FIFA Artificial Turf ground inaugurated in Imphal

After much delay the FIFA sponsored artitificial turf at the Rising Athletic Union Ground, which is located close to Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, was finally inaugurated yesterday in the Manipuri capital Imphal.

The ground was inaugurated by Commissioner R.K. Nimai of the Youth Affairs and Sports department along with the All Manipur Football Association president A. Santoshkumar Singh and secretary L. Ranjit Roy.

The artificial turf ground in Manipur is part of the FIFA 'Win in India with India' program, which the world governing body put together to help in the development of infrastructure across India. Part of the program have been grounds in Bangalore, Shillong, Mumbai and Goa besides the one in Imphal, while Barasat (outside Kolkata) is also getting an artificial turf.

The infrastructure around the ground will be developed by the state government in partnership with the All Manipur Football Association over the next 12 months.

The first squad to train on the ground will be the probables of the Manipur state football team, which will be participating in the upcoming 67th Santosh Trophy in Kerala and Uttar Pradesh.

67th Santosh Trophy: Manipur name 27 probables

The All Manipur Football Association has announced 27 probables for the 67th edition of the National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy which is being played from February 1 to March 3 in Kerala and Uttar Pradesh.

The selection-cum-training camp would be held from tomorrow onwards at the Artificial Turf Football Ground in Imphal with the players asked to report to coach M. Ratankumar Singh.

Manipur have been drawn in Group D of the Quarterfinal League and would face Qualifying Group I (B-1), Qualifying Group I (A-2) and Qualifying Group II (Cluster B winner) from February 22 onwards in Kollam, Kerala.


MANIPUR Probables

Goalkeepers
M. Raj Singh (NEROCA), S. Dinakumar Singh (USA), K. Anand Singh (TRAU), L. Bishorjit Singh (NISA)

Defenders
M. Meino Singh (TRAU), S. Herojit Singh (KLASA), Daniel Singh (ZFC), T. Raju Singh (Southern Sporting Union), Mohammed Sohail Shah (NEROCA), W. Ngouba Singh (AIM), L. Chandramani Singh (TRAU), Lamkholen Haokip (KSC), T. Ajit Singh (NISA)

Midfielders
Cleaven Hmar (ZFC), H. Chakravorti (NEROCA), Thangminlal Gangte (KSC), Mohammed Imran Khan (SSU), O. Pitler Singh (NISA), N. Sushil Singh (NEROCA), L. Bikram Singh (TRAU), John L. Hmar (USA)

Forwards
Sahidur Rehman (SSU), Th. Premkumar Singh (TRAU), Gogocha Singh (Southern Sporting Union), F. Lalzarzo (USA), G. Ngulkhosiem Singh (KSC), Th. Roshan Singh (NEROCA)

Officials
M. Ratankumar Singh (Coach), Kh. Mohori Singh (Manager)

Photos: North East Lajong Super Series from Imphal

Yesterday A-League side Wellington Phoenix FC from New Zealand played against Shillong Lajong FC in their second North East Lajong Super Series Cup match at the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal, Manipur. The Kiwis won 5-2 and here some photos from the match venue.

Here the link to the match report: North East Lajong Super Series: Wellington Phoenix win 5-2 vs Lajong FC .

North East Lajong Super Series: Wellington win 5-2 vs Lajong

A-League side Wellington Phoenix FC from New Zealand won 5-2 in their second North East Lajong Super Series Cup match against Shillong Lajong FC at the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal, Manipur this afternoon. With this win Wellington have reached the final on September 1 with Shillong Lajong FC and United Sikkim FC to play for the other spot in the final of the three team series.

The Kiwis were once more the better side on display and by half-time they were 2-0 up through two goals from Jeremy Brockie in the 15th and 41st minute. Brockie completed his hattrick in the 62nd minute with his third of the day, but thereafter Wellington slowed things down and allowed Shillong Lajong FC back into the match with two goals from new Nigerian striker Gbeneme Friday in the 74th and 84th minute.

