Earlier this week, the current Shillong Lajong boss, who had an impressive spell with the Pailan Arrows and also has spells as the Youth Coach of Tottenham Hotspur, Uzbekistan and the Phillipines senior national team on his CV, lamented about the lack of opportunities for young Indian strikers to develop into World Class players. His exact words were,

With about a quarter of a century of experience under his belt, the Englishman definitely has an idea what he is talking about. After all, Peter Crouch, “the taller than usual target man”, is a product of this individual’s fine coaching techniques.

However, Bulpin isn’t the only one who recognises this policy. Another coach who has pointed out the tendencies of Indian clubs to favour any kind of foreign talent in the league is current national team assistant manager Savio Madeira.

Looking at the problem that  these two esteemed individuals have observed, we can see that you don’t really have to be an expert on the game in the country to recognise the problem. A quick glance at the stats can fortify this argument. At present, the top Indian goal-scorer of the I-league is Joaquim Abranches with 5 goals. He, however, stands 12th in the overall rankings behind foreigners of varied nationalities but similar region – Africa.

In order to look at this problem even closer, we have to go back a few years. Following the AFC Asian Cup 2011 Qatar Group Stage defeat to Australia, Bob Houghton blamed the defeat on the physical weakness of the Indian players and the lack of proper infrastructure available in the country.

Setting the second problem aside for the moment, we can see similarities between the mentality of Bob Houghton and other Indian coaches in the country, however different the accolades on their CV’s may be. While in charge of India, Bob Houghton emphasized on taller, stronger and relatively bigger players, irrespective of their on-field mentality to suit his “kick and rush” style of play. Genuine midfield maestros like Mehtab and Lalkamal were left out in favour of “The Tank” Mehrajuddin. Drawing similarities, Indian club coaches with a greater talent pool are able to hire “stronger” African talents rather than developing Indian players, something which has proved detrimental to Indian football over a sustained period of time.

Understanding this problem, the AIFF formed a team of their own comprising the “creme-de-la-creme” of Indian football’s young talents with current stars such as Lalrindika Ralte, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Manandeep Singh and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in the side. The idea behind this was that young Indian footballers who didn’t receive enough playing time at their respective clubs would play and be allowed to develop. Such was the talent showcased by these boys that two of them earned trials at top European clubs (Jeje at Glasgow Rangers and Gurpreet at Wigan Athletic). The reason was simple. Due to the fact that they were played on a regular basis, they improved and were noticed by coaches within and outside the country. Physical conditioning was a very important part of this side, and till date these boys are some of the fittest in the league.

Just yesterday, one of the rising stars of East Bengal FC (Seimlein Doungel) was loaned out to the Arrows and replaced in his parent club by Australian Andrew Barisic. Lenn, as he is known to his teammates and the East Bengal faithful, broke into the senior side at the age of 17, scoring 4 goals in 3 games (in the CFL) before being played in the I-League where he failed to have much impact and was quickly forgotten. He’s known for his excellent movement and vision, and will no doubt develop under the watchful eye of Aussie gaffer Arthur Papas at Pailan.

The creation of the AIFF XI (now Pailan Arrows) was a masterstroke by the AIFF, an organisation that garners controversy with literally every faltering step it takes. However till date, it is the only such team in the country – one with emphasis on development. However, even after the players develop, its highly unlikely that they are allowed to reach their peak, like Bhaichung Bhutia, Vijayan and Chhetri were allowed to do, as they go through what I call the Robbie Keane syndrome (scroll down for explanation) and aren’t given enough time to settle. Some are even left high and dry due to weak release clauses in their contracts, which give them little or no money after being fired (Sandesh Gadkari’s case with Salgaocar this season). The preferential treatment given to foreign strikers, particularly Nigerians, is quite evident. Taking the case of JCT Mills FC in the 2009-10 season, 2 below par Nigerian players were signed on the recommendation of an influential former footballer from the aforementioned African nation, limiting the chances of Indian players in the Punjabi club. Unlike their Indian counterparts, they were given enough time to prove themselves due to the achievements of their countrymen.

While many English clubs specify buying young “English” players to strengthen the team, this is rarely a case in India. The reliance on foreign players to form the core of many sides (Prayag United with Carlos Hernandez and Ranti Martins, Churchill Brothers with Beto, Bilal, Akram and Henry etc) put under the microscope seems quite short sighted. Quality overseas professionals without a doubt improve the standard of the league; however they do not help in developing the league in the long run. Arthur Papas himself has unwittingly outlined the problem.

In order to pursue short term glories of winning the league, many clubs spend a size able chunk of their budget on quality recruits for a season or a few, instead of developing a footballing atmosphere conducive for the development of homegrown youngsters. This results in a youth development system which is still not completely efficient or effective, barring a few enlightened clubs like Pune FC and Pailan Arrows, the latter an academy in their own right.

Clearly, the logic applied all over the world of bringing in talents better than ones present locally to improve the league seems to be failing in India due to a multitude of different factors. The framers of our constitution specifically adopted various acts of the British constitution, however modified them to suit the local needs. Similarly, the football authorities in our country need to enact various football-related legislations. A system of accommodation must be used, to maximize the benefit being acquired by certain pre-set guidelines. For starters, the role of an Indian player in a club could benefit if the 3+1 foreign players rule is modified to a 2+1 rule, barring a striker from being of a foreign nationality, while working out whatever loopholes may be present in the draft of the amendment. Further, a club must be made to invest a significant portion of its budget in infrastructural development to create a long term pipeline of young talent, so on and so forth.

To conclude, I feel a few clarifications are due. The influence of foreign players on the league isn’t necessarily a negative one. However, with a virtually non-existent scouting system, the purchase of foreign players in place of Indian players due to the colour of their passport (barring some obvious exceptions), when put under the microscope, seems more and more like a policy influenced by race. Foreign players aren’t really killing the league; however, their presence is negatively influencing the development of the league due to the short-shortsightedness of their employers.

The key phrase here can probably be, “Not no, just not now.”

*Robbie Keane Syndrome – When Robbie Keane signed for Liverpool in 2008, the expectations surrounding him were very high. The first 10-odd games he played, he failed to deliver, and by the time he found his form, he had lost the trust of the manager, and was offloaded soon after.

Fabian Giefer

Fabian Giefer(L) catches the ball ahead of Borussia Dortmund’s Subotic.

The 22 year old Fortuna Dusseldorf goalkeeper has been one of the buys of the season of the Bundesliga. Turning down a transfer to Bavarian giants FC Bayern Munich, where he would most definitely have been the second choice keeper behind the iconic Manuel Neuer, in a bid to get more playing time seemed a gamble, but one that has definitely paid off. A bargain buy somewhere in the region of 400,000 Euros from Bayer Leverkusen, he took 557 minutes to concede a goal in the beginning of the season. Having the distinction of being the only Fortuna player to have started all 17 league games for his club, he has till date kept 7 clean sheets, behind only Neuer’s 11. With cat-like reflexes, superb positional play and brilliant handling, the penalty box seems like his second home and yet again, the Germans have managed to manufacture a World class goalkeeper.

Dante Bonfim Costa Santos (Dante)

Dante getting pumped up after a last ditch tackle

A cult hero at  Gladbach, the gods have continued to watch over this Brazilian defender following his move to Bayern Munich for a fee around 5 million Euros. He was brought in to add depth to the squad following last season’s topsy-turvy finale with Tymoschuk (a defensive midfielder) playing in the centre of defence at the Champions League Final. At the Winter Break of the Bundesliga, Dante was the only player apart from Manuel Neuer to start all 17 games for Bayern, something which hasn’t happened by accident. ”If Dante is fit and healthy, he starts” is how manager Jupp Heynckes puts it. With an immense aerial threat, a good reading of the game coupled with brilliant tactical awareness and a surprisingly high pass completion rate (92.3%), he has cemented his place in a Bayern side looking to replicate the glories they achieved in the 1970′s.

