the strikers was amazing. Sabeeth was exceptional.” 

However, Chakraborty isn’t willing to go overboard. “We need to stay aware of HAL. They don’t have anything to lose and will be coming hard at us. We need to be cautious. But we will play for a win,” he commented.

The last time the two teams met in the first phase of the I-League, the match ended 1-1. 

HAL would love to dish out a memorable performance in their last home match of the season.

20-member HAL squad for 33rd Federation Cup

Goal: Pramod P and Amar Deb

Defense: Biju Kumar, Lilian Kenneth, Femi Adeola, Chandandeep Singh, Sarbjeet Singh, B Prakash, and Ramesh

Midfield: Sudheesh Muttath, Kaushik Bose, James Singh, Malemngamba Meetei, Konsam Ajitkumar Singh, Deepak Prakash, and Karthigayan

Striker: Aleksandar Sujdovic, Praveen Kumar, RC Prakash, and Abdulla Hamza

HAL matches

• Sunday, September 18, 2011: HAL 0 () vs  Pailan Arrows 2 (Jibon Singh-90[p]) – 7pm
• Tuesday, September 20, 2011: HAL 0 vs Salgaocar SC 4 (Seouka-23'[p], Rocus Lamare-28', Chidi-32', Luciano-48') – 4pm
• Thursday, September 22, 2011: HAL vs Mumbai FC – 7pm

HAL team for 2011-12 season

The following 30 players are registered for HAL in the 2011-12 season:

Pramod P (retained), Amar Deb (Mohun Bagan), Sunder Rajan, Joseph Femi Adeola (retained), Lilian Kenneth (retained), Bijoy Das (United Sikkim FC), Sarbjeet Singh (JCT), Chandandeep Singh (JCT), Ehtesham Baksh (Md. Sporting), Biju Kumar (Vasco), Ramesh (BEML), Bhola Prasad (ONGC), Karthigayan (BEML), Gautam Debnath (retained), Prakash Koley (retained), Deepak Prakash (Mumbai FC), Kaushik Bose (ONGC), Sukalpa Mondal (Techno Aryan), Sudheesh Muttath (Vasco), S James Singh (retained), Malemngamba Meetei (retained), Konsam Ajitkumar Singh (Churchill Brothers), Satish Kumar Sr. (retained), Rajendra Prasad (retained), B Prakash (Postal), Abdulla Hamza (retained), RC Prakash (retained), Praveen Kumar (Josco FC), Vinoth Kumar V (Railway Wheel Factory), Aleksandar Sujdovic
 

Missing Nepalese star 

Rohit Chand the left-wing back from Nepal was the best recruit for HAL is old news. Rohit impressed the current Nepal national team coach, Graham Robert. Coach touted that the promising player is destined to play in the top league. Rohit was to travel UK last month to try his luck with the European clubs.
 

Speaking to GardenCitySoccerStars last week, Rohit sounded anxious, perhaps quite rightly so. Nothing has been finalized from the European club front. 

Given his performance in the last season, HAL was very keen to engage him for this season, however, quite reasonably Rohit was eyeing for a much bigger space, and perhaps missed the HAL bus in the first transfer window.
 

While GardenCitySoccerStars wishes Rohit for his Europe endeavor, he has to content himself with playing in Nepal for now. If the European deal does not work out for Rohit in few months, he might be seen playing for the Aircraftmen.
 

Striker from Serbia 

Initial practice session witnessed some powerful long rangers, crisp passes, and intelligent moves from a fellow Serbian - meet the 31-year old striker Aleksandar Sujdovic. Aleksandar is the latest import in the subcontinent’s football scene. 

Before turning professional, Aleksandar played for his (then) country Yugoslavia at the junior-level. After turning professional at the age of 17, he played for the clubs in Serbia, Hungary, and other Balkan region for 13 seasons. He came out for Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, Bangladesh last season and scored 3 goals in 4 matches.

Local players join HAL ranks

HAL signed Medio Karthigayan and defender Ramesh for the 2011-12 football season. Both the players represented BEML in the last season and well-recognized in the local football scene. 

Talented Karthigayan makes a re-entry to the club. After putting on the green colors for 3 seasons and helping his team to come-up to I Division, HAL team management felt his service was not needed. Karthigayan had no choice but to join BEML last season. His inclusion provides the much needed depth in the midfield position. 

Kerala duo and last season’s consistent performers, goalie Pramod and defender Lilian Kenneth too were signed. Also, Gautam Debnath stays in HAL for another season.

Among the outstation players, Bhola Prasad, Biju Kumar, Ehtesham Baksh, and Praveen Kumar were signed.

HAL is in talks with a foreign striker, who is currently plying his trade in Bangladesh. “The deal is almost thru”, confirms an official.

 

Team has gone to play an exhibition match on Hosur today. Management is confident of completing the signing formalities in next two days time.

