VIDEO: India's Mehtab & Nabi praise their clubs

On their return from their 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers campaign for India, East Bengal's Mehtab Hussain and Mohun Bagan's Syed Rahim Nabi have been all praise for their respective clubs on XtraTime.

VIDEO: Fan kisses Rahim Nabi & Raju Gaikwad during India Vs Palestine match

Here footage from Indiavision in which defenders Syed Rahim Nabi and Raju Eknath Gaikwad are approached and kissed by fan before the Kochi police take charge of the young man during the Palestine friendly on Wednesday.

VIDEO: Syed Rahim Nabi's goal for India vs Palestine

Here the footage of the Syed Rahm Nabi header which resulted in a goal following a Mehtab Hossain corner for Team India in their ongoing friendly against Palestine at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, Kerala.

VIDEO: Team India training at Kochi

Here the report from Indiavision on Team India training on Sunday in Kochi ahead of the international friendly against Palestine on Wednesday, February 6. The report involves statements from AIFF Player of the Year Syed Rahim Nabi and newcomer C.K. Vineeth.

India's Syed Rahim Nabi: We are raring to go!

Fifteen more members of the Indian National squad arrived in Kochi yesterday for the international friendly against Palestine scheduled to be played on Wednesday, February 6.

Those who arrived included the likes of Subrata Pal, Clifford Miranda, Mehtab Hossain, Izumi Arata, Lalkamal Bhowmick, Francis Fernandes and all other players who had played their respective I-League matches on Saturday.

However, there have been two changes to the squad of 23 – Joaquim Abranches and goalkeeper Subhasish Roychowdhury joining the squad in place of Anthony Pereira and Karanjit Singh respectively. Both Pereira and Karanjit sustained injuries during their club commitments on Saturday. Striker Sushil Kumar Singh will join the squad on early Monday morning.

All the players had a recovery cum light training session under the watchful eyes of National Coach Wim Koevermans at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the afternoon.

"The camaraderie in the National squad is what makes you feel special," current AIFF Player-of-the-Year Syed Rahim Nabi said. "Everyone looks fit and raring to go. This is a very important match for us and we need to be on our toes," Nabi added.

"We intend to have an afternoon session on Monday," Koevermans informed. "It will be a very important one."

"Most of the boys head to Kochi with added confidence. Many of my players scored in the last round of matches in the I-League. That will surely boost their confidence a lot," he maintained. For the record, debutant C.K. Vineeth scored a hat-trick for his club Prayag United while Francis Fernandes, Alwyn George and Jewel Raja also scored for the respective clubs.

"It's a dream come true for me," Vineeth uttered. "Till now, I used to stay eager to hear stories from Senior players about the National Camp. I need to pinch myself to believe I have actually made it here," he opined. "But this is just the start. Unless you work harder, I won’t be able to retain my place."

At the end of the session, the squad interacted at length with blind footballers from Kochi and even played blind-folded with them. "It is a different feeling when you have your eyes blind-folded," striker Manandeep Singh echoed. "You need to sense and feel everything by your side. It's all about telepathy," he pronounced.

The Indian team will be presenting a jersey and a ball signed by all the team members to the blind football club prior to the kick-off of the match on Wednesday. Eleven players will also walk onto the pitch with the Indian starting XI for the National Anthem.

(Photo courtesy AIFF Media)

Koevermans names India probables for Singapore friendly

Indian national football team Coach Wim Koevermans has named 31 probables for India's international friendly against Singapore scheduled on October 16 in Singapore. The final list of 20 players would be announced after the opening round of the I-League.

Koevermans has called-up all 20 players who were part of the 2012 Nehru Cup winning squad besides calling-up numerous players who had been part of the Nehru Cup probables. The surprise additions have been Air India defensive duo of Prateek Chowdhary and Mohanraj Pradeep.


INDIA Probables

Goalkeepers
Arindam Bhattacharya (Mohun Bagan AC), Subrata Pal (Prayag United SC), Subhasish Roy Chowdhury (Dempo SC), Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar SC)

Defenders
Nirmal Chettri (Mohun Bagan AC), Prateek Chowdhary (Air India), Denzil Franco (Churchill Brothers SC), Raju Eknath Gaikwad (East Bengal Club), Souvik Ghosh (Pailan Arrows), Nallappan Mohanraj (Pune FC), Syed Rahim Nabi (Mohun Bagan AC), Mohanraj Pradeep (Air India), Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh (Prayag United SC), Gurwinder Singh (East Bengal Club), Irungbam Khelemba Singh (Mohun Bagan AC)

Midfielders
Francis Fernandes (Salgaocar SC), Romeo Fernandes (Dempo SC), Alwyn George (Pailan Arrows), Mehtab Hossain (East Bengal Club), Rocus Lamare (Salgaocar SC), Clifford Miranda (Dempo SC), Anthony Pereira (Dempo SC), Sanju Pradhan (East Bengal Club), Jewel Raja Sheikh (Mohun Bagan AC), Lalrindika Ralte (East Bengal Club), Lenny Rodrigues (Churchill Brothers SC)

