Baichung Bhutia launches BB15 Fitness Studio in Gangtok!

Former Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia has launched his first own fitness studio - BB15 Fitness Studio in the Sikkimese capital Gangtok. It is a first of its kind in India's North-East.

Baichung said, "Fitness has always been a part of my life and with the start of BB15 Fitness Studio, I want people to start taking care of their health and enjoy fitness."

Baichung went on to say, "I have brought in for BB15 Fitness Studio, State of the Art equipment from Technogym to give the very best to people here. And I wish to bring BB15 Fitness studios to other towns and cities across India very soon," Baichung added.

This is another new chapter for Baichung Bhutia and one can only wish him all the best!

Is the upcoming I-League set to face venue problems?

The 2012/13 edition of the I-League, India's professional football league, is set to kick-off sometime in October 2012 after the conclusion of the 2012 Federation Cup. But the sixth edition is set to face venue and infrastructure problems of unknown proportions.

It is already known that Goa's Nehru Stadium, also known as Fatorda Stadium, in Margao is set for major renovation work ahead of next years Lusofonia Games. This means the stadium will not be available for the whole duration of the I-League and with the Duler ground in Mapusa still work in progress as it is getting an artificial turf under the FIFA 'Win in India with India' programme, this leaves only Vasco's Tilak Maidan as an I-League venue in Goa for the four participating clubs - Dempo SC, Churchill Brothers SC, Salgaocar SC and Sporting Clube de Goa.

Mumbai's Cooperage ground is also part of FIFA's 'Win in India with India' programme. There the artificial turf is already in use and through another FIFA grant the Cooperage is getting upgraded with proper stands plus a floodlighting system. Only as per WIFA CEO Henry Menezes' assessment it will not be ready to host I-League matches before November 2012. This means Air India, Mumbai FC and promoted ONGC might have to play their first few home matches in Pune or start with a number of away ties.

Now in Kolkata the Saltlake Stadium had its problems last season with floodlights which resulted in matches having to be played in the afternoon heat due to the need of daylight and to avoid floodlight failure which has been reoccurring since September 2004. West Bengal Sports Minister Madan Mitra promised the IFA, the I-League clubs and football lovers that the archaic floodlights would be replaced by the start of the next I-League, but that now looks to be in danger with the minister not willing to give any final date. This could mean further afternoon matches in the Saltlake Stadium in the new I-League season for East Bengal Club, Mohun Bagan AC, Prayag United SC and the Pailan Arrows.

The above leaves the I-League with 11 of their 14 clubs having stadium issues at the start of the I-League season with Pune FC hopefully not facing similar problems with their floodlights as last season and United Sikkim FC's home town of Gangtok not being off limits due to bad weather in the winter months.

It's a difficult time to plan out things for the I-League...

I-League Division 2: Complete Final Round results

The Final Round of the I-League Division 2 ended today with United Sikkim FC and ONGC from Mumbai gaining promotion to next seasons I-League.

The matches were played from March 5 to April 17 in two phases in Siliguri (West Bengal) and Gangtok (Sikkim). Besides last seasons relegated ONGC the six teams who had qualified from the preliminary round are United Sikkim FC, Aizawl FC, Royal Wahingdoh FC, Kalighat Milan Sangha, Mohammedan Sporting Club and Vasco SC.

United Sikkim FC topped the Division 2 on head-to-head record against ONGC as both sides finished on 22 points, while Mohammedan Sporting Club (21 pts) finished third ahead of Kalighat Milan Sangha (16 pts), Royal Wahingdoh FC (16 pts), Vasco SC (13 pts) and Aizawl FC (5 pts).


FIXTURES & RESULTS

Siliguri Phase - 1st-leg
05-Mar-2012: ONGC, Mumbai 5-0 Aizawl FC
05-Mar-2012: United Sikkim FC 3-2 Vasco SC
06-Mar-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club 1-0 Kalighat Milan Sangha

10-Mar-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club 0-1 ONGC, Mumbai
08-Mar-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha 3-0 Aizawl FC
08-Mar-2012: Royal Wahingdoh FC 1-1 Vasco SC

12-Mar-2012: United Sikkim FC 4-2 ONGC, Mumbai
12-Mar-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha 0-1 Royal Wahingdoh FC
13-Mar-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club 2-0 Vasco SC

15-Mar-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha 2-3 United Sikkim FC
15-Mar-2012: Vasco SC 2-1 Aizawl FC
16-Mar-2012: Royal Wahingdoh FC 0-3 ONGC, Mumbai
(4-1 for RWFC, but awarded to ONGC due to 4 foreigners on the field)

