Seven Sisters Love Football: November 2010

Manipur to meet Mizoram in final encounter today

Nagaland goalkeeper Vekuto Puro attempts a save in the match against Assam at Khuman Lampak main stadium on Monday.

Imphal, Nov 30 : Assam prevailed over Nagaland by 3-1 goals to bag the third place in the 2nd Dr T. Ao Memorial Football Tournament at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium today.

Assam went home richer by Rs 2 lakh while Nagaland got Rs 1 lakh as the fourth team in the tournament, sponsored by the DoNER ministry.

Nagaland got off to a flying start in the seventh minute as Velakho Rhakho provided his team the lead from a free kick goal.

The Assam team proved its mettle in the second half with a more energetic approach and fetched the equaliser in the 54th minute as Raju Konwar headed home off a flag kick by Chayaram Basumatary.

It was Assam’s turn to rule the proceedings with renewed vigour and soon they consolidated the score with a second goal.

Khirod Das made a spirited dash and pounded home a grounder in the 77th minute for the lead.

Pushed to the backfoot, the Nagaland team found it hard to contain their opponents.

Assam’s frequent inroads paid rich dividends in the 89th minute as Sibra Narzary pushed the ball to the Nagaland goalmouth and found Khirod Das at the far end post to slam home the winning goal.

Nagaland players Michael Dul, Benathun Kikon and Assam player Raju Konwar earned yellow cards from referee L. Ajitkumar Meitei.

The final match between defending champions Manipur and Mizoram will be played at 1pm tomorrow.

Mizoram to meet Manipur in final

T. Ao memorial

Goalkeeper Dawngzela of Mizoram attempts a save at Khuman Lampak main stadium on Sunday. Telegraph picture

Imphal, Nov. 29: Manipur demolished Nagaland 7-1 to enter the final of the 2nd Dr T. Ao Memorial Football Tournament at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium today.

Mizoram also booked a final berth, defeating Assam by a solitary goal in the second semi-final and will take on host and defending champion Manipur in the final on Tuesday.

The third place match between Assam and Nagaland will be played tomorrow.

The tournament offers Rs 7 lakh to the winner and Rs 4 lakh to the runners-up.

The third and fourth teams will get Rs 2 lakh and 1 lakh respectively.

The Player of the Tournament will be richer by Rs 40,000.

The first semi-final saw Manipur dominating the entire length of the game as Nagaland failed to shine in the absence of some of their key players who are engaged in the All India Police meet.

Manipur took the early lead in the 10th minute as L. Nabachandra scored from a free kick.

Manipur increased the tally as forward T. Lunminlal Khongsai scored after anticipating a short pass from I. Nilakumar in the goalmouth in the 32nd minute for the 2-goal lead.

L. Nabachandra slammed home his team’s third goal in the 45th minute but laxity on Manipur’s part saw Nagaland stealing a chance to shoot home their lone goal by Asian in the first half.

The hosts further damaged the opponent’s morale as I. Nilakumar, Kh. Naoton, L. Gouro and N. Jimmy found the net for the resounding victory.

Mizoram and Assam had equal opportunities in the second semi-final but pressure got the better of Assam.

Mizoram got their winning goal in the 41st minute as Tlunga sent the ball to the Assam penalty box where Malsawnzuala beat goalkeeper Daoga Brahma for the goal.

TTFC Mizoram storms into semis of Royal Gold Cup soccer

Kohima, Nov 27 : TTFC of Mizoram today stormed into Semi-finals
of the 19th Royal Gold Cup Football Championship defeating Kuki Sporting Club of Manipur by a solitary goal.

In he last Quarter Final match of the Championship played here this afternoon both the teams gave a neck to neck fight from the beginning. It was the Mizoram striker Lalnundanga, who got a pass took a straight shot to the goal and found the net in the 9th minute (1-0). The Kuki boys were trying for a equalizer in vain.

