Seven Sisters Love Football: September 2011

AIFF signs regional broadcast partner for I-League

The All India Football Federation (AIFF), the governing body of soccer in India, has announced television broadcaster Brand Value Communications Ltd (BVCL) as a regional broadcast partner for the 2011/12 season of the country’s top soccer competition, the I-League.

Under the terms of the deal, brokered by IMG Reliance, a joint venture between Reliance Industries and IMG Worldwide, the broadcaster will screen 75 league matches via its News Time Bangla and News Time Assam channels in West Bengal and Assam respectively.

"After our association with BVCL for the Federation Cup, IMG Reliance is pleased to have signed Brand Value Communications Ltd as regional broadcaster across West Bengal and the North East for the I-League's 2011/12 season," said an IMG Reliance spokesperson.

AIFF general secretary Kushal Das said: "It is an extremely encouraging trend that regional broadcasters are taking such initiatives so that football becomes visible in the regions and hoped that more such channels come forward in other regions.”

The 2011/12 I-League season, the fifth since its establishment in 2006, kicks off with a number of fixtures on the 21st October.

Delhi’s campaign ends, United lose

New Delhi: Delhi's campaign in the Durand Cup came to an end after Delhi United, the last remaining state team exited in the second round of the qualifying tournament after suffering a 4-2 defeat against Assam Rifles. Delhi United were playing without both their foreign nationals whose contracts were only until the end of the DSA Senior Division. While their midfielders created chances aplenty, Delhi United's strikers Deepak Mehra and Obed Kahmei failed to convert.

Assam Rifles on the other hand made the most of their opportunities. They were helped significantly by United goalkeeper Raj Kumar, who had a horror day on the field. Consistently wrong footed, his panic was palpable every time he had to clear a high ball while under pressure from the opposition. Eventually Assam Rifles took the lead through a strike by Devender in the 16th minute. They would add another through Meikingai Kamei just before the stroke of half time.

Delhi United though weren't state champions for no reason. Almost immediately after the break the reduced the margin through Saurav Patra who seized his opportunity after a goalmouth melee. Deepak Mehra scored the equaliser in the 69th and it appeared that a turnaround was on the cards. However despite playing almost the remainder of the match in the Assam Rifles half, no goal came.

Instead, against the run of play, it was the Army side that took the lead. Once again it was United's defence and particularly custodian Kumar who was in error. Captain Rishi Kapoor gave away a loose ball and with plenty of space it was Haokip who put his name on the scorers list in the 86th minute. Desperate to find their own equaliser United committed almost all their players up front. With such a field there was no margin for error, and when Kapoor once again failed to clear a ball in the 89th minute he allowed Ajit Kumar Singh to deliver the coup de grace. Assam Rifles next play I-league club Sporting Clube de Goa in the third round.

BSF triumph

Seven times champions Border Security Force (BSF) also entered the third round of the Durand qualifying tournament. They overcame spirited Bhawanipur FC of Kolkata 5-3 in the penalty shoot out after the match ended in a 1-1 draw. BSF will now meet Tata Football Academy (TFA) in their third round tie on Friday September 30.

East Bengal rally to make the final

Calcutta: Khangtang Paite struck the winner as East Bengal rallied to beat a nine-man United SC 2-1 in the Federation Cup semi-final at the Salt Lake Stadium on Monday.

Snehashish Dutta gave United the lead in the 17th minute but East Bengal fought back after Alan Gow equalised via a penalty in the 37th minute. The teams were locked 1-1 at the breather. The victory took East Bengal to the Federation Cup final for the third consecutive year.

There was drama in store during the second session after referee Magho Singh showed two red cards to United’s Joshimar and Deepak Mondal in the 69th and 79th minutes, respectively. These incidents had a huge impact on the match as a wayward East Bengal regrouped and went all out in search of the winner.

They finally found it in the 82nd minute. Penn Orji initiated the move, getting past two defenders and passing the ball on to Baljeet Sahni. The striker, in turn, back passed to Paite, who substituted Reisangmi Vashum in the 80th minute. Without showing any signs of rustiness, Paite’s thunderous left-footer from the edge of the box found the net.

Earlier, after several attempts, United broke the deadlock in the 17th minute. Malsawamtluanga, who was operating on the left flank, lobbed the ball to a surging Joshimar. But both Joshimar and East Bengal goalkeeper Sandip Nandy, who had rushed out of his charge, missed the flight. The ball landed near Snehashish, who found the mark with ease.

East Bengal levelled the scoreline in the 36th minute when Gow was tripped by Bello Rassaq inside the box. The Scot did not disappoint.

It was, however, disheartening to see the standard of refereeing. If the decision to award a penalty in favour of East Bengal was justified, the referee messed it up on other occasions.

In the 59th minute, Naoba Singh pushed Yusif Yakubu inside the box. United players appealed for a penalty but the referee overruled.

Joshimar went charging towards the referee and pulled his shirt. Immediately, the referee flashed the yellow card. The Brazilian saw his second yellow in the 79th minute when he tripped East Bengal defender Saumik Dey intentionally.

United was again at the receiving end of the referee’s wrath a little later. Having already been cautioned for a foul on Tolgay in the 45th minute, Deepak Mondal’s second yellow was completely uncalled for. The referee could have overlooked the incident since he fouled Saumik Dey in a not-so-dangerous position.

After these setbacks, United lost the zeal to fight as the red-and-gold brigade romped home. East Bengal, in fact, could have added another one to their tally. Penn failed to score with only United goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal in front during injury time. His shot ricocheted off the right post. Off the rebound, the ball went to Baljeet, who too found the bar in the way.

United did impress at the start. East Bengal were found wanting for most part of the match. They were without the services of Mehtab Hussain, who has held their midfield together. His replacement, Harmanjyot Khabra, was a disaster as he failed to block most of United’s forays.

United could have taken the lead as early as the first minute. Joshimar showed great presence of mind as he got past Nirmal Chetri before passing it on to a surging Lalkamal Bhowmick. The captain’s right-footer was saved by an alert East Bengal goalkeeper Nandy. Then in the 50th minute, Joshimar’s header went straight to Nandy.

It the end, though, it was East Bengal who scored when it mattered most.