18-Mar-2012: Vasco SC 1-1 ONGC, Mumbai
18-Mar-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club 4-3 Aizawl FC
19-Mar-2012: Royal Wahingdoh FC 0-2 United Sikkim FC

21-Mar-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha 0-0 ONGC, Mumbai
21-Mar-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club 1-3 Royal Wahingdoh FC
22-Mar-2012: Aizawl FC 1-1 United Sikkim FC

24-Mar-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club 2-0 United Sikkim FC
24-Mar-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha 3-3 Vasco SC
25-Mar-2012: Royal Wahingdoh FC 3-0 Aizawl FC


Gangtok Phase - 2nd-leg
29-Mar-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha 0-1 ONGC, Mumbai
29-Mar-2012: Vasco SC 3-2 Mohammedan Sporting Club
30-Mar-2012: United Sikkim FC 0-2 Royal Wahingdoh FC

01-Apr-2012: Aizawl FC 1-2 Royal Wahingdoh FC
01-Apr-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha 0-0 Mohammedan Sporting Club
02-Apr-2012: United Sikkim FC 0-0 Vasco SC

04-Apr-2012: ONGC, Mumbai 2-1 Royal Wahingdoh FC
04-Apr-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha 2-2 United Sikkim FC
05-Apr-2012: Aizawl FC 3-2 Vasco SC

07-Apr-2012: Royal Wahingdoh FC 0-1 Mohammedan Sporting Club
07-Apr-2012: ONGC, Mumbai 3-0 Vasco SC
08-Apr-2012: Aizawl FC 2-3 Kalighat Milan Sangha

10-Apr-2012: Vasco SC 2-1 Royal Wahingdoh FC
10-Apr-2012: Aizawl FC 0-1 Mohammedan Sporting Club
11-Apr-2012: United Sikkim FC 2-1 ONGC, Mumbai

13-Apr-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha 2-0 Royal Wahingdoh FC
13-Apr-2012: Aizawl FC 2-4 United Sikkim FC
14-Apr-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club 0-0 ONGC, Mumbai

16-Apr-2012: Aizawl FC 1-1 ONGC, Mumbai
16-Apr-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha 3-2 Vasco SC
17-Apr-2012: United Sikkim FC 1-1 Mohammedan Sporting Club

I-League Division 2: ONGC first team to gain promotion!

Mumbai-based ONGC today confirmed their return to the I-League with a one-all draw against Aizawl FC in the final match of the Final Round of the I-League Division 2 at the Paljor Stadium, Gangtok. ONGC ended their campaign on 22 points from 12 matches with United Sikkim and Mohammedan Sporting Club facing each other tomorrow to decide the second team to gain promotion. Tomorrow it also be decided who will be crowned champions of the I-League Division 2.

In Gangtok today ONGC played a one-all draw against Aizawl FC in their last match. Aizawl FC took a surprise 30th minute lead through a Sumaila Safianu free-kick, but Al-Hassan Abubakar equalised for ONGC through a penalty to ensure promotion.

After the end of the match it was celebration time for ONGC, who return to the I-League for the second time in their history, who swung the ONGC flag and also threw their manager Bibek Bhowmik into the air.

My congratulations to ONGC on gaining promotion!!! Hopefully they will now work to fulfil all necessary AFC Club Licensing criteria and work to build a fan base in Mumbai.


ONGC Squad

Goalkeepers
Prasenjit Ghosh, Bilifang Narzary

Defenders
Gary D'Mello, Olagoke Akinsel, Bimal Minz, A. Naresh, Jagabandu Modi

Midfielders
Parwinder Singh, Jatin Singh Bisht, Sachin Gawas, Rajib Boro, M.C. Dhanesh, Nitesh Monde

Forwards
Katsumi Yusa, Kailash Patel, Al-Hassan Abubakar, Silva Andrea, Kenistan C.

Officials
Caetano Pinho (Chief Coach), Sunil Chaudhary (Assistant Coach), Bibek K. Bhowmik (Manager)

I-League Division 2: Heading for a close Finale

The Final Round of the I-League Division 2 has two rounds to play until the final match on April 17 between United Sikkim FC and Mohammedan Sporting Club in Gangtok with these two clubs besides ONGC fighting for the two promotion spots. Whoever put the schedule together couldn't have done a better top with a real final likely next Tuesday.

Currently last seasons relegated ONGC from Mumbai sit on top of the Division 2 table with 20 points closely followed by Mohammedan Sporting Club on 19 points and United Sikkim FC on 18 points. The four other teams are out of the running for a promotion spot.

