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: Goa's Stadium impasse sorted!

The I-League could have faced major stadium problems in Goa with the Nehru Stadium in Margao set for major refurbishment ahead of the Lusofonia Games next year, the Duler ground in Mapusa still getting a FIFA-sponsored artificial turf which is not ready yet and the Tilak Maidan in Vasco not upto I-League and AFC Cup standard.

The I-League CEO Sunando Dhar and his colleague Sujesh Rajan were in Goa yesterday to meet the Goa Football Association and the four I-League clubs - Dempo SC, Churchill Brothers SC, Salgaocar SC, Sporting Clube de Goa - to discuss the stadium situation that has arisen in the state ahead of the start of the I-League in seven weeks time.

At the meeting it was decided that the first and second Round of I-League matches of the four Goan clubs would be home matches and played at the Nehru Stadium before it closes down for about year for refurbishment work, while all the Goan clubs would play away matches in Round three and from Round four onwards the matches would be held at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco.

While Rounds one and two are tentatively scheduled for October 6/7 and 10/11, round three thereafter but if the Tilak Maidan would be ready by late-October would have to be seen then the stadium is supposed to get upgraded within 75 days and that would mean by mid-November if work starts in right earnest in early-September.

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...

Goa's Nehru Stadium out of reach for a year?

The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, also called Fatorda Stadium, in Margao is set to be under renovation for over a year to bring the venue upto international standard for the 3rd Lusofonia Games to be held in Goa from November 2-10, 2013.

The Lusofonia Games is a multinational multi-sport event which involves athletes coming from Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) countries, namely those belonging to the CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries), but also others where there are significant Portuguese communities or that have a common past with Portugal. For Goa is a great honour to organise the games, but that also means creating the necessary infrastructure which is currently not available in the state.

But this means problems for Goa's four I-League clubs - Dempo SC, Churchill Brothers SC, Salgaocar SC and Sporting Clube de Goa - then the Nehru Stadium is their home venue in the I-League. The two only alternatives seem to be teh Tilak Maidan in Vasco and the Duler ground in Mapusa, which is currently getting a FIFA artificial turf and might not be ready if delayed by the onset of the monsoon.

The Sports Authority of Goa along with the Goa Football Association informed the clubs at a meeting attended by Custodio Almeida (Dempo), Macario Rodrigues (Churchill Brothers), Raj Gomes (Salgaocar) and Victor Fernandes (SCG) that Tilak Maidan would undergoing some minor renovation work in the players' dressing rooms, media room, while floodlights would also be installed to make it I-League fit.

It will be interesting to see what the I-League says about such a move, which would surely harm the way the league is organised and run, then the Nehru Stadium is by far the best venue in Goa.

Dempo SC win GFA Knockout Trophy!

Dempo SC ended the season with another trophy, this time the GFA Knockout football tournament with a 1-0 final win against Salgaocar SC at the Nehru Stadium, Margao yesterday. It meant that Dempo have now added the GFA Knockout Trophy to their collection of I-League, Goa Professional League and Goan Super Cup titles this season.

The golden goal came from Nigerian striker Koko Sakibo in the 22nd minute, but Koko was later in the first half send off with Salgaocar putting pressure on the Dempo goal but it stayed 1-0 for the Blues.

As champions Dempo received Rs. 75,000 while Salgaocar as runners-up got Rs. 50,000.


FIXTURES & RESULTS

Quarterfinals
30-Apr-2012: Dempo SC 5-1 Sesa Football Academy
01-May-2012: Salgaocar SC 0-0,5-4 Sao Miguel de Taleigao [penalties]
02-May-2012: Churchill Brothers SC 2-0 Margao SC
08-May-2012: Sporting Clube de Goa 4-1 Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim

Semifinals
11-May-2012: Dempo SC 2-1 Sporting Clube de Goa
12-May-2012: Churchill Brothers SC 0-4 Salgaocar SC

Final
14-May-2012: Dempo SC 1-0 Salgaocar SC

AFC Cup: Salgaocar SC play for honour

The now former I-League champions Salgaocar SC are out of the AFC Cup, but in their Group D home match against Al Arouba from Oman they will hope to finally break the jinx and win their first game of their AFC Cup campaign. Kick-off is at 17.45 IST at the Nehru Stadium, Margao.