TEAMS

East Bengal: Sandip Nandy, Nirmal Chetri, Uga Okpara, Saumik Dey (Robert Lalthlamuana, 86), Harmanjyot Khabra, Naoba Singh, Reisangmi Vashum (Khangtang Paite, 80), Sanju Pradhan, Tolgay Ozebe (Penn Orji, 66), Alan Gow, Balji Sahni

United SC: Abhijit Mondal, Arnab Mondal, Deepak Mondal, Bello Rasaq, Sukhen Dey, Denson Devadas (Kayne Vincent, 86), Lalkamal Bhowmick, Malsawamtluanga (Chinta Chandrasekhar Rao, 84), Snehashish Dutta (Gourango Biswas, 77), Yusif Yakubu, Josimar Dasilva

Referee: Magho Singh

Robin van Persie puts contract talks on hold

London: Arsenal captain Robin van Persie says he has put off talks over a new contract in order to concentrate on helping the Gunners recover from their dismal start to the season.
Boss Arsene Wenger was forced to disrupt his pre-season preparations this summer and sanction the sales of Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy to Manchester City as the duo had only a year left on their contracts – a situation Van Persie too will be in at the end of the current campaign.
As a result, Wenger is keen to tie his star striker down to a new deal as soon as possible, but Van Persie, who reached 100 goals for Arsenal in Saturday’s 3-0 over Bolton, revealed he has bigger priorities right now.

"I still have almost two years until 2013," the Dutchman told reporters. "So for the moment that's fine, but I don't know. We will have to look.
"I'm happy with my contract, I'm good. That's how it is, I can't say much more. I can't look into the future.
"The main thing for me is the team and that we play well. I do believe you have to look for a right moment to sit down and speak about your own stuff. It's not only about me, it's about the team.
"I don't want to give the wrong message to speak about my own stuff while the others are a bit more important.
"I can’t say we are talking now because we are so busy – we have games every three or four days."

Salgaocar pip Lajong FC, Chidi the matchwinner

Kolkata, Sep 26, (PTI): Reigning I-League champions Salgaocar rode on a late strike by Edeh Chidi to pip Shillong Lajong FC 1-0 and advance to the final of the 33rd Federation Cup at the floodlit Yuba Bharati Krirangan here on Sunday.

Chidi scored the goal in the last minute of the regulation time to take the three-time winners into the final after a gap of 14 years. The Goans, who won the Federation Cup last time in 1997, will take on the winners of tomorrow's match between East Bengal and Prayag United SC in the final, on September 29.

It was a dull first-half as both teams showed no signs of urgency but in the second period the match gained momentum as there were a couple of sparks of brilliance from Shillong Lajong.

But full credit to Salgaocar goalkeeper Karanjit Singh, who thwarted two fine chances to keep the hopes of the Goans alive. Salgaocar had the better of ball possession but Chidi and Sueoka were eluded of their usual flair, missing as many as three clear chances between them.

When it all seemed that the match was going for a stalemate, the former Mohun Bagan forward Chidi earned Salgaocar the winner to their seventh final appearance. In fact, it was Karim Bencherifa's strategic move of brining Elijah Junior in place of Sueoka that yielded the results.

Junior, who replaced an off-colour Sueoka in the 87th minute, immediately made his presence felt as his long lob found a surging Chidi. Lajong goalkeepr Lalthuammawia Ralte missed the flight and failed to grab the ball before falling down, while Chidi made good use of the opportunity to slot it home without any fuss.

Salgaocar had their first chance in the 12th minute when Sueoka shot over the post. There were more tricky issues with the Goans when their defender Luciano Sabrosa almost scored an own goal in the 24th minute but his header hit the post, in the two high points of a drab first 45 minutes.

The Shillong outfit, who made the semis from a strong group boasting Mohun Bagan and Churchill Brothers, had their first chance in the 59th minute. But Johny Menyongar's powerful right-footer on top of the box was saved by the Salgaocar custodian.

Salgaocar then had their poor run of mispasses with Sueoka failing to use Chidi's supply. Sueoka's best chance came in the 83rd minute when from a Chidi centre he missed a one-on-one situation.

In two back-to-back counter attacks, Lajong almost had the lead but Salgaocar goalkeeper Karanjit stood tall under the bar. Johny had a fine chance in the 85th minute while three minutes later a powerful left-footeer by Boithang was brilliantly saved by Karanjit. But the Goans lost the momentum in the last minute, just before the injury time.

Dalbir Football Academy hold SAS Mizoram goalless

Dalbir Football Academy of Patiala and SAS Mizoram played a goalless draw and split points in a Group C match of the 9th Administrator s Challenge Cup Football Tournament for Under-17 being organised by the Chandigarh Sports Department at the Sector 17 Football Stadium here today. Three Dalbir Football Academy players -- Lovjot, Robert and Shailender have been declared overge by the medical examinations, including ossification test at Sector 16 Government Multi Speciality Hospital today. Both teams were evenly balanced and exhibited football skills in the rough and tough play. Daljit Football Academy had an opportunity to score but Amanjot shot wide with Mizoram goalkeeper Eddie Zoramnamia advancing to foil him. Mizoram had two golden opportunities to score but Lalvendong muffed these chances. On the first occasion, his angular shot from close just sailed over the bar. In his next move, Lalvendong got the better of two DF Academy players before missing an open chance. C Lalhlipuia (17th), MS Damngliana (33rd), PC Vanlolremrvatpuia (87th) of SAS Mizoram and Jobanpreet Singh (50th), Mohd Sagar (82nd) and Mohd Javed (87th) were cautioned and show yellow card for indulging in rough play.

East Bengal, Lajong in Fed Cup semis

KOLKATA/PUNE, Sept 23 (IANS): Title holders East Bengal and Shillong Lajong Football Club carved out similar 1-0 wins to move into the semifinals of the 33rd Federation Cup football tournament on Wednesday.

After an unproductive first half, striker Robin Singh scored the all-important goal for East Bengal in the 68th minute of the Group C match at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.

In Group A, Lajong rode on John Meyongar’s 43rd-minute strike to put it across state rivals Royal Wahingdoh in Pune’s Balewadi Sports Complex.