Especially for Royal Wahingdoh FC on 16 points it is annoying then the Shillong club had made a substitution blunder in their first-leg match against ONGC bringing on four foreigners which turned a 4-1 win into a 0-3 loss, which has helped ONGC to go to the top of the league table. Otherwise the promotion race could have been a four team affair.

The other participating teams in the final round of the I-League Division 2 are Vasco SC (13 pts), Kalighat Milan Sangha (10 pts) and Aizawl FC (4 pts).


REMAINING FIXTURES

13-Apr-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - Royal Wahingdoh FC
13-Apr-2012: Aizawl FC - United Sikkim FC
14-Apr-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club - ONGC, Mumbai

16-Apr-2012: Aizawl FC - ONGC, Mumbai
16-Apr-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - Vasco SC
17-Apr-2012: United Sikkim FC - Mohammedan Sporting Club

I-League Division 2: It's Decision Time

The second and final-leg of the Final Round of the I-League Division 2 will kick-off tomorrow in Gangtok with the last league match to be played on April 17. Thereafter we will know who has gotten promoted to the first tier of the I-League.

After the first six matches United Sikkim FC are in pole position with 13 points ahead of Mohammedan Sporting Club (12 pts), who occupy the other I-League promotion spot ahead of ONGC (11 pts), Royal Wahingdoh FC (10 pts), Vasco SC (6 pts), Kalighat Milan Sangha (5 pts) and Aizawl FC (1 pt).

Currently it looks like it will be a close contest amongst the top four teams - USFC, Md Sporting, ONGC & RWFC - though Vasco SC and Kalighat MS have a chance in theory if they win all or most of their matches with the top four dropping a number of points.

United Sikkim FC go into the final six matches at home in Gangtok as the big favourites, then they are top of the I-League Division 2 and home advantage should give them a competitive edge over their opponents.

But as most of you will know, football is an unpredictable game; so let the league progress for us to find out who finally does get promoted.

I-League Division 2: United Sikkim lead after first-leg

The first-leg of the Final Round of the I-League Division 2 ended earlier today in Siliguri after 18 of the 36 matches played. The second-leg will kick-off in Sikkim's capital Gangtok on March 29 with the final league match to be played on April 17.

After the first six matches United Sikkim FC are in pole position with 13 points ahead of Mohammedan Sporting Club (12 pts), who occupy the other I-League promotion spot ahead of ONGC (11 pts), Royal Wahingdoh FC (10 pts), Vasco SC (6 pts), Kalighat Milan Sangha (5 pts) and Aizawl FC (1 pt).

Royal Wahingdoh FC could have been at the top of the table along with United Sikkim FC, but a substitution mistake in their 4-1 victory against ONGC by playing a fourth foreigner late in injury time robbed them of the three points. Here the report: http://arunfoot.blogspot.de/2012/03/i-league-division-2-royal-wahingdoh.html
I-League Division 2: Royal Wahingdoh punished, ONGC get points


FIXTURES & RESULTS

Siliguri Phase - 1st-leg
05-Mar-2012: ONGC, Mumbai 5-0 Aizawl FC
05-Mar-2012: United Sikkim FC 3-2 Vasco SC
06-Mar-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club 1-0 Kalighat Milan Sangha

10-Mar-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club 0-1 ONGC, Mumbai
08-Mar-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha 3-0 Aizawl FC
08-Mar-2012: Royal Wahingdoh FC 1-1 Vasco SC

12-Mar-2012: United Sikkim FC 4-2 ONGC, Mumbai
12-Mar-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha 0-1 Royal Wahingdoh FC
13-Mar-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club 2-0 Vasco SC

15-Mar-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha 2-3 United Sikkim FC
15-Mar-2012: Vasco SC 2-1 Aizawl FC
16-Mar-2012: Royal Wahingdoh FC 0-3 ONGC, Mumbai
(4-1 for RWFC, but awarded to ONGC due to 4 foreigners on the field)

18-Mar-2012: Vasco SC 1-1 ONGC, Mumbai
18-Mar-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club 4-3 Aizawl FC
19-Mar-2012: Royal Wahingdoh FC 0-2 United Sikkim FC

21-Mar-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha 0-0 ONGC, Mumbai
21-Mar-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club 1-3 Royal Wahingdoh FC
22-Mar-2012: Aizawl FC 1-1 United Sikkim FC

24-Mar-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club 2-0 United Sikkim FC
24-Mar-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha 3-3 Vasco SC
25-Mar-2012: Royal Wahingdoh FC 3-0 Aizawl FC


Gangtok Phase - 2nd-leg
29-Mar-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - ONGC, Mumbai
29-Mar-2012: Vasco SC - Mohammedan Sporting Club
30-Mar-2012: United Sikkim FC - Royal Wahingdoh FC

