ISL 2015 Team Profile: Mumbai City FC

Based in the commercial capital of India, Mumbai City FC have a lot to prove in the second season of the Indian Super League (ISL) following a timid and below par performance in the inaugural edition.
Co-owned by Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor, the club's hopes were dashed last season as they finished second from the bottom of the table in the eight-team competition. However, having assembled a squad of powerful, attacking players for the second season, the club looks a rejuvenated side aiming to finish their unfinished business.

The team is led and coached by none other than Talismanic French footballer Nicolas Anelka. Mumbai City FC were injected with that extra impetus when they bagged Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri in this year's player's auction. The move will guarantee the club of a tremendous rise in fan following.

Much was expected of Mumbai City FC's star-studded line-up last year, including the likes of Anelka, Fredrik Ljungberg, Andre Moritz but it won't be wrong to say that they finished up as duds, with being one of the least creative sides in the league. This year, Mumbai may not be regarded as favourites, but have the quality and depth to rout their opponents on their day.

Having managed to line up a much more balanced squad this time around, Mumbai will hope for a turnaround in their fortunes. The club retained Moritz and centre-back Pavel Cmovs, who will be accompanied by former Celtic centre-back Darren O’Dea. Former English Premier League striker Frederic Piquionne joins the front line with ex-Paris Saint-Germain and Malaga attacking midfielder Selim Benachour. Apart from them, Mohun Bagan’s Sony Norde has also been roped in to further strengthen the attack.

Mumbai also managed to hold onto talented goalkeeper Subrata Paul, with Subhash Singh and Lalrindika Ralte the other Indian players to have been retained by the club. Chhetri was grabbed by the club at a massive price of Rs. 1.2 crore to add venom and versatility to their attack alongside Anelka.

Strengths

India skipper Chhetri's presence alongside former Chelsea forward Anelka, who is mainly in the side for his experience, makes attack the biggest strength of the team and will surely be a treat to watch for the fans.

The other notable player who forms the core strength of the team is Andre Moritz - a Brazilian of Italian and German descent. The 29-year-old holds the record for the only hat-trick in the ISL, when he netted thrice against state rivals FC Pune City in a 5-0 routing last year. Haitian striker Norde is well versed with the Indian conditions after playing for reigning I-League champions Mohun Bagan for quite some time.

The side also looks in shape with Indian starts Lalrindika Ralte, Lalchhuanmawia Fanai, Gabriel Fernandes and Kingshuk Debnath in the mix

Weaknesses

What is Mumbai City FC's biggest strength can be their weakness as well. The appointment of Anelka as their player-manager doesn't seem a forward decision as of now. The Frenchman is no stranger to controversy as a look-back at his chequered past shows. Anelka has also been questioned on his leadership skills during his prime at some of the top clubs of the world. The added managerial responsibility may affect his play.

The other weakness of the club seems their lack of good second-choice goalkeeper. In Subrata Paul, they have a match-winner but in case of any injury to him, the lack of experience from other 'keepers Debjit Majumder and Albino Gomes might cost them dear.

Marquee Player

The Mumbai franchise announced Anelka to be the team's player-manager for the second season. Anelka has been part of the coaching staff of a club during his stint with Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua in 2012. He was named the ISL's fifth best player at the end of the first season, where he scored twice with two assists. Anelka has played 69 times for France and has nearly 500 club appearances at the top level and was one of the first stars from the inagaugural season to confirm his return for ISL 2015. The Euro 2000 winner has played for top clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Liverpool and Juventus.

Players to watch

Sunil Chhetri: With 50 goals to his credit at the international level, 31-year-old Chhetri's zeal and enthusiasm for the game is unparalleled. He has undoubtedly been the poster boy of Indian football since the retirement of Baichung Bhutia and commands tremendous respect and fan-following in the country. His addition not only gives Mumbai an edge in attack but also adds on the popularity quotient of the team.

Andre Francisco Moritz: Brazilian striker Moritz's hat-trick was instrumental in Mumbai's first win of the tournament last year. Moritz was born in the small town of Florianopolis in Brazil and came up via the youth system at local club Avai FC, after which he signed his first professional contract with SC Internacional. Playing as an attacking midfielder, he turned out for various clubs in Turkey and England, most notably Bolton Wanderers and Crystal Palace, helping the latter gain promotion to the Premier League. He finally settled with the Korean side Pohang Steelers from where Mumbai City FC loaned him for the inaugural season. Anelka may be the team's marquee signing but it is Moritz who has to step up for the team's cause this season.

Subrata Paul: Regarded as India's number one shot-stopper, Subrata Paul is surely someone to watch out for whenever he plays. With a wealth of both club and country experience behind him, Paul is no stranger to big-match situations. He was the first Indian player to join a first division side in Europe after he played for Danish top tier club FC Vestsjaelland. Paul, who was called 'Indian Spiderman' by South Korean media during 2011 Asian Cup in Doha for his impressive show in the Indian post, is a tough man to beat and can be Mumbai City FC's key player.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Subrata Pal, Debjit Majumder, Albino Gomes

Defenders: Frantz Bertin, Ashutosh Mehta, Darren O'Dea, Keegan Pereira, Pavel Cmov, Kingshuk Debnath, Rowilson Rodrigues, Aitor Fernandez Lopez

Midfielders: Juan Aguilera, Cristian Bustos, Selim Benachour, Pratesh Shirodkar, Andre Moritz, Brandon Fernandes, Gabriel Fernandes, Lalrindika Ralte, Lalchhuanmawia Fanai, Sampath Kuttymani

Forwards: Frederic Piquionne, Sunil Chhetri, Subhash Singh, Nicolas Anelka, Sony Norde

Head coach: Nicolas Anelka

Assistant Coach: Oscar Bruzon

Courtesy: IBNLive Sports (www.ibnlive.com/footballnext)

ISL 2015 Team Profile: NorthEast United FC

The last-place finish in the inaugural season of Indian Super League (ISL) doesn’t justify the amount of talent NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) have got. They are one club which represents an entire region of the country and have a huge fanbase in the eight north-eastern states of India.

One unique thing about the club during the first season was that while others were going for big foreign players, NEUFC signed big names from the region and focused on developing the young squad. And they aren't deviating from it in Season 2.

The team, led by Spain’s World Cup-winning member Joan Capdevila, made a good start last season by defeating eventual runners-up Kerala Blasters FC in their opening match but after that their performance saw a huge dip and they finished bottom of the table with just three wins, five losses and six draws.

The club showed some good football in patches but were not able to produce wins consistently. They got a huge support at home in Guwahati where the stadium was almost full in every match. Their 3-0 win at home against last year’s semi-finalist Chennaiyin FC was their best performance in the first season.

NEUFC had a creative midfield and they got a good backing from their defenders but their forward line lacked the firepower and failed to convert many good chances into goals at very crucial moments. The failure to score goals hurt them badly and the inexperience in the team was clearly visible as they lost some games in the dying moments of the match after taking the lead. Their striker Koke was the top scorer for the team with four goals as they finished the league with 15 points.