East Bengal finished their engagements with seven points from three matches while Dempo remained on three points from the same number of outings. Both teams went in the attack mode from the kick-off giving the sparse crowd at the galleries their money’s worth.

East Bengal came close to scoring in the 12th minute but Reisangmi Vashum’s long-ranger was narrowly off-target.

Soon after, Dempo’s Ranti Martin failed to slot it in off a Clifford Miranda cross.

East Bengal, who are eyeing a hattrick of Fed Cup titles, broke the goalless deadlock as Robin, receiving a pass from Australian forward Tolgay Ozbey, went past the rival goalkeeper to bulge the net. Dempo’s best chance came in the 90th minute when they received an indirect free-kick inside the penalty box but failed to capitalise on it.

After their victory over Wahingdoh, Lajong have to wait for the next group match between Goa’s Churchill Brothers and Mohun Bagan. While victory would have carried Churchill to the last four, Mohun Bagan made Lajong a big favour by holding the Goans 2-2.

Both Lajong and Wahingdoh finished their engagements on 6 points but Lajong went through to semis on head-to-head count.

Needing just a draw to make it to the semis, Wahingdoh went on the offensive from the opening minute, but failed to utilise the chances which came their way.

Lajong could have won by a better margin had not striker Iyikwobe Chizoza muffed up a penalty in the 63rd minute. The spot kick was awarded after John was brought down in the box by Kareem Nurian, who gto marching orders.

Wahingdoh came closest to scoring in the 77th minute, but Chenco failed to beat rival custodian Lalthuammawia Ralte in a one-on-one.

Playing at the same venue, Bagan came back from behind to hold Churchill.

Henri Arnaud put Churchill ahead in the 23rd minute, but Bagan seized the initiative with two goals within a span of three minutes. First Jose Ramirrez Baretto headed home Jewel Raja’s corner in the 41st minute and then Sunil Chhetri blasted it home a minute before the interval.

Manipur lifts School Games Football Championship

Basit Lone
Srinagar,Sep 20:
Manipur defended the title successfully by defeating Orissa on Tuesday in a sudden death stage in the final of the 57th National School Games Football Championship at Bakshi Stadium Srinagar.
Milan scored a goal while the goal keeper of the Manipur managed to save the goal in the sudden death stage clinching the contest in a nail biting thriller.
Both the teams were unable to score any goal in the stipulated time. Later in the extra-time also the match was leveled by no goal. In the penalty shootout both scored 4-4 goals.
In the closing ceremony Chief Guest Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed said that the state is hosting national level tournaments which are encouraging youth to sports.
“We have successfully hosted national tournaments giving a clear message that Kashmir is peaceful,” said the minister.

Man Utd edge spirited Chelsea 3-1 in thriller

Manchester: Manchester United continued their 100 percent start to the Premier League with an enthralling 3-1 victory over Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday. Chris Smalling, Nani and Wayne Rooney, who later missed a penalty, did enough to overcome Fernando Torres' reply, in an end-to-end match that was tumultuous, thrilling and frequently baffling.
Alex Ferguson followed through on his vow to restore David de Gea between the sticks, having given Anders Lindegaard a run-out against Benfica in mid-week. Darren Fletcher also started despite only having played 60 minutes since returning from a long lay-off with a mystery virus. Chelsea, meanwhile, stuck with the misfiring Torres up front.
After just two minutes, Ashley Cole volleyed over the area to the back post, finding Ramires free to shoot, but the under-pressure de Gea produced a good save with his outstretched leg.

Getty Images

The home side, though, took their first opportunity - after Jose Bosingwa brought down Ashley Young on the United left, the winger swung the free-kick into the box, and the anonymous Chelsea defence allowed Smalling acres of space in which to head home, although TV replays suggested he was slightly offside.
The Blues' heads did not go down, though, and they pushed forward in search of a quick response. Under pressure from Bosingwa, Anderson lamely gave the ball straight to the onrushing Torres, who got around the last defender before slicing wide, de Gea having closed the angle well.
There were half-hearted shouts for a United penalty when, in trying to clear from the box, Frank Lampard nodded the ball against his own shoulder on its way into the ground, but Phil Dowd ignored it.
Chelsea were dominating the attacking play in search of an equaliser, but a relatively rare United foray forward was nearly decisive when Nani clipped a cross into the centre of the box towards Rooney, but Raul Meireles made a crucial interception.
The Blues should have equalised immediately after, as, on the break, Juan Mata fed Torres through the inside-left channel, who pulled it across the box into the path of Ramires, but the midfielder made a mess of a shot he should have buried and de Gea snatched it.
With Chelsea still on the attack, Torres attempted an overhead kick on the edge of the area from Daniel Sturridge's cross, but it sailed harmlessly wide of the post. Sturridge himself then had an opportunity having brilliantly controlled an awkward headed flick in the box, but his shot was picked up by de Gea.
And sure enough, Chelsea were made to pay for their variety of squandered chances, when, out of nowhere, Jonny Evans brought Nani into play with a long cross-field pass. The winger moved slowly and deliberately inside a compliant Mata before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the top corner from 25 yards to throw Andre Villas-Boas' plans into further chaos - and again, technology intimated that Nani was offside when he received the ball.
A few minutes later, just as Chelsea considered regrouping at half-time, Phil Jones drove relentlessly forward into the penalty area and, as he fell to the floor, the ball popped up out of the mess of players into the path of Rooney, who could not have missed, and so Chelsea, for long periods the superior side, perplexingly reached the break 3-0 down.
Villas-Boas reacted by bringing on Nicolas Anelka for Lampard, and it brought immediate results as the Frenchman played Torres through precisely from the left, and the Spaniard finally scored his second Chelsea goal, a beautiful chip over the helpless de Gea.
Suddenly, with Chelsea pouring forward, United broke and Nani rattled the crossbar with a monstrous shot, but any disappointment was erased when he was awarded a penalty, Bosingwa judged to have brought him down, although it appeared that he got as much of the ball as the player. But, to shock, Rooney's comical slip from the spot saw him launch the ball skywards, with the watching John Terry reminded of one night in Moscow.
The Blues kept pushing but stuttered a little and the next real chance fell again to the hosts, as Jones rose to meet Young's cross from the short corner, but the ex-Blackburn man's header was weak and wide. A corner at the other end then saw substitute Romelu Lukaku look for a second as if he had broken free from Patrice Evra to poke home, but the left-back somehow got back in time to block him.
The visitors knocked on the door again as a rejuvenated-looking Torres spectacularly evaded two defenders and let off a vicious shot, but de Gea was equal to it, with the striker then blasting the rebound over the bar.
With Chelsea coming ever closer, they might have been killed off once again when, as Terry missed his interception on Evra's low cross, Rooney looked certain to score from close range, only to see his effort bobble off the post in a huge let-off for the Blues. As Javier Hernandez pounced on the rebound, firing wide, he was scythed down by Ashley Cole. No penalty was given as the shot had already been dispatched out of play, but the left-back was lucky only to garner a yellow card.
And suddenly, the moment came. Ramires removed the entire United back line from the equation with a brilliant through-ball for Torres, who rounded de Gea and had to score, yet somehow contrived to shoot unacceptably wide in the face of an impossibly easy open goal.
As the match moved into stoppage time, Dimitar Berbatov seemed certain to bury a fourth, fed by Rooney on the break, but a heroic last-ditch run from Cole was enough to reach the ball in time. But Chelsea could not summon enough after that to find a comeback before the game's end.

