Manipur State League football

Imphal, October 28 : Defending champion NISA, Thangmeiband scripted a solitary goal victory against USA, Khurai to remain on top of the points table in the 4th Manipur State League football tournament.

The NISA triumph in a seventh round match played today was fetched by L Ibotomba with a 75th minute goal.

In the other matches played at the same venue, H Chakravorti scored three goals in NEROCA's 9-1 thrashing of PYC, Phoudel while TRAU, Kwakeithel outplayed YWC, Thambalkhong 3-1 .

At Khuman lampak Main stadium where similar number of matches were played today, SSU (Singjamei) pipped MBSU, Wahengbam Leikai 3-2; AIM, Khabam also over-came MPSC 3-2 and ESU, Wangkhei downed TRUGPU, nambol by a solitary goal.
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Serto trophy football/athletics

Imphal, October 27 2009: Kh Roshan Singh of Tera Khongsangbi claimed the top crown in the 15 kms marathon competition of the 3rd Mukta Serto Memorial Trophy cum Athletics Meet organised by Sagang Youth Club, Churachandpur district.

Second position of the marathon race was secured by Ajoy Singh of Thinungei with M Samuel Kom of Lukhumbi finishing third.

In the final of the football competition, FFC, Kumbi overcame NYSCO, Wangoo Naodakhong 5-3 via the tie-breaker.

Closing ceremony of the competition, participated by 20 teams, was held yesterday with Co of 7 AR Maj AK Pandey and lecturer L Thangpa as the chief guest and functional president respectively.

Capt J Mahesh, CO of 'A' Coy 7 AR, Sagang graced the occasion as the guest of honour.
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India U-19 football team leaves for Dubai for training tour

NEW DELHI: A 23-member India Under-19 football team on Saturday left the country for Dubai for a training tour as part of their AFC U-19 qualifiers in Iraq next month.

The team though is yet to get clearance from the government for the November 5 to 15 AFC U-19 qualifiers in Arbil in Iraq as the External Affairs Ministry is mulling over the security aspect of the tour.

India have been drawn alongwith Afghanistan, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in Group C of the AFC U-19 qualifiers.

The Team:

Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Jagroop Singh, Shaikh Mohd. Razakh.

Defenders: Abhishek Das, Vishal Kumar, Ravindra Kumar, Deepak Devrani, Inderpreet Singh, Daniel Albert Vales, Souvik Ghosh, Lalrozama Fanai, Akshay Vimal Kumar Mall.

Midfielders: Jonychand Thounaojam, Milan Singh, Bikramjit Singh, Shilton Sydbey D'Silva, Malsawmkima Chhangte, Amit Bisht, Lalrindika Ralte, Thirthankar Sarkar.

Forwards: Jeje Lalpeklua, Manandeep, Holi Charan Narzary, Malsawmfela.
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Indian football team’s performance praiseworthy : Praful Patel

All India Football Federation president Praful Patel feels that India’s title win the ONGC Nehru cup 2009 paved the way for glory to football in the country. He was interacting with media after the Annual General Body Meeting of the AIFF on Tuesday night. He said that the performance of the Indian Football team is praiseworthy especially after the win in AFC Challenge cup 2008 which gave India qualification in the AFC Asian Cup 2011 after a gap of 24 years. He praised the Indian team led by Bhaichung Bhutia .He said that we have to build football from the sub junior and juniors level and take it seniors level.He thanked the Ministry of youth affairs & sports ,Govt of India ,BCCI ,sponsors ONGC and AIFF partners Zee Sports for their support to Indian Football. Mr Patel had a special word of praise for Subrata Pal and described him as marvelous goalkeeper .
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Manipur lifts 1st All India Women's Football Championship

Gangtok, Oct 16 : Manipur lifted the first All India Women's Football Championship by defeating Orissa on a tie-breaker in the final match played at Paljor Stadium here today.

Manipur converted three of their five penalty shots while Orissa could convert only two and the final score read 3-2 in favour of the Northeastern team.

Earlier, both sides were locked in a goalless draw despite several chances that saw goal-bound shots rebounding from the bar four times during the match.

With the game ending 0-0, the match was decided over penalties where the Manipuri team prevailed over Orissa. The lady of the tournament was given to Susmita Mallik of Orissa.

