Professional football needs Standard Professional Contracts following all FIFA norms

The Football Players Association of India conducted a workshop and interactive session with the 29 players at the Indian National Team training camp in Pune today. While addressing a key number of issues with players ahead of what is predicted to be a hectic transfer season the main issue that needed to be addressed was signing Professional Contracts following all of FIFA norms. Critical matters in contracts like injury, performance. early termination, just cause and unilateral clauses in contracts were discussed. Currently very few Clubs in India have contracts that address and protect the players rights in any of the clauses above.

All the players at the National Team camp unanimously agreed that the Federation should implement a Standard Contract with all clubs in the I-League whereby players needed to only negotiate their financial terms, bonuses and benefits and not the terms of the contracts. It is to be noted that workshops in Kolkata were held regarding the same and players in Kolkata agreed on similar grounds.

The World Body for players FIFPro have set a deadline for India achieving a Standard Contract with all of FIFA norms being followed according to the FIFA Minimum Contract Requirements for Professional Footballers.

Andrew Scott Howman a reputed Lawyer from New Zealand, who was conducting the Workshop at the request of FPAI, said, "it is most important that a professional league provides standard contracts for its players. This is the way in which appropriate standards can be maintained in the Indian League and is the only way forward. He stressed that implementation of a standard contract would only benefit Indian Football."

Further the Football Players Association of India have decided that the Indian Football Awards 2013 would be held on May 18, 2013 and the venue for this years awards is most likely set to be Mumbai. There was also a discussion to have an exhibition match on the day of the awards between a Senior and Junior team involving celebrities which may also be an occasion for a couple of senior players to announce their international retirement.

PHOTOs: Indian Voting for FIFA/FIFPro World XI!

Indian footballers and foreigners playing professionally in India registered with the Football Players Association of India (FPAI) have started to cast their votes for the FIFA FIFPro World XI! Here some snaps of Baichung Bhutia reading about the voting procedure besides Gouramangi Singh, Nirmal Chettri, Syed Rahim Nabi and Tolgay Ozbey casting their votes.

Voting for FIFA FIFPro World XI started in India!

Indian footballers and foreigners playing professionally in India registered with the Football Players Association of India (FPAI) have started to cast their votes in the FIFA FIFPro World XI. The voting started on Saturday, September 8 with FPAI president Baichung Bhutia casting his vote.

The Indian national football team players started to casz their votes on Monday, September 10 with defender Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh being the first amongst the current Team India players.

Earlier today players from Mohun Bagan AC cast their votes and players from other I-League clubs are set to cast their votes during the 2012 Federation Cup with voting open until Wednesday, October 31.

Last year over 50,000 footballers from across the world took part in the FIFA FIFPro World XI voting.

Here a look back at last year: http://www.fifa.com/ballondor/world11/index.html

English PFA looking to play matches in India!

A delegation from the English PFA (Professional Footballers' Association) was in India last week to speak to their Indian counterparts the FPAI (Football Players Association of India). Amongst other things it was discussed to play a couple of matches between the PFA and FPAI with October likely to be choosen with the monsoons over and the weather not so hot anymore.

Players who are considering making the trip are former Premier League stars like Alan Shearer, Fernando Morientes, Teddy Sheringham, Robbie Fowler, Didier Hamann, Gaizka Mendieta, Ivan Campo and many more who have just hung up their boots in recent months. Former Manchester United right-back Gary Neville, who is one of Roy Hodgson's assistant coaches with England, is also interested to come to India if his busy schedule permits.

Christian Smith (Commercial Director) and Colin Hill (Commercial Executive), a former player in the English League himself, were down in India for three days to check the facilities across stadiums and hotels for their players.

If they do go ahead they will play a mix of ex-Indian players as maybe some Celebrities to add to the glamour quotient. Baichung Bhutia, Alvito D'Cunha, I.M. Vijayan as well as numerous other names are doing the rounds for these matches.

The objective is to create larger interest for football in India not forgetting the Indian players being part of the event as well. As it appears the PFA is very happy with the football culture of India and plans to make this one of the venues of their annual tours that have included Australia, Barbados and some others. They would also contribute significantly through having coaching clinics and hosting charity auctions while on tour.

