Chhetri’s six-day camp, from June 18-23, at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi is aimed at giving the budding footballers between the age of 8-16 a feel of how a training process should be.

Sunil Chettri during the camp. Credit: AIFF Media

A total of 60 participants are taking part in the camp.

“You need to feel as a footballer. It is only then that you progress, and start believing in yourself,” Chhetri said on the sidelines of the Camp being organised by Letzplay FC and Delhi Soccer Association.

“I have seen yellow, blue, green jerseys in many camps. This is not the right approach. Uniformity in kitting is very important, coupled with proper nutrition, good infrastructure. This is how a kid is made to believe in football — he needs to feel as a footballer,” added Chhetri.

The India captain further explained how imparting basic knowledge can help a kid avoid making mistakes which even he made as a child.

“This camp is different from any other camp simply because here the kids will be taught the basics, on and off the field. Say for example, teaching him or her to wear shin guard during training and not pull your sleeves in trying to look cool while neglecting the basics. An ankle injury can put you out of action for months.”

“Off the field, basic stuff like how many hours of sleep is required, what should be your diet. For example, not to follow even what your parents are eating as they are not athletes, you are. These may sound elementary, but these are priceless lessons I did not get when I was a child. These are mistakes I committed.”

Chhetri, who shepherded India to two successive tournament triumphs, the SAFF Championship 2012 and the Nehru Cup 2013, said that idea behind this camp is to teach the ‘next generation footballers’ how to lead the life of a footballer.

“They are our future prospects. It is important to teach these budding footballers the importance of leading a footballer’s life from a very young age. This will help them immensely. When I was a kid no one guided me. I don’t want that to happen to the next crop. So while starting pre-season, I though why not call the kids along.”

“Few of my friends wanted to open an academy. But I felt it’s too early for that. I wanted to start with a coaching camp. This is how it started, and the response has been wonderful so far. I plan to interact with the parents as well,” he maintained.

“One pat on the back from your father does a world of good. I am fortunate enough to have got that when I was a kid. I will share that with them,” Chhetri informed.

Indian National team captain Sunil Chhetri will conduct a football summer camp at the Ambedkar Stadium from June 16 (Sunday) onwards. The camp, being organised by LetzPlay FC in association with the Delhi Soccer Association, will continue till June 23, 2013.

Chhetri, who captained India to two successive Tournament triumphs, the SAFF Championship 2012 and the Nehru Cup 2013 sounded excited at the prospect of interacting and teaching young kids the finer aspects of the ‘Beautiful Game.

Sunil said: “It’s not just a Camp pulled out from the dictionary; rather, the kids will be taking back Home of how they need to take it up further. The idea is to give the kids a proper feeling of how a training process should be.”

He added: “I will personally talking and interacting with the kids and tell them about the mistakes which I made at their age. I will also have a separate session with the parents.”

Letzplay FC, which stays committed to youth development, will be taking care of the kit for the participants, supply the balls and also proper nourishment and nutrition to the kids after and in between the training process.

The advent of two new Clubs for the 2013-14 edition of the I-League has been a significant development in Indian Domestic Football. With the pre-season knocking at the door, it’s a race against time for Bangalore-based Club JSW. In a freewheeling interview to www.the-aiff.com, Mustafa Ghouse, CEO, JSW Sports speaks at length about his Club’s Philosophy, the future plans, building the fan base, the future squad and much more. EXCERPTS:

What prompted JSW to venture into the I-League?

Football is one of the fastest growing sport in the country with an ever increasing fan-base. As football lovers, there was always a desire to be associated with the sport.   The bidding process initiated by All India Football Federation was an interesting one and it provided us an opportunity which we were keen to explore.

Explain to us the philosophy of JSW.

Sports stay an integral part of our culture and we have been promoting it at the youth level for long. We intend to carry forward the same philosophy and build upon it. There’s an abundance of talent in India who needs to be nurtured for them to excel in the near future.

Very few stay aware that JSW have their own Academies too where sportspersons from various other disciplines are presently being trained.

How do you intend to become a Household name as far as Indian Football is concerned?

Commercially speaking, there’s enormous potential as far as the I-League is concerned. We appreciate the efforts being made by AIFF. At the same time we are optimistic that we can do our bit as well to simultaneously increase the standards of the I-League and our Team.

How do you plan to get back the revenue which you will be investing?

We are working on our business model and are looking at various options which would help us to be commercially viable and sustainable in years to come.

Building a team from scratch is not a matter of joke. With the pre-season knocking at the door, how far have you been able to rope in your staff and players?

The process is on and we are working hard to be ready in time for the pre-season to kick-off.

But we haven’t heard anything on Player’s signings as yet.

Like I said, it’s an ongoing process and we will surely make an announcement as and when we are ready.

Will Community Development stay on your priority list?

Community development will always stay on our priority list. As a Group, the JSW Foundation is into a lot of CSR activities and we will be using their expertise over the same. We will start in Bangalore and then spread it on a pan-Indian scale.

How much confident are you of building a fan base for the Club? Will JSW explore the opportunities involving Merchandising?

We are pretty confident. Bangalore is known to be a football loving city. Considering the fact that it has been a while since a team from Bangalore has participated in the I-League, we are hopeful that the City will rally behind us.I feel it’s still early days for sports merchandising in India. We will eventually venture into it but not right now.

Credit: AIFF Images

All India Football Federation’s Grassroots course successfully ended in Goa at the Duler Stadium in Mapusa, Goa. The course concluded with a football festival participated by 96 kids.

The participants of the course organised the festival themselves under the guidance of Instructor Scott O’Donell, who’s also AIFF’s Director of Coaching, besides being the Technical Director, Academies.

The festival lasted for 90 minutes and consisted of three small-sided Game Stations and three Technical Stations. The kids enjoyed playing the small-sided games and were at home during the Technical Station drills.