Burak Yilmaz

Burak scoring against Manchester United

One of the breakout performers last season, the tall Turk was signed by Galatasaray from Trabzonspor after scoring a club record 33 goals in 30 appearances last season, for an estimated 5 Million Euros. He was the top scorer in the group stages of the Champions League with 6 goals in as many appearances averaging a goal every 83 minutes, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal every 90 minutes. He also has the highest shots to goal percentage on the European stage, with a 26% conversion rate. With stand out performances on the domestic stage , scoring 9 goals in 15 games, he has attracted interest from Liverpool, Arsenal and Juventus. With 5 goals out of his 15 coming as headers, he would definitely be a valuable addition to a Liverpool side that lacks heading prowess. However, having signed Daniel Sturridge for 12 Million and Galatasaray unwilling to let Yilmaz leave, a deal seems unlikely.

Aritz Aduriz

Aduriz controls a long ball

The 31 year old target man transferred from Valencia to his boyhood club Athletic Bilbao as a cover for Fernando Llorente for a fee around 2.5 million euros. Since arriving, he has taken over the responsibility of scoring goals (he has scored 10 of Bilbao’s 21 goals – 47%) from Llorente, who finds himself mostly on the bench following a spat with coach Marcelo Bielsa. On the field, he possesses a massive aerial threat and his likeness to play short passes makes him somewhat of an ideal striker. With a stature similar to his predecessor in the first XI, and with the imminent departure of Llorente on the cards along with a better scoring rate (0.61 goals per game) than what his teammate had at the same time last season (0.51), Aduriz could definitely become a legend in the Basque region for years to come as he is one of the main reasons for the success (however little) that Bilbao have enjoyed this season.

Miguel Perez Costa (Michu) – Buy of the season.

The 26 year old Spaniard who was brought in from Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish League to Premier League outfit Swansea City as a replacement for Gylfi Sigurdsson for 2 Million pounds. Having started 19 matches in the league under Michael Laudrup, he has notched up 13 goals and 2 assists while he has scored once in the Capital One Cup having started most of the matches in the number 10 role behind the striker. On the 23rd of December, he equalled Kun Aguero’s record of most goals by a foreigner prior to Christmas in the league when he scored the equaliser against Manchester United. Having been praised by Sir Alex Ferguson as a “Wonderful piece of business”, and being promised a Spanish National Team call-up by Coach Vincente Del-Bosque, the star of Michu is set to rise even further.

]]> http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/01/05/football-5-best-economy-buys-of-the-summer-transfer-window/feed/ 3 3498116 http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/10/29/what-brandon-fernandes-means-for-football-in-india/ http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/10/29/what-brandon-fernandes-means-for-football-in-india/#comments Mon, 29 Oct 2012 10:17:57 +0000 Siddharth Sharma http://www.sportskeeda.com/?p=895670 While Sunil Chhetri might the best known Indian footballer at the moment, the scenario may change if Brandon Fernandes has his way. The Indian U19 international from Goa, dubbed as the “Indian whizkid”, is currently the biggest thing in Indian football following a positive trial with Reading FC, while he is yet to begin his trial at Leicester City FC.

18 year old Brandon.

The 18 year old Goan came to light following his exploits in Indian youth sides, and has the distinction of training at the Manchester United Academy and competing in the Manchester United “World Skills Final” where he was noticed by ASD Cape Town, an elite football school based in South Africa. He was picked up by the academy in Western Cape at the age of 16.

What sets Brandon Fernandes apart from other footballers back in India is his superb technical ability with the ball. Apart from being a pacy winger, his self confessed eye for goal and vision sets him a class apart from generations of players from South Asia.

Recently, the speedy Goan was invited for trials at English Premier League outfit Reading FC, after touring Europe where he was watched by many scouts when he turned out against heavyweights like SC Braga, Deportivo La Coruna and KSC Lokeren. While at Reading, he trained with the developmental squad, took the field in one game and was credited with two assists of the three goals his side scored. It is understood that Reading were quite impressed with him, and are likely to take a positive decision regarding the youngster’s future in the near future. Meanwhile, Brandon is all set for a two-week trial at English Championship side Leicester City.

Having personally watched him turn out for the Indian U17 and U19 sides (most recently in Tehran, Iran), what strikes me is that while his ability with the ball is superb, perhaps a few sessions at the gym could complete him as a player. However, the race of Indians is such that it tends to peak physically at an age later than most and that may render my argument unsatisfactory.

The chance the diminutive winger has got is one that comes to probably one in a billion. Success at this level will be the stuff of legends. A story told to generations of young footballers yet to come, Fernandes could direct the attention to India as an unexplored reservoir of talent. Brandon will give every young footballer in India a chance to dream.

]]> http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/10/29/what-brandon-fernandes-means-for-football-in-india/feed/ 5 51689102 http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/10/15/high-on-motivation-blue-tigers-ready-to-face-singapore/ http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/10/15/high-on-motivation-blue-tigers-ready-to-face-singapore/#comments Mon, 15 Oct 2012 12:17:58 +0000 Siddharth Sharma http://www.sportskeeda.com/?p=844570 The last time an Indian side met Singapore, it was a clash of their U23 sides at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China and the match finished 4-1 in favour of the Indians. However, with a number of key Singaporean internationals missing from the encounter, it hardly stays an accurate comparison of the footballing talent of the two countries.

Tomorrow, as a highly motivated Indian outfit takes on a determined Singaporean one, it promises to be a tense game. While the Indian side is on a high, following their miraculous win over Cameroon, Singapore are using the match as practice for the AFF Suzuki Cup.

Indian Team News

Speaking at the pre-match press conference at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore, the Indian gaffer Wim Koevermans felt that Singapore would present a good challenge to his side.

I’m very pleased to be here, and to be presented with an opportunity to play against Singapore. They are a strong opposition, and it is another step for us to improve ourselves. I will be looking forward to a good match.

Photo:FAS

He also stated that his ultimate goal was to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup in 2015, and he would be happy with nothing less than a win.

Our main aim stays to qualify for the 2015 Asian Cup……we play every game intending to win it and we will want to win this too. But as I said, it’s not easy.

India’s custodian Subrata Paul believes that playing Singapore on a FIFA Matchday is a step in the right direction, and could see India climb the FIFA Rankings ladder.

I need to thank the All India Football Federation for arranging the International Friendly against Singapore. We need to play on all FIFA Dates without fail for the next 18 months. If we play that regularly, I guarantee you, we will surely be below 100 in the FIFA Rankings.

The Indian squad remains mostly unchanged from their Nehru Cup victory with the only change coming in the form of Goan striker Joaquim Abranches replacing the injured Manandeep Singh. The wonder duo of Jeje Lalpekhlua and Lalrindika Ralte have yet again failed to impress the Dutchman Wim Koevermans despite the former having scored in both his I-League games.

While the Indian gaffer has yet to announce his starting XI, Subrata Paul will almost undoubtedly start under the bar for the Blue Tigers. The defence too, will probably remain unchanged from the Nehru Cup victory over Cameroon with Gouramangi Moriangthem and Raju Gaikwad as the main stoppers, while Nirmal Chhetri and Syed Rahim Nabi will most likely man the wingback positions. Lenny Rodriguez and Mehtab Hossain will probably start as the defensive midfielders, while Arthur Papas’ revelation Alwyn George should get the start behind the striker. Clifford and Sanju should start on the left and right flanks while Captain Sunil Chhetri will start up front as the lone striker.

The final 20-man squad for India:

GOALKEEPERS: Subrata Pal, Subhasish Roychowdhury, Karanjeet Singh.