Despite the poor show last year, the 'Highlanders' have not made drastic changes in their squad and have retained seven players, including two foreigners, from last year. During the auction they didn't make big purchases and the biggest player they signed was the highly-rated Manipuri winger Seityasen Singh.

The club, though, has made some big signings from Europe and Latin America and have got a very experienced Venezuelan coach Cesar Farias as their new team manager.
NEUFC begin their ISL 2015 campaign away from home when they take on Kerala Blasters at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on October 6.

Here is a look at the club’s squad before the start of ISL season 2:

Strengths: The biggest strength of the club is that most of the players know each other well and have played together. This will help them coordinate on the field knowing each other's strengths and weaknesses. The huge crowd support will also work in their favour and the fans from north-east showed last year that they come out in large numbers to support the local heroes no matter how the result.

NEUFC's new coach, Farias - who guided Venezuela to the semis of Copa America, could turn things around for the team this year. Farias, 52, has the distinction of taking Venezuela to their first win over Brazil and he also guided Venezuala to FIFA U-20 World Cup qualification in 2009. The decision to replace Ricki Herbert with Farias could work in team's favour because the Venezuelan is a big fan of Latin American style of football and his playing style, which involves possession play, will be suitable for the team.

NEUFC made some major signings and announced former Portuguese star Simao Sabrosa as their marquee player for the second season. They also roped in former Newcastle United and Fulham poacher Diomansy Kamara, Ghana's Francis Dadzie and Argentine Nicolas Velez. One major transfer they made this season was to get French goalkeeper Gennaro Bracigliano, who had an impressive season last year with Chennaiyin FC.

Weaknesses: Lack of experienced players is still their biggest weakness. The club's policy of buying young players from north-east regions is a good move to develop young talent but it is hurting their chances of winning in ISL. The average age of the team is only 24 and although the club has signed some experienced foreign player this season, there are very few senior Indian players in the team.

Signings of Diomansy Kamara and Nicolas Velez will add some class to their forward line but their attack stands nowhere when compared to clubs like Atletico de Kolkata, Delhi Dynamos and Chennaiyin FC. Converting opportunities created by the midfield into goals and not conceding goals during crucial moments will be a major task for NEUFC.

Marquee Player: NEUFC's new marquee player, Sabrosa, brings in a huge experience of playing at the club and international levels. The 35-year-old left-winger from Portugal has played for Spanish football giants Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. Simao signed for Atletico for five years in 2007 and won the Europa Cup and UEFA Super League with the club. He was a regular member in the Portuguese squad and has played 85 matches and scored 22 goals. He has appeared in 486 club matches and has scored an impressive 102 goals.

Other players to watch out for:

Nicolas Velez: The River Plate academy product is coming to NEUFC from the S League of Singapore. The 25-year-old Velez was a big star in the S League where he scored 29 goals in 38 appearances last year. His playing style is very similar to that of Arsenal's star player Alexis Sanchez and the two-footed Argentine will help the club improve its weak attack.

Boithang Haokip: 24-year-old Haokip is regarded as one of the most talented Indian footballers and his role in the centre midfield will be crucial for the club. Haokip played for Shillong Lajong in the I-League and is known as a free-kick specialist. He likes to play in the centre of the midfield but can play on the wings and also as a full-back.

Full squad

Goalkeepers: Gennaro Bracigliano, Lalthuammawia Ralte, Rehenesh TP

Defenders: Cédric Hengbart, Miguel Garcia, Marlangki Suting, Reagan Singh, Robin Gurung, Aiborlang Khongjee, Yumnam Raju, Zohmingliana Ralte

Midfielders: Simao Sabrosa (Marquee), Silas, Boithang Haokip, Seityasen Singh, Siam Hangal, Alan Deory, Kondwani Mtonga, Bruno Herrero Arias, Sanju Pradhan

Forwards: Diomansy Kamara, Boubacar Sanogo, Nicolas Velez, Holicharan Narzary, Francis Dadzie.

Courtesy: IBNLive Sports

2018 FIFA World Cup Football Qualifiers: Indian Team Named for Next two matches

India will play Turkmenistan in Ashgabat on October 8 before clashing with Oman in Muscat on October 13 in their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Indian football chief coach Stephen Constantine on Wednesday announced a 22-member senior national squad for the back-to-back World Cup qualifying matches against Turkmenistan and Oman.

The senior players have been asked to report to Mumbai on October 4 as India will play Turkmenistan in Ashgabat on October 8 before clashing with Oman in Muscat on October 13, an AIFF release said.

The list of Players is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Subrata Paul, Karanjit Singh, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.

Defenders: Arnab Mondal, Sandesh Jhingan, Aiborlang Khongjee, Dhanachandra Singh, Lalchhuanmawia, Narayan Das, Rino Anto, Pritam Kotal.

Midfielders: Eugenson Lyngdoh, Cavin Lobo, Sehnaj Singh, Jackichand Singh, Pronoy Halder, Francis Fernandes, Rowlin Borges, Bikash Jairu.

Forwards: Jeje Lalpekhlua, Robin Singh, Sunil Chhetri.

Head Coach: Stephen Constantine.

2016 AFC U-19 Championship Qualifiers: Day 2 (September 30 '2015) Results

Group G Results on September 30 '2015

Group G hosts Myanmar kicked-off their AFC U-19 Championship 2016 qualifying campaign with a 4-0 defeat of Brunei Darussalam, while Timor Leste missed the chance to pick up their second win of the campaign after playing out a goalless draw in Wednesday’s earlier fixture.

Timor Leste ended Match Day 2 top of the table although their lead is only one point after Takuma Koga’s side followed their 4-0 opening win over Brunei with a goalless draw against Hong Kong, who picked up their first point of the campaign after going down 3-1 to Vietnam in their Group G curtain riser.

Group H Results on September 28 '2015

Suksan Mungpao struck two of Thailand’s three first-half goals as the AFC U-19 Championship 2016 qualifying Group H hosts opened their campaign on Wednesday with a 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei, while Singapore picked up their first three points after handing the Northern Mariana Islands their second 10-0 defeat.

2016 AFC U-19 Championship Main Round

Ten group winners and five best second-placed teams will qualify for the finals while hosts Bahrain received an automatic qualification (total 16 teams). If Bahrain finish top of their qualifying group or one of the five second best-placed teams, the next (6th) second-placed team will qualify for the final competition.

Courtesy: AFC (www.the-afc.com)

U-17 World Cup India: First Board Meeting

The Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal kicked-off the first ever Board Meeting of the Local Organizing Committee of the  FIFA U 17 World Cup 2017 at the SAI Headquarters, New Delhi on Tuesday (September 29, 2015).

In a stirring address, Mr. Sonowal urged all stakeholders of the Tournament to work together as a Team and put their best foot forward to make the event a grand success. He assured the complete support of the Government for the first ever football World Cup in India.

Earlier, AIFF President Mr. Praful Patel welcomed all the delegates and explained the significance of the Tournament for the overall development of Indian Football. He also outlined the support necessary from all quarters for successfully staging the Tournament.

He was followed by Javier Ceppi, Tournament Director, LOC FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017, who updated the Board on the current progress of the preparations.