Lavinho Rebello, Vice President, Goa Football Association, urged the participants to implement the principles and philosophies of Grassroots which they learnt during the course during their daily training sessions with the kids. Such acts, he stressed, would enhance a continous development of Goan and Indian football in the future.

Scott O’Donell also thanked the participants for their support. “I was impressed by the quality and enthusiasm of the participants. All are very passionate about Grassroots programme and have understood they are capable of conducting Grassroots programmes in Goa,” he said. “I also feel that there is no reason why each one of them can’t organise a festival by themselves,” he added.

The participants were also awarded AIFF Grassroots Leaders Certificates by Gajanan Kerkar, Executive Committee Member, Goa Football Association.

At a time when most opt for vacations during the off-season, Team India captain Sunil Chhetri stays different. In fact, he wants to utilise the off-season by spending time with kids and passing on his knowledge at a Coaching Camp. In an exclusive interview to AIFF Media, Chhetri speaks about the concept of his Coaching Camp, plans for a future Academy, the forthcoming season, the present financial crisis in Indian domestic football and much more.

How much is an off-season important for a footballer?

It’s the only time when we get to stay with our families. If you look at me, I’ve been travelling all over in the year without even getting time to spend with my family. Isn’t it the best feeling to see the faces of your dear ones around when you wake up in the morning?

At the same time, I’m growing up and cannot shy away from my responsibilities. I felt blessed when I could stay by my mom’s side when she got operated recently. That’s the responsibility of a son. During peak-season, even if my Heart wanted, maybe I may not have been able to be there. It’s the same for all footballers.

Do you have any specific plans?

Yeah, there’s an unique plan. There’s a plan to have a Coaching Camp for kids at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi. It kicks-off on June 16 and will go on for eight days.

Tell us more about it.

Some time back, some of my friends came up to me with the idea of opening a Football Academy in New Delhi. I didn’t want to dampen their enthusiasm but was a bit skeptical at the outset. Simply because, sustaining an Academy is a huge thing. You just cannot have an Academy for the sake of having it.

Instead, I told them to have an eight-day Coaching Camp and revisit the idea of the Academy later on.

How different will this Coaching Camp be different from other camps?

It’s not just a camp pulled out from the dictionary; rather, the kids will be taking back home of how they need to take it up further. The idea is to give the kids a proper feeling of how a training process should be. A budding footballer needs to balance practice, diet and rest at the same time. But someone needs to tell them about it.

I will personally be talking and interacting with the kids and tell them about the mistakes which I made at their age. I will also have a separate session with the parents.

We will take care of the kitting, Nike will be supplying the balls and the kids will be given clean drinking water and proper nutrition in between and after the sessions. The first two days will be the trials. Practice sessions have been slated for next four days. The Practice matches would take place during the last two days.

We will revisit the concept after maybe organising another camp three months later. If at that stage we feel we can sustain an Academy, we will take the plunge.

You are playing at your peak. Isn’t it too early for you to be associated with such a Coaching Camp?

It’s an opportunity to meet kids. It’s an opportunity to share your experiences during the off-season. It’s an opportunity to pass on your knowledge to the next generation. The timing is perfect as I don’t have any footballing commitments at the moment.

We will have a separate batch for the U-12-14 Boys and another one for U-16 Boys. There’s also an open category for U-18 Girls. We will finalise the timings depending on the response.

Which club colours will you be donning next season?

I haven’t decided it yet and haven’t signed for any club. In any case, I have to go back to Sporting Lisbon and discuss the possibilities of a loan to some other club.

The financial stability in the Indian domestic market has suddenly taken a hit. How do you react to it?

It’s unfortunate but it happens. That’s how economy all over the world is. There was a time when there was a boom and the players benefitted from it. But as now there’s a crisis, one has to adjust. And I tell you, the players will. The situation is just an indication that clubs need to be more sensible and spend more wisely.

After your performance in Churchill Brothers, do you feel you have been able to break the myth that Sunil Chhetri never plays well for any club?

(Laughs). Everyone stays free to have their own opinion. To be honest such talks disturbed me initially. But I’ve learnt to stay calm; maybe I’m more matured now. My job is to work hard and play. I’ve done it and will do it till the time I hang my boots. A day will come when even this talk will subside.

Shouvik Ghosh (R)

NEW DELHI: For a footballer, the off-season doesn’t last long. “It ends even before it begins,” jokes senior Indian team member Shouvik Ghosh. In a free-wheeling interview to www.the-aiff.com, Ghosh spoke at length about the upcoming season, the difference in tempo between an international and a domestic match, his dream and his fascination for Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic.

EXCERPTS:

How have you been utilising the break?

(Smiles over the phone) It’s the off-season. Footballers travel all over the year and hardly get to spend time with near and dear ones. So everyone is making the most of it. I went to visit my Mama’s (maternal uncle) house in Murshidabad. I’ve been there so many times but the history of the place is just so captivating.

But recently, I have gone back to the arena I’m best known for – the ground. Presently I’m practising in Uttarpara and my colleagues from the India U-22 team – Narayan Das and Pritam Kotal have also joined me. It’s not serious practice but with pre-season soon to kick-off, we need to be ready and stay in shape.

How do you look back at the last season?

On the technical front, I know I’ve matured a lot as a footballer. I had played for quite some time but some minute changes made me a different player; I’d say, a more confident one. But there’s so much more still to learn. It was also another season when most of our batch from the Arrows bunch played together. This year, Milan (Singh), Deepak (Devrani), Vishal (Kumar) have already signed for other clubs and maybe, there will be more whom we will be finding on the other side of the field when we play a match.

What about you?

I’ve a contract with All India Football Federation and will be honouring it. In fact, not only me, but most of us.

When you look back at the last season, which moment do you cherish the most?

If you look at the I-League, nothing could have been better than our 2-1 away victory over Dempo SC. It was our best performance of the year. We outplayed the defending champions and that too, in their own den.