Highest scorer of the tournament went to I Parmeshwari Devi of Manipur with ten goals.
The best player of the tournament went to Orissa goalkeeper Seeta Sharma.
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Orissa to take on Manipur in final

Gangtok, Oct 13 (PTI) Orissa rode on striker Sasmita Malik's hat-trick to spank Sikkim 'Red' 3-0 and set up the title-clash with Manipur in first Pempa Dorjee Memorial All India Women's Football tournament at Paljor Stadium, here today.

Meanwhile, favourite Manipur defeated West Bengal 1-0 as midfielder Rani Devi scored the all-important goal for Manipur in the 64th minute to ensure their passage to the final.

The final would be played on October 15.
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Manipur defeats Sikkim 'Red', enter semis

Gangtok, Oct 11 (PTI) Manipur today defeated Sikkim 'Red' 3-0 to top the Group A with nine points, while Group B match between Tamil Nadu and West Bengal was drawn 1-1 in the first Pempa Dorjee Memorial All India Women's Football tournament at Paljor Stadium here.

Prameshwari Devi (2) and S Rina Roy Devi (1) scored for Manipur, who have not conceded a single goal in three matches and scored 25 till now in the tournament.

Sikkim 'Red' and Assam, having three points apiece, will play against each other tomorrow in a crucial tie that will decide the second semifinalist from Group A, after Manipur.

Tamil Nadu and West Bengal shared one point each after they played out a 1-1 draw. Tamil Nadu established 1-0 lead in the 46th minute from a goal by Angal Adolfes.

Soma Seal struck the equaliser in the 69th minute.
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Manipur enter semi finals at Girls National Football

Imphal, October 08 2009: Manipur trounced Uttarakhand 7-0 in the last Group A quarter final match of the 6th Sub Junior Girls National Football Championship at Haldwani today.

The win put Manipur on top of the group and will face the runners-up side of Group B in the semifinal on october 12 .

Anibala led the goal blitz against the hapless Uttarakhand girls completing a hattrick with goals in the 2nd, 4th and 6th minutes as Grace Dangmei (37th), Bijeta (38th), Rekha (40th) and Bhabini (62nd) rounded off the comfortable win with one goal each.

Manipur, thus, completed its quarter final campaign with an all-win record.
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Manipur trounces rival in women's football tourney

Gangtok, Oct 8 : Title favourite Manipur today overwhelmed KFA Darjeeling 18-3 in a Group A league match of First Pempa Dorji Memorial All India Women``s Football Championship at Paljor Stadium here. Striker I Prameshwori Devi scored a double hat-trick, as Manipur women pulverlised the rival team scoring nine goals each in either side of the 90-minute match.

Devi``s teammate Ph Bina Devi also hammerd a hat-trick. Bem Bem Devi and substitute Ksh Naocha Devi also scored a brace each for Manipur.

Meanwhile, in Group-B league tie, Orissa defeated Tamil Nadu 2-0 with Susmita Mallik and captain Sradhanjali Samantary being the scorers, while Sikkim Green lost to West Bengal 0-3. Paromita Sit, Nosaba Alam and Sujata Kar scored for West Bengal.

In tomorrow``s fixture, Manipur will play Assam, while Sikkim ``Green`` will take on Tamil Nadu.
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Manipur swept off West Bengal 7-0

IMPHAL, Oct 5 : Manipur crushed West Bengal 7-0 goals in the group A quarter final league match being played today at Haldwani, Uttarkhand in the ongoing 6th Sub-Junior Girls National Football Championship 2009.

Dangmei Grace, Binomala, D Grace, Romi, Bijita were the scorers of Manipur who could score at 11th, and 39th minutes of the match 39th, 40th and again Binomala scored at 34th, 48th and 65th minutes of the match.