Secretary MYAS, Mr. Rajesh Yadav, DG SAI MR. Injeti Srinivas and Joint Secretary MYAS, Mr. Onkar Kedia then put forward the Central Government’s perspective on the preparation after which representatives from Goa, Kochi, Guwahati and Kolkata updated the forum on the current progress of work at the various venues.

Also present were Mr. Kushal Das, General Secretary AIFF; Dr. Shaji Prabharkaran, FIFA Development Officer, Mr. Subrata Dutta, President, IFA and representatives from SAI, Sports Ministry and the Local Organizing Committee of the FIFA U 17 World Cup 2017.

The FIFA U 17 World Cup, 2017 is the first ever FIFA Tournament to be held in India and will be staged in September–October 2017. Six venues, Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Kochi, Kolkata and Guwahati have been initially shortlisted as venues for the Event.

Courtesy: AIFF (www.the-aiff.com)

India U-16 Spanish Tour:Indian U-16 colts go down to Villarreal U-16 5 - 0

The India U-16 National Team presently in Spain for an exposure Tour lost to Villarreal U-16 Team 0-5 in a practice match at the Villarreal Academy Premises. Villarreal U-16 led 1-0 at the interval. Due to incessant rain, the 2nd half was reduced to 40 minutes. The Indian colts had earlier accounted for Elche U-16 (2-0) and Hercules U-16 (2-1) in their previous two practice matches.

Villarreal took the lead in the 18th minute of the match. The score remained 1-0 in favor of Villarreal till the interval. Aman and Komal got two opportunities in the first half of the match but were unable to convert their chances. Indian colts pressed hard at the rival goal before half time but were unable to convert the chances and corners.

After the interval Aman was replaced by Aniket. The Substitution did not have any effect as Villarreal doubled their lead in the 55th minute of the match. Villarreal went on the offensive after the break and scored the third goal from a free kick. With the rain getting heavier Villarreal scored two more goals towards the end of the match. India had a chance in the second half but Saif Khan was unable to keep the open header on the target. The second half of the match was pretty much dominated by the Villarreal  U-16 team.

The colts next play Levante U-16 on October 1.

Courtesy: AIFF (www.the-aiff.com)

2016 AFC U-19 Championship Qualifiers: Day 1 (September 28 '2015) Results

The Groups for 2016 AFC U-19 Championship Qualifiers

WEST ZONE

Group A: Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka (hosts), Bhutan
Group B: Yemen, Saudi Arabia (hosts), Turkmenistan, Syria
Group C: UAE, Palestine (hosts), India, Afghanistan
Group D: Qatar (hosts), Oman, Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan
Group E: Iran (hosts), Kuwait, Jordan, Nepal
Group F: Iraq, Bahrain, Maldives, Tajikistan (hosts)

EAST ZONE

Group G: Myanmar, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Brunei, Timor-Leste
Group H: Thailand, Korea Republic, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Northern Mariana Islands
Group I: DPR Korea, China, Malaysia, Macau
Group J: Japan, Australia, Philippines, Laos


The qualifiers will conclude on October 6, 2015.

Group G Results on September 28 '2015

Ha Duc Chinh scored a goal in each half as Vietnam defeated Hong Kong 3-1 in the AFC U-19 Championship 2016 qualifying Group G curtain raiser at the Youth Training Centre, while Timor Leste downed Brunei Darussalam 4-0, with all the goals in Monday’s later fixture coming in the first half. Timor Leste took pole position ahead of Vietnam on goal difference after scoring four times without reply in the first half to defeat Brunei 4-0 in the later fixture at the same venue.

Group H Results on September 28 '2015

Korea Republic scored three times in the final ten minutes to see off a stubborn Singapore 6-2 in the opening round of Group H matches in the qualifiers for the 2016 AFC U-19 Championship on Monday, while Chinese Taipei also kicked-off their campaign on a winning note with an emphatic 10-0 defeat of the Northern Mariana Islands in the later fixture at the Rajamangala Stadium.

2016 AFC U-19 Championship Main Round

Ten group winners and five best second-placed teams will qualify for the finals while hosts Bahrain received an automatic qualification (total 16 teams). If Bahrain finish top of their qualifying group or one of the five second best-placed teams, the next (6th) second-placed team will qualify for the final competition.

Courtesy: AFC (http://www.the-afc.com/)

2016 AFC U-19 Championship Qualifiers: 23 Member Indian squad announced

Head Coach Lee Johnson has announced his list of 23 Players to represent the Indian U-19 National Team in the AFC U-19 Qualifiers which are slated to kick-off from October 02, 2015 in Al-Ram, Palestine.

The Indian colts have been clubbed in Group C alongside hosts Palestine, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan in Group C. India play their first match against Palestine on October 2. Thereafter, the Colts face UAE and Afghanistan on October 4 and 6 respectively.

The 23 member squad has been churned out from the Indian U-19 Team which finished runners-up in the SAFF U-19 Championship and from the Indian squad which is currently participating in the FAM-FRENZ Asia Champions Trophy 2015.

Head Coach of the Indian U-19 National Team, Lee Johnson said: "The Players are showing confidence going into the Competition. At the same time we acknowledge the fact that we are drawn in a competitive group and no game will be easy.”

"We have to work hard, maintain our focus and concentrate on one game at a time,” added the former Chelsea and Crystal Palace Academy Coach.

The 23 member Indian squad will be leaving Indian shores from Delhi at 4am on September 30.

The 23 member list follows:

GOALKEEPERS: Sayak Barai, Rafique Ali Sardar, Sukhdev Shivaji Patil.

DEFENDERS: Shahabaaz, Kapil Boro, Nishu Kumar, Gursimrat Singh Gill, Mohd Sajid Dhot, Sarthak Golui, Amey Ganesh Ranawade, Lalthakima.

MIDFIELDERS: Lalramzauva Khiangte, Malsawmzuala, Bidyananda Singh Ningthoujam, Rakesh Oram, Vinit Rai.

FORWARDS: Suman Sarkar, Milan Basumatary, Moinuddin, Daniel Lalhlimpuia, Muhammed Ashique Kuruniyan, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Mawihmingthanga.

HEAD COACH: Lee Johnson.

Courtesy: AIFF (www.the-aiff.com)

AIFF: Indian players in ISL teams will be released for World Cup qualifiers

India take Turkmenistan on October 8 and Oman on October 13, both away matches.

All India Football Federation made it clear that all the national team players who are in the Indian Super League sides will be released on time for the two 2018 World Cup qualifier matches to be played next month.

India take Turkmenistan on October 8 and Oman on October 13, both away matches, and AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das said that all the players who are with the ISL teams will be released four days prior to the first match.

“The reports that national teams players in the ISL will not be released for two World Cup qualifiers next month are completely wrong. All of them will be released four days — inclusive of the match day — prior to the first match. This is under FIFA rules,” Das said.

“So, the players will join the national team on the morning of October 5 and continue to be with the team till the second match on October 13. There was no confusion on that as this was decided by the AIFF and the ISL long back,” he said.

Almost all the national team players who took the field against Iran on September 8 are in the ISL teams. The second edition of the ISL begins on October 3 in Chennai. India play Guam on November 12 in a home match and then take on Iran on March 24 (away match) and March 29 (home match).

