I League

RIP Diego... You are eternal.

More women footballers will emulate Bala Devi’s footsteps to play abroad: Aditi Chauhan
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Women’s football in India is set to grow as India hosts the FIFA U-17 World Cup next year and the AFC Asian Cup in 2022. Indian women’s national team goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan feels that with the growth in profile of the game in the country, more players will follow the footsteps of Bala Devi, for a professional career abroad.
Indian national team striker, Ngangom Bala Devi, last year became the first Indian woman to play in a top flight professional league in Europe. She plays for Rangers WFC in Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL).

“Bala is a gem of a player and her move to Rangers is amazing,” she said in an AIFF release. “There is so much potential in India. I want more girls to get such exposures, and learn from playing against better opponents. With more avenues for younger girls coming up, I am sure there will be others who will follow in Bala’s footsteps,” Chauhan said.

The 27-year-old Chauhan herself had played in England for West Ham Ladies between 2015 and 2018. “The standard of play, the culture is so different. It’s a total professional set-up in Europe. The experience which she will gain will benefit not just her (Devi), but Indian football in general,” she said.

Aditi also added, “Whenever she comes back to play for the National Team, we’d eagerly wait to hear about her experiences. I am sure she’ll love to share all of that – especially with the U-17 girls. Her knowledge will matter a lot shaping the career of younger girls.”

Chauhan, who has earned 15 caps for the country since making debut in 2012, also said, “When I first started playing for the national team, it was majorly dominated by players from Manipur. But it has become more of a diverse team now. The team now has a pan Indian representation." (PTI)

Just in: East Bengal FC may still get into ISL
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In an interesting turn of events, Chirag Tanna from the ISL governing body, FSDL, denied reports of ISL going ahead with only ten teams for the upcoming 2020-21 season. He clarified that there is no official confirmation on only ten teams featuring in the ISL, which is expected to be held between November and March, in a single venue, behind closed doors.

“I cannot reveal anything in detail. But, there is not much truth to what is being reported in the news,” he said. It was reported by various news outlets on Saturday that the seventh season will consist of the existing ten clubs. FSDL is already working on drawing up a fixture list and will announce the venue and schedule by 31 August. This meant that the doors would close on East Bengal joining the ISL bandwagon. The pressure on the red-and-golds have increased after arch-rivals Mohun Bagan teamed up with defending champions ATK to play in the ISL from this season onwards.

He added, “Can’t say that there is a hundred percent chance (East Bengal not playing in the ISL next season).” This would be a major shot in the arm for East Bengal officials who have maintained their resolve to finding a new investor, clearing their path to claim a coveted spot in the ISL.

AFC U-16 Championships: India, Korea Republic, Australia and Uzbekistan in same group
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India were drawn with Australia, Korea Republic, and Uzbekistan in Group C on Thursday for this year's AFC U-16 Championships. The four semi-finalists will directly qualify for the 2021 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru. The official draw was held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on 18th June. The showpiece event is scheduled from September 16 to October 3 in Bahrain.

India qualified for the U-16 Finals when they topped Group B in Tashkent, which had Uzbekistan (hosts), Bahrain and Turkmenistan. They had seven points from three matches, from 2 wins and a draw, scoring 11 goals while conceding 1. This is India's third consecutive qualification in the AFC U-16 finals, and ninth overall.

India U-16 head coach Bibiano Fernandes said, "I don't like to pre-empt any expectations prior to the start of the competition. At this level all the teams are tough to play against. We as a team have improved over the years. I'm sure that the boys much like myself, are looking forward to it."

In 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, India U-16 boys lost to Korea Republic by a solitary goal in the quarterfinals. Direct qualification into the FIFA U-17 World Cup was just a win away. That was India's second appearance in the quarterfinals after 2002.

Meet Yan Law: I-League’s youngest manager

Joydeep Mukherjee of George Telegraph, an assistant secretary at the Indian Football Association at that time, suggested Law to do a coaching badge at the age of 18. The AIFF had just introduced the D License course at the time in Indian football. But from a regular starter at George Telegraph, he completely became an outsider, being made to sit in the stands. He then started coaching at his father’s academy in Kolkata.
Joydeep, appointed Law as coach of his club, Calcutta United Football club, a brand-new team in the lowest tier of CFL. Under Law, the club won promotion. He landed a coaching role in the West Bengal junior team set-up and the team beat all opponents. He then worked with the AIFF for the Fifa U-17 World Cup and completed the AFC A License at the age of 25.
His first senior break was at Mohammedan Sporting as head of youth development. In the Second Division, Mohammedan’s heavy tactical displays impressed Ranjit Bajaj, the owner of Minerva Punjab FC and Bajaj immediately offered him the coach's role of Punjab FC.
On his I-League debut, Punjab FC were defeated 3-0 by Churchill Brothers. But they had an 11-match unbeaten streak with Law using more than five different formations. but his principles remained same: "Smart work off the ball".
Tactically, Punjab FC were superior to most teams in the I-League last season and finished joint runners-up with East Bengal FC.
His future is bright and the team I-League wishes him all the best for his dream of managing Blue tigers one day.