Quarter final league match is also scheduled to play between Manipur and Pondicherry on October 6, 2009, said a release.
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North Imphal maintain lead

Imphal, Oct. 1: Defending champions North Imphal Sporting Association today brushed aside a lacklustre first session to humble Eastern Sporting Union by 2-0 goals in a match of the 4th Manipur State League played at Mapal Kangjeibung.
The victory helped them keep their top slot in the league table with 13 points to their name.
In the match today, Eastern Sporting Union displayed a lot of grit in the first half and held the North Imphal attacks at bay with some stout defending.
However, in the second half, North Imphal Sporting Association broke the shackles and captain N. Jimmy Singh came up with the first goal after anticipating a right flank pass from M. Bidyasagar in the 48th minute.
Their second goal came just two minutes later after L. Dewan Singh headed in a corner kick by N. Rajesh.
The goal margin for North Imphal should have been higher but Jimmy Singh missed a penalty kick awarded after the Eastern keeper brought down W. Denal inside the danger zone in the second half.
In another match, Manipur Brothers Sporting Union overcame North Eastern Re-Organising and Cultural Association by 2-1 goals.
The North Eastern team, without a win so far in the league, seemed to hold the upper hand, after the first half, with an injury time goal. Just before the half time whistle, North Eastern were awarded a penalty after M. Premchand Singh was fouled by a Manipur Brothers defender. Th. Surjit Singh made no mistake in guiding the ball into the net for the lead.
Manipur Brothers, however, geared up in the second half and got the equaliser from a corner kick conversion. L. Boipu Doungel aimed for the second post and S. Kishan Singh sliced the ball home in the 67th minute.
The side scored their second goal when Z.V. Reishing Zimik, running in the middle, made a short pass to forward H. Premkumar, who outran a defender, to bang home the winning goal in the 71 minute.
Southern Sporting Union held Anouba Imagi Mangal to a 2-2 goal draw in another match.
Water sport
Altogether 93 paddlers from six units are taking part in the 1st state-level Canoe and Kayaking Championship being held at Kangla Moat in Imphal. The participating units are Lalambung Makhong Youth Voluntary Association, Sendra Youth Club, Manipur Police Sports Club, Uripok UCAL, Santi Club Moirang and Heingang HKSU.
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Churchill held by Mahindra

Mumbai: Churchill Brothers didn’t start their I-League campaign in a very creditable fashion as they were held 1-1 by Mahindra United in the season opener at the Cooperage ground here on Thursday.

The defending champions actually escaped a loss as Mahindra failed to take advantage of the last half hour of the match when the Goans were down to 10 players following the sending-off of goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya.

Both goals were scored by foreigners, Svetozar Mijin and Dan Ito, on their I-League debut for Mahindra and Churchill respectively.

Mijin pounced on a loose ball inside the box to put Mahindra ahead in the26th minute but the lead lasted just seven minutes as the visitors found the equaliser through Ito who punched in a brilliant cross from Thokchom Naoba Singh from the right.

But Mahindra could have scored a few more easily. Mohammed Rafi had the easiest of chances when the ball continued to roll after Bhattacharya handled it outside the box but lost control. The Kerala youngster, however, chose to appeal instead of latching on to the ball and slotting it into the net. “I was not thinking much,” Rafi admitted later.

There were a couple of opportunities towards the end when Churchill’s reserve custodian Lalit Thapa went out of position while trying to collect the ball but the Mumbai outfit couldn’t take advantage. Then, substitute Thoi Singh’s header went just over the bar. But definitely Mahindra were the superior team.

The only worry for Mahindra could be the fitness of Steven Dias who was taken out of the field on a stretcher on the hour mark, immediately after making a typical cross that was fisted away by Bhattacharya. But coach David Booth said that he just suffered from cramps.

Teams

Churchill Brothers: Rowilson Rodrigues, Felix Chmaokwu, Thokchom Naoba Singh, Ogba Kalu Nnanna, Odafe Okolie, Khan Thang Paite (Lalit Thapa 64’), Reisangmi Vashum, Dan Ito (Nascimento Silveira 75’), Robert Lalthlamuana (Naveen Kumar Sudhakaran 45’), Arindam Bhattacharya.

Mahindra United: Subhashish Chowdhury, NP Pradeep, KN Ajayan, Svetozar Mijin (Bhola Prasad 83’), Mohammed Rafi, Denzil Franco, Ravanan Dharmaraj, Kali Alaudeen Nisthar, Muritala Ali (Thoi Singh 72’), Steven Dias (Paresh Shivalkar 62’), Debabrata Roy.