Champions League: Barca and Arsenal hit by late equalisers

This combo image shows Barcelona's coach Josep Guardiola and Arsenal player Robin Van Persie after their respective matches which ended in draws - AFP
Holders Barcelona and English side Arsenal both saw victory elude them in their opening matches of the Champions League group stages on Tuesday as late goals left them with draws.
A superb second-half freekick by David Villa looked to have secured Barca the three points after they had dominated the match with AC Milan, despite Alexandre Pato's early goal, only for Thiago Silva to head home in the third minute of time added-on to make it 2-2.
Arsenal looked to have secured a much-needed morale boosting win away against German champions Borussia Dortmund until a stunning volley by Ivan Perisic two minutes from time saw the match end in a 1-1 draw.
Arsenal's Premier League rivals Chelsea had no such problems as they won 2-0 against another German side Bayer Leverkusen - for whom Michael Ballack started against one of his former clubs.
Pato showed that the extra rest he'd been permitted by Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri after returning from the Copa America had paid off as he opened the scoring virtually from the kick-off.
The Brazilian - who is engaged to AC Milan owner and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's daughter - broke the Barcelona offside trap to run on and slot the ball past goalkeeper Victor Valdes.
His 24 second strike was the fifth fastest gola in Champions League history.
Barca, though, forced an equaliser late in the second-half as Lionel Messi somehow managed to outstrip two Milan defenders in the box and get in his low cross, which Pedro put away after running in unmarked at the far post.
The hosts, though, suffered a blow in the 39th minute as Andres Iniesta had to go off injured to be replaced by the in-form Cesc Fabregas.
But it didn't stop their domination of the match and Villa's sublime freekick gave them a deserved lead only to be pegged back right at the end.
Arsenal struck just before the break after an evenly fought first-half as van Persie played a neat 1-2 with Theo Walcott and finished it off in style but Dortmund got a deserved draw thanks to Perisic.
Chelsea and Leverkusen both had goals ruled out in the first-half but the London side got on the board in the second-half through David Luiz with a brilliant effort.
Recent Spanish signing Juan Manuel Mata added a second in time added-on.
Chelsea boss Andres Villas-Boas's former side Porto, the club he guided to the Europa League trophy last season, came from behind to beat last season's Champions League quarter-finalists Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1.
Shakhtar, winners of the now defunct UEFA Cup, took an early lead away with Brazilian Luiz Adriano scoring.
Porto, though, fought back and leading striker Hulk levelled before half-time while Pinheiro Kleber stroked in the winner in the second-half.
Marseille have yet to win in the French league this season but they shrugged off that form to win away 1-0 at Olympiakos, a goal by Argentinina star Lucho Gonzalez proving the difference.
Czech Republic side Plzen marked their first appearance in the group stages by taking the lead at home to Belarus outfit BATE Borisov, Marek Bakos scoring in the first-half, but Renan Bressan equalised in the second period to force a 1-1 draw.

Benfica eye special plan for rampant United

Lisbon: Manchester United are in such rampant form that Benfica coach Jorge Jesus says he will have to deploy cautious tactics to salvage even a point from Wednesday's Champions League Group C opener against last season's runners-up.
Twice European champions Benfica face a stern test at home against a United side who have burst out of the blocks in their Premier League title defence with a 100 percent record and lead the table on goal difference.
Still, Benfica coach Jorge Jesus believes his team can grab points if they are able to adjust their attack-minded tactics to counter United's flowing attack.

"We want to be stronger tactically, if we manage that, we will balance out the match. There are three points on the table but in the Champions League every single point is important," said the Portuguese coach.
Benfica, knocked out at the group stage last year, will be confident of progressing this time given the other teams in the group, Switzerland's FC Basel and Romanian debutants Otelul Galati, look very beatable.
"We have to approach this game differently in terms of tactics and objectives. United is one of the best in Europe and has top players but we also have them," Jesus added.
MATURE ROONEY
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will be looking to translate his rampant domestic form into Champions League goals. The England forward has scored back-to-back hat-tricks in Premier League games, the latest coming in Saturday's 5-0 thumping of Bolton Wanderers.
"It's down to maturity," manager Alex Ferguson said of Rooney, who has notched eight league goals.
"He's in his mid-20s and I always think when players get to this age they get more authority in their game, their timing is better and their control of games is better. His presence is getting bigger in every game. He's looking fantastic."
Benfica's backline, much-improved from last season thanks to the signing of centre back Ezequiel Garay from Real Madrid and goalkeeper Artur from Braga, will have to be at the top of their game to stop Rooney and deny room for Nani and Javier Hernandez to inflict damage.
Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel has also arrived to make Benfica's midfield more compact, freeing playmaker Pablo Aimar to assume a more attacking role,
Up front, the Portuguese's side's main weapon remains the efficient Paraguay striker Oscar Cardozo, while Spanish forward Nolito has brought added speed and mobility.

Shillong Lajong Football Club - The Hope Of The North-East

The Shillong based clubs have bounced straight back into the I-League Division I after relegation in 2009-10. Can they stay up? Goal.com's Ayush Srivastava has a look....