If you look beyond the I-League, I’d say, me being a part of the senior national squad was the best moment. Besides, we played some outstanding football in the U-22 AFC Qualifiers in Muscat.

The tempo of an international match is much higher than a domestic match. How do you cope up with it?

You need to learn to cope up and play at that level. It’s all part of an ongoing process. Right from the preparation for a match, to the diet, to the fluids intake, to the meditation, everything is different. Even at the U-22 AFC Championship, where I represented my country, the intensity and speed at which it was played was much higher.

I maintain a diary where I note down scope of improvement and work on it. I’m lucky enough to learn from the sidelines. I’m a newcomer and have settled down. But it’s a learning curve.

What are your targets for the next season?

The primary target is to (make a) debut for my country. I’ve come close but haven’t got my chance. No player can demand it as you need to be better than the XI who are playing. I wait for my chance, my dream.

Which player were you fascinated by in the Champions League final?

To me, Neven Subotic, Borussia Dortmund’s Serbian defender stays a class act. I have been following him for some time. His anticipation and presence on the field inspires me a lot. He’s so confident and so mature. I like him very much.

The A-Licence course conducted by the All India Football Federation successfully ended at the Father Agnel Sports Complex in Navi Mumbai. The course, which was attended by 24 coaches from all over India, ended with a series of practical exams and a discussion about the role of A-License coaches in Indian football.

Course conductor Robert Baan, the Technical Director of All India Football Federation, informed AIFF Media about ‘interesting discussions’ during the tenure of the 28-day Course.

“At the outset we discovered there was big gap as far as the contents of the former Course and the new Content was concerned. The participants took a bit of a time to settle down but very soon understood about our match-related approach,” Baan said.

“As we progressed, we had some very interesting discussions between the Participants and Instructors,” he added. “The most significant point was that all the Participants agreed to improve the level of football in the Country. Very often it’s seen that Coaches holding Degrees go back to their Public Sector Organisations and not devote their knowledge for the development of the sport. That’s unfortunate,” he maintained. “But this time, everyone has promised to pass on their expertise to the footballers.”

Scott O’Donell, Technical Director, AIFF Academies and Director, Coach Education thanked the management of Father Agnel School for their support. “The cooperation which we received from Father Agnel School authority was magnificent. I’d also like to thank our Academy Managers Shailesh Karkera and Rohit Thorat for ensuring everything went off smoothly,” he quipped.

“All the Participants who worked very hard and stayed committed all throughout, were also very open to the new philosophy of Indian football,” he added.

The course, which was divided over two modules, covered areas such as Fitness Development, Video Analysis, Media Management, Administration of a Professional Football Club and other Technical matters.

Besides Baan and O’Donell who were the Principal Lecturers, the list of Guest Lecturers included the likes of Chirag Tanna (General Manager, Pune FC); Henry Menezes (CEO, WIFA); Nilanjan Datta (Media Manager, AIFF); Dr. Tariq Wasim (Fitness Trainer and Physiotherapist, Pune FC); Shankar Sigamani (Video Analyst, AIFF); Sonika Sudan (Physiotherapist, AIFF Regional Academy) and Mohammed Yusuf Ansari (Goalkeeping Coach, AIFF Regional Academy) amongst others.

The three-day AFC Refereeing Development Pilot Project for Member Associations ended at All India Football Federation Headquarters, Football House.

The Project, which aims at setting up a goal for Indian Referees, was attended by AFC and AIFF personnel including Abdul Razzak, Head of Section Operation, AFC Referee’s Department; Shuichiro Hara, Administrator, Referees Department; Amit Deb, Chairman, Referee’s Board, AIFF and Goutam Kar, Head, Referees Department amongst others.

“The purpose of our visit is to assist AIFF to streamline the Administration in Refereeing like Registration Development System etc,” Razak informed www.the-aiff.com. “It’s our goal to see Indian Referees at par with Asia’s best and simultaneously kick-off a total development of Referees in the Nation,” he added.

“The pool needs to be wider so that there are more choices for selection. The best among the best will to be chosen to Officiate a match. The more the options, the better the quality,” Razak maintained.

Hara added: “We will be constantly monitoring the progress and have planned half-yearly visits to India every year.”

Apart from India, Asian Football Confederation is simultaneously launching the Project in three more countries, Myanmar, Oman and Jordan.

Amit Deb thanked the AFC for their support. “We are grateful to AFC and thank them for their continous support. Referee’s Development stays a priority and AIFF will leave no stone unturned for overall development of Indian Referees,” he declared.

Razak, meanwhile, was all praise for AIFF Referees Department. “We at AFC now feel that AIFF has achieved almost 75 percent of our expectations. The balance can be achieved in the next couple of years,” he opined.

Under the Project the AFC wouldn’t be granting any financial help but their “expertise” will help to streamline the system.

“We have the experience and the advantage or working and knowing many successful Member Associations. We are here to share the success story and urge AIFF to follow walk the same path,” Razak said.

FIFA Referee Pratap Singh and Anup Kumar from Referees Department also attended the Workshop.

Once you enter All India Football Federation’s Regional Academy at Father Agnel School in Navi Mumbai, the first thing which will strike you are the posters. Posters – big, colourful and bright – decorate the walls. In reality, however, it’s much more than the colour.

The Bhaichung Bhutias, the Sunil Chhetris, the Jeje Lalpekhluas, the Rahim Nabis who look at you from the walls are looked up to as icons. Boys want to emulate and better them. But a meeting with the ‘idols’ had never happened.

The opportunity came calling on Tuesday, May 28. On the ground where the AIFF Navi Mumbai Regional Academy boys have been practicing day in and out, national team captain Sunil Chhetri came calling. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar was a bonus. The occasion was the final of the Tier I of the Coca Cola U-16 National Championship between Meghalaya and Orissa.