Forwards
Joaquim Abranches (Dempo SC), Sunil Chhetri (Sporting Clube de Portugal 'B'), Jeje Lalpekhlua (Pune FC), Manandeep Singh (East Bengal Club), Robin Singh (East Bengal Club)

Officials
Wim Koevermans (Head Coach), Savio Medeira (Assistant Coach), Marcus Pacheco (Goalkeeping Coach)

VIDEOs: Footballers Model at Kolkata Fashion Week

On Saturday night five footballer in Mehtab Hossain, Syed Rahim Nabi, Tolgay Ozbey, Odafe Onyeka Okolie and ex-goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey scorched the ramp at the Kolkata Fashion Week. The quintett did a good job and got a lot of praise in their assignment as models.

Here the ABP Ananda report

Here the XtraTime report

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.

Wim Koevermans: Only thinking from match to match!

It is a new beginning for Indian football under Dutchman Wim Koevermans as the Indian national team coach at the 2012 Nehru Cup and things look promising after the first couple of matches in the tournament.

But Wim Koevermans is not getting carried away by the two wins against Syria and the Maldives as the Dutchman said post-match, "It was a good win but we are taking one match at a time."

India is still learning on how Koevermans wants them to play, but their display against the Maldives was much better then against Syria especially after the breather. And that will have made Koevermans proud then his team was able to adopt to changes he made at half-time and the second session was good quality football from India, which has been rarely seen in the past.

Seasoned Syed Rahim Nabi came in for special praise from Wim Koevermans for his commitment, the overlapping runs and the important second goal for his team.

India now have six points from two matches, the final looks very likely from here on; but Koevermans knows that defeats against Nepal and Cameroon could still spoil everything that has been achieved in 180 minutes of football.

Therefore thinking from match to match is the right approach...

VIDEO: India's Three goals against Maldives!

India beat the Maldives 3-0 in the 2012 Nehru Cup tonight. Two goals from captain Sunil Chhetri and another from left wing-back Syed Rahim Nabi sealed the win for India. Here the goals for you all to watch!!!

Syed Rahim Nabi: I'm learning a lot under Koevermans!

Allrounder Syed Rahim Nabi in recent years has become a key player within the Team India set-up, eight years since he first came into the national team in 2004. Yesterday, a day prior to the kick-off of the 2012 Nehru Cup, the versatile player, spoke to AIFF Media about the new National Coach, the new philosophy, the new breed of National Team players and much more...


Being the defending champions, can India defend the Nehru Cup?

The competition in this edition will be much tougher. You look at the participating teams and you will understand. Cameroon and Syria are very tough teams and you need to respect them. At the same time, you can never be complacent against Nepal and Maldives. We have to put our best foot forward.


How different has National Coach Wim Koevermans' approach been?

Fitting into a new system will always take time and you need to be patient with both the Coach and the players. In the Preparatory Camp, he has stressed on a new style and we have adapted fast. Take for example the friendly against Pailan Arrows - it was for everyone to see the manner we pressed for the ball when they had possession. In the second half, our passing was much better. I firmly believe we can perform and deliver.


What's been your assessment of Wim Koevermans?

He is a coach with lot of ideas. The best part stays he just isn't content in living in the present but thinks about the future as well. His approach has been enlightening. I'm learning a lot under him and believe the same implies to all my team mates. I have been playing for such a long time but some of the minor adjustments he has made to my game have been an education for me.


How do you define the squad?

It's a perfect blend of experience and youth. The current crop of young players like Alwyn (George) and Manan (Manandeep Singh) are very talented. They have a very bright future ahead and I can foresee that. The best part about the newcomers stay they push the others for a place in the squad. Whenever you have youngsters in the team, you never stay certain of a start. That augurs well for us.

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

No Go: Savio Medeira criticises own players

India coach Savio Medeira will be a frustrated man after Team India played a dismal 2012 AFC Challenge Cup in Kathmandu, Nepal conceding eight goals, scoring none of their own with no points to its name.

But Savio Medeira, a former Indian international himself, did say things post-match yesterday after the North Korea game which I feel a coach should never ever do. He publically criticised his own team, he actually blasted them for non-performance.

Savio said, "Everyone saw it, the team lacked spirit and there was no one willing to show responsibility and as a coach it isn't very heartening to see those things in the field."

"This is a young team but these players need to learn from their senior predecessors on how to play serious football. In the last SAFF Championship the team was doing well but in this competition, I don't know why, the feeling of responsibility was not there," Savio added.

Savio even went on to say that players were more interested in securing their contracts for next season and that the current side lacks leaders criticising now senior players captain Sunil Chhetri, Syed Rahim Nabi and Gouramangi Singh to name a few.

Even if Savio has a point here, then these are things which one discusses internally with the players and the All India Football Federation, but does not give it as fodder to the media who love to use such comments.