India train in Doha, Baichung remains doubtful

India arrived on Thursday morning in Doha from Dubai on a Qatar Airways flight and yesterday morning had their first training session at the Al Wakra Club's Stadium, while their first opponents Australia trained on the outside training pitch.

The weather in Doha isn't much different then in Dubai, so acclimatization shouldn't be an issue for the 'Bhangra Boys'. But with the tournament having now started and being on its way, one can feel the tension and happiness within the team that the first match is only hours away. It is a big stage for India and the players realise that and want to give their best.

The main topic of discussion has been around the in- or exclusion of captain Baichung Bhutia in the 23 player squad. Baichung is surely not fully fit, actually far from it but him not being in the squad would be a big mental blow to the team and could demoralise them with Baichung being a good motivator inside the team. If Baichung does not make it then now Churchill Brothers striker Mohammed Rafi would take his place, while Baichung would be made an official to be allowed to stay with the team.

And this issue has caused a lot of confusion over the day here in Doha with some already reporting that Baichung Bhutia is no longer part of the playing squad and has been made a team official to stay around the team. The issue was simple as no one can be registered as a player and official. If registered as both then the person concerned would be a team official and taken off the players list. This is something which hasn't happened as Baichung's registration as an official has been withdrawn and he is still a player.

But with Baichung's calf muscle injury not going away, he could only be used as a substitute, the injury could reappear and take him out for some more time. So a tough final call would have to be taken on this issue by Sunday evening.

Qatar: Asian Cup as World Cup trial

The 2011 AFC Asian Cup started last night. Qatar lost 0-2 against Uzbekistan, but as a nation they are ready to host though the country is one big construction site and it will get even more over the next decade. The capital Doha is decorated in the tournament colours, draped in flags of participation nations, while at night there are fabulous lighting displays across town highlighting the tournament.

One can feel that the importance of the tournament for the Qataris has grown since being awarded the 2022 FIFA World Cup with the signage of the bidding campaign still visible across the city.

And with now bigger international media attention on the tiny Gulf state, the organisers are doing whatever they can to please their foreign guests. And those guests be it from the football industry or the media are liking what they are seeing.

Italian Nicola Antognetti, who works in the football business and travels for that around the world, told us about his experiences in Doha over the last decade, "It's not changing as much as you would think – not as much as Dubai – but I think they are just taking things a bit more slowly, with more strategy behind. It's a great place."

While Australian journalist Scott Macintyre is back in Doha after 18 months and is seeing massive changes, "The landscape and the skyline are changing almost constantly and I'm sure there will be more positive signs in the build-up to 2022."

First time visitors like myself are often saying they expected Qatar to be more advanced, but it isn't a copy of Dubai which I feel is good. The city has its own charms and has character, which I feel is very important.

The beautiful Khalifa Stadium hosted a great opening ceremony and more then 37,000 spectators turned up but after conceding the first goal the people started going home.

Indicast Podcast: India's Chances at the AFC Asian Cup

Nani managed to get a hold of me right before I left for Qatar to cover the upcoming AFC Asian Cup. In this episode, we talk about India's chances at the Asian Cup and how Indians should keep their expectations from its national football team in check. A miracle can always happen, but don't expect a lot. Just participating in this championship means a lot to the team.



Listen Online (64 kbps) : ~ 14 mins





Here the direct link to the Indicast Podcast page: Sportsbench Podcast


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I'm on my way to Qatar!

The 2011 AFC Asian Cup is set to kickoff in a couple of days and now I am finally on my way from Germany via Dubai to the Qatari capital Doha and tomorrow morning I should be there. I will be working for radio and newspapers plus will also keep you all updated here on my blog and via my Twitter account @Arunfoot.

I really look forward to those two weeks in the Arab desert. Surely I am finally getting out of Germany after having experienced six weeks of snow and frost, but secondly and more importantly it is about the football, its time for Asian football.

I have seen a lot of Indian football live over the years, especially the Indian national team. But not that much of Asian football though I have seen teams like Japan, South Korea, Australia, Saudi Arabia and Iran live in the past. Still for the first time I will get to see the best of Asia, 16 nations from across the continent, from close quarters which will be an experience in itself.

And I feel it does make a difference if you watch a match live at a stadium. There is a lot of off the ball action which you miss on television if you aren't at the ground, also interactions between coaches and players, and then I just love the atmosphere at football grounds. And I am very curious how the atmosphere will be at the matches in Qatar, a great mixture of cultures.

What also makes this trip so special is the fact that I on one side will be following closely my beloved Team India, but on the other side I get a first hand feel of Qatar, the nation which will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.


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ESPN-Star Sports to show Asian Cup LIVE!

A lot of you have been asking me which TV channel would be broadcasting the matches of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup from Qatar. And now I can let you all know that ESPN-Star Sports will be showing the matches live and exclusive in India, while the pan-Asian sports network will also show the tournament in a number of their other markets.