The cities are yet to be confirmed but it looks likely to be between Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore and a couple of other cities.

Debanjan Sen Memorial Cup 2012

A Calcutta Cricket & Football Club (CCFC) XI held the Football Players Association of India (FPAI) XI to a one-all draw in the Debanjan Sen Memorial Cup 2012 held at the CC&FC ground yesterday evening.

For the FPAI XI seasoned striker Dipendu Biswas opened the scoring in the 20th minute with Jahan Mehta (who is FPAI General Secretary but plays for CC&FC) equalizing just a minute later.

Former Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia played for CC&FC while the FPAI XI was represented by Indian national team players Gouramangi Singh, Syed Rahim Nabi, Mehtab Hossain, Subrata Pal, Arindam Bhattacharya and ex-internationals Dipendu Biswas and Basudeb Mondal plus many others.

The FPAI were also fortunate enough to have two World Cuppers in Steven Bryce and Carlos Hernandez from Costa Rica to play for them as both of them were in Kolkata and are big supporters of FIFPro and the Costa Rica Football Players Association.

Carlos Hernandez to play Debanjan Sen Memorial Cup match!

Costa Rica international midfielder Carlos Hernández Valverde is set to be in Kolkata this week for talks with I-League side Prayag United SC to possibly sign and play for them. While in Kolkata Hernández is set to play for the Football Players Association of India (FPAI) XI in a charity match, the Debanjan Sen Memorial Cup, against a football team of the Calcutta Cricket & Football Club (CCFC) at the latters home in Ballygunge, Kolkata on Thursday, June 28 evening.

Besides Hernández, former Costa Rica international Steven Bryce Valerio will also be in Kolkata with him and will also play for the FPAI XI in the match.

The FPAI will once more organise the memorial match in the name of their former employee the late Debanjan Sen, who died in an motorbike accident last year. Debanjan, who was very much liked in football circles, was only 22 years old.

The FPAI XI will also see some of India's best football talent especially those who were close to Debanjan Sen and they include Mehtab Hossain (FPAI Player of the Year 2011), Syed Rahim Nabi (FPAI Player of the Year 2012), Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh, Deepak Kumar Mondal, Subrata Pal, Subhashish Roy Chowdhury, Anit Kumar Ghosh, Arindam Bhattacharya (who will play as a centre forward), Dipendu Biswas and many more.

FPAI president Baichung Bhutia is highly sought after by both teamsand it looks likely that he will be strengthening the CC&FC defence rather than playing for his own FPAI team.

Last year the match was held and had ended in a 0-0 draw. The match will kick-off at 7 pm on Thursday, June 28.

Keventer Cup: A Foundation revives school football tournament in Kolkata!

The Keventer Cup, an inter-school football tournament in Kolkata, is being revived by the Debanjan Sen Foundation. This was announced at a press conference at the Calcutta Sports Journalists Club yesterday afternoon with international footballers like Gouramangi Singh present.

The Keventer Cup will be played amongst the top 24 English medium schools in Kolkata. The tournament will be held across four different venues - La Martiniere, St James, St Lawrence and The Heritage School - simultaneously.

The tournament will kick-off on July 2 and the final is slated for July 21 with both these matches planed to be held at the La Martiniere for Boys School with Baichung Bhutia likely to inaugurate the tournament.

The Debanjan Sen Foundation was formed in memory of Late Debanjan Sen with the primary focus in developing sports, primarily football, in the school level and among the underprivileged. The Foundation takes its first step towards promoting School Football by organizing an Inter School Football Tournament in the Keventer Cup with the help and support of the Football Players Association of India.

FPAI's Debanjan Sen Memorial Trophy 2012 next Thursday

A mixed Football Players Association of India (FPAI) XI faces a team from the Calcutta Cricket & Football Club (CCFC) at the latters home in Ballygunge, Kolkata for the Debanjan Sen Memorial Cup next Thursday, June 28 evening. The FPAI will once more organise the memorial match in the name of their former employee the late Debanjan Sen, who died in an motorbike accident last year. Debanjan, who was very much liked in football circles, was only 22 years old.