The Master Blaster and Chhetri walked to the AIFF Academy boys and smiled. For the boys, it wasn’t just another day. It was a day of disbelief, a memory of teenage life which would be narrated more than a million times the entire life. Pleasantries were exchanged, all posed for a picture which besides being uploaded on their personal FB sites, will obviously be treasured in the famliy albums forever.

“We were standing when the crowd went wild. We tried to gauge what was happening. We turned our heads around and found out there was a rush. Amidst that, I discovered him walking towards us. I have watched the walk so many times on television. It was Sachin Tendulkar!” Gursimrath Singh from Punjab, the central defender at the AIFF Regional Academy, recollects.

“He walked up and met all of us. More than feeling special, the moment stays special. And Sunil Chhetri was there with him too,” Gursimrath adds.

“Chhetri is our role model. He has played in USA, he has played in Portugal and is the captain of our country. To see him and Sachin on the ground along with our very own Robert Baan and Scott O’Donell was very encouraging indeed.”

Even after 48 hours, the look on wing-back Situ Basumatary’s eyes stay of disbelief. “Sachin Tendulkar had sent the crowd into a frenzy; media persons were after him all throughout. But he talked to me, wished me luck and shook my hand. I felt I was dreaming,” he reflects. “I never ever thought I would meet him personally.”

“I remember how back home in Bodoland, time stops when he plays. But the hero of the nation shook my hand,” the teenager in Situ comes out again, even as you see him looking at his palm almost every alternate minute.

You just can’t blame him, he is a teenager after all; and above all, it was Sachin Tendulkar.

“Chase your dreams,” he told us.

But it wasn’t just Tendulkar alone. For Goan midfielder Hayden Fernandes, shaking hands with “childhood hero” Sunil Chhetri stayed the moment of his life. “Sunil Chhetri has always been my hero. To see him in flesh in front of us was absolutely wonderful. This was by far one of the highlight of my football career,” he utters.

“He spoke to each one of us, put his arm around our shoulders and encouraged us. I could feel the touch,” he smiles.

‘Sachin Tendulkar?’ you enquire.

“I’ve never been a cricket fan but Sachin Tendulkar has been above all. Despite being short in stature, he has an amazing personality. I was looking at him and wondering as to how such a down-to-earth man can conquer the cricketing world,” Hayden confesses.

Nishu Kumar, the defender from Uttar Pradesh had more to add. “Sachin was not exceptional in academics but has been the best in his business. Meeting him made me understand the impact of discipline in a sports person’s life. It was a huge experience,” he says in one breath.

Indeed it was! It was around their age that the Master Blaster, despite bringing out the ‘mother’ in all, burst onto the scene and took on the world. The journey continues even after 24 years! Acknowledged by all, always keeping away from distractions and controversies, the Master Blaster is, perhaps, the best role model for the AIFF Academy Boys.

The day after, the boys jog again on the ground. In between, the heads turn to the spot where they had met Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Chhetri. Inspired by their idols, some years later, they may come back to the spot themselves to inspire the next generation. It stays a cyclic process.

Meghalaya defeated Orissa by a solitary goal to emerge as champions in the Coca Cola U-16 National Championship. Ronaldkydom Nonglait made the difference between the two teams in the 38th minute.

The final was played in front of a capacity crowd of 5000 at the Navi Mumbai Father Agnel Sports Complex, the Home to the AIFF Navi Mumbai Regional Academy boys.

Ronald ran down the right flank, dribbled his way into the box and unleashed a shot which beat the rival goalkeeper hands down.

Watched by national team captain Sunil Chhetri and Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, Meghalaya dominated proceedings in both halves. They stitched some wonderful passes between them which kept the rivals on their toes.

AIFF Technical Director Rob Baan and AIFF Technical Director for Academies, Scott O’Donell was also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Tendulkar said: “I’m proud to be associated with the Coca Cola Cup and I’m sure it will offer a great platform for budding footballers. I keenly look forward to see many of the youngsters seizing this opportunity to showcase their talent.”

“Emerging sportspersons in the country require similar grassroot initiatives and competitive platforms to unlock their true potential,” he added.

National team captain Sunil Chhetri said he felt “nostalgic” watching the boys play. “Not long back, I was also playing in age-group Tournaments. I felt nostalgic seeing them play. There was a great display of talent and I wish they achieve their dreams,” he opined.

“The Championship provides the opportunity for youngsters to test their skills. I need to thank AIFF and sponsors for the initiative.”

Meghalaya Coach Jeffrey Walarphi complimented his boys for the achievement. “It was a tough challenge. After all it’s an U-16 Tournament and I need to laud my boys for the manner they responded. They deserve the Title much more than anyone.”

AIFF Vice-President Mr. Larsing Sawyan, also the Secretary of the Meghalaya Football Association congratulated the triumphant squad. “The boys have done a wonderful job. They have won a National Championship. We are very proud of them.”

West Bengal had earlier defeated Sports Authority of India’s U-16 boys to win the Tier II of the Championship on May 23.

The President of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Mr. Praful Patel chaired the AIFF Emergency Committee Meeting at Udyog Bhawan in the capital on May 27 (Monday). Besides, AIFF General Secretary Mr. Kushal Das and Senior Vice-President Mr. Subrata Dutta, Vice-Presidents Mr. Shrinivas Dempo, Mr. Larsing Sawyan, AIFF Treasurer Mr. Hardev Jadeja and I-League Chairman AR Khaleel also attended the meeting. The committee unanimously decided on the following points:

The Emergency Committee ratified the decision of the Bid Evaluation Committee to provisionally clear JSW (to be based in Bangalore) and Mumbai Tigers (to be based in Mumbai) to play in the 2013-14 edition of the I-League.

As regards the bid from the consortium from Kerala, certain clarifications have been sought, post which a decision would be taken.

Queens Park Rangers have given a tentative proposal to participate in the I-League from 2014-15 onwards after fulfilling all the criteria and Standards as required.