DEFENDERS: Nirmal Chhetri, Denzil Franco, Gouramangi Singh, Gurwinder Singh, Raju Gaikwad, Syed Rahim Nabi.

MIDFIELDERS: Lenny Rodrigues, Mehtab Hossain, Jewel Raja, Francis Fernandes, Alwyn George, Anthony Pereira, Sanju Pradhan, Clifford Miranda.

FORWARDS: Robin Singh, Sunil Chhetri, Joaquim Abranches.

Last 5 games :

India 3 – 2 Cameroon, India 0 – 1 Cameroon, India 0 – 0 Nepal, India 3 – 0 Maldives, India 2 – 1 Syria

Singapore Team News 

While their South Asian counterparts have had a good run of form, Singapore seem to be going through a shocking run of games, losing to unfancied Phillipines at home, and playing out a draw to Myanmar away. Their coach Radojko Avramovic will have his task cut-out against the new look India side as this stays a vital cog in the South East nation’s AFF Suzuki Cup preparation.

Speaking at the pre-match conference at the Jalan Besar Stadium, Avramovic said,

Singapore coach Radojko Avramovic addressing the press at the Jalan Besar Stadium. Photo :FAS

India’s improving, especially in last Asian Cup, where they played good games. They have about 6 players from that squad here. We need to stop them. One of those who we have to stop, is this guy here! (referring to Sunil who was at the press conference)

Centre back Baihakki Khaizan was confident of his team, and felt that they could win.

This is one of the games we should start playing, and I hope to play more to help our preparations for the Suzuki Cup. The tournament is the chance for us to put our past disappointments behind and this could have a positive effect.

The Singaporean Lions will be without the services of captain Shahril Ishak,  Sevki Sha’ban,  Safirul Sulaiman, Qiu Li and Agu Casmir, who are all injured. However, if one thing is a certainty, it is that their talismanic Bosnian born striker Olympian striker will be an aerial threat to the Indian defence.

The players available for selection are as follows:

GOALKEEPRS: Izwan Mahbud, Hyrulnizam Juma’at , Joey Sim

DEFENDERS: Baihakki Khaizan, Shaiful Esah, Irwan Shah, Safuwan Baharudin,Daniel Bennett, Jufri Taha

MIDFIELDERS: Fazli Ayob, Shi Jiayi, Hariss Harun, Isa Halim, Yasir Hanapi, Shahdan Sulaiman , Mustafic Fahrudin

FORWARDS: Agu Casmir, Khairul Amri, Shahril Ishak, Fazrul Nawaz , Aleksandar Duric

Last 5 games :

Myanmar 1-1 Singapore, Singapore 0-2 Phillipines, Singapore 2-0 Hong Kong, Malaysia 2-0 Singapore, Singapore 2-2 Malaysia.

The match is slated for kick off at 7:45 Local Time at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium.

Ticketing

Date:  Tuesday, 16^th October 2012

Time:  5.00 pm onwards

Venue: Choa Chu Kang Stadium

Pricing: S$10 (Adult), *S$2 (Concession – Student/ Senior Citizen)

*Students (Primary, Secondary, ITE, JC Students Only) and Senior Citizens have to produce their concession passes upon entry into the stadium. Concession tickets are also applicable to children aged 7 and below whom require a seat in the stadium.
*Please note that there will be a seating allocation for both Home and Away fans.
*Please be reminded that fans are required to present their photo identification card upon purchasing match tickets.

With the kick-off slated at 7 PM, I was having serious doubts about whether or not I should go for it, following the torrential monsoon rain in the hours leading up to the game. Finally, at around 6:15 I finally decided to attend it, keeping my 100% attendance record intact.

Seating myself in the facing grandstand, I noticed that the Indians were spread out over the stands while the Nepalese had consolidated themselves in the North Stand. The Indian support, apart from being sparse, was not being vocal at all, but I was happy to spot the Sardarji in the Indian cricket kit jersey (the man who gets the whole crowd going in all India games). The first half went by, with what was basically a war of songs between Indian and Nepali fans. The Indians sang, the Nepalis sang and so it went on. To my ears, it was pretty loud from both sides. Apparently not.

After the first half finished, I went over to the sardarji and introduced myself, and found out his name was Amitoj. Just as we began talking however, my friend Suyash, who was incidentally a photographer for this very website, came over to our stand and kindly informed us that we were making no noise at all. What followed was one of the most patriotic feelings of all. Outnumbered in our own country? Hell no!

What we did then, was we gathered the few cheerleaders and people with vuvuzelas, flags and anything to garner support. We planned our operation to collect every Indian in the stadium and to fortify our sector. So Amitoj, Vivian, Soan, Anniruddh, a few co-operative policemen and I went to every corner of the stand and gathered every Indian.

A co-operative policeman

Many came, other stayed back however what followed was something historical. Around 2000 Indians all standing. All clapping and cheering. Indian domination on the field. A neck and neck battle of the fans off it.

Indian Ultras?

 ”India-India” – “Nepal-Nepal” – “Gorkhali-Gorkhali” – “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”

At the end of the game, the Blue Tigers came to applaud us, however it wasn’t nearly close to the cheers the Nepali team gave to their fans. What we wanted was a Dortmund-ish applause for the fans, but to have that kind of commitment from the team I think we need it off the field too.

I urge all my Indian brothers to come to the stadium to support your team for Friday’s encounter with Cameroon. After all, it’s your team, your people and that pride will never be replicated by supporting Man United, City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Milan and I could go on but I have a feeling that I’ve made my point!

We shall be meeting around 6 PM on Friday at the JLN Metro Station. Buy tickets for the East stand (Rs150) Be there! Be Blue and let’s be freakin loud!

Finally,
Jeetega Bhai Jeetega!
INDIA JEETEGA!

However, it is actually quite impossible to support a team with little knowledge of its up-and-coming players. In this article, I take a look at the young Indian players who are capable of shaping India’s fortunes.

Sanju Pradhan

The 23-year-old East Bengal midfielder made his name in the I-League a few years back for his brilliant vision and understanding of the game. He managed to become an integral part of Trevor Morgan’s East Bengal team with stellar displays on the right wing. His strengths lie in his passing (both long and short), vision and ability to hit the net from outside the box. His goal against Shillong Lajong FC in the 2011-12 season still remains one of the best strikes in the last few editions of the I-League. Hailing from the tiny state of Sikkim, a lot is expected of the East Bengal captain.

Nirmal Chettri

Nirmal wins the ball off Odafa Okoli

A former Indian youth international, Nirmal has been part of the Indian teams that won the SAFF Championship in 2009 and 2011. Though originally a central defender, he has had some good performances as a right fullback. Such is the talent of the former Air India stopper that he managed to impress German footballing great Gerd Muller when Bayern’s B team toured India. Though Chettri’s then-side East Bengal lost 5-1 to the most succesful club in Germany, Gerd Muller commented,

He was also complimented by Bayern Munich star Thomas Mueller when India played the Bavarians in January this year. The Bayern youth product said “I think I played against the right defender (Nirmal Chettri) in Kolkata, he is very strong, athletic and has improved immensely from the last time I saw him.”

Apart from his footballing skills, 21-year-old Nirmal is a natural leader. This was quite evident in the AFC Challenge Cup 2012 in Nepal, where he stood out in a dismal Indian team. Constantly shouting at his team-mates and motivating them, he was a refreshing sight in an otherwise disastrous team.

Alwyn George

Credits: AIFF

By far the most impressive player in AIFF’s developmental side Pailan Arrows, he has been described as a special talent by veteran Syed Rahim Nabi who said  

Alwyn, though just 20, displays the composure of a player who has seen it all, done it all and to whom no play in the book will come as a surprise. The speedy Tata Football Academy cadet has been blessed by God with oodles of skill and stamina. Combined with his blistering pace, he makes a formidable opponent.

