Lajong lift trophy

ZAHIR ZAKARIA

NM Gupta football

Silchar, Jan. 27: Shillong Lajong FC annexed the 29th Capt. N.M. Gupta Football Tournament title, defeating Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) Sports Club, Guwahati 2-1 today.

Play started at a very slow pace as both the teams took it easy. But life was suddenly pumped into the game and the stands burst out in jubilation as Lajong’s James Gbilee scored a magnificent goal in the 26th minute.

ASEB did well too, improving on its defence on the one hand while keeping the Lajong side under pressure. They almost made it in the dying hours of the first half as Dipankar Sarkar missed two very good opportunities. Lajong goalkeeper L. Ralte made a marvellous save.

Resuming in the second half, Lajong got the taste of success with P. Lalremmawa converting a Gbilee pass into a goal, giving Lajong a 2-0 lead.

ASEB promised a comeback with Nitu Narzary scoring off a penalty shot in the 85th minute. But with time against them, it was only a consolation goal for the side.

Teams: Shillong Lajong: L. Ralte (Gk), R. Sangma, Z. Ralte, M.S. Singh, Z. Mahasangma, S. Ramengmawla, K. Okoye, J. Gbilee, P. Lalremmawa, Anil Gurung.

ASEB: D. Brahma (Gk), M. Swargiary, H. Brahma, M. Mushahary, B. Kundu, P.K. Singh, S. Boro, D. Patra, Nitu Narzary, J. Brahma, Dipankar Sarkar. Referee: Nirmal Bhattacharjee.
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Bagan coach warned

New Delhi: The I-League committee on Tuesday let off Mohun Bagan coach Sujit Chakrabarty with a warning for abusing and manhandling the fourth referee in a match against ONGC.

“The coach has written to us apologising for his unsporting conduct,” said the I-League chief executive officer Sunando Dhar. “Since it was his first offence, we decided not to take it to the disciplinary committee and issue a warning.”

The committee, which met here, also accepted a proposal from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to change the name of the AIFF XI to Indian Arrows from February.

Apart from making a few changes in the I-League schedule because of pre-Olympic, pre-World Cup and AFC Cup matches, the committee also decided to stage the final rounds of the second division I-League in Meghalaya.

Mohammedan Sporting, Southern Samity and Aryan are likely to feature in the second division.
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Mizoram triumph


Mizoram (in red) and Manipur boys in action at Khuman Lampak main stadium in Imphal on Wednesday.

Imphal, Jan 20 : Mizoram thrashed Manipur by 6-1 goals here today to qualify for the final round of the 33rd Sub-Junior National Football Championship for Coca Cola Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy, 2010-11 (NE Zone) played at Khuman Lampak main stadium.

Though four teams were supposed to play in the qualifying rounds, Meghalaya pulled out at the last moment leaving Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Manipur in the contest. Hosts Manipur defeated Arunachal Pradesh twice to qualify for the next level from Group A while Mizoram qualified without a fight from Group B as Meghalaya pulled out.
Manipur put up a fight in the first half of play, which ended with Zosangliana Saile’s goal in the 19th minute for Mizoram. Ramengmawai scored the second goal for Mizoram in the 27th minute to take the lead to 2-0 at the end of first half.
In the second half Manipur was bombarded with four goals as Mizoram’s David Himngthanga and Toky Zomuan scored a goal each and Ramengmawai scored two more to take the lead to 6-1.
Ronald Singh scored the only goal for Manipur.
District cricket: DSA Churchandpur defeated Imphal East District Football Association by two goals in the 22nd Junior Boys Inter-District Football Tournament played at Churachandpur Public Ground.
Equestrian meet: Twenty- four riders have proceeded to round B of the senior tent pegging sword individual of the 8th DGAR Equestrian Championship, 2011, being held at Mapal Kangjeibung.
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Lionel Messi wins FIFA world player award

MessiZURICH: Argentina and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi won FIFA's Ballon d'Or award on Monday as the world's best player of 2010.

Messi won the trophy for a second straight year, finishing ahead of Barcelona teammates Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez.

"It's a very special day for me," Messi said through a translator on receiving the award at a gala ceremony in FIFA's home city.

The 23-year-old Messi helped an exciting Barcelona team retain its Spanish league title and lead the standings again this season.

Messi's trademark tricky play was often mesmerizing and he scored 58 goals for the Catalan club in 2010. However, he had a disappointing World Cup in South Africa, failing to score. Iniesta and Xavi, by comparison, starred for eventual winner Spain.

"I didn't expect to win it today," Messi said. "Already it's a source of happiness to be here with my friends and even more to win it."

Messi obtained 22.65 percent of the votes cast by coaches and captains of national teams plus invited journalists. The original shortlist featured 23 players.

Andres Iniesta finished second with 17.36 percent and Xavi received 16.48 percent to finish third for the second straight year.

All three candidates learned their craft at Barcelona's La Masia youth academy.

Barcelona has now provided eight winners in the 20-year history of the FIFA honour. Messi follows former Brazilian internationals Romario (1994), Ronaldo (1996 and '97), Rivaldo (1999) and Ronaldinho (2004 and '05).

The award was renamed this year after FIFA merged its world player award with the Ballon d'Or trophy, which had been presented to the best player in Europe by France Football magazine since 1956.

Earlier, Jose Mourinho won the men's coach award for leading Inter Milan to a treble including the Champions League.

Mourinho beat World Cup-winning Spain coach Vicente del Bosque and Pep Guardiola of Barcelona to the inaugural honour. The Portuguese coach guided Inter to the Italian league and cup double before leaving to join Real Madrid.

Brazil forward Marta won the best women's player award for a fifth straight year, defeating Germany internationals Birgit Prinz and Kosovo-born Lira Bajramaj.

Marta was rewarded for her MVP season with United States women's professional league champion Gold Pride.

Silvia Neid won the inaugural women's coaching award for her work with the Germany national team, which defends its World Cup title at home in July. Also shortlisted were Maren Meinert, whose Germany Under-20 team was world champion in July, and Pia Sundhage, the Swedish coach of the United States' Olympic champions.

Haitian football received the FIFA fair play award for its recovery from an earthquake which devastated the Caribbean island last January.

The FIFA presidential award was made to Archbishop Desmond Tutu in recognition of South Africa's organization of the World Cup.

Tutu praised FIFA President Sepp Blatter for his passion and determination to ensure Africa would host the tournament.

"I want to pay a very warm tribute," the former Nobel Peace Prize winner said. "It is one in the eye for the Afro pessimists."

All three Ballon d'Or nominees featured in a World XI lineup chosen by FIFA and the FIFPro group of players' unions worldwide.

The team consisted entirely of players from Barcelona, Real Madrid and European champion Inter Milan.

Spain captain Iker Casillas from Madrid was chosen as goalkeeper. In defense, Barcelona pair Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique were joined by Inter's Maicon and Lucio.

Wesley Sneijder of Inter completed a midfield trio comprising Iniesta and Xavi. The attack teamed Messi and David Villa from Barca with Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.

Hamit Altintop won the Puskas Award for most beautiful goal in 2010 for his volleyed shot for Turkey against Kazakhstan in a 2012 European Championship qualifying match. The Bayern Munich midfielder connected with a right-footed shot from 18 meters (yards) after a left-flank corner had looped directly into his path for the ball to fly into the back of the net.

Altintop was chosen from a shortlist of 10 goals in a global online poll of more than one million fans. The award is named after the late Hungary and Real Madrid great Ferenc Puskas.
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