The 2013-14 I-League season, which will kick-off in August 2013, will be divided as per the Conference Model, the Eastern Conference and Western Conference. The top-four from each Conference would advance to play the final round.

Every club playing in the I-League will have to abide by the Indian Club Licensing Criteria, the failure of which they would not be allowed to participate in the League.

Each I-League club would be allowed to register a maximum 30 players out of which a minimum five would be required to be U-23 Players. Minimum two U-23 players need to be in the Final 18 and at least one in the Final Playing XI.

The Committee also set up a deadline for existing I-League clubs by which the existing clubs would have to start constructing their own Stadium/refurbish an existing Stadium latest by June 1, 2015, the failure of which the defaulters would be axed from the League.

One club, barring JSW and Mumbai Tigers, would be relegated from the 2013-14 edition of the I-League and they would be replaced by a promoted club from the 2nd Division League.

The participating fee for existing clubs for the I-League has been increased from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 500,000.

For the 2013-14 edition of the I-League, the Committee decided to increase the number of foreign recruits to four. Every club would be allowed to register four foreign recruits (3+1) and play all of them.

The Second Division League will have a qualifying round and the clubs would require to pay for their travel and stay. However, the expenses for the final phase would be borne by AIFF.

The Club Licensing Criteria would be applicable to the 2nd Division League as well.

There would be a participating fee of Rs. 100,000 for all participating clubs in the 2nd Division League.

Every club would be allowed to field one foreign recruit in the 2nd Division League.

The age-limit for the U-20 Tournament for I-League clubs have been brought down to U-19. All the clubs would be required to field teams in the U-19 Tournament. Besides, AIFF Academies and Private Academies would also be a part of the U-19 Tournament. It’s also mandatory for all the 2nd Division League Clubs to field a team in the Tournament.

All teams playing in the U-19 Tournament would have to bear the cost of travel and stay for the regional rounds. However, the AIFF will bear the expenses for the final phase.

It was decided that there would a cap of maximum of five teams from any particular City in I-League and 2nd Division put together. The teams would have to qualify based on the performance in the local Leagues. If additional teams from Goa and Kolkata qualify in subsequent editions, those particular teams have to relocate and play in a different venue subject to approval of AIFF/I-League.

By the 2015-16 season onwards, not more than two teams from any particular venue/city would be allowed to play in the I-League, except for Kolkata and Goa where not more than three would be allowed keeping in mind their historical contribution to football.

Besides, all clubs participating in any State Association League would be allowed to register and field two foreign recruits in a match.

The Committee decided to change the format of the Federation Cup. The next edition will be played on a Home and Away basis on a knock-out system, including the semifinals. The champions will earn the right to host the following edition’s final match.

The Committee endorsed the idea of creating a database of all registered Football Players in the Country.

It was also unanimously decided to make amendments to the AIFF Constitution as per the Directives of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs in regard to age and tenure.

The Committee felt that a discussion should be initiated with Pailan Group.

Meanwhile, AIFF’s Marketing Partners IMG-R made a presentation regarding the newly proposed League which kicks-off in January 2014.

Hosts Palestine rode striker Caro’s 47th minute spot kick to successfully hold dominant India to a 1-1 draw in their last Group D encounter of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup (Qualifiers) here at the Faisal Al Huseni Stadium in West Bank on Saturday (May 25, 2013).

For India, Sasmita Malik scored her second consecutive goal of the Tournament in the 35thminute. Courtesy the result, both the outfits finish their respective campigns with a point each. While India are third, Palestine stay rock bottom.

India got their first real chance in the 19th minute when striker Pinky Magar’s right-footer from close was palmed away by rival custodian. The 51st Ranked Team could not make early inroads due to the number of legs – virtually the entire team – inside the danger area. But once they did, they stretched the Palestinian defence with the hosts’ ultra-defensive approach going for a toss.

Kamala Devi’s effort in the 17th minute, after being set up by Sasmita Malik, went inches wide. Pinky Devi’s header tested the goalkeeper. Former India Captain Oinam Bembem Devi kept the hosts’ rearguard on tenterhooks with her defence splitting through balls.

The twice SAFF Champions were rewarded for their relentless attacks in the 35th minute.

Sasmita – goalscorer of the last match against Chinese Taipei – expertly cut past her marker to unleash a thunderous right-footer that crashed into the top right corner.

It was 1-0 in favour of India at halftime.

Palestine equalised from nowhere minutes after the change of ends. Captain Tuli Goon tripped forward Natali inside the 18-yard box to give away a rare penalty. Caro converted from the spot.

That goal was the first and last time the 91st Ranked Nation troubled India goalkeeper Roshni Devi as the visitors kept on the pressure. Bembem drilled her effort in the 57thminute agonizingly wide while Prameshwori Devi’s shot ten minutes later hit the woodwork. Earlier, the Manipur winger also saw his chip being tipped over by Palestine goalkeeper Nadin.

Stopper back Ashalata Devi’s free kick from 30 yards kissed the horizontal on its way out in the 80th minute.

The action hardly shifted from the Palestine half as India pushed hard for the winner. Their counterparts seemed to settle for a point. They had only goalscorer Caro outside their own half.

India Coach Anadi Barua introduced strikers Bala Devi and Rinaroy Devi in the 56th and 81st minute respectively to add teeth up front. But the hosts were determined to not return empty handed in front of their home crowd. They somehow clung on to the 1-1 scoreline.INDIA: Roshni Devi; Tuli Goon (C), Ashalata Devi, Radharani Devi, Suprava Samal; Sasmita Malik, Premi Devi, Oinam Bembem Devi, Prameshwori Devi; Kamala Devi, Pinky Magar.

Sometimes the scoreline doesn’t tell the true story. And it did not on Thursday as Chinese Taipei scraped past India 2-1 to notch up their second consecutive win in a group D encounter here at the Faisal Al Huseni Stadium in West Bank on Thursday.