In the barren second half, due to tremendous pressure of the Kuki boys, most of the match was confined into the Mizoram half and the Kuki strikers lost at least three golden chances to score. The TTFC Mizoram will now play against Dimapur District Football Association on Monday next. Tomorrow, the local outfit New Market IX will take on so far seven time Royal Gold Cup champion Nagaland Police.

Team was outstanding despite lack of exposure trips : Coach Harjinder

Tashi Lundup

Returning to the city after winning the Under-14 Subroto Cup at New Delhi by defeating Mizoram in a penalty shootout, coach Harjinder Singh and the players were greeted by congratulatory notes from the sporting fraternity. The joy was clearly visible on the football coach's face as media-persons swarmed at the Sector 42 Sports Complex Hostel to get a view of the winning Chandigarh team that had created history by winning the sub-junior national title for the first time.

An ecstatic Harjinder shared how the odds were stacked against them but still managed to come out triumphantly. "I was not confident of winning the title this year, like I was last time. Some of our best boys graduated to the Under-17 level and we had to include five new faces in the team for the tournament. We only had six months to decide and make strategies for the tournament. Our main concentration was on five-six main players who had taken part last year and were expected to make a major impact for the Chandigarh team. On the other hand, we gave specific roles to the new players like keeping the ball to themselves, not losing the possession, check the opposition players and give time to other main players to make extra efforts. It worked," said the former international footballer.

Showering special appreciation on his players, Harjinder said that the team played better than expected in the final match and if it wasn't for their superlative performances, the team couldn't have win the elusive title. "All the players gave their best performances in the final. In the other matches, we attacked more in the first half and then defended in the second. We won three matches in tie-breaker. In the final match, we missed some scoring chances and also made some superb defending," Harjinder, who hailed Arjit's performance as a revelation during the tournament, shared. One of the reasons why Harjinder was not confident about team's win in the tournament was the lack of exposure trips.

Since April 2009, the Chandigarh Administration has not sent Chandigarh Football Academy players on exposure trips to Germany despite five-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Sportschule Egidius Braun in Leipzig, Germany. "The boys were outstanding despite lack of exposure trips. I was surprised with the way they played against some strong teams like Bengal and Mizoram. They played quality football," he said.

North-East teams extend dominance in Subroto

New Delhi: Subroto Cup matches on Monday at the Ambedkar Stadium were clearly dominated by schools from the North East. If it was the U-14 team from Mizoram that reached the finals on Monday, their seniors from Govt Mamit High School carried on in the same flow, asserting their supremacy over AFBBS (Air Force Bal Bharti School) New Delhi in the pre-quarterfinal of the U-17 category.

Another side , NCC (NorthEast Region) too shocked an experienced Haldia High School, West Bengal to confirm their place in the last 8. While Mizoram enjoyed their stint pumping three goals to put Delhi out of contention, NCC put two past the West Bengal side in a match that witnessed a lethargic play from the football powerhouse of the country.

“Playing with West Bengal is always hard since they have a strong football culture. Since it was a do or die match for us, we had planned to put in an aggressive strategy. I guess we managed to perform and hope to continue with our form,” said officer in-charge Lt Col KC Kalita of the NCC team.

After going for the breather without disturbing the scorers, NCC struck twice in the second half. Just six minutes into the second half, Manneingir opened the scoring for NCC. The strike infused fresh life in NCC and they sped up the game and dominated possession. However NCC found it hard to strike through the Bengal defence. A 68th minute strike from Mandila sealed the match.

In the second match of the day, Mizoram striker Joseph impressed with his skills in the scoring area returning with a brace to power his team to a 3-0 victory over AFBB, New Delhi. Unlike NCC, Mizoram consistently threatened Delhi and their first blow came in the 11 minute as Joseph converted a rolling cross to perfection to open the account.

The Delhi team was always struggling even as Mizoram gave them no breathing space. By the time Delhi could could initiate a move, Mizoram was ready with a counter. Six minutes after the first goal Joseph slammed a right footer to the left corner from the edge of the box to double the score. Reeling under two goals, the pressure to up their game saw them faltering at crucial junctures and comitting several mistakes. Mizoram who looked over charged in the second half, displayed superb understanding between their midfielders and flankers. Unsurprisingly a third was registered through Lalrempuia.