"If you look at our previous matches, I think we have performed really well despite setbacks. This shows the character and the fighting spirit our team possess. Apart from the match in Jordan where we lost 5-0, I think our performance in the AFC Cup was satisfactory, I hope to put up a good show in front of our Home fans," said coach Karim Bencherifa.

Salgaocar is boosted by the return of Brazilian captain Luciano Sobrosa, but will be without suspended duo Irungbam Khelemba Singh and Rocus Lamare while Nigerian striker Chidi Edeh and Japanese midfielder Ryuji Sueoka will be missed again due to injury. Further French midfielder Maxim Belouet is also not fully fit as is the case with Biswajit Saha and Rahul Kumar.

"We have played 24 rounds in the I-League and most of our players are nearing 40 matches this season, it's a tough season for the players. Having said that, I would also like to stress that tomorrow's game will be a challenge for us," added Bencherifa.

For Al Arouba it is about taking the points back home to stay in contention for a place in the pre-quarterfinals.

"The match against Salgaocar will be our last chances to maintain any hope of qualifying to the next stage especially after losing two important points in the previous match against Neftchi," said Al Arouba coach Mukhtar Mukhtar.

"Winning against Salgaocar will open the door for us to compete for a place in the next stage especially because we will host Al Wehdat at home in the last match," Mukhtar added.

I-League: Dempo on verge of title, can East Bengal deny them?

Tomorrow evening Dempo SC take on East Bengal Club at the Nehru Stadium, Margao in a match which could decide the fate of this seasons I-League, then the Goans are on 53 points from 24 matches and the Kolkata giants on 44 points from 23 matches. A draw would be enough for Dempo's to win their fifth I-league/NFL title in eight seasons, while the red-and-gold can only keep their small title chances alive with a win but would need to win their remaining two matches while Dempo lose their final game against Prayag United SC.

Despite knowing they are on the brink, Dempo SC's chief coach Armando Colaco remains confident that his team can get the desired result.

Armando remains keen to wrap up the title in front of the home crowd itself. "Leaving it for the last match will be dangerous. I am sure that we can get a positive result against East Bengal and the boys understand the importance of the challenge," said Armando.

Dempo have been in blazing form in the last two matches at Fatorda as they recorded convincing Goan derby wins against Churchill Brothers SC (4-2) and then Sporting Clube de Goa (4-1).

"We have experienced players who know what to do. I do not need to remind them," Armando reiterated.

Armando is expected to field the same squad which demolished Sporting Clube de Goa although there was renewed hope that seasoned defender Mahesh Gawli could return from injury.

"I don't find myself under any pressure. There is nothing to lose for us against East Bengal. The pressure in fact is on East Bengal as it is a must win match for them and they are playing away from home," added the Dempo Coach.

But East Bengal are going about their business in a quiet manner and coach Trevor Morgan remains confident that his team can upset the odds and get a favourable result. East Bengal have won just once in 11 attempts against Dempo in the I-League at the Fatorda Stadium (Nehru Stadium).

However, Morgan rubbished Armando's claim that East Bengal are under pressure. "The I-League title is for Dempo to lose. The pressure is not on us; it's on them," Morgan commented.

"We are going into this match knowing that we need a win and nothing else. I am aware that even if we win this match, we may still not be Champions. But in the last stages, nothing can be predictable," Morgan explained.

East Bengal will be missing Nigerian defender Uga Okpara due to a card suspension and India Under-23 captain Raju Gaikwad will be replacing him at the back, which didn't look stable against Chirag United Kerala in a 4-3 win.