The FPAI XI will be featuring some of India's footballing heavyweights especially those who were close to Debanjan Sen and they include Mehtab Hossain (FPAI Player of the Year 2011), Syed Rahim Nabi (FPAI Player of the Year 2012), Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh, Deepak Kumar Mondal, Subrata Pal, Subhashish Roy Chowdhury, Anit Kumar Ghosh, Arindam Bhattacharya (who will play as a centre forward), Dipendu Biswas and many more.

FPAI president Baichung Bhutia is highly sought after by both teams for the match and it looks like he will be strengthening the CC&FC defence rather than playing for his own FPAI team.

Last year the match was held and had ended in a 0-0 draw. The match will kick-off at 7 pm on Thursday, June 28.

Alvito & Gouramangi complete Level 2 Coaching License

Former Indian international and East Bengal Club legend Alvito Rolando Correia D'Cunha besides current Indian international centre-back Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh have both completed the first step in their Level 2 Coaching License held at the FC Middlesbrough Academy in Darlington, UK over the last few days. They will return in few months for the assessment to complete their UK Level 2 Coaching License.

Both the players repeatedly said that were very happy about the course as they learned a lot of things which will help them progress in the future as coaches. The course instructor Ian Kerr took special care of his Indian students who were very thankful for the help provided.

They were also delighted by the fact that many other professional footballers did the course with them, amongst them numerous EPL player including former England international Jonathan Woodgate.

The standard of learning and teaching was good although it was long days of learning, which are unusual for football players, but still both Alvito and Mangi enjoyed it and learnt a lot in the course. The two will be back somewhere between three months to one year to sit for the final assessment test and complete the Level 2 Coaching Licence. Both are planning to start their 'B' Coaching License by next summer and build on what they have learned in this course.

The UK Level 2 Coaching License course has been made possible for Alvito and Gouramangi by the English 'Professional Footballers Association', who have tied-up with the Football Players Association of India to provide courses for Indian footballers from now on and in the future. The hope of the FPAI/PFA is to develop quality coaches from the pool of former Indian players.

Charity Match: Howrah Mayors XI beat Debanjan Sen Foundation

The Howrah Mayors XI overcame a strong Debanjan Sen Foundation team 2-0 at the Howrah Municipal Stadium yesterday afternoon. Numerous academy children and kids came to witness the match and the Academy team of the Debanjan Sen Foundation played just before the high profile friendly match.

Bhaichung Bhutia played a short while in the first half as a centre back with former New Zealand captain Tim Brown also in action along with Mehtab Hossain, Syed Rahim Nabi, Renedy Singh and Lalkamal Bhowmick who all played in a star-studded midfield of the Debanjan Sen Foundation team, which was captained by Anit Kumar Ghosh. Seasoned Abhijit Mondal was the keeper for the first half while India keeper Arindam Bhattacharya took his place in the second half. Ex-internationals Dipendu Biswas and Dipankar Roy also turned out for the Debanjan Sen Foundation team.

The winning goals for Howrah Mayors XI, who played with some I-League and Kolkata Maidan players, came in the second half.

The match was witnessed by numerous ex-players and youngsters who came out in support of the foundation and this is the first of many matches and tournaments the Debanjan Sen Foundation will organise.

The proceeds from this match will go to the Howrah Veterans Club and the Debanjan Sen Foundation.

Allstar Charity Match in Howrah tomorrow

Tomorrow at 16.00 IST (4:00 pm) there will be an Allstar Exhibition Match between the Howrah Mayors XI and the Debanjan Sen Foundation XI at the Howrah Municipal Stadium in West Bengal.

The Debanjan Sen Foundation XI team will be represented by current footballers Baichung Bhutia (FPAI president), Renedy Singh, Deepak Kumar Mondal, Syed Rahim Nabi, Mehtab Hossain, Arindam Bhattacharya, Abhijit Mondal, Dipankar Roy, Dipendu Biswas and a host of other footballers. A star attraction will be Kiwi international Tim Brown, who captained New Zealand at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. Also playing will be the FPAI's own Jahan Mehta.

The Howrah Mayors XI will be made-up of a selection of premier players from Howrah district.

I'd request you all for whom it is possible to go and attend the match in large numbers to support the cause of the Howrah Veterans Club and the Debanjan Sen Foundation.