We will be introducing a new segment very soon, titled "Global Soc-wrap" to report happenings in football around the globe, outside India.

Amarjeet Mishra signs for CD Estrela...

Indian footballer Amarjeet Mishra has signed a one-year contract with the senior team of Portuguese second division club CD Estrela. Amarjeet is a product of the Minerva Punjab academy. He earlier played for the U-17 team of Sociedade União 1º Dezembro in Portugal, in the third division.

This lad from Uttar Pradesh is 19 years old. He originally plays as a full-back but can also operate as a winger. Mishra played practice matches and trained with the Indian U-17 World Cup bound team during their six-week camp in Portugal and had one assist to his name but failed to make the final squad.

Picture Courtesy: Amarjeet Mishra / Facebook

Sanjeev Stalin moves to CD Aves for a 2-year contract...

Sanjeev Stalin, a kid from Bangalore has secured a contract at the Portuguese Primeira Liga club, CD Aves. Stalin was born to parents who ran a small garment shop and this journey, from India to Portugal, has not been an easy one.

India were trailing Colombia 1-0 in a group stage match at the 2017 U-17 World Cup. At the dying moments, Stalin's precise, inswinging corner produced India’s equaliser, their first-ever goal at a FIFA World Cup. Stalin, now 19, is a left-back. AIFF Elite Academy scouted Stalin and he became a vital member of India’s contingent at youth-level tournaments and had an impressive 2017 U-17 World Cup in India. Aftter the World Cup, Stalin debuted for Indian Arrows in the I-League against Chennai City, in the Arrows' 3-0 victory. Stalin is a modern full-back, with skills on the ball at his feet. He has the requisite endurance to move up and down the flanks for 90 minutes while manning the defence and attack. Moreover, his set-piece speciality can make him a valuable weapon in European football.

Stalin is to play against continental heavyweights like FC Porto and SL Benfica, in the same league as Aves. But he has to move up through the reserves, the u19s and u23s.

Intercontinental Cup 2019:
It seems coach Igor Stimac has made up his mind on best XI to start a game for Blue Tigers. It may be a good choice if the following XI starts against Syria.
India (4-1-3-1-1): Gurpreet, Rahul Bheke(RB), Jerry(LB), Adil Khan(CB), Narender Gehlot(CB), Amarjit (DM), Anirudh Thapa(CM), Lallianzuala Chhangte(LM), Udanta Singh(RM), Sahal Abdul Samad(AM), Sunil Chhetri(ST)

Intercontinental Cup 2019: Korea DPR vs India

Both of them had defeats in their opening games despite having an early lead. India had a good game in the first half, but managed to screw the golden opportunity by letting in 4 goals in the second. The defence just switched off after the break. Both the teams will look to come back on track with a win.

Anas and Jhingan are not fully fit, leaving Stimac with fewer options at the heart of the defence. We might expect to see Narender Gehlot to again partner Adil Khan. Also there are reports Jhingan may be fit in time. Rahul Bheke and Mandar Desai did a good job and may be retained. The coach recently praised Gehlot, "He is a very young boy. I did not want to risk playing Sandesh (Jhingan). But despite his absence, the defence was excellent in the first half. I am sure we will have 3-4 great defenders with time who can produce more clean sheets, as we did in Thailand." Speaking about Mandar, who assisted Chhetri for the second goal against Tajikistan, the gaffer said, "Mandar was good against Tajikistan. He is a great player who can do very well in the future for the National Team. He gives us more options in his position along with Subhasish (Bose) and Jerry (Lalrinzuala)"

We expect India to have a decent run against their 122nd ranked opponent with the following formation:
India probables(4-1-2-1-2): Sandhu(GK), Bheke(RB), Adil(CB), Jhingan/Gehlot(CB), Mandar(LB), Amarjit Kiyam(DM), Udanta(RM), Lallianzuala Chhangte(LM), Sahal Abdul Samad(AM), Sunil(ST), Jobby Justin(ST).

Prediction: India 2-1 Korea DPR
Form Guide (Last 5 games): India: L-W-L-L-L
Korea DPR: L-L-L-L-L

India has never seen any of its players play at the elite level of the Premier League, although that stands to change should players like Nyan Mesuria fulfil their potential. That said, whether he switches allegiance from England to India in the future remains to be seen. Currently 14, Mesuria still has time on his hands to develop.

Given he has already had a brief stint at Tottenham already, bigger clubs have also been alerted. Mesuria also won a 12-month placement at the Chelsea Foundation Football Development Centre back in 2015 at Asian Star - a talent hunt program for British Asian footballers.

Mesuria is another such talent who, if given time to grow, has the potential to be a Premier League player in the future. If that happens, not only will it be a proud moment for the player, but it will also make him a history-maker for India.