Yu Hsiu Chin and Lai Li Chin scored on either side of the half to cancel out Sasmita Malik’s world class free kick in the 53rd minute. Courtesy the result, Taipei move to six points from two matches while India, in spite of spirited displays, remain without a point.

While the twice SAFF Champions won the tactical battle in the first half, they were by far the better side in the second period. Head Coach Anadi Barua’s ploy of playing deep and attacking on the counter seemed to be paid off as Taipei – who scored six against Palestine in their opening game – were bottled up in the final third by India’s defence for most part of the first essay.

The second half belonged to India and Sasmita Malik whose world class free kick in the 53rdminute left the motley crowd on a pleasant evening in Palestine awe-struck.

India started the better team in the opening exchanges. Taipei were allowed virtually no space in the final third. Sweeper back Ashalata Devi’s alacrity came to the fore time and again. Her crucial block in the 8th minute kept Hsiu Chin’s powerful right-footer at bay.

In the 24th minute, Hsiu Chin was in the in thick of things again, this time failing to beat the offside trap excellently laid for her by India.

The 51st Ranked Team had a few half-chances to draw first blood as well on the counter. Former India Captain Oinam Bembem Devi’s free kick was fisted away, and Kamala Devi shot inches wide as the match neared its half an hour mark.

But out of the blue striker Yu Hsiu Chin bundled Lai Li Chin’s floater over the line moments before the half time whistle to give Taipei the lead.

Switching to 4-4-2 formation from the initial 5-4-1, India started the second half on a bright note. Bembem Devi’s low drive from just outside the box kissed the crossbar on its way out. Stopper back Ashem Romi Devi – playing her first match of the AFC Cup – made way for striker Pinky Bompal Magar.

India were breaching their rival defence more often, and in the 53rd minute of the match they got their reward. It was a piece of brilliance from winger Sasmita Malik who earned and converted her free kick to perfection from the right side of the penalty area into the far left corner of Cheng Ssu Yu’s goal. The 30-yard curler was a class apart.

Li Chin’s goal nine minutes from time broke many neutral hearts who all the while were enjoying the ball possession and swift flank play displayed by India.

In the other match of the day, Myanmar blanked Palestine 9-0. Striker Yee Yee Oo found the back of the net seven times with six of them coming in the second half when Myanmar ran riot against a hapless Palestine outfit. Khin Moe Wai – scorer in the last match as well – notched up a brace. Courtesy the win, Myanmar go to six points from two matches while the hosts are still to open their account.

Chinese Taipei look the strongest team on paper in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. A day after the loss to Myanmar, Captain Tuli Goon feels the ‘fear element needs to be eliminated.’ In an interview to www.the-aiff.com, Tuli spoke at length on India’s performance in the opening game, the road ahead, what needs to be done against Chinese Taipei and much more.

Excerpts:

Do you think the result against Myanmar is a true reflection of India’s performance?

Sometimes the scoreline does not reflect the real picture but that’s what matters. They won, we lost. We conceded two in the first-half. We were the much better team in the second half and Myanmar could only attack once, in the dying minutes of the match. But all of that doesn’t count.

How is the mood in the Camp?

It pinches when you know you have played a good game and end up on the losing side despite dominating one half. On another day, we could have won. So the mood was gloomy after the match. But we need to move on from there and the squad is gearing up for the next challenge.

You injured your rib in the process. How is it now?

I hope I can play against Chinese Taipei. This was troubling me and got aggravated while going for the tackle. Tomorrow’s match stays a very important one for us. I hope I recover in time. I am raring to go.

What’s your responsibility as a Captain?

As a Captain it is my responsibility to look that everyone stays in the right frame of mind. Along with my Technical Staff, I am working on it. We cannot let our shoulders droop.

How do you assess Chinese Taipei?

They are a very strong side. We watched them score six goals past Palestine. Against such a team, we have to be on our toes all the time. The opening 20 minutes would be very crucial indeed.

What are the positives which you will be carrying from the Myanmar match?

Our backline played well. We adjusted quickly to the artificial turf after conceding early. The passing was good and mobility on the field defined our strength. The element of fear has to be eliminated.

Football is cruel at times. It refuses to give you a second chance, even if you deserve one. The Indian Women’s Senior National Team, despite giving a good account of themselves against Myanmar in their opening game of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup (Qualifiers), have their backs to wall after a 0-2 reversal.

Against Chinese Taipei, who pumped in six goals against hosts Palestine in the Group D curtain-raiser on Tuesday, the Women in Blue have their task cut out. A win will keep them in the hunt for a place in the Finals of the AFC Cup. A defeat will mean otherwise.

“It is a do or die match for us,” National coach Anadi Barua maintains.

“In such tournaments where you get three games and only one team qualifies, there is absolutely no breathing space. We have played well against Myanmar, especially in the second half. They got the goals early. We took time to settle and that was the key,” he adds.

“Once we got a hold of the match, we looked so much better. I am not taking anything out of Myanmar’s victory. They deserved it. They got the goals, we didn’t. But we played well. On another day, the script could have been different,” added the India Coach.

As the game progressed on Tuesday, the passing improved, flank play sharpened and backline held firm. The second-half belonged to India as Myanmar did everything they could to protect the two-goal cushion.

“Bala (Devi) is not fully fit and we will take a call on her on the match day morning. Tuli (Goon) is also nursing a rib injury. Otherwise, our defence held fort and midfield played well,” assistant Coach Surmala Chanu informed.

Taipei Coach Yen Shih Kai exuded confidence after their 6-0 victory against Palestine.

“We are confident of doing well against India. I am happy with the way the girls are playing. Lin’s (Ya Han) hat-trick was a treat to watch. I hope she continues in the same vein in the next two matches.”

He added: “We have been preparing for the Qualifiers for a long time. I am glad that we are reaping dividends, though it is a little early to say.