The Football Players Association of India is glad to be part of this match and lend its support to the Foundation. The late Debanjan Sen used to work for the FPAI as their Executive - Player relations, Media & Marketing.

2012 FPAI Awards - The winners...

The 4th edition of the Indian Football Awards organised by the Football Players Association of India (FPAI) was held at the Goa Marriott Resort & Spa at Miramar Beach in Panjim, Goa last night.

The first announcement of the night was made about the FPAI Team of the Year which included Karanjit Singh; Deepak Kumar Mondal, Mahesh Gawli, Uga Okpara, Syed Rahim Nabi; Rocus Lamare, Douhou Sey Djidja Pierre, Roberto Mendes Silva, Penn Ikechukwu Orji; Odafe Onyeka Okolie, Ranty Martins Soleye. These eleven where chosen by their peers.

Awards were handed out in six different categories with the Dempo SC trio of Mahesh Gawli, Climax Lawrence and Samir Naik being felicitated for their service to the nations football after retiring from Team India independently over the last few months.


This Years Winners

FPAI Team of the Year
Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar SC); Deepak Kumar Mondal (Prayag United SC), Mahesh Gawli (Dempo SC), Uga Okpara (East Bengal Club), Syed Rahim Nabi (Mohun Bagan AC); Rocus Lamare (Salgaocar SC), Douhou Sey Djidja Pierre (Pune FC), Roberto Mendes Silva (Churchill Brothers SC), Penn Ikechukwu Orji (East Bengal Club); Odafe Onyeka Okolie (Mohun Bagan AC), Ranty Martins Soleye (Dempo SC)

Best Young Player
Manandeep Singh (Air India)

Best Foreign Player
Ranty Martins Soleye (Dempo SC)

Best Indian Player
Syed Rahim Nabi (Mohun Bagan AC)

Best Coach
Trevor James Morgan (East Bengal Club)

Fans Player of the Year
Francis Fernandes (Salgaocar SC)

Team of the Year
Dempo Sports Club

2012 FPAI Football Awards Nominees announced

The Football Players Association of India (FPAI) has announced the Top 3 nominees in the categories - Indian Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Foreign Player of the Year and Coach of the Year - for the fourth FPAI Indian Football Awards to be held in Goa this Saturday. About 230 votes have been collected from players across the 14 I-League clubs.

The pick of the players is young striker Manandeep Singh, who has been nominated across three categories - Indian Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Fans Player of the Year.


THE NOMINEES

Indian Player of the Year Nominees
- Francis Fernandes (Salgaocar SC)
- Syed Rahim Nabi (Mohun Bagan AC)
- Manandeep Singh (Air India)

Young Player of the Year
- Lanrindika Ralte (Churchill Brothers SC)
- C.S. Sabeeth (Pailan Arrows)
- Manandeep Singh (Air India)

Foreign Player of the Year
- Pierre Djidjia Douhou (Pune FC)
- Odafe Onyeka Okolie (Mohun Bagan AC)
- Ranty Martins Soleye (Dempo SC)

Coach of the Year
- Armando Colaco (Dempo SC)
- Trevor Morgan (Kingfisher East Bengal)
- Derrick Pereira (Pune FC)


The FPAI had earlier announced the candidates for the 'Fans Player of the Year' award.
You can still vote and more information about it here: FPAI Announces nominations for "Fans' Player of the Year 2012" .

For the first time there would be a 'Best Managed Club' award chosen by the 15 Executive Committee Members of the FPAI, which has already been decided. The winning club will be announced at the FPAI Indian Football Awards on Saturday night.

At the FPAI Indian Football Awards there will be a special memento handed on stage to Mahesh Gawli, Climax Lawrence and Samir Naik all of whom have announced their retirement from international duty for Team India this year.

FPAI Announces nominations for "Fans' Player of the Year 2012"

The Football Players' Association of India (FPAI) has announced the nominees for the "Fans' Player of the Year 2012" for the fourth FPAI Indian Football Awards to be held in Goa next month.

The players have been nominated for their strong performances for their respective clubs in the I-League in the 2011/12 season. Now the Indian football fans have the chance to chose their "Fans' Player of the Year 2012". The winner will be announced at the FPAI Indian Football Awards on May 12 in Goa.

