I-League leaders Churchill Brothers SC held to another draw

I-League leaders Churchill Brothers SC dropped further points into their title challenge when they were held to a goalless draw by Goan rivals Salgaocar FC at the Duler ground in Mapusa this afternoon. Churchill Brothers now have 44 points from 21 matches, while closest challenger East Bengal Club have 41 points from the same number of matches.

Needing a win to open up a comfortable lead at the top, Churchill Brothers started aggressively but could not translate their domination into goals. The Red Machines were also hampered by injuries to influential Brazilian midfielder Roberto Mendes Silva and wing-back Yumnam Raju Mangang, both of whom had to be replaced within half an hour.

Salgaocar FC too were keen to continue with their winning run and move further away from the relegation zone. The David Booth coached side played methodically and had their strikers been more sharp, they could have got something out of the game.

Randeep Singh first tested the Churchill goalkeeper Sandip Nandy with a long ranger which experienced Nandy parried away for an abortive corner. Minutes later, Francis Fernandes tried the same tactic but his booming shot sailed past the post.

At the other end, Sunil Chhetri and Henry Arnaud Antchouet Rebienot made some good runs but didn't come up with anything special that could trouble Salgaocar goalkeeper Karanjit Singh. The only time Karanjit needed to be at his best was when T. Bineesh Balan made a solo run but he could not get past the goalkeeper.

In the second session, Salgaocar saw more of the ball but failed to beat a determined Sandip Nandy under the horizontal bar, who was later adjudged as the Man-of-the-Match.

(Report & Photo courtesy AIFF Media)

I-League: Churchill Bros go top, win 3-0 against Air India

Churchill Brothers SC moved to the top of the I-League table with a 3-0 victory against Air India at the Duler Stadium in Mapusa on Tuesday afternoon. Churchill Brothers now have 42 points, while Air India stay on 18 points with both teams having played 19 matches.

The Goans had the perfect start in the 7th minute as winger Steven Benedic Dias won them a penalty in the seventh minute after receiving a Bineesh Balan ball in the danger zone, but he was brought down by Air India defender M. Pradeep, prompting the referee to point at the stop. Brazilian Beto stepped-up and scored.

Churchill Brothers got their second goal in the 22nd minute when midfielder Lenny Rodrigues sent a delightful through ball that pierced the rival defence and was intercepted well by Henry Arnaud Antchouet Rebienot who drew out goalkeeper Sukhwinder Singh and scored another easy goal.

In the second session, Churchill Brothers scored their third goal once more through Gabon striker Henry, and it was another gift from Air India as goalie Sukhwinder Singh messed-up a regular back-pass which we should have easily collected but instead the keeper and Rahul Bheke looked at each other allowing Henry to tap inside an open goal.

Air India had plenty of chances to get something out of their game but the visitors lacked the sharpness upfront. Nigerian striker Henry Ezeh had two clear chances but he aimed straight at goalkeeper Sandip Nandy's body while Micky Fernandes' two booming free-kicks missed the target narrowly.

Churchill next play ONGC in Delhi on Saturday and have a chance to open up a five-point lead at the top, while Air India travel to face another title contender in East Bengal Club in Kolkata on the same day.

(Photo courtesy AIFF Media)

PHOTOs: Tilak Maidan reconstruction work, I-League CEO visit

Vasco's Tilak Maidan is current undergoing renovation and I-League CEO Sunando Dhar visited the ground yesterday to have a look at the ongoing work. Though the timeframe had to extended, the hope is that Tilak Maidan will host I-League matches before the end of March 2013.

I-League CEO Sunando Dhar visits Tilak Maidan, meets club officials

The I-League CEO Sunando Dhar yesterday was in Goa to inspect the ongoing renovation work at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco. Since the Duler ground in Mapusa does not have the infrastructure to support live broadcast facilities, it was imperative for the I-League official to suggest ideas to the broadcasters who are missing high profile matches due to unavailability of suitable stadiums in Goa.

Sunando Dhar was optimistic that the renovation work would be completed soon and the stadium would host some of the remaining I-league matches this season.

The Nehru Stadium at Margao, along with Tilak Maidan are being renovated to host the 3rd Lusofonia Games later this year. Due to the excavation work at both these venues, the current I-League matches were shifted to Duler Ground in Mapusa.

Sunando Dhar was in the state to review the progress at the stadiums and to explore the possibility of live telecast of I-League matches which are currently being played by the four Goan teams.

A meeting of the four I-League club representatives was then held along with the Goa Football Association president Shrinivas V. Dempo, SAG Executive Director Elvis Gomes and GFA member Anthony Pango at the Dempo House in Panaji. Officials from the SAG expressed confidence that the I-League matches would kick start by March 20 at the fully equipped venue at Tilak Maidan, Vasco. Mr. Dhar also proposed to send a team of technical consultants from the broadcaster to give suggestions on appropriate locations for placing of the TV cameras.

In the end it was decided by the clubs to send a review report to the AIFF by mid-February.

Goa Football Association's AGM

The Goa Football Association held its yearly Annual General Meeting at the Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias in the state capital Panjim yesterday.

One of the main topics at the AGM was the performances of states teams at the Santosh Trophy and youth tournaments which in the recent past has been far from satisfactory. A focus would be given to a more professional approach and not short-term preparations once teams are announced. The coaching and competitions committee would be involved to make the necessary corrections.