Courtesy: Indian Express

BRICS U-17 Football Tournament: Delhi Dynamos announce partnership

Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Delhi Dynamos on Monday entered into an agreement with BRICS Football Cup tournament organisers to be its sixth football team partner.

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) will organise the maiden BRICS U-17 football tournament next year in the country.

Delhi Dynamos will participate in the tournament and will also be involved in grassroots and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) related activities of the tournament.

Delhi Dynamos FC's marquee player-manager Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos was present at the conference held to announce the partnership here on Monday.

"We at Delhi Dynamos FC have always worked towards the development of the game at grassroots level. The partnership with BRICS Football Cup will not only promote better football interaction among BRICS youths but will also bring together people from different cultures," Delhi Dynamos president Prashant Agarwal said.

"The tournament will provide a huge platform to young athletes and encourage them to showcase their talent. Given that the BRICS Football Cup has now kicked off with the Under 17 age group, should the event include a senior tournament in the future, Delhi Dynamos will be proud to represent India at that level as well."

BRICS is an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Courtesy: Times of India

India U-16 Spanish Tour: India U-16 beat Hercules U-16 2 - 1

India U-16 colts came back from behind to register a 2-1 victory against over Hercules U-16 in a practice match on their ongoing exposure Tour in Alicante, Spain.

Down by a goal at the interval, the Nicolai Adam coached Team showed exemplary character and sublime fitness level to score two goals post interval. The rivals were reduced to ten men in the 58th minute after their Striker was given marching orders for a double booking.

The boys had earlier been on a six-week exposure Tour to Germany besides playing in the AFC U-16 Qualifiers in Tabriz City, Iran from where they qualified to the AFC U-16 Finals to be held next year having finished as one of the best second placed Teams.

Amarjit slotted home substitute Aniket’s centre in the 57th minute to restore parity after Hercules had surged into the lead in the 34th minute.

Thereafter, they failed to double the lead but failed to convert the spot early in the second half – the rival Striker blasting it wide.

However, an ice-cool Amarjit was made no mistake in the 82nd minute when he converted from the spot to seal the fate. The penalty was awarded after Aniket was brought down inside the box.

The Indian colts who had earlier accounted for Elche U-16 2-0 in the previous practice match, next play Villarreal U-16 on September 29.

Courtesy: AIFF

2016 AFC U-19 Championship: Qualification round set to begin from October 2015

The 2016 AFC U-19 Championship qualifying stage will decide the participating teams of the 2016 AFC U-19 Championship. A total of 16 teams will qualify to play in the final tournament, including Bahrain who qualified automatically as hosts but will also compete in the qualifying stage.

The 2016 AFC U-19 Championship acts as the AFC qualifier for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea, with the top four teams qualifying (as South Korea already qualified automatically as hosts, the fifth-placed team also qualify if South Korea finish in the top four).

The draw for the qualifiers was held on 5 June 2015 at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur. A total of 43 teams entered the qualifying stage and were drawn into ten groups. The teams were seeded according to their performance in the previous season in 2014.

West Zone, with 25 entrants from Central Asia, South Asia and West Asia, had one groups of five teams and five groups of four teams.
East Zone, with 18 entrants from ASEAN and East Asia, had two groups of five teams and two groups of four teams.

In each group, teams play each other once at a centralised venue. The ten group winners and the five best runners-up from all groups qualify for the final tournament. If Bahrain are one of the group winners or best runners-up, the sixth-best runner-up also qualifies for the final tournament.

India is placed in Group C along with United Arab Emirates, Palestine (Hosts), Afghanistan. Matches will be played from October 2nd till October 6th '2015 at Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium, Al-Ram, Palestine.

Group C Fixtures

October 2 '2015 - UAE vs Afghanistan and India vs Palestine

October 4 '2015 - India vs UAE and Afghanistan vs Palestine

October 6 '2015 - UAE vs Palestine and India vs Afghanistan

Women's Football in India: FIFA 'Live Your Goals' campaign

To foster interest amongst the Women populace of the country and take the game of Football to every nook and corner, the second phase of the FIFA Live Your Goals campaign kicked-off in New Delhi today (September 25, 2015).

The ‘Live Your Goals’ campaign is a unique project which aims to develop and extend the reach of Women’s Football in the nation through working on the Grassroots and fostering interest amongst the young crop.

32 members will participate in the Grassroots Course which the Live Your Goals campaign offers to educate the women coaches of the nation. Furthermore, the second phase of the FIFA ‘Live Your Goals’ campaign is slated to conclude on September 27, 2015 with a Grassroots Festival.

Talking exclusively to www.the-aiff.com, All India Football Federation’s Technical Director Scott O’Donell said, “Women’s Football in India is on an upward surge and the Live Your Goals campaign enables us to take the reach of Football far and wide to the young female populace of the nation”

“It is heartening sight to see young girls full of passion and vigor follow their dreams of playing Football”, he added.

The first ever ‘Live Your Goals’ campaign was conducted in the city of Mumbai wherein more than 200 young girls participated in various Footballing activities throughout the course of the campaign. Thereafter a ‘Live Your Goals’ Grassroots Course was conducted in Cuttack, Odisha wherein 30 Women Coaches were educated in topics ranging from Grassroots philosophy to pedagogy.

 “We have chalked out a detailed roadmap to work on promoting Women’s Football in the nation and ‘Live Your Goals’ is one such campaign which aims to do just that by introducing young girls to the ‘beautiful game”

Stressing on the importance of Grassroots Courses, O’Donell quipped, “The Grassroots Course which the ‘Live Your Goals’ campaign offers are imperative to the progression of Women’s Football in India as the responsibility to generating interest among young girls lies on the Coaches”

“It is vital for them (Women Coaches) to know their job, as a good Coach develops a good Player”

Courtesy: AIFF

Subroto Cup Final 2015

India U-16 Spanish Tour: INDIA U-16 beat ELCHE U-16 2 - 0

The Indian U16 national football team who just finished participating in the Asian Football Confederation U16 qualifiers started their Spanish tour on a good note after beating Elche CP U16 2-0. The team will be the ones who will represent the India in the U17 World Cup that will be hosted by India in 2017. The team have continued their streak of good performances after a successful tour of Germany.

In the AFC U16 Championship qualifiers, they managed to finish second in their group right behind Iran, scoring 11 goals their remaining two matches. The match against Elche was their first in the series of tour matches to be played in Spain. Elche U16 play in the Spanish Segunda division will be disappointed with their loss, but the young Indians will be pleased with their results at the Torrevieja Stadium.

The match got off to a tepid start, but the Indian team were celebrating eleven minutes before half-time, thanks to serious estimation error by the opposition custodian. Ninthoi was in the clear, as he received a huffed clearance by custodian Dheeraj Morirangthem. The wily forward, took cognizance of the opposition keeper's faulty position and launched an audacious chip, from 35 yards, which beat the backtracking keeper's outstreched arms and landed into the net, much to the delirium of the Indian bench.