In my opinion, his dreams of playing abroad will definitely be fulfilled sooner rather than later. His ambition to play for FC Barcelona may remain a dream for some time yet, but if he develops the physical aspect of his game he can definitely make it big in some of the top leagues in Asia, if not the world.

Manandeep Singh

Credits: AIFF

The former Air India striker has amassed the reputation of being the Indian equivalent of the classical Number 9. The second highest Indian scorer in the last edition of the Indian league, he made it to the preliminary list of the Indian team for the AFC Challenge Cup but was dropped by head coach Savio Madeira after barely getting a chance to prove himself.

His knowledge of the game has increased in the past season, and his one-two’s with the midfielders and support strikers can rip open any defence. However, as is the case with any big number 9, the greatest threat he provides is aerial dominance.

Having been a part of virtually every Indian youth setup, and having played under Arthur Papas’ pass and move regime in the Indian U22 side, he will probably not have a problem in getting used to short passing regime that new national team coach Wim Koevermans hopes to implement.

While this edition of Nehru Cup articles has looked at young Indian players to watch out for, the next will look at the veteran pillars of the Indian setup.

A pass by Ribery, helped on its way by a mistake from Neven Subotic found the Red and White’s new signing Mario Mandzukic unmarked, only to see the Croat slot the ball home from close range. A few minutes later, a perfectly timed through ball by the goalscorer found Robben in acres of space only to see the Dutchman hit the post.

Mario Mandzukic found the net for the Rot-Weiss

The rebound however, was jumped on by Thomas Muller who smashed the ball into the top corner. Bayern were defensively very solid,  but there were some errors that could have cost them the game. Dante’s failure to commit to his tackle on Robert Lewandowski cost his team a goal, but apart from that he had a decent game. Robben’s shot in the 78th minute pulled a good save out of Roman Weidenfeller. Following Lewandowski’s goal, Bayern defended more than they attacked for the rest of the game and held on for the win.

Dortmund looked sluggish and their back-line looked ever so shaky. While many things were expected of their attack comprising Robert Lewandowski, Jakub Blasczykowski and Marco Reus, they were barely present in the first half with Lewandowski coming to life only in the 48^th minute to test Manuel Neuer’s razor sharp reflexes.  Reus grew in confidence once the whistle for the second half was blown, and saw a shot go just wide in the 52^nd minute. Lewandowski reduced the deficit to one goal when he coolly slotted the ball into the net in the 75^th minute. Schreiber’s shot narrowly missed the goal in the 79^th minute.

Robert Lewandowski scored for Dortmund.

They pressed the home team more and more following  their goal, butr they failed to convert their chances.

Bayern’s little one-twos down the wings were encouraging, and seeing Arjen Robben pass the ball even more so.  The most positive aspect of the game, one that Jupp Heycknes undoubtedly had his boys work on during pre-season has been the finishing. All through last season, it has been absolutely frustrating to watch the team squander chance after chance in front of goal, and to watch an undeserving team run away with the Champions League due to this reason. This time around? No Sir! The team had a no nonsense approach in front of goal. A little less fancy, a little more effective and as we can see, it has already started paying dividends.

On the whole, to base our assumptions on the result of a long and gruelling season on the basis of one game may be wrong but it wouldn’t be criminal to say that Dortmund have a lot of work left to do in the days left be. Their second half performance was a much more confident one, but still not of the standard they replicated repeatedly last season. Perhaps the hole left by Shinji Kagawa has not yet been filled yet.

Bayern on the other hand, while missing some influential players like Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mario Gomez, and the young phenomenon David Alaba have asserted that they and not the team from North-Rhine Westphalia are the team to beat this season.

]]> http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/08/13/dfl-supercup-bayern-munich-vs-borussia-dortmund-the-review/feed/ 0 02035 http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/07/15/breaking-news-gurpreet-singh-sandhu-to-try-out-at-wigan-athletic-f-c/ http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/07/15/breaking-news-gurpreet-singh-sandhu-to-try-out-at-wigan-athletic-f-c/#comments Sun, 15 Jul 2012 12:48:37 +0000 Siddharth Sharma http://www.sportskeeda.com/?p=476111

Picture courtesy Arsenalkid700 at en.wikipedia

20-year-old Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has earned a trial at Wigan Athletic Football Club, a team that plays in the Barclays Premier League in England.  He is due to arrive in the North-Western English city on Wednesday.

This news comes after Gurpreet’s impressive performances in the 2013 AFC U22 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Qatar at the end of June this year, where he captained the Indian contingent. The Punjabi lad was initially spotted by Goalkeeping Guru and Former-Newcastle United goalkeeper John Burridge. Burridge has been been a mentor to Ali-Al Habsi, and is a good friend of Singh Sandhu’s current coach at East Bengal FC Trevor Morgan.

At 6 feet 5 inches, Gurpreet has the ideal physique to be a success on the international stage. He comes from a long line of good goalkeepers in India like Subrata Paul who was linked to Arsenal in 2010.

Earlier this month, Indian captain Sunil Chhetri  completed his move to Sporting Clube de Portugal’s B team.  If the Chandigarh boy’s trial is successful, Indian football fans would have not one but two reasons to celebrate as more and more players gain crucial international exposure.

The appointment of Mr Robert Baan as Technical director was an expected one, as the AIFF were looking to fill this post with a professional of considerable experience. The Dutch gent definitely boasts of an impressive CV, having managed powerhouses such as VVV Venlo, FC Twente and being the assistant coach of the Netherlands in the early 80′s. His last job was in Australia where he was the Technical Director of the Socceroos.

Wim Koevermans, the next Bob Houghton?

However, the appointment of Savio Madeira as the national team coach seems to be a very well documented blunder by the AIFF. A mistake that the federation does not have to live with. The appointment of his successor saw a lot of speculation, with names like Istvan Urbanyi, Cho-Kwang Rae and even a rather far fetched claim of Guus Hiddinck being interested in the position. The AIFF, however is due to appoint Wim Koevermans as the next Indian gaffer.The former Dutch International is reported to have been in New Delhi in the early part of May. The news of his being coach however, only came out in the latter half of May. A clandestine operation by the AIFF, it seems.

Another decision taken in May was to appoint Australian Arthur Papas as the Indian U22 and AIFF developmental side manager. Raymond Libregts was earlier due to take over this post.

Papas, the new Pailan Arrows and India U22 coach.

However, he was not able to accept the job due to personal reasons. Though some highly placed sources claim that he wasn’t happy with the infrastructure in place and found the fields unsuitable for footballing purposes. With the unwillingness of the AIFF to go for another Indian man at the helm of affairs, a decision which has constantly backfired, the AIFF decided to go with the Australian.

The AIFF, with the growing popularity of the game in the country, have time and again come under tremendous scrutiny, the reasons for which are varying in nature. This time though, the bosses of football in India have acted with extreme pace, leaving the media and fans in the dark. The federation have acted more like a secret agency, an action being welcomed by the Blue Tigers’ supporters.

Judan Ali, instilling the discipline of the game in future footballers

Judan Ali has experienced both remarkable success and bitter frustration in his career as a professional footballer. He was born in the UK after his family migrated to UK from the Indian Sub – Continent , and he faced several obstacles, some familial and others cultural, in his attempt to become an English club footballer. He had a spell at Arsenal, and he went on trial at over 50 other clubs all over Britain, but his true calling turned out to be football coaching rather than playing. He has tasted some incredible victories while working with budding footballers from Asia, thus debunking the myth that players of Asian origin lack the natural ability to compete with players from other continents. He now has his sights set on developing a strong footballing culture in India, and he has already attained substantial success in his attempts so far. In an exclusive interview, Judan, along with former Manchester United FC legend and current sports pundit Lee Sharpe, spoke with Sportskeeda correspondent Siddharth Sharma.