The players who have been named as the top six candidates all had a great season!


The Candidates (more infos on their Wikipedia pages)

- Ranty Martins Soleye (Dempo SC, Nigeria) [http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Ranty_Martins_Soleye]

- Sanju Pradhan (East Bengal Club, India) [http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Sanju_Pradhan]

- Odafe Onyeka Okolie (Mohun Bagan AC, Nigeria) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Odafe_Onyeka_Okolie]

- Manandeep Singh (Air India, India) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Manandeep_Singh]

- Tolgay Özbey (East Bengal Club, Australia) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Tolgay_Özbey]

- Francis Fernandes (Salgaocar SC, India) [http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Francis_Fernandes]


The voting opens tomorrow Tuesday, April 24 at 22.00 IST (17.30 GMT / 18.30 CET).
You can all cast your vote at www.thefpai.net !


About FPAI

The FPAI (Football Players Association of India), India's apex football players' body, was set up with Baichung Bhutia as its president in 2006 and represents the interests of all I-League and first division footballers. FPAI is formally affiliated to the Fédération Internationale des Associations de Footballeurs Professionnels (FIFPro), the worldwide representative organization for professional football players.

Australia's Colosimo to attend FPAI Awards 2012 in Goa

Melbourne Heart defender Simon Colosimo will be present at the FPAI organised Indian Football Awards 2012 on May 12 at the Marriott Resort & Spa Hotel in Panjim, Goa. He will be representing the Australian Professional Footballers Association as its president at the FIFPro Asia Conference on May 10/11.

Simon Colosimo has played 26 times for Australia and knows Indian defender Gouramangi Singh, who had been on trial at Melbourne Hearts a couple of seasons back.

Simon Colosimo will be able to give feedback on how the League is structured in Australia and what all is done for the players there. The A-League is a franchise based league so it will be interesting for players from India to learn from him and exchange ideas

Simon is looking forward to playing either a beach soccer match and/or attending some junior training at one of the Football Clubs in Goa.

Ex-Kiwi Captain to attend FPAI Awards 2012 in Goa

Former New Zealand national team (All Whites) player Timothy Oliver Brown will be present at the FPAI organised Indian Football Awards 2012 on May 12 at the Marriott Resort & Spa Hotel in Panjim, Goa. He will be representing the New Zealand Professional Footballers Association at the FIFPro Asia Conference on May 10/11.

Better knows as Tim Brown, he will also be visiting Kolkata and Darjeeling as part of his journey through India. In Kolkata he will be playing a match between the Debanjan Sen Foundation XI and the Howrah Veterans Club XI on May 19. He will also be conducting a short camp for the Debanjan Sen Foundation and interact with their students the day before the match.

Tim is later set to travel to Darjeeling where he will do some training and coaching in the famous Tea Gardens for children of tea plantation workers.

Tim Brown, who has played 29 internationals for his country, was the captain of the New Zealand Team that played the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup against the likes of Brasil, Italy and hosts South Africa.

Only recently Tim retired from active football following the conclusion of the 2011-12 A-League season in Australia to pursue a Masters degree in Management at either the London School of Economics or Cambridge University.

FIFPro Division Asia to meet in Goa

The FIFPro Division Asia will meet for the first time in India for two days on May 10/11 just prior to the fourth annual FPAI Indian Football Awards 2012. The meeting will be held at the Marriot Resort & Spa Hotel in Panjim, Goa which is owned by the V.M. Salgaocar Group of Companies. The Football Players Association of India will be the hosts.

FIFPro (Fédération Internationale des Associations de Footballeurs Professionnels) is the International Federation of Professional Footballers, which is a worldwide representative organization for professional football players.

On May 9 the delegates from across Asia will arrive and on May 10 the FIFPro Asia Board and member nations meeting will be held. Various players from across India are expected to attend besides FPAI president Baichung Bhutia, President of the PFA Australia Simon Colosimo, and President of the New Zealand PFA and captain of national team Tim Brown. Indonesian Captain Banbang Pamungkas is also likely to attend depending on his club fixtures.

