Only a few players become legends in their playing days and Sunil Chhetri belonged to that rare tribe, India's head coach Igor Stimac said in a glowing tribute to the talismanic skipper, who will hang his boots on June 6.
"It's time to change the system," declared Indian football legend Bhaichung Bhutia on Saturday, after world football governing body FIFA lifted the ban imposed on the All India Football Federation.
India's preparations for a formal bid to stage the prestigious 2017 Under 17 Football World Cup is in the final stages with only the security clearance left from the hosting states, AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das said on Saturday.
Sunil Chhetri stirred up emotions in his final international outing but the Indian football team just could not rise to the occasion as it settled for a goalless draw against Kuwait.
We need players with confidence in front of goal: Stimac after India's Asian Cup exit
The Committee of Administrators (CoA) on Tuesday said it was surprised at FIFA's 'unfortunate' decision to ban the All India Football Federation (AIFF) despite closing in on a consensus on matters concerning the elections and structure of constitution.
With Chhetri and Stimac at helm, AIFF hoping for strong show in Asian Games
Football was not very close to Sunil Chhetri's heart during his days as a bubbly teenager with proclivity for pranks. He was only looking to use the sport as a vehicle to gain entry to a reputed college and continue his education.
In its bid to restructure the country's football, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has formed a task force and one of the decisions taken is to hold the popular Indian Super League (ISL) over a longer period, according to its General Secretary Kushal Das.
Chhetri's record against the neighbours is quite impressive, scoring four goals in eight matches including a spectacular strike from a free kick in Kolkata in 2022.
While the players did the job on the field, the man quietly working behind the scenes was former India centre-back Mahesh Gawali.
While there is no imminent threat to the AFC Asian Cup participation by the senior men's team in late 2023 or early 2024, some of the games slated for clubs and age-group national teams in the next few months could well be a tricky terrain.
Expressing serious concern at the unsavoury incident that happened after the Indian Super League final in Goa on Sunday, All India Football Federation president Praful Patel said on Monday he was awaiting the match commissioner's report before cracking the whip on the wrongdoers.
Here are some of the controversies, which cast a shadow on Indian sport as the athletes prepared for the Asian Games.
Former England and Tottenham Hotspur defender Ledley King on Tuesday said though Indian football has progressed extensively in the last few years, the country needed to spread the sport more effectively at the grassroots.
Hosts India clinched the SAFF Championships title for the ninth time after beating Kuwait 5-4 in a tense penalty shootout.
Asian Games gold medallist and Olympian Tulsidas Balaram, part of Indian football's 'holy trinity' in the 1950s and 60s, passed away in Kolkata on Thursday after a prolonged illness, sources close to his family said.
The Indian men's team currently occupies the 18th spot among countries under the Asian Football Confederation, while the women's side is ranked 11th.
Chhetri also added that India will rely more on teamwork than individual flair to give a tough fight to their rivals.
Bhat is the youngest among the probables shortlisted by the AIFF for the India under-23 squad.
Indian skipper Sunil Chhetri scored a hattrick as India handed Pakistan a 4-0 loss in their SAFF Championship match in Bengaluru.
Indian football being hit with a FIFA ban looked a real possibility on Tuesday after the commercial partners of the sport's governing body in the country approached the Supreme Court over contentious clauses in the draft constitution.
Sandesh Jhingan, upon his arrival at the airport in Doha, said, 'No group in the Asian Cup is easy. Of course, we've got Australia, and they need no introduction. But what we have learned in the last few years is that we must never fear any opposition.'
'My wife and I are overjoyed to announce that we are expecting a baby. This is the way she wanted to announce.'
Stimac is also grappling with injuries to few of his key players. Defensive midfielder Jeakson Singh, who underwent surgery on his left shoulder early last month, was named among the 50 probables but he is uncertain to be in the final 26.
India coach Igor Stimac wants his players to stay compact and not concede set pieces to Australia
The Indian women Under-17 team's assistant coach Alex Ambrose has been sacked for alleged sexual misconduct, S Y Quraishi, a member of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) overseeing the All India Football Federation, said on Sunday.
The CoA reacted after FIFA threatened to suspend the AIFF and strip off its right to host the women's U-17 World Cup in October due to a third party "influence", a development which came just days after the Supreme Court's directive to hold elections of the national federation.
Habib, who was suffering from dementia and Parkinson's syndrome for the past couple of years, breathed his last in Hyderabad, his birthplace.
Asian Cup rivals Australia, Uzbekistan notches above us but can test against them: Chhetri
Chhetri rested as Stimac names 23-member squad for King's Cup
India finished at the bottom of Group G, having earlier lost to China 1-2.
'The ban and the timing of lifting it is unfair to Gokulam Kerala because we had been preparing for the tournament for about two months.'
India concede late goal to lose 1-2 to China in AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers
Gokulam Kerala FC players, who were to participate in the AFC Women's club championships, are stranded at Tashkent following AIFF's suspension by FIFA on Monday.
The visiting side scored through Moustafa Tarek Mashal (4th minute), Almeoz Ali (47th) and Yusuf Adurisag (86th).
India sweep past 10-man Nepal to win SAFF U-17 title
India assistant coach Gawli slams refereeing
India coach Stimac hits out at AIFF.
Indian football team loses 0-2 to Australia in Asian Cup