Q. Having experienced racial discrimination in the 80′s in England, do you think the scenario has now changed for people with darker skin tones?

Judan: Over the last 20 years, England has seen more diversity than it has in the 100 years preceding them. Society as a whole has become much more open to these debates as opposed to the 80s, when racism was pushed aside and no one dared challenge it. In my opinion, racism now is much more hidden because there are consequences if the perpetrator is caught. However, it’s no surprise that we are witnessing the odd incident at the top level; after all, I frequently hear of numerous incidents that occur at the grass roots level and in park football.

Judan Ali’s playing days in Spain

In fact, I think it’s harder now to make it as an English–born footballer regardless of your skin tone due to the influx of foreign players from abroad. There is also the stigma that if you came from
an Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Sri Lankan background you are too small and physically weak to play football; also, most Asians came over to England to provide better living and education to their children and so frown upon football as a career option for them. Therefore, it is very challenging for a modern Asian footballer to break into the professional game.

In Euro 2012 there are already warnings being issued by the authorities to fans travelling to the championships to be careful of racism. So it is clear that this is a global issue and not just an English one. We as human beings and parents have a duty to teach our children right and wrong, and if we do not take a hard look at ourselves then we are never going to get rid of racism in society. It’s a shame that football, probably the most influential medium on the planet, has not mastered this message yet.

Q. The Luiz Suarez-Patrice Evra case of alleged racial abuse came to light recently. The FA’s report stated that both the FA and Patrice Evra did not think that Suarez was a racist, but the Uruguayan was still banned. On the other hand, there was an incident involving John Terry and Anton Ferdinand that wasn’t investigated by the FA. Earlier this month, Anton was subjected to racist chants at Stamford Bridge like “Anton, you know what you are”. Do you think that the FA has a biased approach in tackling this age-old problem of racism?

Judan: I fully support the FA’s stance on tackling issues of racism in England. As a professional football coach, I am part of a team of highly qualified coaches that have been put through rigid processes of deploying coaching of the highest standards to the footballing coaching community, at all levels of football. The FA have learnt from the past and we will, hopefully, see fewer such incidents at all levels of the playing field in the future.

Q. Alongside ex-United midfielder Lee Sharpe, you have embarked on a scouting mission across India to find talented youngsters to play at big clubs in Europe. What do you look for in these young players?

Judan: People’s perception of sport in India is that cricket is the only sport that every child grows up playing. However, on my travels to India, I found out that any person that takes up football has genuine talent; a young adult that plays cricket may end up playing it just for fun whereas a young adult that plays football is most likely to take it more seriously.

We are looking for something exceptional in a footballer. There is no point in us recruiting someone that can only compete against average professional footballers. We want the Messis, the Ronaldos, the Lampards and the Buffons. I know there are exceptional talented footballers in India, and why wouldn’t there be in a population almost 1.2 billion? I have already witnessed many talented players who are under 16 showcasing their amazing skills.

Lee Sharpe: I am looking forward to witnessing for myself the talent that there is in India; what I’ve heard from Judan so far really excites me. I believe that there is talent in areas of the world which haven’t got access to funding, and that is why I set up up the Lee Sharpe Foundation to help provide funds to these areas. Based on what Judan has already achieved and identified in India, hopefully this venture will be a long-term success.

Q. The group of 15-year-old boys from India under your wing went on to win the Arsenal International Tournament. What do you think were the strengths of these young Indian footballers?

Judan: The boys won a tournament in which there were participants from countries that have professional football academies and which spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on youth infrastructure. The Indian boys are proof that you don’t need money to be at the top of the world, even in the modern day game.

The strengths of the Indian boys were that they all had heart, passion, self-belief, determination and the willingness to listen to instructions. They shared the mutual feeling that they were all equals, without letting their egos come in the way of their team spirit, and that is rare to find in modern English football, especially at the top level.

Q. When you came to India to scout for boys for the Arsenal International Tournament, which region did you think had the maximum potential to churn out players who would excel at football?

Judan: Trials were held all over India, and players came from as far afield as Nepal, Goa, Delhi and players came from as far as Mumbai, the heart of Bollywood. The way I look at it, all of India has talent – it’s just a numbers’ game at the end of the day, and the best of the best will surface in any region, although I am aware that Goa boasts that it has the highest success rate in the I-League so far.

Q. Having played in both England and Spain, where do you think Indian kids would be more suited to play?

Judan: I have been very lucky to have studied at La Masia and FC Barcelona, and I am confident that the Indian youth will be suited towards the Spanish way of playing where the emphasis is more on technique and skill. However, having said that, in England, the FA are moving towards this style of play and we will see more talented youngsters in the future playing this style in English football.

Q. India’s star striker Sunil Chhetri earned a contract at QPR but was not given a work permit to play. Rising sensation Jeje also earned trials at Glasgow Rangers FC, but these were possibly just marketing gimmicks. Do you think FIFA’s rule of allowing only players of countries whose ranking is above 70, in order to avoid turning players into shirt selling mules, is justified?

Judan: Sharpe and I both believe that a player should be able to play anywhere in the world based on his merit, and not based on where he comes from. This is why I am keen to work in a country which is ranked lower than 70 and take it to the World Cup finals, so that I can prove to FIFA that they are wrong to uphold this rule. I have already proved that it can be done at youth level, and I am determined to do the same at the international senior level, should the opportunity arise.

There are some football clubs that did exploit footballers of Indian background to sell shirts but that wasn’t endorsed by the FA. I felt disgusted about that, but I do not wish to name those clubs because it wasn’t the clubs’ fault; it was the fault of the corrupt people that were governing those clubs.

So now you know how Judan Ali plans to improve the state of football in India. To keep updated with the search for footballers please like the following link

http://www.facebook.com/footballindiabestofthebest2012

You can also stay in touch via twitter:

https://twitter.com/#!/judanali

https://twitter.com/#!/lsharpeofficial

In its first season, the Pailan Arrows(Then Indian Arrows) were anything but a failure. In their second season, they have turned out to be anything but a success. Players in the 2010-11 season are now creating waves in Indian football, but current players aren’t even able to create so much as a ripple. Some people are blaming the players, while others are blaming the federation and the support staff. Actually, it may be the fault of none. The fact that these are mostly two different sets of players is the key feature that may have been overlooked. Different players have different ways of playing, ways of being coached and moreover different attitudes. Basically, the way the previous bunch were managed may not be suited to the current batch. A few thoughts on where the format of the team must be tweaked and how are given below.

Bring in a foreign youth expert.

The age old argument of whether an Indian or a foreigner of repute must be in charge of the Indian national side extends to the Arrows side as well. After all the the core of future Indian sides is likely to be comprised of this bunch of players.  A foreign youth expert with a methodology matching to the senior national coach’s one is a must as it will help a player to adapt in the national side.

The AIFF took a step in the right direction when they hired Des Bulpin, a British coach with a bundle of experience in managing youth sides of big clubs such as Tottenham,  QPR and even the very successful Uzbekistan U17 side.  However, this was much ado about nothing as he was fired after just a season in charge. One may argue the fact that he emphasised the long ball style of play which doesn’t suit India, but the fact of the matter is that the Arrows finished a creditable 9th in the I-League table under him.

Des Bulpin (Right), a step in the right direction?

The AIFF replaced him with Mr. Sukhwinder Singh, who incidentally emphasised the kick and rush style of play too, so the argument of the federation bringing about a change in management in trying to eliminate the long ball mentality is moot. Whatever the case may be, the current performance of the team is less than encouraging, with them failing to have secured a single win in the current edition of the Indian top-tier. A coach with experience in some of the top youth leagues of the world, with an eye to spot talent and a style of play that complements the players is a must for the team to achieve their objectives in the next season.