As a release from ESPN-Star Sports said: "All 32 AFC Asian Cup 2011 matches will be broadcast on television across ESPN and STAR Sports networks, and for the first time fans can watch the high-definition broadcast of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011 on ESPN HD. The event will also be available online live and on-demand on ESPN Player – a revolutionary broadband network, available free to ESPN STAR Sports subscribers, that offers anytime, anywhere access to live world-class sports content. In addition, football fans on the move can catch daily news and goals from the event on mobile ESPN."

So we will finally see India live in action against the best in Asia...


Here the TV listings of the India matches

January 10: INDIA vs. Australia (18.30 IST; Star Sports)

January 14: INDIA vs. Bahrain (21.30 IST; Star Sports)

January 18: INDIA vs. South Korea (18.30 IST; ESPN)

Blackburn Rovers bid for Ronaldinho

When I first heard the rumour that English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers are interested in Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho I thought about a public relations gimmick from the clubs new Indian owners Venky's, but it now looks to be a serious attempt by the club to sign the former superstar. Still one will have to see if the first attempt in a star signing succeeds or not.

Still the whole episode looks a little weird. When the rumours first surfaced the club denied any truth in the story, but then the owners came out with a statement stating their interest and since then they have mentioned that Ronaldinho has been offered close to 25 Million Euros as salary for a three year contract.

The Venky's through their Brazilian set-up are in touch with the players agent and have made an offer to AC Milan, but Ronaldinho himself is currently in Brazil and has numerous offers there from clubs like Flamengo and Palmeiras plus his former club Gremio Porto Alegre, who were the original front-runners to sign him.

And Ronaldinho isn't the only high profile target. Like numerous other English Premier League clubs Blackburn Rovers are also trying to sign former England captain Davivd Beckham on a short term loan deal, but the question remains if Beckham will return to England to play for a few weeks.

I-League - Round 7: Odafe hits AIFF XI for a six

The seventh Round of matches of the I-League 2010/11 were played on January 3/4 across India. It was the first time in this I-League that East Bengal dropped point, but it was once more a round of Odafe Onyeka Okolie, who scored five goals against the AIFF XI to take his tally to 15 goals from seven matches while he also completed scoring 100 goals in the national league.


Round 7 Match by Match Short Review
03-Jan-2011: Air India 0-0 Pune FC (in Kolhapur)
Winless Air India were held to a dull goalless draw by Pune FC in Kolhapur, which didn't help the cause of any of the two sides. Especially the Airmen were looking for their first win of this I-League, but once more it ended in a draw.

03-Jan-2011: HAL, Bangalore 0-1 (0-1) Salgaocar SC (in Bangalore)
Injury hit HAL suffered their fourth defeat, a 0-1 against Salgaocar SC who themselves returned to winning ways after two defeats. Brazilian defender Luciano Sobrosa scored the winner early on in the 10th minute through a header with the Goans having further chances to score more goals.

03-Jan-2011: Chirag United SC 0-0 JCT (in Kolkata)
The hosts Chirag United SC were held to a goalless draw by JCT at the Saltlake Stadium, Kolkata. And Chirag United's Brazilian striker Josimar da Silva Martins, the hero against Dempo in the last match, was the villain today as he wasted chances galore.

03-Jan-2011: Churchill Brothers SC 6-0 (2-0) AIFF XI (in Goa)
Churchill Brother SC trashed the AIFF XI 6-0 in Goa and it was another Odafe Onyeka Okolie show. The in-form striker scored five of his teams six goals against the India Juniors who once more gave in after having suffered heavy defeats against Salgaocar SC and East Bengal Club. Odafe scored his goals in the 26th, 37th, 72nd, 82nd and 86th minute, while M.P. Sakeer scored the Goans fourth goal in the 78th minute and it could have been even worse if Jagroop Singh hadn't had a good game under the bar. Odafe has now scored a staggering 15 goals in only seven matches and is set to break further records in the I-League.

04-Jan-2011: Dempo SC 2-0 (2-0) ONGC (in Goa)
Defending champions Dempo SC returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win against newcomers ONGC. The Goans took an early eight minute lead through a returning Joaquim Abranches after a build-up by Roberto Mendes Silva and Ranty Martins Soleye. And Roberto Mendes Silva would double the lead in the 37th minute against the Oilmen.

04-Jan-2011: Mumbai FC 1-1 (0-1) East Bengal Club (in Kolhapur)
Mumbai FC held East Bengal Club to a one-all draw in Kolhapur, which meant the Kolkata giants dropped their first points in the 4th I-League. The red-and-gold were the better of the two sides before the break and deservingly their defender Uga Okpara scored the lead in the 18th minute. But after the break Mumbai FC had more from the game and put East Bengal under pressure with striker Ezeh Nna Henry first missing a couple of chances, but then equalised in the 75th minute.

04-Jan-2011: Viva Kerala 2-0 (1-0) Mohun Bagan AC (in Kannur)
Viva Kerala scored an upset win against Mohun Bagan AC to finally win their first game of this I-League at home in Kannur. After missing an early chance Viva Kerala took the lead in the 12th minute through a T. Karma goal, while striker P.K. Anil Kumar would make it 2-0 in the 73rd minute with Nigerian Felix Chimaokwu being the provider on both occasions.


Click here for the 4th I-League 2010/11 - League Table & Fixtures .