U-16 Nationals - Final Phase: The Results

The 34th edition of the Sub-Junior Under-16 National Football Championship for the Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy ended yesterday with the final which Assam won 2-0 against Chandigarh. For the Northeastern state it was their first title since 1981, when they had jointly won with Kerala. Now it was the fourth title for Assam.

The Coca Cola sponsored Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy saw more then 40,000 children participate in the district, then state and zonal levels with the best 10 Under-16 state teams playing in the final round in Goa.


FIXTURES & RESULTS

Group A
Goa, Karnataka, Meghalya, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh

08-Mar-2012: Meghalaya 2-4 Karnataka
08-Mar-2012: Goa 1-0 Orissa
10-Mar-2012: Uttar Pradesh 3-3 Karnataka
10-Mar-2012: Orissa 1-0 Meghalaya
12-Mar-2012: Uttar Pradesh 1-0 Goa
12-Mar-2012: Karnataka 0-5 Orissa
14-Mar-2012: Uttar Pradesh 2-1 Meghalaya
14-Mar-2012: Karnataka 1-5 Goa
16-Mar-2012: Orissa 2-1 Uttar Pradesh
16-Mar-2012: Goa 0-1 Meghalaya

Group B
Assam, Chandigarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu

09-Mar-2012: Tamil Nadu 0-1 Madhya Pradesh
09-Mar-2012: Jharkhand 3-1 Assam
11-Mar-2012: Chandigarh 7-1 Madhya Pradesh
11-Mar-2012: Assam 6-1 Tamil Nadu
13-Mar-2012: Chandigarh 4-2 Jharkhand
13-Mar-2012: Madhya Pradesh 2-2 Assam
15-Mar-2012: Chandigarh 8-0 Tamil Nadu
15-Mar-2012: Madhya Pradesh 2-1 Jharkhand
17-Mar-2012: Assam 1-0 Chandigarh
17-Mar-2012: Jharkhand 6-2 Tamil Nadu

Semifinals
19-Mar-2012: Orissa 0-5 Assam
20-Mar-2012: Chandigarh 3-1 Uttar Pradesh

Final
23-Mar-2012: Assam 2-0 Chandigarh

AFC Cup: Salgaocar host Uzbek side FC Neftchi

I-League champions and Federation Cup winners Salgaocar SC will host their first-ever AFC Cup match later today against FC Neftchi from Uzbekistan. The Group D encounter will kick-off at 17.45 IST at the Nehru Stadium, Margao and it will be the first continental match at the Goan venue under lights in years.

The Uzbeks will be a tough opponent, who go into the tie as favourites but Karim Bencharifa and his men will surely try to upset the plans of FC Neftchi. Except new French signing Maxime Belouet everyone is fit and after their opening day loss at Al-Arouba in Muscat, Oman; Salgaocar's will look to keep the three points in Goa as otherwise qualification from the group would become difficult.

Karim said, "We are well prepared and we are looking forward to a good game, especially because we are playing at home."

"We are banking on good support from the home crowd and the fans will be coming here in big numbers. Ticket sales have picked up and we are expecting a big crowd, so we will use our home advantage to the fullest."

"Neftchi are a good side. We have seen some videos and we are hoping to fight well against them and we are hopeful of a win," Karim added.

Salgaocar are hoping for many fans to turn and support the team. There will be two categories for match ticket. The General category will cost Rs 30 and the VIP has been priced at Rs 100. From today onwards the ticket will be available at the GFA office in Panjim, the Nike showroom (Opp Big G in Margao), Tilak Maidan and Navjivan Medicals (both in Vasco).

India suffer 0-5 defeat against Zambia

India suffered a heavy 0-5 defeat in an international friendly at the hands of visiting Zambia at the Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa this afternoon. For Zambia, Musaknya Bruce Bwala scored a hattrick while Mulilo Jimmy Chisenga and Sitali Joseph Mushumba scored the other goals.