Players signed on Tuesday, August 23, 2011:

• Bhola Prasad (ONGC)
• Ehtesham Baksh (Mohammedan Sporting)
• Biju Kumar (Vasco)
• Praveen Kumar (Josco FC)
• Ramesh (BEML)
• Karthigayan (BEML)
• Pramod (retained)
• Lilian Kenneth (retained)
• Gautam Debnath (retained)

HAL signs 8 new players

Albeit a little late, HAL finally started signing players for the current season. Today, as many as 8 new players got enrolled in the HAL class of 2011-12.

After a last minute ditch in the previous season, custodian Amar Deb makes a strong comeback. 

Amar Deb played for all the matches in 2009-10 season

Homecoming of sorts for Murphy Town boy, talented, Deepak Prakash, who turned-out for Mumbai FC last season. 

Vinoth Kumar V

Local lad and another youngster, striker Vinoth Kumar V, get a chance to show his prowess for aircraftmen. Vinoth played for Railway Wheel Factory (RWF). Both Vinoth and Deepak Prakash were a part of 2009-10 U-19 Dr. B.C. Roy Trophy winning team.

Also, makes to the team are two defenders from JCT, Bijoy Das, Kaushik Bose, and Sudheesh Muttath.

Players signed on Monday, August 22, 2011

• Deepak Prakash (Mumbai FC)
• Vinoth Kumar V (RWF)
• Amar Deb (Mohun Bagan)
• Bijoy Das (United Sikkim Football Club)
• Kaushik Bose (ONGC)
• Sarbjeet Singh (JCT)
• Sudheesh Muttath (Vasco)

HAL to shortlist new players early next week

Must have been a hectic schedule for the HAL football management for more than a week! The coaching staff invited the probable players on HAL ground early last week.

A melee of sorts broke out at the ground with 45-odd outstation players joining the fray. The selection trial pulled in 10 goalkeepers, too much on the platter for a team that played with only 2 keepers for most of previous season.

The second phase of the selection trial saw a trimmed outfit of 20 players, primarily from inoperative JCT, Sporting Club de Goa, Churchill Brothers, Sikkim United FC, and Kolkata clubs. These players will continue to train for another week.

Per manager Muralidharan, the final cut, comprising of 16-17 players will be selected not before Monday (next week), and the contract will be rolled out in next 3-4 days of time. Also, Muralidharan hinted that few players from the current team will get the axe. However, he refrained from naming them, as this might furthermore impact the performance of the ongoing BDFA super division commitment.

HAL in all probability will go for 4 keepers this season. While Pramod continues to don the gloves for Aircraftmen, veteran Sunder Rajan is ‘certain’ to join HAL, replacing the void created by the untimely death of his nephew Arun Kumar. Former HAL keeper Amar Deb, Air India keeper Souvik Mondal, and another keeper from a Kolkata will vie for the rest of the keeper slot.

After spending 3 seasons in Goa, Manipuri duo Konsam Ajitkumar Singh (Churchill Brothers) and Thoudam Joychandra Singh (Sporting Club de Goa) seen working hard to get back to an I-League team.

For the most part, the team rooster should have healthy 36-40 players.  Definitely a positive sign in last year’s comparison - the team only had a maximum of 26 players at any given time and royally suffered in marathon I-league.

 

HAL team for 2010-11

Goalkeeper

1.    Pramod P (Malabar United)
2.    ArunKumar (Viva Kerala)
3.    Another goalie to be taken on loan during the 2nd transfer window

Defense

4.    R Sreekanth (retained)
5.    Jaikumar (retained)
6.    T Karthikeyan (Indian Bank)
7.    Liliyan Kenneth (Malabar United)
8.    Joseph Femi Adeola (foreigner, retained)
9.    Rohit Chand (Player of Asian Origin, PAO from Nepal)

Mid-field

10.    Goutam Debnath (Vasco)
11.    Xavier Vijaykumar (retained)
12.    Rajendra Prasad (retained)
13.    SatishKumar Sr. (retained)
14.    Murali J (retained)
15.    James Singh Jr. (Air India)
16.    Bengkok Nameirakpam (Lajong FC)
17.    Sanath Kumar (Salgaonkar)
18.    Prakash Koley (BEML)
19.    Shekar Muralidharan (Churchill Brothers)
20.    Samuel Dhinakaran (Amity United)

Striker

21.    RC Prakash (BEML)
22.    Abdulla Hamza (BEML)
23.    Meikinlung (NISA)

Coach

Muralidharan (retained)

 
The class of 2010-11 for HAL definitely looks like a weak team on paper. What else can you expect when almost half of the regulars have moved on?

However coach sounded positive, “I know this is not the best we have, but let us not write off. We have got a decent team with a combination of youth and experience and we will put up good show.”