Nagaland pay the penalty

New Delhi: With their shaven heads and uniform, yellow boots, the boys from Hmarveng High School, Mizoram, gave an impression of military-like precision — organised, cynical, ruthless — but their on-field performance in the ongoing Subroto Cup was marred by missed targets and wide shots galore.

Against Pilgrim School, Nagaland, in the semi-final of the tournament, it was anybody’s game before Mizoram prevailed 4-2 in the shootout. Impessive throughout and creating several chances, Mizoram were let down by a faltering attack that failed to finish off the impressive moves created by the midfield.

In the battle of equals, Nagaland were formidable on field for the entire duration of the match, only to muff it up in the penalties and book return tickets. Both teams had the opportunity; both failed to make use of them or covert the half chances that came their way, taking the game into the tie-breaker.

After the first half went goalless, Nagaland upped the ante and delivered accurate attacks on the Mizoram goalpost. Lusinei cut from the right to position himself in the centre and slammed a powerful left-footer that was brilliantly parried by Mizoram goalkeeper Laldanmawia.

Apart from the two chances that Mizoram squandered through Lalrochhara, Nagaland’s gritty defence nullified all their attempts to pierce their territory.

Nagaland’s Renchamo then ensured that the Mizoram keeper had a busy day in office, sending a 25-yard scorcher to the right corner of the goal. Laldanmawia superbly dived and deflected the rolling ball from going back of the net in the 40 th minute.

In the penalties, Mizoram slotted home four of the five shots while Nagaland missed their second and fourth shots. Having started first, Mizoram were almost out of danger after successfully converting the fourth shot, their no.17 Lalrochhara stepped out, promising his team mates not to falter a third time, having fluffed twice before. As soon as he fired the ball in, he made up for all his errors. “When we missed the second shot, I didn’t have the courage to ask for a shot, but once Nagaland put two out, I knew I could make it,” he said later.

And coach Mawia admitted that his team missed chances. “Nagaland are tough opponents and we share a similar style of playing. My advice to the players was to initiate as much ground play but we were off rails more or less. Quality football is being played, we just need to make sure we don’t miss too many chances,” he said.

Mizoram are up next against two-time finalists Chandigarh in the title clash and, having got away despite all their on-field mistakes against Nagaland, coach Mawia knows there isn’t room for error in the final.

Lajong drub Ganga

Shillong, Nov. 23 : Shillong Lajong FC today drubbed Ganga Sports Club from Khanapara by half-a-dozen goals, paving the way for the I-League relegated team to enter the last four of the Meghalaya Invitation Football at Polo ground here.

Niwan-O Gatphoh opened the account for the local team in the 10th minute of the game while Michael Ochei converted it from the penalty spot in the 34th minute. Racy K. Lalremmawia scored the third goal for Lajong in the 65th minute while P.C. Lalhlimthara scored a hattrick in the dying minutes of the game.

Lalhlimthara scored in the 88th, 90th and 90 (+2) minutes to give Lajong a resounding victory over the Khanapara team.The first semifinal will be played on Wednesday between Nigerian XI from Delhi and Royal Wahingdoh at 2pm while Ar-Hima FC face Lajong in the second semifinal on Thursday. The finals will be played on Saturday.

T. Ao Memorial Football Tournament

Opener ends in 1-1 draw

A midfield tussle between Manipur and Mizoram (in red) at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium on Sunday.

Imphal, Nov. 22 : Manipur held Mizoram to a 2-2 goal draw in the opening match of the 2nd Dr T. Ao Memorial Football Tournament at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium.

Tripura blanked Sikkim 4-0 in another match at Mapal Kangjeibung.

Eight states from the Northeast, including Sikkim, are participating in the tournament.

