VIDEO: Interview of Abhijeet Barse (Slum Soccer, Nagpur) in Berlin

Over the first weekend of July I was in Berlin to cover a non-football event for an Indian television channel, but I had heard that a women's football tournament was being held in the German capital coinciding with the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany with teams from across the globe taking part.

Under the name of Discover Football this tournament was being organised in Berlin-Kreuzberg. Close to a 100 teams from around the world applied to take part and a high profile jury which included German FA president Dr. Theo Zwanziger and 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Organising Committee chief Steffi Jones decided on the participants. Teams from Israel/Jordan/Palestine, Brazil, Rwanda, Togo, Cameroon, Afghanistan and India where chosen besides a team from Berlin.

The tournament was played from June 27 to July 3 with the aim not about winning, but rather being interaction and a chance to learn from each other. The tournament was in a small field 7 A-Side format played in two halves of 30 minutes each.

Slum Soccer from Nagpur where the Indian representatives at the Discover Football tournament in Berlin. They had come with a team of women and girls from Maoist affected areas and for them coming to Germany was like a dream come true. I had the chance to speak to Abhijit Barse about the experience and Slum Soccer as a project back home in India.

Here the video of my interview with Abhijeet Barse (Slum Soccer, Nagpur)

VIDEO: My 2011 World Cultural Festival work

I have spend the weekend in the German capital Berlin working for Indian English language news channel Times Now to cover the 30th anniversary of the Art of Living Foundation event titled the 'World Cultural Festival'. The highlight was the Saturday evening function at the Berlin Olympic Stadium, but sadly due to the heavy rains only around 20,000 filled the iconic sporting venue.

Here a video clip of my work in Berlin






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Euro2012 Qualifier: Germany vs. Turkey

When Germany take on Turkey in their 2012 European Championship qualifier tomorrow evening at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin it won't be just another qualifier in the European Championships. Turks happen to be the largest immigrant community in Germany and Berlin is said to be the third largest Turkish town in the world after Istanbul and Ankara. So home advantage might not come Germany's way if Turks are able to buy more of the tickets in the open market. There are expectations that around 30,000 of the 74,000 tickets could go to Turkish fans, maybe even some more.

For coach Joachim Loew and his team the aim is to retain their 100% record in the qualifiers. So far it has been two wins from two matches against Belgium and Azerbaijan. And to move closer to qualification for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine three points against Turkey, thought to be the toughest opponent in the group, would be a big step forward.

But Loew will be missing one of his key players in Bastian Schweinsteiger. The Bayern Munich midfielder injured himself on Sunday in the match against Borussia Dortmund and surely would be missed after his great performances in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This means more responsibility on Real Madrid duo Sami Khedira and Mesut Özil. Especially for Özil it will be an emotional game as he is a third generation Turk born in Germany. In Turkey a lot of people have never understood why Özil decided to play for Germany, but those Turks living in Germany especially after the 2010 FIFA World Cup have come to like the German national football team as the team is closer to them then ever before and especially due to the fact that Özil played a key part in it.

Loew will continue to play his team in a 4-2-3-1 formation leaving the question on whom would replace Schweinsteiger open. Loew said it could be Toni Kroos, Christian Traesch or surprisingly even Thomas Mueller. Otherwise the open positions in defence looked to be set with Per Mertesacker and Holger Badstuber in the centre, captain Philipp Lahm on the right and Jerome Boateng looks more likely to play on the left rather then Heiko Westermann.

Turkey meanwhile under new coach Guus Hiddink will be dangerous for Germany, then Hiddink brings a system with him and Turkey have adopted quickly to it. But the Turks will be missing their star midfielder Arda Turan due to injury and for a number of their players it will be playing against the nation in which they where born.

Bayern win German Cup in style

FC Bayern Munich trashed SV Werder Bremen 4-0 in the German Cup (DFB Pokal) final at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin last night.

It was another demonstration of strength by the Bavarian giants, who towards the end of the season are showing what the Louis van Gaal coached side are really made off.

On the night Bayern won a record 15th DFB Pokal title and also their eighth German double of league and cup.


Initially it wasn't just one way traffic for Bayern, but goalkeeper Hans Joerg Butt kept his team in the game as both sides had their chances. But the longer the game lasted the better Bayern got.

But Bayern got their first goal of a penalty after Per Mertesacker handled the ball in the box in the 35th minute and referee Thorsten Kinhoefer pointed to the dreaded spot. And Arjen Robben blasted a left footer into the right hand corner of the Bremen net. Bayern went with a 1-0 lead into the break.

Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf seemed to have found the right words in his half time speech as Bremen came out looking for the equaliser, but they couldn't utilise their chances as Bayern scored their second in the 51st minute when Ivica Olic scored of an Arjen Robben corner.

This seemed to kill Bremen's morale and Bayern added a third in the 63rd minute through Frank Ribery of a counter attack with a placed shot past Bremen keeper Tim Wiese. Bremen were reduced to ten men when captain Thorsten Frings was shown his second yellow card of the game for a rough tackle on Bastian Schweinsteiger. But by this time the match was already decided.

And it was left to Schweinsteiger to add Bayern's fourth in the 83rd minute. Lahm played a long cross ball to the left, Schweinsteiger controlled the ball with his chest before placing the ball past the keeper. A class goal by the German international midfielder.


And Bayern Munich still have to play the season finale, the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday, May 22 against Internationale Milan at the Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid.

Their confidence level will surely have received another boast, but was has been impressive over the last few weeks is the way the team has been playing better and better.

If they can also win the Champions League title then they will achieve a rare treble, something which no German club has ever achieved before. Following in the footsteps of FC Barcelona, who had won a record six titles last year.