Zambia, who had beaten a Goa XI 4-1 on Saturday, was the better side on the day, but they only scored a goal in the first session with Mulilo Jimmy Chisenga giving the Africans a 15th minute lead, which they took into the break.

If one thought that India could come back into the match and maybe cause an upset, then they were in for a rude shock as Zambia would hit four more past goalkeeper Karanjit Singh. First Sitali Joseph Mushumba would make it two-nil in the 55th minute before Musakanya Bruce Bwalya would score a clean hattrick with goals in the 69th, 73rd and 90th minute.

India had to play Zambia without the strike duo of Sunil Chhetri and Jeje Lalpekhlua, both of whom are away for trials with Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers. The duo would be rejoining the squad in Delhi on December 1. It gave the other strikers a chance to prove themselves, but they couldn't score on the day.

It wasn't the result with which India would like to go into the SAFF Cup, but a good test to see where the team currently stands. This was India's last friendly ahead of the SAFF Cup which starts on Friday in New Delhi with India playing Afghanistan in their opening match on Saturday afternoon. In two earlier friendlies India had drawn Malaysia 1-1 in Guwahati on November 13, while winning 3-2 in Kolkata on November 16.

India
1-Karanjit Singh; 16-Samir Naik, 19-Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh, 14-Mahesh Gawli, 9-Syed Rahim Nabi; 23-Steven Benedic Dias [C] (46' 26-Francis Fernandes), 25-Jewel Raja Sheikh, 7-Baldeep Singh (46' 8-Climax Lawrence), 15-Clifford Miranda; 18-Sushil Kumar Singh (80' 12-Anthony Pereira), 6-Baljit Singh Sahni (46' ??-Joaquim Abranches)

India face Zambia test ahead of SAFF Cup

India play Zambia later today as part of their preparations for the South Asian Football Federation Championships in New Delhi nex month.

Chief Coach Savio Medeira stays aware of the Zambian challenge. "The match is very important for us. This is a great opportunity to gauge where we stand. The Zambian team are ranked higher than us and are an athletic side," Savio said. "It will be a learning experience for the boys ahead of the SAFF Championship."

India go into the game without its two key strikers - Sunil Chhetri and Jeje Lalpekhlua - who are currently on trial with Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers FC. It will be a test of India's attacking options upfront without the duo as Joaquim Abranches, Baljit Singh Sahni and Sushil Kumar Singh will have a chance to prove their worth,

However, Medeira seemed unfazed by the absence of his strikers. "It's true the duo has brought us laurels in the recent past. But this is a great opportunity for the others to prove themselves," Savio Medeira added.

The defenders Govin Singh and Nirmal Chhetri make a comeback to the National squad for the match.

The boys, nevertheless, stay unperturbed by their higher ranked rivals. They look forward to repeat their performance against Malaysia when India got the better of them in a two-match series. But Zambia showed on Saturday in their 4-1 win against a Goa XI what the African side is capable off.

"If we play as a unit – the manner we played against Malaysia, we should pose a challenge for Zambia," quipped Baljit Sahni. "We hope to bank on the crowd support. We will give our 100 percent," he echoed.

The match is slated for a 15.45 IST kick-off with the match to be live on DD Sports.



INDIA

Goalkeepers
Subhashish Roy Chowdhury (Dempo SC), Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (East Bengal Club), Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar SC)

Defenders
Nirmal Chetri (East Bengal Club), Mahesh Gawli (Dempo SC), Sameer Subash Naik (Dempo SC), Debabrata Roy (Dempo SC), Govin Moirangthem Singh (United Sikkim FC), Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh (Churchill Brothers SC), Jaspal Singh Parmar (Salgaocar SC)