LAST SEASON
Shillong Lajong bounced straight back into the I-League after being relegated to division II in 2009-10. Playing in front of their home crowd and in conditions which were to their benefit, The Reds took full advantage and ran away as the division II Winners.
The I-League division II champions will hope to have a better season than the one they had the last time they got promoted to the premier division of Indian Football.
Last season, the club also failed to replicate its heroics of 2009 in the Federation Cup, as after qualifying for the group stage, the Shillong-based club crashed out with 2 points.
The club did however reach the IFA Shield semi-final, where they lost to Mohun Bagan.

Tuboi's Registration With Army XI Caused A Furore....
During Off-Season
The club’s participation in the I-League was in jeopardy for a while as an issue over the registration of forward Seikhohao Tuboi reared its head. Tuboi was said to have represented two clubs during the same season as along with Shillong Lajong he also played for the Army XI in the Kolkata League. However Lajong conclusively proved that the player was registered with them since two seasons and played for the Army team as he was also an army jawan. Eventually the matter was sorted out and Lajong’s place in the first division was secured.
The Shillong based club’s stadium also was given a grant of Rs. 5.5 Crores by the Meghalaya Government and work is underway at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium which means that Head Coach Pradhyum Reddy’s boys might have to play some of their earlier home games at Imphal, Manipur.

Sluggish Pitch Conditions Force Relocation Of Training Camp To Mizoram...
PRE-SEASON
In a recent interview with Goal.com, the Reds coach Pradhyum Reddy revealed that he wasn’t totally satisfied with the club’s pre-season, which he described as “disjointed”.
Due to sluggish condition of the ground in Shillong, the team had to move its camp to Mizoram in order to avail better facilities. The team also took part in a pre-season tournament there, which helped fine-tune their preparations.
Lajong then returned to Shillong, where again due to the ground conditions, they had to make use of an alternate training ground.
The club has now moved base to Guwahati, with their British coach revealing that the prime reason for their decision to move to Assam was the need to acclimatize to the warm weather prevalent on the plains of India. This was largely done as the club had struggled to deal with the heat in places like Goa and Kolkata, due to which they had an abysmal away record in their first stint in the I-League.

Former Liberian Captain Joins The Pride...
TRANSFERS
The Shillong based outfit have been busy strengthening their squad for the upcoming I-League season during the transfer window.
The most high profile signing of the club has been the signing of Liberian attacker Johnny Menyongar, who has joined the club from United Sikkim. The forward brings a wealth of experience to the side and should add some bite in the attack.
His possible strike partner could be former Mohammedan Sporting striker Christopher Chizoba, who was the third highest scorer in the Kolkata League last season.
Chizoba alongwith former Ar-Hima Captain Eugeneson Lyngdoh, who is an attacking central midfielder by trade, could prove to be one of the smartest signings of the transfer window as both have shown a lot of potential last season and should prove useful in the I-League.
BMFC midfielder Henry Gangte and defender L. Romenjit Singh should add depth to the squad. Similarly Ex- JCT defender Lalchuanmawia and Southern Samity’s Tuishim Mashangva will give more options to Reddy at the back.
Nine players have also been released, including Anil Gurung who has returned to Nepal and Marcus Basumatary, Keleche Okoye who have joined Ar-Hima.
Meanwhile, a player from Korea, Yu Chul Won is under trial as the club look to complete their quota of foreign signings.
KEY PLAYERS
Shillong Lajong had managed to retain most of their players when they were relegated in 2009-10 and most of them have stayed with the squad this season. Many of those players, like keeper Rime still form the core of the team while new signings like Menyongar and Lyngdoh should help improve the squad. Here are some of the players who might have a decisive say in the fortunes of the Shillong-based club this term.

J. Menyongar: The Liberian attacker is the biggest signing Lajong have made this transfer window and the attacker will have to fire in goals all through the season if Lajong are going to have a chance to survive this season.

Subhas Singh: Called up to the national camp by Colaco, the wingback will hope to catch the national team coach’s eye again this season with his forays forward. Although he might need to tighten up defensively against teams in the top tier, Singh could well prove to be the answer to India’s problems at left back, and in solving them he might well save Lajong from relegation.

Gumpe Rime: The veteran in goal for the Reds is still a mainstay at the back. A brilliant shot-stopper, he also commands his defence well and his organizational skills will be as vital as the saves he makes for the Shillong-based club this season.

B. Haokip: The 20 year old Manipuri had a great season for Lajong last year. The width and quality he provides to the club is a very crucial to Reddy's tactics. Capable of turning up on either wing, Haokip could well be the next star from the North-East.
COACH

Coach Pradhyum Reddy took over the team after they were relegated from the I-League in 2009-10. The 35-year-old British national, who holds a UEFA ‘A’ License, has done well to hold on to the core of the squad which represented the club in their first stint in the I-League.
His tactics and methods of ensuring his players acclimatize to away conditions, something which was their Achilles heel in 2009-10, show his eye for details and thorough research.
With some smart signings having been made in the transfer window, Reddy seems to be a safe pair of hands who should lead Lajong to safety, which is their aim for this season
TACTICS

35-year-old Pradhyum Reddy likes to play a fluid attacking system. However with survival being Lajong's main aim for the season, one can expect variations from the coach in tactics throughout the season.
The Shillong based club have four tremendous strikers on their roster and would like to make the full use of such an enviable strikeforce.
The presence of so many versatile midfielders certainly gives the gives the coach enough options to choose from.
Source: Goal.com

Man Utd crush Bolton with Rooney's hat-trick

Bolton: Manchester United eased to a 5-0 win at Bolton on Saturday with Wayne Rooney bagging his second hat-trick in as many games.
United were really in the mood in the first half as they romped to a 3-0 lead inside 25 minutes with a goal from Javier Hernandez and a brace from Rooney, whilst Bolton struggled to cope with their visitor’s attacking ability.
In the second period, both strikers grabbed another goal each, but could have added several more as the match neared the heights of United’s last league match, the 8-2 victory against Arsenal.

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney celebrates his third goal against Bolton Wanderers with teammates during their English Premier League soccer match in Bolton, northern England, on September 10, 2011.

