South United FC name squad for 2nd Division I-League

Bangalore's South United FC have named their squad for the 2nd Division I-League with their matches to be played at the Bangalore Football Stadium. Ex-India international Raman Vijayan is their coach.

South United FC are in Group C alongside Mumbai Tigers (formerly Dodsal FC, Mumbai), Eagles FC (Kerala), Hindustan FC (Delhi), Kalighat Milan Sangha (Kolkata), Luangmual FC (Mizoram), Southern Samity (Kolkata), Vasco SC (Goa)


The club has recently signed former Mohun Bagan striker Pachau Lalam Puia from Chanmari FC, Mizoram; experienced Calcutta league player Abhishek Aich from Kolkata as well as Vinoth Kumar V. from Bangalore champions HAL SC.


SOUTH UNITED FC

Kaleel S.M., Harpreet Singh, Razakh, Gour Sankar Dutta, Barun Oraon, K. Shivakumar, Amit Raj Banshi, Jayantaraj Banshi, Rahul Sharma, Edwin Gosula, V.R. Murugappan, M. Madhukaran, Amoes, Manivannan R., Sunil Kumar M., A. Sridhar, Vignesh, Stephen, Subhash R., N. Solaimalai, Michael, Rajkiran P., B. Niroshan Mani, K. Gopi, Vinoth Kumar V., Abhishek Aich, Pachau Lalam Puia

Officials
Raman Vijayan (Coach)

KGF Sports Academy win Bangalore Super Division title!

The KGF Sports Academy yesterday afternoon won their first-ever Bangalore Super Division title by beating Army Service Corps 3-2 in their final league match at the Bangalore Football Stadium. KGF finished on 22 points after nine matches, two points ahead of I-League relegated HAL SC in the 2012 edition of the top tier Bangalore city league.

KGF were cruising after the first session, leading 3-0 through goals from Murugappan (4th), Amoes (41st) and Stephen (42nd); but late in the match things got interesting with Jotin Singh (79th, 90+4) scoring a brace for ASC but that was too little, too late.

The KGF Sports Academy is the renamed BEML (EM) who are the only public sector unit (PSU) run football team in India, who so far have professionalised under the AFC Club Licensing criteria and due to this initiative by the company management also play in the 2nd Division I-League.

The team is coached by former India striker Raman Vijayan, who told the Deccan Herald newspaper after the title triumph, "We had a well organised team that gelled well. Players from various places came and performed which was good to watch, the management was also very supportive. I appreciate the players for helping me throughout the season!"

Raman Vijayan: Academies will shape the future

Former Indian international striker Raman Vijayan is now the coach of Bangalore's KGF Academy, the professional football team of BEML (EM). The Bangalore-based Public Sector Unit is the only PSU in India who have formed a company as per the AFC Pro League guidelines. Raman is with his side in Delhi for the preliminary round of the 2nd Division I-League and spoke to the AIFF Media Team.


How would you translate your journey from a striker to a coach?

I would say both have entirely different dimensions. While being a player you don’t have much responsibility; all you have to do is to concentrate on your game and give your 100 percent on the field. But as a coach you have to look after so many aspects - it's a very difficult and challenging job.

I feel more emphasis should be given to impart modern Coaching Techniques for Indian Coaches.


Former team mate Baichung Bhutia is a player-cum-administrator for United Sikkim FC. What’s your take?

Baichung is a great ambassador of the game! I feel privileged that I played alongside him at club and international level. Judging by his ability, I'm confident he will be successful in his new endeavour. Baichung has always been a determined person.


Being a striker yourself, why do you think that foreign strikers are overshadowing local Indian talent?

There are so many foreign recruits presently playing in India and I strongly believe they have helped in increasing the standard of the game. But at the same time, many local talents go waste as most of them sit out warming the bench.


Where do you see Indian Football heading towards?

There's a lot of buzz and activity going on at the grassroots. The AIFF’s decision to launch the regional Academies and the Elite Academies is the best thing to have happened to Indian football in the recent past. The process of selection in the Under-14 Football Fest in Kalyani and the Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy needs to be lauded. The Academies will shape the future.

You need to remember, a lot has changed for the senior national team since our playing days. Nowadays, the players stay well, travel well and get so many international matches to play. It wasn't the case during our time.


Unlike in the past, there are not many star footballers from Southern India at present. What do you attribute it to?

Unlike Kolkata and Goa, most parts in South India don’t have a (local) professional league. There is no dearth of good players in the region but they need a platform to play.