On the second day, May 11, the afternoon session will be dedicated to interaction between the club owners, Association and Federation heads, players and FIFPro to discuss the on-goings of football in India and the current situation for players in the country. Australian PFA Chairman Brendan Schwab and Japan PFA representative Takuya Yamazaki will provide invaluable opinions on contracts, etc as both of them are on the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber.

All the FIFPro Asia delegates will stay back for the FPAI Indian Football Awards on May 12 that will be held at 19.00 IST at the same hotel, the Marriot Resort & Spa Hotel in Panjim.

FPAI to host the FIFPro Asia Congress in Goa

The Football Players Association of India will this year be the hosts for the FIFPro Asia Congress, which will be held on May 10/11 at the Goa Marriott Resort & Spa at Miramar Beach in Panjim with FPAI president Baichung Bhutia representing the Indian players at the Asian level meet.

One of the key topics which the Asian FIFPro members will be discussing is the development opportunities for professional footballers in India.

Another topic which will come-up for discussions will be the implementation of a Standard Contract for all players signed with I-League clubs which other countries within FIFPro Asia have already enforced like Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

FIFPro will also be using the Congress to evaluate if a future FIFPro World Congress could be held in India with all the countries from across the globe attending. FPAI GM Anuj Kichlu will be travelling to the FIFPro Headquarters in the Netherlands in the first week of March 2012 to finalise all details after which a detailed itenary will be published by the FPAI and FIFPro.

Amongst the attendees will be the New Zealand international Tim Brown, who had captained his nation at the 2009 FIFA Confederation Cup; while FIFPro worldwide would be represented by Frederique Winia.

4th FPAI Awards 2012 on Saturday, May 12

The 4th edition of the Indian Football Awards organised by the Football Players Association of India (FPAI) will be held on Saturday, May 12 at the Goa Marriott Resort & Spa at Miramar Beach in Panjim. It will be the first time that the FPAI awards will be held in Goa after the first and third editions were held in Kolkata and in-between New Delhi played hosts to the awards.

This years FPAI Awards would have five different categories - best Young Player, best Foreign Player, best Indian Player, best Coach and Fans Player of the Year. The players of I-League clubs will be asked to cast their vote on performances in the I-League and Federation Cup with votes to be collected from April 1 onwards. The last category will be chosen by the fans through an online voting on the FPAI website which will be held from April 1 to 30.

The last few editions has seen Bollywood stars like John Abraham, Neha Dhupia and Rahul Bose grace the occasion likewise Tennis legend Leander Paes. And with Goa not too far away from Mumbai the organising FPAI hopes that the glamour factor will be also there at this years event.

The FPAI has already gotten support from the V.M. Salgaocar Group and Churchill Brothers SC Pvt. Ltd, who both have agreed to partially sponsor the official awards dinner on May 12, which the FPAI is thankful but the FPAI are still on the lookout for further sponsorship to host another great evening for the Indian footballers.

Besides the players the FPAI expects the owners and management of the I-League clubs from Goa as well from across India to attend the awards evening besides attendees of the FIFPro Asia Congress will be held prior to the awards on May 10/11 in Goa.

No 'Super Football' on January 23 in Kolkata

JPR Events today informed the media that the 'Super Football' event planned for January 23 at the Saltlake Stadium in Kolkata has been postponed indefinitely. On that day former stars like Brazilians Cafu, Pele and others would have graced the occasion, but that is not to be. A new date would be announced soon, but the organisers still wanted to organise something and are therefore doing something in Sikkim.

Now on January 22 a Worldstar XI vs Sikkim United FC would take place at the Paljor Stadium in Gangtok, which will feature some of the players originally scheduled to make the Kolkata trip who will be joined by some former Indian stars. But the names of the players have not been announced. Some of them will also come to Kolkata to have a youth clinic with kids as part of the organisers commitment to develop and better football in the state of West Bengal.

The organisers JPR Events also regreted any inconvenience caused to the public as well as the FPAI (Football Players Association of India) for the postponement of the match.

Interestingly reports had appeared in the Indian media in recent days which asked the validity of the organisers claims of having certain players coming for the match, with no sponsorship sold plus tickets not out in the market.

One would hope the match in Gangtok takes place as per the latest announcement.