Reuters

It didn’t even take Javier Hernandez five minutes into his first start of the season before he opened his account for the year as he flicked the ball home from the near post, but a lot of credit should be given to Nani who delivered a brilliant low cross from the right.
The hosts almost hit back a minute later as Martin Petrov crossed from the left, but United failed to clear it properly and Chris Eagles got a shot away, but the combination of Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand saved it on the line.
United came close to extending their lead in the 12th minute as the visitors hit Bolton on the counter-attack, but Rooney couldn’t quite reach Hernandez’s cross from the right and Gary Cahill conceded a corner.
They did, however, extend their lead just shy of the 20-minute mark as Wayne Rooney got on the end of a Phil Jones cross, poking the ball out of the reach of Jussi Jaaskelainen into the bottom far corner.
Minutes later, United had their third, owing much thanks to a sublime run from Phil Jones as he skipped past several tackles as he charged down the right before eventually having a shot blocked, but Rooney was on hand to smash home the rebound from six yards.
Despite just a few minutes after, Hernandez thought he had added a fourth; however, he was flagged offside and the score remained as it was until the second half with Bolton barely registering a shot on the United goal in the first period.
The second half started with Bolton actually looking to pressurise David De Gea in the United goal, but at first he was equal to Mark Davies’ shot from just outside the box, and soon after he rose well to catch a Kevin Davies header.
Hernandez should have got his second of the day as he gambled on Jaaskelainen to make a heavy first touch from De Gea’s clearance, but after getting the ball, instead of hitting it first time, Chicharito opted for a touch and when he eventually got a shot away, it was tame, allowing Bolton to find safety.
However, two minutes later, he did get his second as Michael Carrick shot from the edge of the box, but a deflection took it straight to the little Mexican, who was left with the simplest of finishes.
Still with 23 minutes to go, Wayne Rooney claimed his hat-trick, smashing a Nani pass into the bottom left corner after the Portuguese winger received a brilliant pass from Ryan Giggs and picked out the England international in the 'D' of the penalty area.
That goal consolidated a remarkable feat with Rooney becoming the first player in Premier League history to score eight goals in four matches.
United came close to adding a sixth five minutes from time as Nani found Hernandez in the box with a clever pass, but when through on goal, the Mexican tried to square the ball to Anderson, but the pass was just too far ahead of him.
In all honesty, Bolton were never really in the game with United's lightening quick start effectively ending the match as a contest minutes after starting as the Premier League champions completely outclassed their hosts.

It's 'club vs country' in football again

New Delhi: Top European clubs are heading for a collision course with FIFA and other stakeholders in international football.
In a move that is bound to renew the long-running 'club vs country' debate in football, the European Club Association (ECA) - an independent body which directly represents the clubs at a European level - has called for a drastic reduction in the number of international fixtures held every year.
The current calendar provides for 12 internationals. FIFA wants to increase that to an unreasonable 17, while the clubs - already incensed - want to bring it down to just six.

Increasing demands are being made on players, who have to balance the interests of club and country

Getty Images

The clubs have also asked for a raise in the compensation paid to them by FIFA and UEFA for releasing players to compete in international competitions. On the face of it, that seems to be a fair demand. After all, it is the clubs who own the players, pay their wages, train them for the best part of the year and suffer the most should their 'assets' get an injury.
However, on the flipside, clubs are well aware of the perils of bringing top international stars on their rolls. In fact, one might argue that the bigger teams deliberately want players good enough to represent their countries at the highest level, to improve quality. So, like any other business, they must accept the risks that come with their constant quest for success.
It is difficult to believe that international football has no place any more. Glory at the club level might have taken precedence for many players and fans alike, but there is still a certain prestige attached to wearing the national shirt that many footballers yearn for. The World Cup is perhaps the most-viewed sports event worldwide, and the biggest honour a player can hope for in his career. After all, isn't it held against Lionel Messi that he isn't still as great as a Pele or Diego Maradona, mainly because he is yet to win the biggest prize of them all and lead his national team to glory?
On another level, internationals are a lifeline for smaller national associations, for whom matches against the big guns can provide vital financial gains, in addition to valuable experience for their players. In countries where club football isn't as strong, international football can be used to promote the game. Even the 'meaningless friendlies' provide a platform to mould future stars, apart from offering national coaches a rare chance to try out strategies before the matches that count.
Although a final resolution is unlikely to be ever reached, it is essential for the players' sake that a compromise is worked out. A top-level player, who appears in almost every game for club and country, can play 70-odd games in a season that also includes a major international tournament. Such a strain can only have an adverse affect on their quality and fitness, despite the advances of modern science. It is no wonder, then, that players like Jamie Carragher and Ryan Giggs chose to retire early from international football, in order to prolong their careers.
To start with, the timing of the internationals definitely needs to be reviewed. Holding matches at the start of a domestic season, in August, is hardly beneficial, with the players still away from full fitness at the time. Summer friendlies - which take place after a season is over - are similarly futile. Also, the group stages of the Euros and World Cups can also be trimmed - 16 teams will compete in the Euros next year, with the number set to rise to 24 from Euro 2016 onwards - A change in the format will also reduce the number of one-sided games, bringing the added advantage of making the tournament more competitive and exciting.
As for the tussle over the players, careful management through close collaboration between the domestic league and the national set-up can help players give their best in the games that matter. For instance, if a club expects a recuperating player to be rested ahead of a cup final, then they too must return the favour when an important international qualifier is around the corner.
In fact, perhaps the final decision should come down to the player alone, for if a player isn't fully committed to playing for his country, then there may be no point in picking him in the first place!
The ECA plans to meet FIFA soon, to work out a suitable arrangement to balance both interests. Meanwhile, with the existing agreement over internationals running out in 2014, the debate is just getting started!

Shillong Lajong FC: Team Analysis And Season Preview 2011-12

When Indian fans discuss about the hubs of Indian football across India, it will be really surprising if the north-eastern states stay out of the mix. The I-League cocktail last year definitely missed the vibrant flavors from the North-East, but Shillong Lajong FC, from Meghalaya made it sure that the upcoming season will not deny Indian football and its fans the vibrance the club offers.