India and Myanmar won’t come easy and we are leaving no stones unturned in our preparations.”

The kick-off on May 23 is at 10.30pm (IST).

India’s last three International matches:

May 14, 2013: v Bahrain. India won 2-1.

May 16, 2013: v Bahrain. India won 2-0.

May 21, 2013: v Myanmar, India lost 0-2.

Chinese Taipei’s last three International Matches:

November 22, 2012: v China. Taipei lost 0-2.

November 24, 2012: v Hong Kong. Taipei won 2-1.

May 21, 2013: v Palestine. Myanmar won 6-0.

Two of the present India Senior Women’s National Team members were not even born when Oinam Bembem Devi made her India debut back in 1995.

But now, goalkeeper Tikina Samal and midfielder Dangmei Grace now share the same dressing room with the iconic footballer from Manipur. In a freewheeling interview with www.the-aiff.com, the former India captain spoke on women’s football, the secret of the success of the sport in Manipur, AIFF’s initiatives, her meeting with FIFA Consultant for Women’s football Monika Staab and much more.

EXCERPTS:

Women’s Football in India is synonymous to Oinam Bembem Devi.

(Bembem Devi smiles). I feel blessed and honoured (and smiles again). Football is what I live with. I stay in a place where the football culture is infectious. I eat, sleep and drink the sport. It seems just yesterday when I made my debut for India in the AFC Cup main round in Malaysia. Time flies, and how.

What goes through your mind when you look back at the eighteen years you have played for India?

It has been a dream come true to represent my country. I was playing football since 1991 for my State U-13 team when I played the sub-junior tournament for Manipur for the first time. In 1995, my dream came true when I donned the National jersey in the AFC Cup. The rest, as they say, is history.

I have captained India in the 2003 AFC Cup and in the South Asian Games in 2010, Bangladesh and even the SAFF Championships in 2012. We won both SAG and SAFF Championships. It was a very proud moment for me.

What’s the secret behind Manipur’s domination in producing quality Women Footballers?

The Grassroots Programme for Women is very strong in Manipur. A lot of emphasis is given on U-13 and U-14 Teams. In every district there is a Grassroot Programme in place and girls play from a very tender age.

We also have a proper league in Manipur where five teams play in the Senior Division. I play for Manipur Police Club since 1998. Girls get to play almost throughout the year. Thus, we have more footballers from the North East in the National Team.

Orissa also has quite a few players in the national team. Is it because of the same reason?

Definitely! Over the past few years, women’s football in Orissa has improved a lot. There is a girl’s hostel where the girls stay together for most part of the year and play football. This helps immensely, being in the groove is very important.

You’re the only member in the current Indian Team who played in the AFC Cup main round back in 2003.

Yes! I have been part of many AFC Cup campaigns – right from 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005. The AFC Cup Qualifiers started after that, from 2006. We have a good team this time. Chinese Taipei will be tough but we are playing a good brand of football and I hope do well. Only one team qualifiers to the main round next year in Japan, so we have to be on our toes always. The match against Myanmar is very important.

India finished fifth in the 1997 AFC Cup in China. How do you look back at it?

We had attended a one-month Camp in Germany where we played matches against the German clubs and were trained under German coaches. The exposure trip did wonders. We came back and beat Guam 10-0. One more goal and we would have been through to the semifinals. We lost to Japan by only one goal. Think of it, Japan the current World Champions. They were always very strong.

I think the AIFF is organising exposure tours now and it’s very helpful. We played the Combined Dutch Team and then Bahrain in Bahrain before such an important tournament. The Camps help a great deal too. We are getting better facilities too. AIFF is doing a lot for women’s football now. It’s very heartening and encouraging.

You met FIFA Consultant Monika Staab on her visit to India. How did the meeting pan out?

I told her to build an Academy for Women Footballers — it will do a World of good. She promised me that she will take up the matter. She is very enthusiastic about Indian women’s football and believes strongly in our potential.

Almost all the girls in the team and outside idolise you. What message do you have for them?

If you love the game of football, go for it. Don’t be negative. I always tell the younger lot in the Team — ‘If you face any problem come to me.’ I try to guide them on and off the field. They respect me a lot and that makes me more responsible.

‘The real test begins now,’ stays the common phrase on everyone’s lips ahead of India’s first-match in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup (Qualifiers) against Myanmar.

On the surface, there’s a difference of five places – Myanmar stay on 46 on the FIFA Rankings while India are 51. Will it prove decisive?

‘The real test begins now,” stays the common phrase again.

After a brief pause, Coach Anadi Barua maintains: “This match will decide our fate. We need a good start. The first match always sets the tone.”

He adds: “We start from scratch on Tuesday evening. No pressure and no permutation and combinations. This is to me the most important game. We need to approach it as if it’s the decider.”

In a way, it is also a decider between the two Nations. Not long ago, the Indian Men’s Senior Team were knocked out of the AFC Challenge Cup by Myanmar while back home, I-League club East Bengal returned the favour by drubbing Myanmar club Yangon United 5-1 to qualify for the AFC Cup quarterfinals few days ago.

India come into the Tournament winning a double header against Bahrain in Manama. The two victories in the International Friendlies have boosted the confidence of the team for sure.

Add to that, India have been in good form of late winning the SAFF Championships for the second consecutive time last year and then getting the better of a Combined Dutch Team in one of the Exhibition Matches played in January this year in Navi Mumbai.

 “I would not like to read too much into the Friendlies but the victories, especially the second one, was a morale-boosting one. It also gave me a chance to asses my team’s strengths and weaknesses. The one-month Camp is Pune helped too. You need to have the entire bunch together for a long period before such an important tournament,” Barua opined.

“We have very little idea about India. All I can say is the first match is always very important. We have been training hard and are confident of pulling off a good show come the morrow,” Barua’s counterpart Yoshinori Kumada added.