The match was heading for an interesting finale, but Wellington Phoenix sealed their victory by scoring two more goals, Jeremy Brockie's fourth of the day in the 88th minute and Tom Biss with the final goal in the fourth minute of injury time.

The match ended 5-2 for Wellington Phoenix FC, but Shillong Lajong FC never gave-up and it was an enjoyable match for the numerous fans who had come to the venue.

The next match of the series will be between Shillong Lajong FC and United Sikkim FC in Shillong, the first Northeast derby between these two sides as I-League clubs.


North East Lajong Super Series - Fixtures

August 24: United Sikkim FC 0-3 Wellington Phoenix FC (Imphal, Manipur)
August 26: Shillong Lajong FC 2-5 Wellington Phoenix FC (Imphal, Manipur)
August 30: Shillong Lajong FC - United Sikkim FC (Shillong, Meghalaya)
September 1 - Final: Wellington Phoenix FC - SLFC/USFC (Shillong, Meghalaya)

North East Lajong Super Series: Wellington Pheonix win 3-0 against USFC

A-League side Wellington Phoenix FC from New Zealand started-off the North East Lajong Super Series Cup with a 3-0 victory against United Sikkim FC at the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal, Manipur this afternoon.

Wellington Phoenix FC coached by Ricki Herbert, who also coaches the New Zealand national team, adjusted to the ground conditions very well and dominated most of the midfield play in the first half but could have had more goals had their finishing been a bit sharper. Captain for the day Paul Iffil scored the opening goal with a tap in off a cross before Thomas Doyle scored off a scorching shot from the edge of the box before half-time.

The second half was more competitive with United Sikkim FC holding the midfield well. Michael Boxall scored the third goal off a header in the dying minutes of the match to round off the 3-0 win for Wellington Phoenix FC.

For United Sikkim FC coached by Philippe de Ridder, newly signed Costa Rican Michael Rodriguez playing in the central midfield position had a good match while goalkeeper Tae Yoon from Korea made atleast four good saves.

Shillong Lajong FC are next up for Wellington Phoenix FC on Sunday, August 26 with the kick-Off time being 14.00 IST. Tickets are available at the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium as well as from the Classic hotel, Imphal.


North East Lajong Super Series - Fixtures

August 24: United Sikkim FC 0-3 Wellington Phoenix (Imphal, Manipur)
August 26: Shillong Lajong FC - Wellington Phoenix (Imphal, Manipur)
August 30: Shillong Lajong FC - United Sikkim FC (Shillong, Meghalaya)
September 1: FINAL (Shillong, Meghalaya)

North East Lajong Super Series: Wellington Pheonix take on USFC tomorrow

The opening match of the 2012 North East Lajong Super Series between I-League team United Sikkim FC and A-League side Wellington Phoenix from New Zealand will be played tomorrow at the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal, Manipur. The match will kick-off at 14.00 IST.

The Wellington Phoenix squad had arrived in India in the capital New Delhi and had a reception at their Embassy besides watching the opening match of the 2012 Nehru Cup between India and Syria yesterday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Late this morning they arrived in Imphal for what is most probably the highest profile team to visit the state of Manipur and there is huge interest amongst the locals in their guests from Down Under.

However there are great concerns about the quality of the match pitch, which was rock hard on Thursday evening for the practice session of Wellington Phoenix. The practice session took place amidst tight securty at the stadium with only Police and Clackcat Commandos allowed to enter.


North East Lajong Super Series - Fixtures

August 24: United Sikkim FC - Wellington Phoenix (Imphal, Manipur)
August 26: Shillong Lajong FC - Wellington Phoenix (Imphal, Manipur)
August 30: Shillong Lajong FC - United Sikkim FC (Shillong, Meghalaya)
September 1: FINAL (Shillong, Meghalaya)

VIDEO: Promos of North East Lajong Super Series

JPR Events are organising the North East Lajong Super Series in which I-League sides Shillong Lajong FC and United Sikkim FC will take on A-League side Wellington Phoenix from New Zealand. For the event the organisers have made a series of video promos!