Shillong Lajong FC, traditionally known as the Reds, among faithfuls, flaunt a huge fan base across the seven sister states of the beautiful North-East. They controversially qualified for the I-League in May, after they were blessed with home conditions to sustain their challenge in the final round of the fixtures of I-League second division. The team cruised past most of the challengers and emerged as table toppers in the final round, after securing as many as sixteen points from seven games.

There was huge controversy after league 2 side Southern Samity filed an official complaint with AIFF regarding Shillong Lajong’s fielding a striker, namely Saikhohau Tuboi, who was registered with two states’ football associations. AIFF decided to ban the striker for 3-4 months and Shillong Lajong FC was given a clean chit. Putting the controversy aside, the north-eastern representatives get ready to mingle with best in Indian football. TheHardTackle takes a look at their squad, transfers for the upcoming season.

Summer Transfer Activities

ARRIVALS	POSITION	FROM
John Menyongar	Striker	United Sikkim FC
Christopher Chizoba	Striker	Mohammedan Sporting Club
Henry Gangte	Midfielder	Bengal Mumbai Club
Eugeneson Lyngdoh	Defender	Ar Hima FC
Romenjit Singh	Defender	Bengal Mumbai Club
Lalchuanmawia	Defender	JCT FC
H.Lalmuamkima	Midfielder	Sport and Youth Service, Mizoram
Soram Porei Anganba	Goalkeeper	Pune FC

DEPARTURES	POSITION	TO
Marcus Basumatary	Defender	Ar-Hima FC
Keleche Okoye		Ar-Hima FC
Marlanki Suting	Striker	Royal Wahingdoh SC
Ochei Emeka Michael		George Telegraph SC
Thanggoulal		AIM, Manipur
Jonathan Mgochukwu Kingsley		Nagpur FC
Anil Gurung	Striker	Manang Marshyangdi Club, NEPAL
Million Mwenge Butshire

Squad Analysis

Goalkeepers: Gumpe Rime, Lalthuammawia Ralte, Sorum Anganba

Veteran stopper Gumpe Rimpe was instrumental in Shillong Lajong victories during division 2 final round matches last season. As the team would now be locking horns with more professional outfits in the I-League, Mr. Larsing Ming has left no stone unturned in strengthening the bench. The Reds have signed back Soram Anganba from Pune FC and have Lalthuammawia as the other option. With a long season ahead for the club from Shillong, injuries might get the better of many players; hence the moves reflect prudence on the part of the club.

THT Verdict: Shillong Lajong’s custodians look impressive with experienced Gumpe Rimpe leading the way. The shrewd signing of Sorum Anganba from Pune FC could turn out to be vital as the season progresses.

Pradhyum Reddy

Defenders: Aibor Khongjee, Wailadmi Passah, Zomingliana Ralte, Rodingson Sangma, L. Romenjit Singh, M. Subhas Singh, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, C. Lallawmzuala, Lalchuanmawia, Ronald Zothanzama.

Clearly, Shillong Lajong has strengthened their side, starting from the defence. The Reds pounced on former JCT defender Lalchuanmawia, after the disbandment of the club from Punjab. Lajong recently announced the signing of rival club Ar-Hima FC’s dominant captain, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, in a bid to improve their defense, which will be up against the best of the strikers in the country. The opportunity of playing in the premier football division in India has helped the Shillong club to lure in another performer from Bengal Mumbai Club, Romenjit Singh.

THT Verdict: The defence looks very interesting for Shillong Lajong. On one hand they have experienced defenders like Aibor Khongjee, who has faced the music against top teams, and on the other hand they have ambitious new joiners, looking to make an impact. Some of the defenders parted ways with the club, but most of them were retained; the defense will be looking to put in consistent performances albeit a few unconvincing ones can be expected as well.

Midfielders: Mashangva Genius Zenith, Samson Ramengmawia, Boithang Haokip, Lalramluaha, James Gbilee, P.C. Lahlimthara, Samuel Shadap, Racy Khiangte Lalrengmawia, Henry Gangte and Lalmuamkima.

Shillong Lajong was successful in retaining most of its playmakers. In addition to that, Henry Gangte too has been added to the squad from the Bengal Mumbai Club. Many influential players like Mashangva, Samuel and James will be expected to put in gritty performances to present their claims for the national team berths. Under the tutelage of coach Pradhyum Reddy, the young turks will be looking to make an impact in I-League with their skillful short passing game.

Shillong Lajong’s James Giblee

THT Verdict: The midfield looked very impressive against league two sides and the only blemish was a single loss in the whole tournament. With additions to the squad, who are capable of orchestrating moves on the pitch, the agility of the North Eastern team can surprise a handful this season.

Strikers: Christopher Chizoba, John D. Menyongar , Saikhohau Tuboi and Lalnunmawia.

The striking department is the area where Shillong Lajong has spent the most this summer. The addition of experienced Liberian international John Menyongor will certainly bring some extra teeth to the attacks. The Reds have also managed to secure the signature of Christopher Chizoba, another prolific striker from Mohammedan Sporting Club, known for his consistency in Calcutta Football League. Saikhohau Tuboi, after all the controversy, has served his ban and will be raring to go, come October. He was sensational in the final round and scored important goals to clinch the I-league 2 title on home turf. Lalnunmawia, on the other hand, would be providing a robust option to Pradhyum and can be dangerous coming off the bench.

THT Verdict: Clearly the striking department of the Shillong club, with an exciting mix of youth and experience, can pose a threat for many quality defenders in the upcoming season. Scoring goals away from home or perhaps the lack of it, was the main reason for Shillong Lajong’s exit from the premier division, in their inaugural season, two years back. As of now, the Reds have a good striker force with Tuboi, Christopher and John looking to synch and score goals.

The fans from Shillong will once again come out in large numbers to support the team

Five Key Targets

1. I-League: After being knocked out in their debut season, the main target this season for Pradhyum Reddy will be to stay afloat this season. Regular oscillations between I-League 2 and I-League doesn’t help in generating revenues, which in turn influences the fan base. Without a shadow of a doubt, Shillong Lajong has the most powerful fan base in North East and hence the club should try to avoid the drop in order to maintain the representation of North East on India’s football map.