The fledglings had another opportunity to double their lead before half-time, yet were thwarted in their attempt as Ninthoi's through ball to Aman wasn't controlled well by thelatter, allowing the opponents to manage the situation. The second half would eventually see the Young Tigers double their lead, thanks to Aman who redeemed himself for the earlier miss. However, Boris Thangjam wasn't so lucky on the day, as a collision of heads with his marker would see him need of urgent medical attention at a hospital.  The away team held on, without any further incident, for their first win on Spanish shores.

The colts are presently on a Tour to Spain where they would be playing practice matches against Spanish Club sides.

Courtesy: Sports Keeda, Goal.com, and AIFF

Onus on government, AIFF to lift Indian football

Bundesliga CEO Christian Seifert feels that for Indian football to wake up from its slumber and make a mark in the sport, the push has to come from "within" the government and the AIFF. Seifert, who heads the premier German football league with the highest average attendance in the world, hasn't ruled out a future association with India.

"We cannot come to India and change things overnight. It has to come from within, the government. The Indian FA has to take the initiative of building grassroots and youth development programmes," Seifert said during an interaction at the German Football League (DFL) headquarters in Frankfurt. We can do exchange programmes if you are really willing to work towards improving Indian football. Indian Super League is a great project, and we would be more than happy to be playing a role in India," he added.

The ISL have opened up new avenues for Indian football creating a buzz never felt before, but the national team's lacklustre performance remains a cause for concern. Bundesliga has emerged as one of the world's most structured football leagues, thanks to DFL's professional set-up and relentless pursuit of excellence and community involvement. "Over the last few years we are very happy with the development of Bundesliga. We still treat the league in growing mould.

"In the last season in 306 games the average crowd was 43,000. Cologne has 53,000 and Dortmund has a capacity of 81,359, and has been rated as the best football stadium in the world ahead of Bernabeu and Maracana by an English poll." The 46-year-old chief executive tried to give an insight into the Bundesliga, which was founded in 1963.

"Over here it's more of real football. It's a question of philosophy, our aim is to just keep it that way and run it as a business model. There are plenty of things Bundesliga offers, like "special atmosphere, a special connection between teams and fans. We are now number 2 in the world in terms of turnover".

In 1997-98 we overtook England in the UEFA ranking. The roots and connect with the society from where the league comes, is of paramount importance to the DFL administrators. The Germans, according to Seifert, lay special emphasis on philosophy when it comes to football.

"The most important thing here is philosophy, not just money. It's very important to have the right philosophy. Football is in Germany's DNA. 75 percent of people says Bundesliga keeps the society together, it is a prestige object in Germany. There are 26,000 football clubs in Germany, 1,60,000 teams, that is 7 to 8 teams per club. It is entertainment plus excitement. For more than 30 years, it has been the highest scoring league in Europe, there is a unique fan and football culture in the world."

Seifert added, "15 of 23 World Cup winners still play in the Bundesliga. 53 percent of players are German in Bundesliga right now. In 2001, it was 35 percent."
Asked about the ownership pattern of Bundesliga clubs, Seifert said, "51 percent are owned by members of the club, they have their annual meeting. Other 49 percent can be purchased. Decision making lies with the members."

Courtesy: PTI

Mizoram school lifts U-14 sub-junior Subroto Cup in 2015

Norbert Lalfakawma's left-footed shot in the seventh minute of the extra-time helped Mizoram lift the trophy in the Sub-Junior (Under-14) final of the 56th Subroto Cup International Football Tournament at the Ambedkar Stadium here on Thursday. Government Chawngfiang Middle School, Mizoram, defeated Esteqalal School of Afghanistan 3-2 in the exciting match that went down to the wire and the winner had to be decided in the extra time. The win was worth Rs.2.5 lakh and the runner-up team got Rs.1.25 lakh and a trophy.

If the first half of the match belonged to the Northeastern side, the Afghan boys made the second half theirs, thanks to Rashid’s perseverance and his second goal just a few minutes from time.
The Mizo boys, playing percentage football and keeping a good control over ball possession, went ahead as early as in the eighth minute when R. Lalriupuia sent in a long cross from near the centre line.

With several defenders surrounding, Chhunga Hmar used his head to a greater effect to send the ball into the left goalkeeper Sharif. After the first goal, the team from Imphal tried its best to score another but could not do so. Afghanistan boys, on the other hand, tried their bit to make inroads into the rival goal area, but were competently kept at bay by the Mizoram defenders.

After the break, Mizoram struck four minutes into play when Chhunga received a loose aerial ball which he trapped effectively and sidestepped a couple of Afghan defenders to score.
Afghanistan was stung by the comfortable lead taken by the Mizo boys. However, their Plan B worked so well that Afghan player Rashid hit the target midway through the second session.

All the while, Mizoram boys went wayward, losing focus and it paved way for the equaliser. With just a couple of minutes to go, a loose ball from Hriata Jonete reached Rashid but Nobert and Remsangpuia made the cardinal blunder of checking the Afghan inside the box. Referee Corporal S. Arun showed the spot. The resultant penalty was converted by Rashid without a fuss as Mizoram goalkeeper R. Malsawmkima was a wee bit early in his reaction as the ball rolled in to the chagrin of Mizoram defenders.

Now, the first few minutes of extra time saw the Afghan boys keep the intensity and momentum with them as they made quite a few forays. But a counter-attack from Mizoram was good enough for Norbert to strike the winner, just close to the first half of extra-time. After the change of end, they competently kept the Afghans from any harm’s way.

Earlier, Delhi Dynamos player-manager Roberto Carlos along with his team mates was present to cheer the two teams. The Subroto Education Society offered 25 promising players in the Under-14 section Rs.15,000 each, a one-time scholarship.

There were several awards and rewards in different categories for the best efforts by the sub-junior boys during the tournament. Air Marshal BBP Sinha presented the trophy to the winners while Mizoram Chief Minister Lalthawala presented the cheque to them.

Awards   

 Best Player – Chhunga Hmar (Mizoram)
 Best Coach – Lalthawmmawia (Mizoram)
 Best Goalkeeper- Lallamkima
 Most promising player – Uday Shankar Bora (SAI)
 Fair Play Trophy – Namchi Sports Hostel, Sikkim

Courtesy: http://www.thestatesman.com/news/sports/mizoram-school-lifts-u-14-sub-junior-subroto-cup/92394.html#xumACiLIqP5oELSE.99

Under-15 Football - The Coca-Cola Cup

As part of the long standing commitment to promote a sporting culture and a healthy living, Coca-Cola has been supporting grass root development of football in India. Coca-Cola India Private Limited and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) launched the national grassroots football tournament in 2009. 

The tournament nurtures potential football stars by providing them with a platform and an opportunity to develop their inherent talent into a real-life profession. As a company which has a worldwide focus on football we firmly believe that Indian football has huge potential. By supporting AIFF in this tournament, we are tapping young football talent to train them on par with international football standards. 

In 2013, the program saw active participation of 41,760 young footballers from 2,610 schools across 86 cities. The National U-16 Soccer team of India is drawn up from the talent pool of this tournament. Furthermore, this is a chance for some exceptionally talented players, who will be absorbed by AIFF FIFA academy, to train at world class academies and become a part of the talent pipeline for the future. It’s not just a quest of Trophy or the Cup that these young talented footballers look forward to, but also a chance to receive world class training and exposure. 