It was opened by youth affairs and sports and IFCD minister N. Biren, along with tribal development and veterinary minister D.D. Thaisii and Kohima Town legislator Dr Neikiesalie Nicky Kire, who is also the chairman of the Nagaland KVI Board.

A cultural presentation was also held.

Defending champion Manipur found the going tough, particularly in the first session, as Mizoram took the lead.

The stouter Mizoram team picked up speed in the game and the Manipur defenders had a tough time containing their progress.

However, Mizoram pushed through in the 44th minute for the lead, as Malsawnzuala, after anticipating a midfield pass from Lalhmangaiha, beat two defenders to shoot home.

In the second half, Manipur increased their tempo and concentrated on short passes and finally scored the equaliser in the 54th minute as forward I. Nilakumar collected a pass from T. Ajitkumar and squeezed through the right goalline to slam home a goal.

Mizoram’s Laldingngheta struck a powerful volley from the penalty region, giving little chance to the Manipur keeper for his team’s second goal in the 66th minute.

With changes in the Manipur rank, substitute Kh. Noaton infused new energy and was instrumental in the second goal after he ran past the Mizo defender on the right to pop a goalmouth cross where L. Nabachandra scored the equaliser in the 69th minute.

B. Lalrawngbawla and J.S. Hmar of Mizoram were booked with yellow cards by referee Pijush Biswas.

In the match between Tripura and Sikkim, Tripura dominated completely, as Liton Mazumdar struck twice while Vaniasang Darlong and Jagdish Debbarma scored a goal each.

Sonam Thendup Bhutia of Sikkim was awarded a yellow card in the game.

Northeast call for soccer clubs

Members of the United Sikkim Sporting Club.

Gangtok, Nov 20 : Two football clubs in Sikkim have been invited to play in premier tournaments in the Northeast next week, an indication of the state’s image as a hub of soccer talents.

While the United Sikkim Sporting Club will take part in the North East Dr T Ao Memorial Football Tournament in Imphal, Denzong Boyz FC has been given a direct quarterfinal berth in the Royal Gold Cup in Kohima.

“We have been performing well this season. The club has reached the finals of the state-level Independence Day tournament and pre-quarters of All India Governor’s Gold Cup. The players have been practising regularly after the Gold Cup,” said United Sikkim coach Arjun Rai.

The coach said the club had been focusing mainly on local talents who were provided with platforms to get maximum exposure. “The local players have shown maturity in recent matches and I expect my boys to do well in the Imphal tournament,” said Rai.

The T Ao Memorial Tournament is organised by the All Manipur Football Association and is sponsored by the DoNER ministry and the Manipur government. Teams from all eight north-eastern states will feature in the tournament that will commence on November 21.

The Gangtok-based United Sikkim is placed in Group A, which includes traditionally strong clubs from Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram. The Group B has Nagaland, Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh.

The tournament will be held in a league fashion where two top teams from each group will play in semi-finals.

That Sikkim has been bracketed with strong opponents like Manipur and Mizoram shows the Himalayan state’s emergence in the national football arena.

“Manipur and Mizoram play good football. But Manipur is always the tournament’s favourite. Now Sikkim has also come up,” said Rai.

The United Sikkim, whose chief patron is Bhaichung Bhutia, will clash with Manipur in its first match on November 21. The club will take on Tripura on November 23 and Mizoram on November 25.

Apart from captain Nim Tshering Lepcha, the team has senior players like Sagar Rai, Michael Lepcha and Bhupendra Khewa and young ones like Abzal Asnari, Lakpa Sherpa and Kip Barfungpa.

Teenager Ansari had received much attention for his wonderful defending skills in the recent Governor’s Gold Cup tournament. The players left for the Manipur capital today.

Denzong Boyz is also looking forward to the Kohima tournament on a positive note after having reached the quarterfinal of the All India Brigade of Gurkhas Gold Cup football tournament being played in Darjeeling. The team lost to BNR Kolkata on sudden death in the quarterfinal on November 16.

The club has been given a direct quarterfinal berth in the Kohima tournament on November 23.