2. Federation Cup: Lajong participated in the 2009-10 version of the Federation Cup, which is an Indian Football season curtain raiser. Under the mentorship of Stanley Rozario, the Reds surprised a lot of teams and reached the finals and eventually lost to East Bengal. The surviving members of that team will be having those memories fresh in the mind, as they take the field against Churchill Brothers SC in Pune on 17th. It would be a great platform for Pradhyum Reddy to explore options, test players and subsequently announce the arrival of his team.

3. Subroto Cup: In a massive revelation for the club, four juniors from Shillong Lajong FC – Ram Chettri, Suman Rai, Donborlang Nongkynrih, Jacob Lalrawngbawla were selected in Allianz, Adidas, Lufthansa, Audi, and FC Bayern talent hunt programme. They trained at the FC Bayern Munich headquarter’s training ground at Sabener Strasse 51 in the Munich suburb of Harlaching. With such talented youngsters up their sleeve, the team should look forward to groom these youngsters for future and certainly, winning the coveted Subroto Cup will do no harm.

4. Shillong League: In order to stay consistent at the top, the Shillong team, like all the other giants in Indian football, need to have a pool of good back up players from where the coaches can pick up players. The SLFC reserve team is all set to participate in the Shillong League and will try to garner good results there. Exceptional performers from the Shillong league might find a place in the senior team, which in turn will enhance their chances of staying afloat in seasons to come. As always, the local league is very important for a club to keep things going, especially at the top.

5. Consistency, away from home: No, this one is no competition. This is one aspect of their game, perhaps one of the most important ones, which should be dealt with. It’s no rocket science that Shillong side was relegated last time because they just couldn’t score enough on the road. The reason was that the team couldn’t acclimatize to the conditions in Kolkata, Punjab, Mumbai, Kerala and Goa. This led to a string poor away results, which were rued by the team after they got the boot. Pradhyum Reddy has already set up camps for his team in Guwahati to minimize it in this season.

The word “Lajong” means Our Own. Indian Football, at the top level, has certainly been denied the northeastern flavour. With Shillong Lajong FC finally crawling up, among the creme de la creme of Indian football, certailny the club has to make the league it’s own. With a lot of competition spurring up within the seven sister states, as Bhaichung’s Sikkim United, Ar-Hima FC and Royal Wahingdoh SC are quickly finding their roots, the mighty club from Meghalaya will have it’s work cut out against the best, as they shoulder the burden of the entire North East – perhaps one of the major cores of Indian Football.

Venezuela keen to test Messi-led Argentina

Argentina take on Venezuela in a FIFA international friendly at the Salt Lake stadium on September 2

Kolkata: Undaunted by the "underdog" tag, Venezuela were all keyed up to test their strength against Lionel Messi-led Argentina here Friday ahead of the soccer World Cup qualifiers between the two sides on Oct 14.
Venezuelan head coach Cesar Farias underlined the importance of the FIFA official international friendly stating that a high profile opponent like Argentina always intensified the desire to perform.
"A game like this involves lot of prestige. That makes it important. This friendly match is not a friendly for us. Everytime you play against Argentina, you want to see the team in very good form," Farias said.
"We will play the game on Friday with the intention to win because we intend to use the game for preparation... This is an opportunity to check where the team stands before our Oct 14 qualifier," he added.
The Venezuelans finished as the surprise pack in the recent Copa America tourney, where they took the fourth spot and even beat formidable Brazil.
"We are traditionally known as the Cinderella team back in South America. But now the scenario has changed. Our soccer is growing at a good pace," Farias said.
The 38-year-old Farias said his team would pay attention to the strengths of star-studded Argentina, but emphasised that soccer was more a team agame than one of individual heroics.
He also cautioned Argentina - world number nine team - that they should also be worried of the class of Venezuelans.
"You can't hide the fact that Messi is a great player. But football is a team game, we have been working to be a cohesive unit. We have our attention on the strengths of Argentina. But we are focussing more on our strengths."
"And yes, we do have to worry about the Argentine players, but they also have to worry about our (Nicholas) Fedor, (Jose Salomon) Rondon and (Hector) Gonzalez."
While the Argentines seemed a bit apprehensive about the Salt Lake stadium's artificial turf on which they have never played, Farias seemed unperturbed.
"We have played on artificial turfs before. We did play Colombia in New York seven months back and Mexico too on artificial turf. So it won't be a problem," asserted a confident Farias.
Farias is expecting a good and entertaining match on Friday.
"The match will be a good one and enjoyable for those who turn up in numbers on Friday," he said.
Farias has retained his job since 2007, very unlike other Latin American coaches who are sacked after every poor performance.
"Coaches of football teams always keep their luggage outside the door. The deal is unless you show results, you can't continue. Fortunately we had good results the four years this coaching team has been in the job. Correct behaviour allowed us to retain our place," he said.
Source: IANS

Beginning of a long trip: Sabella
Kolkata: New Argentine soccer coach Alejandro Sabella on Wednesday said the country's campaign for the 2014 World Cup will start with the Sep 2 FIFA official international friendly match here with Venezuela but mentioned the team's inexperience of playing on the artificial turf at the Salt Lake stadium.
"Yes, this is my first game in command of the Argentinean national side. Yes, it is the beginning of our journey," Sabella said when asked if the much-anticipated match can be called the starting point of Argentina's World cup campaign.
Sabella also said it was very important for the team to show good results as it would instill confidence among the players.
"Because really it is the beginning of a long trip which I hope would finish with the qualification for the World Cup," Sabella said. The countdown has already begun for the first-ever FIFA official international friendly match between Argentina and Venezuela in India with Lionel Messi in town.
Soccer superstar Messi will make his debut as full-time captain of the star-studded Argentina team that will take on Venezuela at the Salt Lake stadium.
When asked about the issue of artificial grass in Salt Lake Stadium, Sabella said: "We are not used to playing on artificial grass...for us it is not normal, that is the truth. Such turf is seen in only two or three places."
Sabella also said that neither the team formation nor the strategy has been decided for the September 2 game.
"I can't say now. We have not decided any strategy yet. After the training session tomorrow, I will see. I need one or two days to decide," said Sabella.
Asked about the absence of Carlos Tevez in the team, Sabella said: "He is fat and so he is not in the team. But he will be eligible for selection now that he is playing for Manchester United once again."
Source: IANS