The GFA also applauded the decision of the Goan state government to make football the state sport of Goa and ideas were exchanged as to how the GFA can improve football in Goa by working together with the newly formed Goa State Football Development Council (GSFDC).

The infrastructure situation was also discussed with the GFA set to work with the GSFDC to develop necessary grounds and training facilities. The GFA informed those present that the Duler ground would be ready by November following the delay in installation of the artificial turf pitch, while the federation had been informed by its vice-president Elvis Gomes who also happens to be the SAG ED that government had assured him to have a small-size stadium at Campal ready in two years time.

Meanwhile a grand total of 106 GFA officials and organisers were felicitated for their contribution to Goan football. The list included 38 from Bardez, 42 from Salcete, 13 from Ilhas and 13 from Mormugao who have worked tirelessly for many years to organise GFA matches which stands at 968 matches last season.

The GFA president Srinivas Dempo also paid homage to the three members of the Goan football fraternity who sadly passed away in the last season - Adolfo Viegas, a former GFA general secretary who played a key role in the early development of the Association; Duler stadium football manager Jerome Fernandes who looked after the GFA's home stadium with aplomb and Antonio Colaco who also provided yeoman services to the Association.

Goa: Development of Duler Ground & Tilak Maidan

At the moment good news about infrastructure development is coming from across the country. The latest to join the list are the Goan football venues - Mapusa's Duler Ground and Tilak Maidan in Vasco.

After it had been disclosed that the Indian Football Association (West Bengal) would redevelop the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium as well as Barasat Stadium in Kolkata, yesterday the news came out that the Cooperage Ground in Mumbai can finally be developed as a football stadium.

In good news for Goan football as part of the second phase of the 'Win in India with India' program of world football governing body FIFA both the Tilak Maidan and Duler Ground will get an artificial turf to allow football to be played all year through. In the first phase four turfs were sanctioned with the Bangalore Football Stadium turf ready, while work is on in Mumbai, Shillong and Imphal.

Meanwhile at the Duler Ground in Mapusa earlier this week the work on a roof for the main stand was started with the work set to last 60 days. It is part of the development of the ground with the Goa FA getting further land around the ground to build further stands, while a new turf is also set to be installed.

In Vasco the Tilak Maidan is set for a long-term lease with the AIFF/GFA. The Sports Authority of Goa has conditionally agreed to lease out the Tilak Maidan's playfield to the AIFF to allow the first FIFA-sponsored artificial turf to be laid in Goa. According to the agreement, the AIFF will allow the SAG and Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs to use the ground as and when required for sports purpose and not for any other use.

So far it has been good news that these venues will be developed or refurbished, hopefully the work would start soon in the interest of football and its fans.

Goa FA's search on for paid General Secretary

The new Executive Committee of the Goa Football Association met for the first time yesterday with president Srinivas Dempo chairing the meeting. One of the pressing issues which the new committee couldn't solve is the appointment of the first full-time, paid General Secretary of the GFA. The GFA had published the vacancy in Goan newspapers with an advertisement, but the replies don't seem to have been up to the level needed to run football in the coastal state. The executive committee has decided to give the search for a new General Secretary three month as per the new constitution of the GFA while complies with the AIFF, AFC and FIFA.

The potential candidates would be interviewed by an independent panel which would consist of the GFA president himself Srinivas Dempo (Dempo SC), Shivanand Salgaocar (Salgaocar SC), Peter Vaz (Sporting Clube de Goa), a representative of Churchill Brothers SC (either Churchill Alemao or his brother Joaquim Alemao) and representatives of other major clubs.

In the meantime Alvarinho Pinho will continue to be the acting Secretary of the GFA until the new paid General Secretary can take over. But insiders say the search is turning out to be much more difficult then expected. Maybe the Goa FA should consider looking outside the state for suitable candidates who could run and professionalize the working of the GFA.

In other good news for Goan football, the GFA Executive Committee gave its clearance for installation of artificial turf at the Duler Ground in Mapusa. This means that the GFA can sign an MoU with the AIFF and FIFA to get the artificial turf installed at the venue.

Duler Ground - A big step for Goa

After a long delay the Government of Goa has finally leased out 5250 square metre of additional land to the Goa Football Association for the further expansion and completion of the Duler Ground.

The Duler Ground is situated in Mapusa in the northern part of the state and was always seen as an unfinished venue.

It is owned by the Goa Football Association, one of two association in India which have their own stadium. The other is the Karnataka State Football Association which owns the Bangalore Football Stadium.

And the further development of the ground will enable the Goa FA to utilise the ground more often for top level football. So far it could only use the Nehru Stadium in Margao for I-League matches or other high profile tournaments.

The ground besides the Tilak Maidan in Vasco are alternatives when the Nehru Stadium is not available.

The Duler ground currently has only one stand with minimum spectator capacity. Under the redevelopment of the ground the Goa FA plans to build additional stands which could host more spectators, incorporate better changing rooms, a fitness centre and house an Academy.

The Goa FA also hopes that the stadium could be part of the next phase of the FIFA program "Win in India with India" under which artificial turfs are being granted by the world governing body to India. Goa wasn't considered in the first phase when grounds were granted to Mumbai, Bangalore, Shillong and Imphal.

A redeveloped and improved Duler ground will further strengthen Goa's position atop Indian football, but further grounds and facilities need to be developed in the coastal state and across India.