North East Lajong Super Series: No match in Guwahati, shifted to Imphal

The opening match of the 2012 North East Lajong Super Series between United Sikkim FC and A-League side Wellington Phoenix from New Zealand was supposed to be played on Friday, August 24 in Guwahati, but due to the political unrest and sectarian violence in Assam the match has been shifted to the Manipuri capital Imphal.

This now means that Wellington Phoenix will now play both their matches against United Sikkim FC on August 24 and against Shillong Lajong FC on August 26 in Imphal, while the final round robin match between Shillong Lajong FC and United Sikkim FC will be played as scheduled on August 30 in Shillong as would the series final on September 1.


North East Lajong Super Series - Fixtures

August 24: United Sikkim FC - Wellington Phoenix (Imphal, Manipur)
August 26: Shillong Lajong FC - Wellington Phoenix (Imphal, Manipur)
August 30: Shillong Lajong FC - United Sikkim FC (Shillong, Meghalaya)
September 1: FINAL (Shillong, Meghalaya)


Wellington Phoenix squad

Goalkeepers
Glen Moss, Scott Basalaj

Defenders
Andrew Durante, Emmanuel 'Manny' Muscat, Benjamin Sigmund, Luke Rowe, Thomas Doyle, Alec Solomons

Midfielders
Leonadis Bertos, Jeremy Brockie, Cameron Lindsay, Tony Lochhead, Michael Boxall, Justin Gulley, Louis Fenton

Forwards
Paul Ifill, Alex Smith, Benjamin Totori, Thomas Biss, Tyler Boyd

Officials
Ricki Herbert (Head Coach), Jonathan Gould (Goalkeeping Coach), Chris Greenacre (Technique coach), Russel Gray (Team Manager), Wayne Roberts (Physio), David Dome (General Manager)

A-League side Wellington Phoenix to visit Indian Northeast

New Zealand-based Wellington Phoenix FC will be the first Australian A-League team to tour India when they participate in a pre-season cup in the Indian Northeast from August 24 to September 1. The team will be travelling from New Zealand to Weston, New South Wales in Australia to take on A-league rivals Newcastle Jets on August 18 before flying via New Delhi to the Northeast.

In the three team tournament Wellington Phoenix will face I-League sides Shillong Lajong FC and United Sikkim FC as other I-League sides turned down the offer to take part in the tournament, which has been named 'North East Lajong Super Series' and is being organised by JPR Events.

Wellington Phoenix will be led by the Kiwi 2010 FIFA World Cup and club coach Ricki Herbert, who has put together a squad of first team players and juniors. During the tour they will also interact and have coaching workshops with younger players from the region.


North East Lajong Super Series - Fixtures

August 24: United Sikkim FC - Wellington Phoenix (Guwahati, Assam)
August 26: Shillong Lajong FC - Wellington Phoenix (Imphal, Manipur)
August 30: Shillong Lajong FC - United Sikkim FC (Shillong, Meghalaya)
September 1: FINAL (Shillong, Meghalaya)


Wellington Phoenix squad

Goalkeepers
Glen Moss, Scott Basalaj

Defenders
Andrew Durante, Emmanuel 'Manny' Muscat, Benjamin Sigmund, Luke Rowe, Thomas Doyle, Alec Solomons

Midfielders
Leonadis Bertos, Jeremy Brockie, Cameron Lindsay, Tony Lochhead, Michael Boxall, Justin Gulley, Louis Fenton

Forwards
Paul Ifill, Alex Smith, Benjamin Totori, Thomas Biss, Tyler Boyd

Officials
Ricki Herbert (Head Coach), Jonathan Gould (Goalkeeping Coach), Chris Greenacre (Technique coach), Russel Gray (Team Manager), Wayne Roberts (Physio), David Dome (General Manager)