Referee: Pratap Singh
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Another season of I-League begins with Churchill facing Mahindra

New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS) The expanded I-League with fourteen teams and a record 182 matches to be played across 26 rounds will kick-off Thursday with defending champions Churchill Brothers taking on Mahindra United at the Cooperage in Mumbai.

The third season of the I-League will be the biggest since its inception as the National Football League (NFL) in 1996-97 and this time it will truly reflect why it is called a national league.

This time the league has moved ahead from being played only in Kolkata, Goa, Mumbai and Ludhiana. It will now go down South to Kochi in Kerala with Viva Kerala’s promotion and for the first time there will be representation from North East, now the powerhouse of Indian football, with Shillong’s Lajong Football club.

With more teams and matches, the I-League will be the best platform for home grown players.

While some clubs are heavily banking on overseas imports, others are content with the local talent. So the third edition of the I-League will prove whether Indian clubs can win titles with bare minimum foreign players.

This time the Asian Football Federation (AFC) has allowed clubs to recruit four overseas players, including one of Asian origin. The new rule will however challenge the Indians to prove that they are equally talented to win matches.

The success of Goan clubs especially Churchill Brothers and Dempo Sports Club have shifted the focus from Kolkata, which is now losing its status as the epicentre of Indian football.

The last time a Kolkata club won the national league, rechristened as the I-League in 2006, was in 2003-04 when East Bengal won their third title.

But since then much has changed and Goan clubs have surged ahead with their professionalism.

For the last three years, Dempo (2006, 2007) and Churchill Brothers (2008) have dominated the I-League. Last year, three-time national league winner Mohun Bagan came close but lost to Mahindra United to finish second.

This time Mohun Bagan have showed some prospects and made the two back-to-back finals in the IFA Shield and Durand Cup, but on both occasions finished runners-up to the formidable Churchill Brothers.

While Mohun Bagan can take some heart from finishing second, all is not good for East Bengal. The three-time national league champions made a horrendous start to the season with four consecutive losses, something that has happened rarely in the club’s 99-year old history.

With fingers being pointed at the wrong selection of foreigners, East Bengal coach Subhash Bhowmick can only hope the return of national captain Bhaichung Bhutia, who got interim relief from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to play in the league, can lift the team’s spirit.

But all eyes will be on Churchill’s star-striker Odafe Onyeka Okolie, who reportedly settled for $200,259 annual bonanza, a figure unheard of in Indian football. The prolific goal scorer has set high-benchmark at Churchill Brothers and the club’s chances of retaining the title will again centre on the 26-year-old Nigerian’s performance.

Among Indian players, Mahindra United striker Mohammad Rafi will be the player to watch out for. The Kerala boy has scored six goals in Shield and the Durand and if he continues in the same vein, a call from national coach Bob Houghton won’t be too far.
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Bishnupur emerge overall champions

School Sports Meet
Imphal, Sept. 30: Bishnupur district lifted the overall team champion’s title of the 2nd Annual School Sports Meet that concluded at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium today. Imphal West finished runners-up.
In the senior boys’ badminton doubles, A. Alopson and Kh. Somen of Bisnupur triumped over R. Kamei and C. Kamei of Tamenglong for the champion’s title. Chandel district team fetched the third spot.
S. Chuni and K. Roji of Chandel won the senior girls’ badminton doubles title while Rebika Devi and Puja Kamei of Imphal East were runners-up. Tamenglong district finished third. In the junior boys’ event, Karnajit Singh and Amison Singh of Bishnupur district won the title while Manitomba Singh and Roshnikumar Singh of Imphal West claimed the runners-up title. Ukhrul district got the third spot.
In the junior girls’, the pair of Y. Dhanapati Devi and Bijaya Devi of Imphal East was crowned champions while W. Anari and Daimawar of Chandel were runners-up.
In the kho kho event, Imphal East claimed the champions’ title while Thoubal district were the runners-up. Churachandpur district came third.
An 8km marathon on the theme Run for Education was also held to mark the occasion.
Earlier, Bishnupur district made a clean sweep of the football and volleyball titles.
In the senior boys’ volleyball final on Monday, Bishnupur beat Tamenglong.
Bishnupur claimed another title by winning the football event, beating Senapati district by 2-1 goals in the final.
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