Play in a foreign league.

To those unfamiliar with the developments in Asian football, this may seem like a far fetched idea. However, as part of an agreement between the Malaysian and Singapore footballing authorities the Malaysian U23 side (Harimau Muda A) will play in the S-League while their Singaporean counter-parts (Young Lions FC) will play in the MSL. The AIFF too could enter into a co-operation agreement of this kind with a foreign association and we could see our boys slogging it out on foreign soil.

Harimau Muda A(Yellow) playing in the S-League

The justification behind this would be very simple. Our players need international exposure. The reason behind the organising of foreign tours by any country is to provide exposure to its players. Playing in a foreign league would provide plenty of this.

Reducing the need for month long foreign camps.

Besides, it would provide out-performers an opportunity to play in a reputed international club, something which every Indian footballer dreams of. The Indian senior players always seem to be overwhelmed while taking part in internationals, therefore, playing in a foreign league could definitely solve this problem.

Clarify the sides objectives.

The first step towards success is to clarify the objectives of the organisation. In this case, we are talking about a football club. The Arrow’s objectives in the recent past seem to be completely mixed up. Normally a team can have multiple objectives, but they must be cohesive. The Arrow’s multiple objectives seem to be :
1. Formation of a team that will qualify for the 2018 World Cup, by involving the best young players in a country.
2. Giving adequate playing time to youngsters.
3. Reviving Punjabi football, and maintaining an adequate supply line of youngsters from Punjab.

It is quite evident that the teams priorities are mixed up.

If the first were a priority, the big question mark would be as to why players like Jeje Lalpekhlua, Lalrindika Ralte, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Manandeep Singh and Jewel Raja Shaikh were allowed to transfer to different clubs. Also, a question would be as to why players like Singam Subhash Singh, Sandesh Gadkari, Gilbert Oliveira, Shahinlal Meloly, Manish Bhargav and Soumelein Doungel were ignored as they have definitely shown the potential to be the best in the country.

With the team placed 13th out of 14 teams in the I-league without a single win, a definite change is required in the way the clubs affairs are handled. The AIFF and the Pailan group need to do some serious re-thinking if the Arrows are to be a force to reckon with. After all, it is a vital situation regarding the state of Indian football.

Lalrindika Ralte: Churchill Brothers SC
Position : Left Wing
DOB:September 7, 1992

Didika Ralte vs UAE.

Dubbed as the successor to the legend Renedy Singh, this 19 year old is already a fan favorite. He was earlier a part of the youth setup of Churchill Brothers SC. He was then loaned out to the AIFF XI/Indian Arrows (Now Pailan Arrows), and scored the first goal in their existence. His dedication and commitment to continuously improve his free kicks and crosses seem be paying dividends as he is now widely regarded as the best winger in India. Apart from his free kicks, he also has notable dribbling skills  and coupled with his pace, he can leave any defence bamboozled.

Singham Subhash Singh: Pune FC
Position : Striker
DOB: February 2, 1990

He shoots! He scores!

Subhash seems to be making some noise in Indian football circles for all the right reasons this season. Apart from scoring some crackers and having a hand in many more, its his speed and dedication that sets him apart from the rest. His performances has even led him overshadow the achievements of Indian star Jeje at Pune this year. Lovingly called the “Speedy Singh” by fans, he has made a mark on some big games, especially when his daunting run again Blackburn Rovers almost resulted in a goal for the Red Lizards. In the past , he has represented the Indian U-19 and U-23 age group sides, but now hopes to do the same with the senior side. Mentored by his elder brother and Air India striker Samson Singh, now he actively mentors his younger siblings back in Manipur to take up the beautiful game as a career, a decision that seems to have clicked for him.

Jeje Lalpekhlua: Pune FC
Position : Striker
DOB: 7 January 1991

Jeje shoots against the UAE

Another former Indian Arrows lad, Jeje is already a star in his own right. He came to prominence when he scored four goals in his first three internationals for India. He then went on to lead the pack of Indian goalscorers in the 2010-2011 I-League season. Coming from a family of footballers, he represented the Mizoram U-19 side for the first time at just 16! Since then, he has become a regular in the Indian senior and U-23 side. He has also been the captain of the U-19 side. In 2011, he was called up for a weeks trials at Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers FC, but that was unsuccessful due to lack of playing time. When dubbed as the next Bhaichung Bhutia, he humbly responded, 

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu: Kingfisher East Bengal FC
Position : Goalkeeper
DOB:February 3, 1992

Gurpreet in action!

At 6’5″, Gurpreet can easily be described as one of the tallest goalkeepers in Asian football today. Hailing from Punjab, its a surprise that he did not join the Phagwara based JCT FC (now disbanded). Always impressive in the selectors eye, he has played for the Indian U-19 and U-23 sides. He has also been called up for the senior national camp, but has never made an appearance for the side yet. A former player of the Indian Arrows, he is now back at the Kolkata giants Kingfisher East Bengal FC. Starting the season as the 2nd choice goalkeeper, he replaced Sandip Nandy in front of goal post in the Federation Cup. Since then, he has given strong performances which includes stopping four penalties in the final of the 2012 IFA Shield, that featured the likes of Brazilian giants Botafogo FR. He has impressed the likes of former Manchester City and Newcastle United keeper John Burridge with his performances in the Kolkata Derby in the 2011-12 I-League season.

Manandeep Singh: FC Air India
Position : Striker
DOB:November 3, 1992

Manandeep representing the Indian U19 side in 2010

Manandeep who leads the Indian scorers list in the current edition of the I-League is yet another former Indian Arrows player. Now under the watchful eyes of Santosh Kashyap at the young revolution that is FC Air India, Manan is crying out for a regular spot in the Indian national side. He has earlier represented India at virtually every level, from the U-14, U-16, U-19, U-23 to coming on as a substitute for the senior team this year against Oman. Standing at 6 ft, he is the target man that Indian football desperately needs and his physical strength makes him even tougher for defenders to deal with. Hailing from Hisar in Haryana, he seems to be spearheading the sudden spurt of football in the Northern Indian state.

With these 5 players, i conclude part 1 of this series of articles on young Indian talents. While this edition focused mainly on strikers, the next will focus mostly on midfielders.

You might also like to read:

http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/04/16/is-playing-less-prestigious-opponents-the-right-way-forward-for-indian-clubs/

http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/04/16/my-opinion-on-indian-footballs-future/

Violence in Athens

Panathinaikos vs Olympiakos 
Athens, Greece
18th of March 2012

Panathinaikos fans clashed with the police after the police confronted 200 hooded men, seated near the players tunnel armed with clubs and iron bars.

The violence started about two hours before the game when hundreds of people tried to enter without tickets, and carried on until the game was called off with nine minutes to go. As per Greek football rules, no away fans were in attendance due to the fear of fan violence.

The stadium seats were set on fire and  firebombs which were prepared using water bottles filled with gasoline, liquid ammonia and sticks of dynamite were thrown at the police.  The scoreboard was also set on fire. Police arrested 50 people while 20 policemen were injured.

Romanian police attacking fans

Romania vs Uruguay
Bucharest, Romania
29th February 2012

There has always been some tension between the authorities and the fans in Romania. With the governments austerity measures, the violence was waiting to spill over to football. On the 29th of February, around 500 policemen and stewards brutally attacked Romanian fans when they held up the message ”FRF = RMGC. THE SAME MESS” (Romanian Football Federation = Rosia Montana Gold Corporation).

Violence in Brazil

Santos  vs Corinthians
Santos, Brazil
4th of March 2012

With so much violence in Brazil, its no surprise why they don’t want to allow the sale of alcohol at the FIFA World Cup which will be held there in the year 2014.

