First batch of Team India players arrive in Kochi

The first batch of the Team Indian players including head coach Wim Koevermans, captain Sunil Chhetri and current AIFF Player-of-the-Year Syed Rahim Nabi arrived in Kochi on today ahead of India's international friendly against Palestine scheduled to be played on Wednesday, February 6.

Among other players, Sandip Nandy, Lenny Rodrigues, Denzil Franco, Nirmal Chhetri and Jewel Raja Sheikh also arrived as did assistant coach Savio Medeira and the teams support staff. The remaining members of the squad will be joining the team tomorrow.

Chhetri, Nabi, Jewel and Nirmal Chhetri were even part of a limbering session at the majestic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the late afternoon.

"It's a wonderful feeling for any Coach to see his boys assembling again. They head into Kochi straight from the I-League and we intend to make use of the next few days ahead of our match against Palestine," Koevermans said.

Chhetri who landed in New Delhi on Friday afternoon from Portugal looked fresh despite having travelled 'almost half of the World' in the last 24 hours.

"I'm back in my country and this time I'm in 'God’s Own Country'," he smiled as he referred to Kerala. "The State has a huge fan following for the sport and has produced so many wonderful players over the years." he uttered. "I expect a huge football loving crowd cheering us against Palestine on the 6th."

"It's exciting to meet my teammates once again. Obviously we cross our paths in the I-League every week but the National Camp is above everything," Nabi maintained. "Expectations run high after our Nehru Cup triumph and we are looking forward for the match against Palestine," he added. "And you only get to meet Sunil in the National Camp," he joked as everyone burst into a hearty laugh.

"I've heard about the football tradition of Kerala," Koevermans uttered. "I've been told about the football exploits of the 'Black Pearl' I.M. Vijayan, and Joe Paul Ancheri," he informed.

Goalkeeper Sandip Nandy, who has been summoned for the Friendly said 'the call has served as the biggest motivation for him'.

"This is perhaps the biggest motivation a player can ever ask for. I had been working hard and will be working harder from now on. I had never lost my self belief and it's heartening that good performances are being rewarded. I need to thank Koevermans for that," Sandip opined.

The practice session tomorrow will kick-off at 5pm at the Nehru Stadium.

(Photo courtesy AIFF Media)

New balls please – will India kick it like Germany?

On January 31, German Ambassador to India Michael Steiner hosted Oceania's footballer of the century and former Bundesliga champion Wynton Rufer on the lawns of the German Residence in New Delhi. Wynton Rufer was accompanied by some thirty Indian kids of his Delhi based YMCA football camp.

Kick-starting the football diplomacy, Ambassador Steiner said, "India is a cricket nation. And yet, India is also more and more into football. Wynton Rufer and the kids of his camp are the best prove for that."

"Football unites both our countries: Germany is a traditional soccer giant, having won three World Cups and three European Championships. India is a rising soccer giant in Asia, having just won the Nehru Cup 2012. Robin Dutt, the sports director of the German Football Association DFB, the biggest world-wide, has Indian roots. German football professionals train Indian players in Kolkata and Mumbai. All in all, very good conditions for a thriving Indo-German football cooperation."

"My personal dream is that India will kick it like Germany one day – and, who knows, we will see the first football match ever between India and Germany."

Together with YMCA, the German Embassy supports Wynton Rufe'’s football camp.

VIDEO: Security Meeting ahead of Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal derby

Ahead of the Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal derby on coming Saturday, February 9 there will be a security meeting on Monday in Kolkata to discuss ways to ensure that events like on December 9 are not repeated in the upcoming I-League match. Here the ABP Ananda report!

Joachim Löw names Germany squad for France friendly

Germany coach Joachim Löw has named his 23 players squad for the next Wednesday, February 6 international friendly against France at the Stade de France, Paris.

An inform René Adler will get his chance to show himself in the friendly, while Sami Khedira and Mario Gomez make a return to the squad.

Due to injury Holger Badstuber will continue to miss the match, while inform striker Stefan Kiessling was not called-up as some expected.


GERMANY

Goalkeepers
René Adler (Hamburger SV), Manuel Neuer (FC Bayern München)

Defenders
Jérôme Boateng (FC Bayern München), Benedikt Höwedes (FC Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philip Lahm (FC Bayern München), Per Mertesacker (FC Arsenal), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund), Heiko Westermann (Hamburger SV)

Midfielders
Lars Bender (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (FC Schalke 04), Mario Götze (Borussia Dortmund), Ilkay Gündogan (Borussia Dortmund), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (FC Bayern München), Thomas Müller (FC Bayern München), Mesut Özil (Real Madrid), Lukas Podolski (FC Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), André Schürrle (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (FC Bayern München)

Forwards
Mario Gomez (FC Bayern München), Miroslav Klose (SS Lazio Roma)

VIDEO: Dempo's School Outreach Program

Recently a contingent from I-League champions Dempo SC had visit St. Britto's High School, Mapusa as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Development Programme. Players - Godwin Franco, Koko Sakibo, John D. Menyongar and ex-school student Myron Fernandes, visited the school along with Dempo officials - Pundalik Raut Dessai, Abhijit Patil and Jonathan DeSouza. Here the Prudent Media report.

TenAction to show India vs Palestine Live!

The All India Football Federation and their marketing partners IMG-Reliance have finalised in TenAction a broadcaster for the India vs Palestine international friendly on Wednesday, February 6 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi.

Sport channel TenAction will telecast the India vs Palestine friendly from 6.25pm onwards in what the Indian football fans hope will be a memorable night in Kochi, where international football returns after many, many years...

VIDEO: SportsMeet discussion on East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan fiasco

The seventh edition of the SportsMeet in Bangalore had 'Disrupted Derby, A Verdict, and the Beautiful Game' as its topic on Saturday, January 19: Here the video on the discussion on the verdict of the East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan fiasco which included ex-footballers Raman Vijayan and Noel Wilson plus journalist S.S. Shreekumar.