01-Apr-2012: Aizawl FC - Royal Wahingdoh FC
01-Apr-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - Mohammedan Sporting Club
02-Apr-2012: United Sikkim FC - Vasco SC

04-Apr-2012: ONGC, Mumbai - Royal Wahingdoh FC
04-Apr-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - United Sikkim FC
05-Apr-2012: Aizawl FC - Vasco SC

07-Apr-2012: Royal Wahingdoh FC - Mohammedan Sporting Club
07-Apr-2012: ONGC, Mumbai - Vasco SC
08-Apr-2012: Aizawl FC - Kalighat Milan Sangha

10-Apr-2012: Vasco SC - Royal Wahingdoh FC
10-Apr-2012: Aizawl FC - Mohammedan Sporting Club
11-Apr-2012: United Sikkim FC - ONGC, Mumbai

13-Apr-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - Royal Wahingdoh FC
13-Apr-2012: Aizawl FC - United Sikkim FC
14-Apr-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club - ONGC, Mumbai

16-Apr-2012: Aizawl FC - ONGC, Mumbai
16-Apr-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - Vasco SC
17-Apr-2012: United Sikkim FC - Mohammedan Sporting Club

I-League Division 2: Final Round Fixtures out

The Final Round of the I-League Division 2 will be played from March 5 to April 17 in two phases in Siliguri (West Bengal) and Gangtok (Sikkim). This means for the first time in the 2nd Division's history all sides will be facing each other twice to decide which two sides get promoted to the I-League 2012/13.

Besides last seasons relegated ONGC from Mumbai the six teams who have qualified from the 23 team preliminary round are United Sikkim FC, Aizawl FC, Royal Wahingdoh FC, Kalighat Milan Sangha, Mohammedan Sporting Club and Vasco SC.


FIXTURES

Siliguri Phase - 1st-leg
05-Mar-2012: ONGC, Mumbai - Aizawl FC
05-Mar-2012: United Sikkim FC - Vasco SC
06-Mar-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club - Kalighat Milan Sangha

10-Mar-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club - ONGC, Mumbai
08-Mar-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - Aizawl FC
08-Mar-2012: Royal Wahingdoh FC - Vasco SC

12-Mar-2012: United Sikkim FC - ONGC, Mumbai
12-Mar-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - Royal Wahingdoh FC
13-Mar-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club - Vasco SC

15-Mar-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - United Sikkim FC
15-Mar-2012: Vasco SC - Aizawl FC
16-Mar-2012: Royal Wahingdoh FC - ONGC, Mumbai

18-Mar-2012: Vasco SC - ONGC, Mumbai
18-Mar-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club - Aizawl FC
19-Mar-2012: Royal Wahingdoh FC - United Sikkim FC

21-Mar-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - ONGC, Mumbai
21-Mar-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club - Royal Wahingdoh FC
22-Mar-2012: Aizawl FC - United Sikkim FC

24-Mar-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club - United Sikkim FC
24-Mar-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - Vasco SC
25-Mar-2012: Royal Wahingdoh FC - Aizawl FC


Gangtok Phase - 2nd-leg
29-Mar-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - ONGC, Mumbai
29-Mar-2012: Vasco SC - Mohammedan Sporting Club
30-Mar-2012: United Sikkim FC - Royal Wahingdoh FC

01-Apr-2012: Aizawl FC - Royal Wahingdoh FC
01-Apr-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - Mohammedan Sporting Club
02-Apr-2012: United Sikkim FC - Vasco SC

04-Apr-2012: ONGC, Mumbai - Royal Wahingdoh FC
04-Apr-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - United Sikkim FC
05-Apr-2012: Aizawl FC - Vasco SC

07-Apr-2012: Royal Wahingdoh FC - Mohammedan Sporting Club
07-Apr-2012: ONGC, Mumbai - Vasco SC
08-Apr-2012: Aizawl FC - Kalighat Milan Sangha

10-Apr-2012: Vasco SC - Royal Wahingdoh FC
10-Apr-2012: Aizawl FC - Mohammedan Sporting Club
11-Apr-2012: United Sikkim FC - ONGC, Mumbai

13-Apr-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - Royal Wahingdoh FC
13-Apr-2012: Aizawl FC - United Sikkim FC
14-Apr-2012: Mohammedan Sporting Club - ONGC, Mumbai

16-Apr-2012: Aizawl FC - ONGC, Mumbai
16-Apr-2012: Kalighat Milan Sangha - Vasco SC
17-Apr-2012: United Sikkim FC - Mohammedan Sporting Club