The Ultras culture surely creates a magnificent atmosphere at most of the games with songs, choreography and pyro but sometimes it does tend to get out of hand. When fanaticism crosses into hooliganism, it can be very dangerous for everyone. The fans, the establishment and most importantly, the players.

It first started with the sacking of the most successful Indian coaches in recent time Bob Houghton, amid allegations of racism. Then the job went to Dempo coach Armando Colaco who managed only 1 win in 5 games. Now the task has fallen into the hands of former Salgaocar coach and Indian assistant manager Savio Madeira. Madeira has managed to win the SAFF Championship in December, but continuous losses against higher ranked oppositions have led to fans calling for his immediate removal, a few weeks before the prestigious AFC Challenge Cup in March.

The situation can somewhat be compared to the reaction of the fans after Kevin Keegan was fired as manager of Newcastle United a few years ago. The comments made by fans are in the same line, calling for the immediate sacking of the coach….

Dhiraj Khatri, an aspiring footballer from Siliguri calls the Indian gaffer wasteful and does not think that he is the man for the job. “Sack savio. Now its enough,no more thrashing.We are playing horrible against higher ranked teams…Savio is not utilising resources…..”

Rahul Mudiraj, an ardent supporter of FC Barcelona from Hyderabad criticises the way India are playing these days. ”Sack the coach first of all and keep a European coach. They must not play long ball and must try to have more possession on the ball. The ball possession was not good.”

Joseph Thomas from Malappuram supports the coach but questions his team selection
“If a player plays well, other players are given a chance. However, if a player plays horribly then “they need time to adjust.” Why Savio, Why?”

Not the right man for the job?

Jake Boyer goes on to compare what Bob Houghton has done for India to what Sir Alex Ferguson has done for Manchester United…”We have lost our winning mentality, aggression, tempo, fighting spirit and everything else which we have gained under Bob Houghton. Next time AIFF will make a local coach the new manager of India. Look at how India was playing and winning under Bob. Bob was the perfect match for India just like Sir Alex and Manchester United. Even if Guardiola comes and coaches India, it won’t win anything, and about the short term it was Bob who implemented and started the vision of a young team.”

Vaibhav Srivastava from Kolkata feels that the future is bleak for India, if the AIFF does not change things around. “Madeira was the Coach of Salgaocar SC when they were relegated from I-League and now we have to go on under Savio’s coaching..”

India's Sir Alex Ferguson?

Hari Govind from Thrissur has a positive outlook compared to the other fans. “Although we lost..I liked the game India played today.. there were lots of short passes and good moves instead of lobbing the ball which unfortunately happens to be our strategy in every game.. but the defence was weak, which led them to scoring 5 goals… a few more games like this with good teams and India will improve.”

John Lyngdoh, a Phd student originally from Shillong is however completely in favour of Bob Houghton. “Savio has tried his best but was not able to deliver. He should prove himself in the I-League first and then come to the national side. Bob Houghton was doing a fantastic job as India boss and should be recalled by the AIFF.”

The one the fans trust

Elvin Nampui from Silchar is another one completely in favour of Bob. “Please bring Bob back, AIFF. Please throw away your egos and think about the future of Indian football. Bob knows the best about Indian football. What Indian Football has achieved till now is all because of him.”

Abhishek Das from Kolkata thinks that we need a better coach as of now. “If my teacher is not world class… then how can I become world class? This is the main problem with Indian football.The coaches don’t have the quality. So how can our boys become world class players?”

Nevertheless, India’s star defender Nirmal Chettri has come out in support of the team saying, “One match doesn’t make the difference in the team..we are the same team who delivered the good result last month and we will again deliver!!”

However, even if bringing back Robert Douglas “Bob” Houghton was considered as an option by the apex football body the AIFF, will the Englishman return to the India job especially under the circumstances under which he left?

After winning the 2011 SAFF Championship, Indian football fans have another reason to cheer. As per sources, Kingfisher East Bengal FC have been approached by FC Barcelona to play a pre-season friendly match on the 11th of August 2012. This would be the third major foreign club to visit India in less than a year after Blackburn Rovers FC played Pune and FC Bayern Munich played the Indian national football side.

Earlier FC Barcelona’s plans were to tour India in 2013, but the Asian representative of the Catalan giants is said to have contacted the Red and Gold Brigade to pre-pone their tour. East Bengal’s General secretary Debabrata Sarkar confirmed the news earlier this week, and added that talks were at a preliminary stage.

If Lionel Messi is available for Barcelona, it would be his second trip to the city in less than a year although he could be summoned for national duty at the Olympics.

However, if the match is set to take place at the Salt Lake Stadium, the conditions of the stadium need to be improved. The lights at major Indian stadiums have a habit of going off at crucial moments, with the ones at the Salt Lake disappointing fans around the 80th minute at the Kolkata Derby last year.

East Bengal and FC Barcelona are similarly positioned in their leagues, with both clubs having to play catch-up with leaders Dempo SC and Real Madrid CF respectively.

They are currently training at the Sevens Stadium, Al Ain Road, Dubai where they are holding open practice sessions (open to the general fans and public, that is) from 4 to 6 p.m. every day.

Indian team's training session at the Sevens Stadium

The side will leave for Muscat on the 21st and will return to their base camp in Dubai on the 24th. On the 27th, they will play European side Azerbaijan at the Sevens Stadium. This match has been declared free for the fans to watch. They will finally end their Middle Eastern tour with a game against an unnamed Iranian club on the 1st of March. They will leave from Dubai on the 3rd.

The India vs Oman game will be telecast LIVE on Ten Action+. Kick off is slated for 7:55 PM.

The team at Indian coach Savio Madeira’s disposal is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar), Subhasish Roychowdhury (Dempo SC), Arindam Bhattacharya (Churchill Brothers), Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Kingfisher East Bengal).

Defenders: Nirmal Chhetri, Raju Gaikwad (both Kingfisher East Bengal), Sameer Naik (Dempo SC), Gourmangi Singh (Churchill Brothers), Anwar Ali, Kinsukh Debnath, Syed Rahim Nabi (all McDowell Mohun Bagan), Arnab Mondal (Prayag United), Gurjinder Singh (Pune FC).

Midfielders: Adil Khan (Sporting Clube de Goa), Anthony Pereira, Clifford Miranda (both Dempo), Reisangmi Vashum (Kingfisher East Bengal), Baldeep Singh, Lester Fernandes (both Pune FC), Rocus Lamare, Francis Fernandes (both Salgaocar SC), Jewel Raja, Manish Mathani (McDowell Mohun Bagan), Lenny Rodrigues, Lalrindika Ralte (both Churchill Brothers).

Forwards: Sunil Chhetri (McDowell Mohun Bagan), Sushil Singh (Shillong Lajong FC – on loan), CS Sabeeth (Pailan Arrows), Manandeep Singh (Air India), Joaquim Abranches (Dempo SC).

Adil Khan missed three training sessions due to an ankle injury. Sunil Chhetri is still suffering from an injury that he suffered during the SAFF Championship 2011 Final in December and is doubtful for the first two games.

Gelaro Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta

Match to Watch here : Indonesia vs Malaysia

The home of the Indonesian national football team and Indonesian Super League club Persija Jakarta – watching football here is one of the most enjoyable experiences in the world. This stadium, which boasts a capacity of 80,000  supporters is nearly always sold out on every occasions. Like other South Eastern countries, football is a religion in Indonesia and so the fans here are also very passionate, although sometimes situations gets out of control.

Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur 

Match to watch here : Malaysia vs Indonesia

The home ground of the Malaysian national side, boasts an outrageous capacity of 88,000. The fans who turn up in large numbers to support their national and club sides never fails to create an outstanding atmosphere to play and witness football in. Watching a football match at the Bukit Jalil featuring Malaysia and Indonesia should be on every football fan’s bucket list.

Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata

Match to watch here : the Kingfisher East Bengal FC vs Mcdowell Mohun Bagan AC

The home stadium of Kingfisher East Bengal FC, Mcdowell Mohun Bagan AC, Prayag United SC and the Pailan Arrows. It is the largest in-use football stadium in the world, with a capacity of around 120,000 and because of this, large crowd of even 40,000 seem irrelevant on certain occasions. It’s an experience of a lifetime to watch a Kolkata derby here, especially when the stadium is packed and the attendance is anywhere between 90,000 and 120,000 .

Azadi Stadium, Tehran

Match to watch here : Persepolis FC vs Esteghlal FC

The home stadium of the Iran national team, Persepolis FC and Esteghlal FC. It boasts a capacity of 100,000 people and is packed at every Tehran Derby. The passion of the people at this game is such that the event is often sold out, days and sometimes even weeks in advance. This stadium is unique in it’s own way – it is built in such a manner that the sound is amplifiled across the playing surface.

Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama

Match to watch here : Urawa Red Diamonds vs Yokohama F Marinos

Watching football in this stadium is magical. Looking around, it feels like watching a game in Europe. The fans who come here are always determined to create an amazing atmosphere. The stadium itself seats more than 63,000 people. The fans are a testament to the football fans all over the world. Their team has witnessed a roller coaster ride, from being crowned AFC Champions League Champions and 4th in the FIFA Club World Cup in 2007 to coming 15th in the league last season. However, there is hardly a drop in the attendance and this is what that makes Saitam Stadium, such a special place for football.

]]> http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/02/10/spectacular-footballing-atmosphere-chapter-one/feed/ 1 152210 http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/02/02/exclusive-interview-with-target-man-manandeep-singh/ http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/02/02/exclusive-interview-with-target-man-manandeep-singh/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:30:35 +0000 Siddharth Sharma http://www.sportskeeda.com/?p=110323 The new face of Haryana football, Manandeep Singh, is turning heads all over the country with his superb attacking displays. Dubbed as the “angry young man from Haryana” by fans and friends alike, he is one of the brightest prospects for the Indian Football team.

Air India's Manandeep Singh

 Name: Manandeep Singh
Place of birth: Hisar, Haryana
Date of birth: 3rd of November 1992
Height:180cm
Position: Striker
Current Club: FC Air India
State Represented: Haryana

Siddharth Sharma: First of all, Congratulations on making the provisional side for the AFC Challenge Cup.

Manandeep: Thanks a lot.

Siddharth Sharma: You took up football at a very young age(8), who was the person who first pushed you towards football?

Manandeep: There is a coach in my city Hisar (Mr. Madan Singh Rathore), and he is a really old man. I was in the games period in school where he saw me playing, and said that if I wanted to play I should come (to the training ground) and that we practice every day. He encouraged  me to take up football and even when I was playing nationals, he constantly backed me. He was the only coach who trained me before turning pro.

Siddharth Sharma: And who are your idols or favourite players?

Manandeep: I really like Rooney, and Ronaldo.

Siddharth Sharma: Last year, the Indian Arrows(now Pailan Arrows) surprised everyone by coming 9th in the table. What areas did Des Bulpin lay emphasis on in training?

Manandeep: He made us stronger. He stressed on strength, gymming and basically everything important for the game.

Manan for the Indian Arrows

Siddharth Sharma: You also pulled off a surprise win against Mohun Bagan in a nine goal thriller. What went into that win? How did you lift your spirits after going down?

Manandeep: It was our last game, and we wanted to finish in a better way. With three points we could have gone much higher up on the table.

Siddharth Sharma: You’ve played for India from the U14 level…

Manandeep: Yeah, I played in Iran in the U14 Football festival.

Always winning aerial battles

Siddharth Sharma: And as part of the Indian age group sides, you’ve travelled to the US, UK, Germany etc for exposure trips. Does this give you a little bit of an advantage as compared to other upcoming players who haven’t trained abroad?

Manandeep: Its not that much of an advantage, but its a good thing when you practice outside India and you play matches with them(other countries), you understand their culture, their football, how they train. It’s good to see whats going on abroad.

Siddharth Sharma: So, how did you catch the eye of the national selectors when you were about 12-13 years of age?

Manandeep:I was playing for Haryana at the U14 level, and the tournament took place in Chandigarh. I was the top scorer(15 goals), so they called me for the India camp and that’s how it started.

Siddharth Sharma: So, how does it feel to be called up for the AFC Challenge Cup squad at just 19?

Manandeep: (Smiles) It’s great, I cant describe it in words. It’s a dream come true. I still cant believe it. As a child, I just wanted to play at U14, U15, U16. I was always thinking,”Can I make it? Can I Make it?” It was always on my mind. It’s my dream.

Siddharth Sharma: The I-League is dominated by foreign strikers, so what do you think is the reason behind it?

Manandeep: Hmm(Laughs). They are really good players.

Siddharth Sharma: Being from Haryana, we have noticed that players like you, Robin Singh and other players from Punjab and Haryana are physically stronger than the ones from the other parts of the country. Does this depend on the pro-sport mentality of the people?

Manandeep: It’s not really about the mentality of the people. If a person is not playing a sport, they are also quite strong. So we are naturally strong.

Siddharth Sharma: This season, you joined strugglers Air India(finished 11th out of 14 teams) from the Pailan Arrows. Now, your team is 8th in the table and you’ve performed some giant killing acts beating Dempo and Champions Salgaocar. What is the cause of this?

Manandeep: We just train hard, and our coaches and management are very good and they are very positive. We have a lot of young players, and we wanted to show everybody that Air India FC can play good football. That was what we were thinking about.

No-one can stop him!

Siddharth Sharma: So do you think you can climb even higher up the table? 

Manandeep: In every I-League game, every team fights for three points. If we fight well, we can also go ahead.  If we really want it, well play our heart out and try to be our best and go much higher.

Siddharth Sharma: In yourself and Sandesh Gadkari, you have two of the I-League’s top Indian scorers as of now with six goals each. So how is your on-field chemistry with him and the rest of the team?

Manandeep: On the field, off the field… we are young players. We are like a brothers, not only Sandesh..with everybody.

Siddharth Sharma: Now onto a pressing subject, we can see that the standard of refereeing has been questionable. So do you think that for the I-League to improve, we need to improve the standard of refereeing?

Manandeep: I can say something, but I really dont want to comment on it.

Siddharth Sharma: On to the PLS now. Do you think that this kind of a system, if implemented across the country and with the inclusion of I-League players can be good for Indian football?

Manandeep: Its just a two months tournament, and rest of the year..A player cant do anything. Fans too want to see players the whole year and not just for two months.

A Future coach?

Siddharth Sharma: In the I-League this season, most of the matches that are being telecasted are held in Goa and Kolkata. None of the matches in Shillong or Kerala are telecasted. So will it help attract new viewers, as the places that have televised matches  already have a loads of fans?

Manandeep: No, it wont. My opinion is that every game should be telecasted so that people can watch games, get to know the players. Its good for the players too then.

Siddharth Sharma: Do you want to play abroad?

Manandeep:Yes, I want to play abroad.

Siddharth Sharma: Would you like to say something to the fans, to support the national team?

Manandeep: Yeah, obviously. When a fan comes, it encourages us. Not me, or anyone in particular..the whole team wants to play for them. We always try to give our best but when we have home support, we play better. If you are standing in a fight, and there is someone behind you..you can fight better. That is what fans do for us.

Siddharth Sharma: Thanks a lot Manan for taking the time out to give us this interview.

Manandeep: Your welcome.