Undoubtedly, this is India’s biggest and most inspiring Grassroots Sports program and a step towards providing these soccer heroes “An experience that money can’t buy”. The tournament turned into a runaway success, with more than 2,000 schools and 40,000 players across 76 cities and 27 states participating in 2011 – the biggest pan-India competition of its nature.

The success of the initial program convinced the AIFF to renew its partnership deal with Coca-Cola for another six years, leading up to 2017 when the U-17 World Cup is scheduled to be held in India. Under the new agreement, the championship would now be known as “The Coca-Cola Cup”, and the aim of the project is to create the next generation of top Indian footballers.

Through their flagship tournament, Coca-Cola intend to complement the AIFF’s efforts to find and nurture the best talent that the country has to offer and to funnel it into the U-17 team for the World Cup in 2017. This grassroots development program undertaken by Coca-Cola is a fantastic means of finding the right talent and nurturing it to its potential.

Not only does grassroots development help teenagers make their dreams come true, it is also a fantastic way of creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The benefits of football training every week can be felt for years to come, as the body and mind become tuned to exercise and hard work. Sports training from an early age helps youngsters achieve focus and concentration, all the while improving their physical attributes as well.

FAM-FRENZ Asia Champions Trophy 2015: India U-19 beats Malaysian Club Side Frenz United A 2-1

The Indian U-19 National Team defeated Malaysian Club Side Frenz United A 2-1 in the FAM-FRENZ Asia Champions Trophy 2015 on Wednesday (September 23, 2015) in Vasco, Goa.

Daniel Lalhlimpuia and Mawihmingthanga scored on the either side of half-time to hand Frenz United A their first defeat of the Asia Champions Trophy 2015, whilst enabling the Indian colts to garner seven points out of four matches.

Speaking in the Official Post-match Press Conference, Head Coach of the Indian U-19 Team Lee Johnson praised the attitude of his Team on-field: “I am extremely satisfied with the performance the Team showcased tonight. The Players had worked hard in the training and they deserved this win”

“This win has also given us the confidence and indicated us that we can play and edge out a result against an opposition which is well versed in the game”

“It is satisfying and pleasing to see the Players showcase their leadership quality on the pitch. Our defenders worked hard during the match and had a brilliant game tonight”, quipped Johnson.

Lee Johnson’s boys also came under lavish praise from the Frenz United A Head Coach, Erik van der Meer, who had earlier said: “India deserved to win. They pressed and cancelled us during the match and their defenders were in superb form”,

On a hot and humid evening in Goa, the Indian colts turned on the style as they attacked with finesse and flair from the early minutes of the match.

Mawihmingthanga’s went on a sterling run, feinting two defenders in the process to ring the attacking bells for the Indian contingent in the 3rd minute. Two minutes later, Malsawmzuala’s venomous shot came close to opening the goal scoring account for the Indian colts.

With momentum on their side the Indian colts started to pull string and create goal scoring chances at will, Chhangte’s rocket-of-a-shot, following a tacky Indian counterattack was headed clear by the Malaysian Club’ defence in the 20th minute.

While the Indian forwards continued to raid the opposition citadel, the Indian defence thwarted the counter-attacks initiated by Frenz United. Sajid’s inch-perfect tackle to rob the opposition of gaining ground on goal indicated the tenacity of the Indian defence.

In the 39th minute, Ashique’s shot, after feinting clear of his defender was saved by the opponent custodian.

With the colts emulating their own version of symphony in motion by jotting down some exquisite passing moves to split open the opposition defence, it was only a matter of time before the opening goal of the match came.

And it did in the 41st minute when the skipper Daniel leapt higher than his marker and headed the ball home, following an Indian freekick to send the Indian contingent into the half-time with a solitary goal lead.

Changing over, the Indian Colts started where the left on, on an attacking note. The Colts came close to doubling their lead in the 51st minute as a shot flew just inches wide of the post. Three minutes later, Ashique’ volley following a delicious cross from the right flank sailed inches over the crossbar.

In the 65th minute Frenz United A equalized their deficit against the run of play to make the score-line 1-1.

Not to be deterred the Indian colts maintained their grip on the game and pressed for a goal. In the 72nd minute an Indian cutback into the penalty area was read by the Malaysian club’s defence and cleared.

Two minutes later, the Indian contingent took the lead again as Mawihmingthanga danced past two opponents and slotted the ball home with sheer composure to make the score-line 2-1.

For the rest of the match, the Indian colts successfully thwarted Frenz United’s efforts with acumen and at the end of time the score-line read 2-1 in favor of the Indian contingent.

India Starting XI against Frenz United A: Shivaji Patil (GK), Dhot Sajid, Khiangte Lalramzauva (73’ – Vinit Rai), Daniel Lalhlimpua(C), Malsawmzuala, Golui Sarthak (70’ – Girsimrat Singh), Muhamed Ashique, Mawihmingthanga, Chhangte Lallianzuala (90’ – Rakesh Oram), Amey Ganesh, Nishu Kumar.

Courtesy: https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=6702

AIFF's workshop on selection of players for U-17 World

The workshop focused on highlighting methods to eradicate age-fraud in light of the upcoming U-17 World Cup India hosts in 2017, special focus on reining in talent into academies. The All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) Football House headquarters in Dwarka, Delhi, played host to representatives of all thirty state associations, who were in attendance for the ‘Coca Cola Cup Workshop 2014’ alongside the AIFF Technical body, on Tuesday. The workshop was conducted with ta special impetuous on the selection of players to represent the Indian national team come the U-17 World Cup in 2017.

Kushal Das, General Secretary, of the AIFF, exclaimed, “This is one of the most important workshops I am attending as this will guide us as to how to select the Indian team for the 2017 U-17 FIFA World Cup. “We need to understand that the Coca Cola Cup is the primary source for selection for India to field a competitive team in the event. I thank all of you for coming here and stay confident about your cooperation on the issue.”

He further added, “It’s important to stick to the AIFF philosophy as the selected boys will directly shift to the two academies which will prepare the squad for the 2017 U-17 FIFA World Cup.” Scott O’Donnell, Who is the Technical Director of academies alongside being the Director of Coach education, was upbeat on the progress of the 34 boys, housed the AIFF Regional Academy, Goa.

“We presently have 34 players in our academy in Goa and they are divided into two groups. That means we have room for 13 more players in each of the teams. And if we find better quality players from the Coca Cola Cup, some of the players presently employed with us will have to go home,” explained the Australian. “This is the preparation for the World Cup and there can’t be any sentiment involved. There just can’t be any compromise. We need to find and pick India’s best players to walk onto the field for the 2017 U-17 World Cup.

“AIFF President Praful Patel and Kushal Das have repeatedly stressed on the importance of using the Coca Cola Cup as the scouting platform for the tournament. “We will be keeping on looking for players and it will never end. Even if we find a player who’s better than the academy players even prior to two months of the kick-off of the Championship, we will rope him in,” said O’Donnell.