India’s best performance in the AFC Cup Final Round was back in 1997 when they finished fifth. The 51^stRanked side last played in the Finals back in 2003. The Qualifiers came into existence from 2006. Prior to that, teams were directly seeded in the Finals.

On both the occasions, former Captain Oinam Bembem Devi was part of the team.

“We have a good team. We have been together for some time now and the chemistry between players is excellent. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. The wins against Bahrain helped too. Now starts the real challenge. No team will come easy and we have to be at our best every time,” Bembem said.

Out of the 16 teams vying for a place in the Finals, only four will make the cut to Japan next year from the Qualifiers. The other four seeded outfits are defending champions Australia, World Champions and hosts Japan, South Korea and China.

India’s last three International matches:

September 16, 2012: SAFF Championships Final, Colombo: V Nepal, won 3-1.

May 14, 2013: International Friendly, Bahrain: v Bahrain. India won 2-1.

May 16, 2013: International Friendly, Bahrain: v Bahrain. India won 2-0.

Myanmar’s last three International Matches:

September 17, 2012: v Vietnam. Myanmar lost 1-2.

September 20, 2012: v Thailand. Myanmar won 1-0.

September 22, 2012: v Vietnam. Myanmar lost 3-4 in penalties.

Match starts 10:30 PM IST.

JSW, a Consortium from Kerala and Mumbai Tigers submitted their bid documents to register themselves as prospective I-League Clubs for the 2013-14 edition of the I-League. The three Clubs submitted their documents at the Football House, Dwarka on Wednesday (May 15, 2013).

JSW will play their Home-matches in Bangalore while Mumbai Tigers would be based in Mumbai. The Consortium from Kerala will have their base in Kochi.

The submitted bids would now be placed before the Bid Evaluation Committee which meets in the Capital on May 21, 2013.

Mr. Sunando Dhar, CEO, I-League felt the move would usher in a new phase as far as infrastructure and Youth Development are concerned.

“The reason to induct new Corporate Teams into I-League was not only to spread the I-League to new venues but also to address the infrastructure and Youth Development issues plaguing Indian Football. We are confident that we would be able to handle these issues through the new Teams,” he said.

“Right from Day One when we conducted the Open House Meeting at Football House, we were confident of receiving a positive response. We thank all for their support and cooperation,” Dhar added.

Interested parties were supposed to submit the documents latest by 5pm on Wednesday (May 15, 2013).

The Indian Women’s Senior National Team started their quest to qualify for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup next year in style by getting the better of Bahrain in their own backyard here at the National Football Stadium on Tuesday (May 14, 2013).

The match – first of the two Friendlies against the same opponent – ended 2-1. Pinky Magar and Kamala Devi scored for India in the 8th and 36th minute respectively. For Bahrain, Reem Yusuf halved the margin in the 42nd minute.

In took just eight minutes for the SAFF Cup champions to unlock their rival’s rearguard, striker Pinky Magar stabbing home from a rebound off Sasmita Malik’s effort that hit the horizontal.

India doubled their lead in the 36th minute. Kamala Devi doing the needful this time from close after Malik once again crossed perfectly into the danger area from the left.

The hosts pulled one back out of the blue when a free kick from the edge of the box struck Ashalata Devi’s hand inside the box. Striker Reem Yusuf converted from the spot.

India had launched an attacking offensive from the first whistle with repeated forays on the hosts’ goal. The strike-duo of Pinky and Bala Devi combined well up front.

Malik had a game to remember. Not only did her pin-point floaters lead to the two goals, the darting runs down the left flank gave the Bahrain defence a harrowing time.

In the middle of the park, former India Captain Bembem Devi was a class apart. The most experienced player for India engineered virtually every move with her ability to shimmy though thickets coming to the fore on most occasions.

The sight most common in Friendlies was seen minutes into the second half as both the Coaches ringed in quite a few changes. With a place up for grabs in the all-important AFC Women’s Asian Cup (Qualifiers), the fresh legs were at it from the word go.

For India Bala, Malik and Pinky made way for Dangmei Grace, Rinaroy Devi and Jyoti Ann Burrett.

India play Bahrain again on Thursday May 16, 2013).

New Delhi –  It’s not always defenders get their fair share of due after a triumph. If you look back at the Churchill Brothers’ triumph in the I-League, you’ll find Denzil Franco rising to the occasion whenever the situation has demanded. A day after the ‘Red Machines’ won their second I-League crown, Denzil, in a freewheeling interview spoke on the triumph, the secret behind the success, the Churchill family, Sunil Chhetri’s impact and much more.

You have been part of Churchill Brothers for quite some time now. What has changed over the years?

It has been three fruitful years with Churchill Brothers for me. I joined in 2010 from Salgaocar. We have always been very consistent and this season we were the best. We are reaping the dividends of our hard work over the years. We have got bigger and better with time. It’s a feeling which I can’t describe.

What was the secret behind the success this season?

The unity amongst the boys! That has been our secret. We have strived for glory unselfishly. Mr. Alemao Churchill was a pillar of strength. It was like one big family and all of them aiming for the ultimate triumph.

How important was the role of Technical Director Subhash Bhowmick and the entire coaching staff?

Subhash Bhowmick has been a father-figure for all of us. Our Coach Mariano Dias and the entire support staff deserves credit too. It has been a team effort both on and off the field. When you have such a strong support-system, you are bound to succeed.

How important was the introduction of India Captain Sunil Chhetri in the mid-season?

Chhetri has been very influential. He scored when it mattered. His goals against Dempo and the equaliser against Mohun Bagan which gave us the title, tell the story. A player of his class is a bonus for any side and for us, he has been a boon, especially after we lost Bilal (Narajjaine) and Akram (Moghrabi).

Can you describe the team chemistry throughout the season.

Crackling!

What has been the secret of success for Goan Clubs in the I-League?

This triumph is a gift for the football buffs of Goa. It’s one big party right now here. The support has been fantastic at home and as a young player you get motivated.