Shillong Lajong beat Sheffield FC in friendly

Shillong Nov 18 : Shillong Lajong FC today defeated Sheffield FC 1-0 in a friendly match played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex here in Meghalaya even as the English football club side criticised the hard surface turf and the poor refereeing during the match.

Racy K Lalremmawia scored the all-important goal for Lajong in the 75th minute from a fine cross after Sheffields custodian missed to guard. The win for Lajong against the worlds oldest football club also surprised many who thought that the match should have been very tough for the home team.

Lajong was reduced to ten men in the 83rd minute when one of its strikers was given red card in the spectacular match cheered by nearly 20,000 home crowds.

The young and energetic Sheffield had in fact gave a tough time to their opponents in the first half tough found it uneasy to acclimatise themselves playing in the hard surface ground and poor refereeing spoiling the accurateness of the match by giving unnecessary fouls on almost every physical contacts.

Sheffield which dominated the play in the first half had few good chances but thanks to the fantastic saves from Lajongs keeper Gumpe Rime.

In the 16th minute, the English side got a chance to lead but the target on goal from within the box hit the post.

The historical match could have been a 1-1 draw had the free kick been awarded to Sheffield was converted into goal in the final minute of the play.

Sheffield FC coach Chris Dolby who described the match against Lajong as ''competitive'', said, ''We are not complaining.. but the referee should have allowed more physical contacts for the flow of the game. Back in England, physical contact is part of the game, challenges in the box are accepted as long as it is clean and we scored goals playing that way.'' He however contended that the standard of refereeing could be different from one country to another so also in India.

Shillong Lajong coach Pradyum Reddy, who echoed Dolby's remarks on referring stressed on the need to improve the standard of refereeing. ''referees should also go abroad to see the physicality of the game and learnt from it,'' he said.

Sheffield that had participated in the Platinum Jubilee Cup in Kolkata, a tournament organised to commemorate Mohammedan Sporting's 75 years of existence, will leave for Guwahati
to play another friendly match against Assam XI at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium on November 18.

Sheffield also lost 0-1 to Kolkata giant Mohun Bagan Platinum Jubilee Cup in Kolkata on November 12.

Ar Hima to meet Mizoram

Shillong soccer

Shillong, Nov 10 : The 21st Meghalaya Invitation Football will start at Polo Ground here tomorrow where Ar Hima FC will battle it out against the Mizoram cops.

Altogether 13 teams will participate, including the first four top teams in the Shillong Premiere League and Nigeria XI from Delhi.

Tiddim Road Athletic Union from Manipur, Mizoram Police, Chennai Custom from Tamil Nadu and Kankre FC from Mumbai, Howrah Union and Southern Samity from Calcutta will also participate. Teams from Nepal and Bhutan will also feature. The local teams are Shillong Lajong FC, Royal Wahingdoh SC, Langsning SC and Ar Hima FC. Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma will inaugurate the tournament.

Football team: The Meghalaya Police Football Team left Shillong for Punjab today to take part in the 59th edition of the B.N. Mullick Memorial All- India Police Football Championship in Jalandhar from November 13-20.

Nagaland Police lifts Martyrs Football Trophy

Kohima, Oct 31 : Nagaland Police today lifted the 11th NSF Martyrs' Memorial Football Trophy at Kohima Local Ground, defeating Lamkang Students Union of Manipur by a solitary goal in the final match of the Championship.

The Naga Students Federation (NSF) is organising the 11th edition of the championship in memory of its members - Lt Kekuojalie Sacho and Lt Vikhozo Yhosho. The match began on a dull note, but gradually gained momentum around the finishing moments of the barren first half.

After the break, both the teams gave a neck-to-neck fight and Vilie Rio exploited the opportunity to score at the 58th minute when he received a pass. The ball hit the goal post and bounced in the net. Addressing the gathering as the Chief Guest, Nagaland Director General of Police K Kire appealed to the youths to offer more devotion in practice to reach the acme of sports and games.

The Chief Guest distributed prizes of the Trophy.