Das also elucidated, “Youth Development is the key if we are to move forward. I urge full cooperation from all States and all other Stakeholders for the success of the Coca Cola Cup and the selection procedure of the World Cup in the larger perspective. I urge you all to broad base the initiative and involve all the districts for fool proof scouting.”

The Coca Cola championship is open to all players born on or after 01.01.2000 to 31.12.2002. In this regard, Dr. GD Gandhi, Chairman of AIFF’s Sports Medical Committee, encouraged all age frauds to be detected and dealt with severely.

“Age-fraud is a burning issue in the Indian sporting scenario. But if we are to develop football in the country the demand of the time is to check age-fraud in all aspects. It is not impossible at all especially if one is determined to eradicate it,” stated Gandhi.

“If you, for example, create a database of players from the grassroot level, it will help, as the age of six, a kid can’t cheat. So when we reach a situation where we have doubts over the age of a player, we can always go back to the database,” concluded O’Donnell, who stressed on the importance of signing kids on at an early age, to limit the effects of age-fraud.

Courtesy: http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/136/india/2014/07/02/4930109/aiffs-workshop-on-selection-of-players-for-u-17-world-cup-a

AIFF to start U-15 I-League

In their bid to prepare a competitive India U-17 squad that will play in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in three years from now, the AIFF is mulling on starting an U-15 I League in order to tap the best talent for the big ticket tournament. Announcing its long list of plans that AIFF has mooted ahead of the 2017 tournament, Das further said they would appoint a foreign coach for the U-17 besides also roping in a professional CEO. The next step is U-15 League involving 24-28 teams this season onwards.

It would consist of 10-12 I-League teams depending on the bids that we get, ISL teams (from next year), a few academies (of AIFF, IFA etc) and will be held in a home and away basis. “We’re planning to start this tournament roughly in December-January, after the Coca Cola Cup (for the sub-juniors) gets over. We’ll pick seven players from them,” the AIFF general secretary told reporters at the East Bengal tent. “Coca Cola starting on August 23, where the first scouting will take place. We’ll pick seven and pick up two academies. We want this to hold over a period of four to five months at least to bridge the big gap.”

“As of now, we’ve youth competition over a period of one month or a few weeks. It’s big fallacy in Indian football. We’ll get FIFA support with some sponsors,” he said. He said he infrastructure development was secondary as their main aim to build the Indian side for the U-17 meet. “We’re not much worried about the organisational aspect like infrastructure. The basic amenities would just be enough. We just need to tweak the basic structure but yes we’ve to start the work very soon.” “I’m more worried about the team development because if we are not able to put up a competitive Indian team then it would be quite an embarrassment,” said Das.

Revealing their plan of appointing a foreign coach for the U-17 team, he said: “We want to appoint a coach before the final round of Coca Cola cup before December. We want him to participate in the final round of the Coca Cola Cup. “It will be a foreign coach as we don’t have a good Indian coach at this level,” he said adding that they’re in consult with FIFA regarding this. On CEO’s appointment for the U-17 World Cup, he said: “We’ve also shortlisted about 20 for the CEO appointment for the U-17 World Cup. The final round of screening will take place during the last week of this month.”

Courtesy: http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/aiff-to-start-u-15-i-league-to-prepare-for-2017-u-17-world-cup/

'Celebrate this Life' OFFICIAL SONG - FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015

Nepal qualifies for AFC U16 Championship 2016

The Asian Football Confederation has confirmed the qualification of Nepal to the AFC U16 Championship 2016 tournament to be held in India next year. In the recently held U 16 Qualifiers, there were 11 groups from which each group winner and four best runner up teams have qualified. India finished among the top 4 runner up teams. Since India as host have already qualified for the finals of AFC U 16 Championship, they vacated one spot which was occupied by Nepal. India (3rd Best Runner-Up) has thus given away its spot to its neighbor Nepal. 

The 15 teams, apart from India U 16, that will be seen playing in the tournament next year in India are: Uzbekistan, Oman, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, Malaysia, DPR Korea, South Korea, Australia, Japan — group winners. Vietnam: 1st Best Runner Up, Thailand: 2nd Best Runner Up, UAE: 4th Best Runner Up, Nepal: 5th Best Runner Up

The draw for the AFC U16 Championship 2016 will be held at a later date.

AFC U-16 Qualifiers: India's stunning show in Iran

The last few months have not been easy going for Indian football fans – what with the Indian senior team’s recent performances along with reports that clubs in the I-League are contemplating shutting down. However, this campaign has put the smiles back in Indian football. This is an exceptional group of young talent and credit must go to Nicolai Adam, their German head coach for the work he has done. The hope now is that these youngsters kick on and replicate their performances at the senior level.

With this performance, India finished second in their group behind Iran. Though India have already qualified for the 2017 U17 FIFA World Cup on dint of hosting the tournament, what this performance essentially meant that even if India had not been given automatic qualification, they would have still qualified for the World Cup by virtue of their own performance.

It does not get much better than this. Shaking off a hard fought loss to Iran, the India under 16 men’s football team put in an inspired performance to pummel Lebanon 6-0 in the final match of their Asian Football Confederation Under-16 qualifiers on Monday in Tabriz, Iran. Coming after a similar 5-0 thrashing of Bahrain a few days ago, this result marked the cornerstone of what has been a great campaign for Indian football’s promising young stars.

The U16 team posted some impressive results during its exposure tour to Germany ahead of the qualifiers in Iran. The qualifying campaign will further come as a big morale booster for the Indian colts, who will now head to Spain to play youth teams of a handful of La Liga clubs.

Next year's AFC U16 Championships in Goa should provide a better indication of where the team stands. With India set to play in the FIFA U17 World Cup in 2017, the team's performances at present come as a ray of hope in a country where football remains in a state of crisis.

Head coach Nicolai Adam has been able to perform an admirable job with the youngsters, and it is important that AIFF continues to organise exposure tours for the team, which will fly India's colours two years later at the showpiece event to be held in India.

Courtesy: http://www.catchnews.com/football-news/afc-u16-qualifiers-india-s-stunning-show-in-iran-comes-as-a-ray-of-hope-1442830188.html

AFC U-16 Qualifiers: Reactions from Indian Coach Nicolai Adam

Nicolai Adam, the coach of the nation's U 16 team having participated in the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) U16 championship qualifiers, was in jubilant mood as he witnessed his team tank the Lebanese U 16 team by a 0-6 scoreline in their final Group 'E' match.

“I had said after our defeat to Iran that I did not like the performance of both the teams on that day and I stay with my opinion. Today we saw U-16 Football as U-16 football should be played – tactically and possession wise and not just long balls as it was on display in the match against Iran,” commented the coach, in the post-match interaction.

He further emphasized, "Football at the U-16 level should be played like this.”

Asked what the secret to his team's immense ability on display was, the German gaffer praised the people behind the team's selection, explaining, "It’s only from July 1 that I started training the team and I need to mention about my immense respect for the technical people who were in charge of the team prior to me taking charge. Our Technical Director (TD) Scott O’Donell and former TD Robert Baan had selected 50 per cent of the present squad much prior to me joining and I selected remaining half. Many of the players who excelled in the championship were selected prior. my assistant coaches were also in charge prior to me taking over the job,"

The national U 16 gaffer opined he'd like to play Iran again, but at the main tournament next year, believing his team have the quality, but disgruntled with style of play.