Midfielders
Steven Benedic Dias (Churchill Brothers SC), Francis Fernandes (Salgaocar SC), Rocus Lamare (Salgaocar SC), Climax Lawrence (Dempo SC), Clifford Rayes Miranda (Dempo SC), Syed Rahim Nabi (Mohun Bagan AC), Anthony Pereira (Dempo SC), Jewel Raja Sheikh (Mohun Bagan AC), Lalrindika Ralte (Churchill Brothers SC), Baldeep Singh (Pune FC), Mehrajuddin Wadoo (Salgaocar SC)

Forwards
Joaquim Abranches (Dempo SC), Baljit Singh Sahni (East Bengal Club), Chongtham Sushil Kumar Singh (United Sikkim FC)

Officials
Savio Medeira (Chief Coach), Mariano Dias(Assistant Coach), Antonio Marcus Pacheco (Goalkeeping Coach), Mandar Tamhane (Manager), Sandeep Kumar (Doctor), Vishnu Nair (Physio), Pradip Dutta (Fitness Coach), Liaqat Ali (Masseur)

Goa XI face Zambia in friendly

The Goa Select XI go into the match against the Zambian national football team not knowing where the assembled squad stands against the Africans.

Coach Armando Colaco said that it was an honour for him to be the coach of Goa XI for this prestigious event and a golden chance to play a higher ranked opponent. He also mentioned that the mood in the camp was upbeat with the Goan youngsters keen to lock horns with such a strong opponent and showcase their talent.

But Armando was candid enough to say that the match could go anyway. His side could get trashed or cause an upset, but for him Zambia are the favourites for the match to be played at the Nehru Stadium, Margao.

Armando named his likely starting eleven with right-back Valeriano Rebello as the captain and goalkeeper Felix D'Souza as the vice-captain of the team.

The match is slated for a 16.00 IST kick-off with DD Sports showing the match live.


Likely GOA XI

Felix D'Souza; Valeriano Rebello [Captain], Rowilson Rodrigues, Antun Mathew Kovacic, Cresson Antao; Peter Carvalho, Godwin Diogo Franco, Lenny Rodrigues, Denzil Franco; Ranti Martins Soleye, James Moga

Goa FA name squad for Zambia friendly

The Goa Football Association has named its 24 player squad to face the Zambian national team on Saturday, November 26 at the Nehru Stadium, Margao. The team to be coached by Dempo SC's Armando Colaco contains 17 Goans and seven foreign footballers who play in Goa.

The Goan squad will miss several Goans who are in the India squad, which will face Zambia on November 29 at the same Nehru Stadium in Margao.


GOA XI

Goalkeepers
Felix D'Souza (Churchill Brothers SC), Laxmikant Kattimani (Dempo SC)

Defenders
Antun Mathew Kovacic (Churchill Brothers SC), Boubacar Keita (Sporting Clube de Goa), Valeriano Rebello (Dempo SC), Rowilson Rodrigues (Dempo SC), Selwyn Fernandes (Dempo SC), Cresson Antao (Dempo SC), Denzil Franco (Churchill Brothers SC)

Midfielders
Ogba Kalu Nnanna (Sporting Clube de Goa), Marcus Peixoto (Dempo SC), Peter Carvalho (Dempo SC), Godwin Diogo Franco (Dempo SC), Gilbert Oliveira (Salgaocar SC), Anthony Barbosa (Salgaocar SC), Mauricio Freeman Peixoto (Sporting Clube de Goa), Jovel Martins (Sporting Clube de Goa), Lenny Rodrigues (Churchill Brothers SC)

Forwards
Ranty Martins Soleye (Dempo SC), Henry Antchouet (Churchill Brothers SC), James Moga (Sporting Clube de Goa), Ndubuisi D. Opara (Churchill Brothers SC), Joy Ferrao (Dempo SC), Victorino Fernandes (Sporting Clube de Goa)

Officials
Armando Colaço (Chief Coach), Mathew Costa (Assistant Coach), Pascoal Pereira (Assistant Coach), Lawrence Gomes (Manager), Venkadesh (Physio), Raju (Kit Boy)

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.