"With due respect to Iran, we played much stronger teams during the exposure teams in Germany and even won. But to win a game like this you need to play without making mistakes, which we were not able to,” commented Adam, after witnessing his team's dismantling by an organized Iranian side. 

The coach further added, "It was in the last 20 minutes that we played football. The second goal at the stroke of interval killed us."

Opining his team still had some way to go before they became 'strong' the former Azerbaijan U19 coach clarified, “The boys are young and we have time to prepare them for the bigger challenges that stay ahead. We could not reproduce our good performance which we put up against Bahrain. In my opinion, we lost because we were weak, and not because Iran were strong.”

“It was not a good match for both sides as there were plenty of long balls played by both sides while players from this age should play more on the pitch,” observed the gaffer, clearly miffed with the method of play employed by both teams.

AFC U-16 Qualifiers: India route Lebanon 6 - 0

Suresh struck a brilliant hat-trick as India thrashed Lebanon 6-0 to end their AFC U-16 Qualifiers campaign in style here on Sunday.

Suresh scored in the 29th, 71st and 89th minutes while Komal Thatal and Amarjit Singh found the net in the 77th and 80th minutes. Lebanon player Habib Baladi scored an own goal in the 75th minute as the Indian boys routed the opposition side in a one-sided Group E match at Yadegar Emam Stadium.

With the win today, India ended at second place in the group with six points behind Iran, who thrashed Bahrain 6-0 in another match today to top the group the group by winning all the three matches. India had beaten Bahrain 5-0 before losing to Iran 0-3.

India have already qualified for the 2016 AFC Under-16 Championships final round as the host country but still they took part in the qualifiers to gain experience.

Eleven group winners and four best second-placed teams in the qualifiers will join India in next year's finals, with the tournament hosts receiving an automatic qualification.

The Indian boys took some time to settle down and they also missed a few chances in the initial minutes. They dominated the first half but could score just one goal.

After the change of ends, the Indians continued from where they left in the first 45 minutes but still goals eluded them till the final quarter of the match.

Suddenly the floodgates were opened once the second goal was scored in the 71st minute. Habib's own goal in the 75th minute was a result of incessant pressure applied by the Indians who pumped in three quick goals towards the end of the match.

Courtesy: http://zeenews.india.com/sports/football/india-route-lebanon-6-0-in-afc-u-16-football-qualifiers_1799878.html

AFC U-16 Qualifiers: India vs Lebanon

The India U-16 team will aim to go for a win against their Lebanese counterparts in their final Group E match of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-16 qualifiers here on Sunday. India are currently on three points from two matches. They started off in splendid fashion with a 5-0 thrashing of Bahrain, but lost their second game 0-3 against Iran on Friday despite creating a host of chances.

Iran, who have also beaten Lebanon, are at the top of the table with six points from their two games. India are at the second spot, level on points with third placed Bahrian but with a better goal difference. In the other match of the group on Friday, Bahrain U-16 beat Lebanon U-16 2-1. India U-16 coach Nicolai Adam is disappointed with the loss to Iran, but asserted that his wards are determined to win against Lebanon and end their group engagements on a high.

"Our goal is to leave Tabriz City with six points. I fully stay with my opinion that if we played to our full potential we could have definitely won against Iran. But on the field, we could not play to our fullest and Iran deserved to win," Adam was quoted as saying by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Saturday.

"Against Lebanon, our aim is to reproduce the performance which we put up against Bahrain. We have to play to our full potential. I strongly believe that in terms of fitness among all the teams in Tabriz City we are the strongest in the championship," he added.

"We worked hard for that in Germany and in Goa and I hope that on basis of our fitness, we would be able to showcase our full potential in terms of technical and tactical skills in the next match."

The German however, is happy with the team's progress and is confident that the Indians will be able to beat Iran should the two nations meet at the AFC U-16 championship next year.

"With due respect to Iran, we played much stronger teams during the exposure trip in Germany and even won. But to win a game like this you need to play without making mistakes, which we were not able to," Adam said. "It was in the last 20 minutes that we played football. The second goal at the stroke of interval killed us.

"Our goal against Iran was to play aggressive and play honest. My players tried to do that and were honest on the pitch. But they could not bring on the aggression," he added. "It was a fantastic learning process. We are disappointed that we lost and that's natural. In my opinion we have already the potential to compete with a team like Iran. "We look forward to having a rematch against Iran in the AFC U16 finals next year in India," the coach asserted.

The AFC U-16 Championship takes place next year in India between September and October. The four semi-finalists from the tournament seal qualification to the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India.India, being the hosts, automatically qualify for the mega tournament.

Courtesy - http://www.thestatesman.com/news/sports/indian-football-colts-eye-victory-against-lebanon/91176.html#56UUZufm8GPb6DRT.99

AFC U-16 Qualifiers: India lose to Iran 0-3

After the high came the low as India suffered a 0-3 defeat to hosts Iran at the AFC U-16 Football qualifiers on Friday. India entered the match high on confidence following a 5-0 thrashing of Bahrain in their first match on Wednesday, but could not sustain the momentum as Iran proved too hot to handle at the Gostaresh Foolad Stadium. 

Midfielder Mohammad Sharifi opened the scoring for the hosts in the 17 minute, his colleague Amir Khodamoradi doubled the lead by finding the net just before the half time (43rd), while Mohammad Ghaderi took the match beyond India's grasp with his side's third strike in the 56th minute. The medio, who scored Iran's third goal 10 minutes into the second half, was substituted by chief coach Hamid Ali Dousti in the 66th minute. 

India coach Nicolai Adam, also in charge of India's U-17 World Cup team, made three substitutions after the change of ends and even beefed up the forward line by bringing in Rahul Kannoly Praveen, but the move did not yield the desired results. 

Barely two days after their thumping win over Bahrain, Adam's wards looked a far cry from their dominant self as the Iranian players, egged on by the home crowd, controlled the game that was dubbed the team's "real test" by the coach in the pre-match press conference. 

This is the qualifying tournament for next year's AFC U-16 Championship, which will be held in India from September 15 to October 2. 

Congratulating Iran on the victory, head coach Nicolai Adam added with a smile, "We look forward to having rematch against Iran in the AFC U-16 Finals next year in India." 

"With due respect to Iran, we played much stronger Teams during the exposure teams in Germany and even won. But to win a game like this you need to play without making mistakes, which we were not able to," he maintained. 

"It was in the last 20 minutes that we played Football. The second goal at the stroke of interval killed us," he stated. "The boys are young and we have time to prepare them for the bigger challenges that stay ahead." 

"We could not reproduce our good performance which we put up against Bahrain. In my opinion, we lost because we were weak, and not because Iran were strong," he commented. 

"It was not a good match for both sides as there were plenty of long balls played by both sides while Players from this age should play more on the pitch," he felt.

Courtesy - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/India-lose-to-Iran-0-3-in-AFC-U-16-qualifiers/articleshow/49017071.cms