'If we are in the first 10, you are giving yourself a realistic chance to play against the best in Asia and then you always have the answer to how much you have to achieve more'
Legendary Indian footballer Bhaichung Bhutia says all strikers need to develop "sixth sense to smell" the opportune time to strike if they are to score regularly. In a chat with AIFF TV, Bhutia, the first Indian footballer to have played 100 international matches, said strikers can be successful only when they can read goal-scoring situations well.
As part of the 'Win in India with India' programme launched by FIFA President Sepp Blatter in 2007, the football's world governing body has sanctioned 10 international standard artificial turf fields to the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
The India U-17 women's team began the three-nation football tournament on a disastrous note, going down 0-3 to Sweden
The women's age group showpiece was to be held at five venues in the country --Kolkata, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Ahmedabad and Navi Mumbai -- from November 2-21. FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup was postponed by football's governing body due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic across the globe.
"In fact, we are in negotiation with stakeholders including ISL franchisees on the issue," Dhar told reporters at the 11th Convocation of Tata Football Academy (TFA) in Jamshedpur.
The hosts crashed out of the tournament at the group stage, losing all their three matches. They gave a tough fight to Colombia in their 1-2 defeat but suffered drubbings against the USA (0-3) and Ghana (0-4).
India's cash-starved football body has held out a begging bowl to the affluent Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), seeking funds to support the national side's preparations for the 2011 Asian Cup finals in Qatar. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has requested a one-time assistance for its "Goal 2011" project and the BCCI is likely to give Rs 10 crores, the Telegraph newspaper reported on Tuesday.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) may see nothing wrong in allowing five foreigners in each I-League club from this season, but national football captain Bhaichung Bhutia feels that the new rule will let one too many overseas players to compete in the event.
Having started the year in the 129th position, the Sunil Chhetri-led team end the year at 105th spot in the FIFA rankings
The 'Pass the message to kick out coronavirus' campaign calls for people around the world to follow five key steps to protect their health in line with WHO's guidelines.
IM Vijayan lauded Sunil Chhetri for his longevity and urged the youngsters to idolise the 35-year-old's work ethic.
The Indian Football team have now broken all records having won eight games on the trot since the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers Playoff Round 1 match against Laos on June 2, 2016.
Stephen Constantine said he has accepted the contract extension offered to him by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), which will make him the longest serving national coach in the history of the sport.
Skipper Sunil Chhetri made it a fairytale 100th international game with a double strike as India recorded a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Kenya
NEC Nijmegen is a professional football club, which competes in the Dutch Eerste Divisie. The club's youth teams feature at the highest level in Dutch Youth Leagues and compete against top European clubs in international tournaments.
AIFF president Praful Patel was elected uncontested as Asian Football Confederation's Vice President of the SAFF Region at the AFC Congress held in Bahrain.
Captain Sunil Chettri starred in India's 5-0 victory over Chinese Taipei, registering his third career-hat-trick, but the feat did not invoke wild celebrations from the striker, as he is someone who does not like to "celebrate outrageously" on the field.
Former India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia said on Tuesday that a merger of the newly floated Indian Super League (ISL) and the long-running I-League is neither going to happen nor is it advisable.
Bengaluru FC rode on Sunil Chhetri double strike as they beat Salgaocar FC 3-2 in their Group B league match as the 36th Federation Cup football tournament kicked off in Vasco.
Indian U-17 team's performance was more of hype than actual achievement on the field.
Satisfied with the infrastructure in place, a FIFA team, which is in Delhi to inspect stadia, said India has the potential to host a "tremendous Under-17 World Cup" in 2017. It, however, asked the AIFF to be proactive in its planning and execution.
At a time when #StayHomeStaySafe echoes the sentiment of not just 1.3 billion people but the entire world, India football player Sandesh Jhingan, a born optimist, feels "it's not long before smiles will be back." Currently, in Chandigarh with his family, Jhingan stated the day is not far when he foresees "football reuniting the entire world."
The Indian U-16 national football team kicked off its campaign in the SAFF U-16 Championship in style drubbing 10-man Sri Lanka 4-1 in its Group B opener at the Army Ground in Kathmandu on Sunday.
Bengaluru FC submit bid as ITB submission deadline ends.
After a long wait of nearly 30 years, Jammu and Kashmir is almost certain to host the 62nd edition of the Santosh Trophy in May next year.
For India to grow substantially in football, it needs a larger pool of skilled coaches and coach educators, says Jeremy Weeks, head coach of Premier Skills, an initiative of English Premier League.
The catch here is that one has to buy the season tickets to get the discount of "about 60 per cent".
Indian football icon Bhaichung Bhutia picked Kerala Blasters youngster Sahal Abdul Samad to be the next big scorer for the country after captain Sunil Chhetri's retirement. One of the youngest members of the Indian line-up, Sahal, who made his debut in the 2019 Kings Cup, has impressed coach Igor Stimac and Chhetri with his dribbling and passing abilities.
The Indian Super League will be expanded to 10 teams this season with the organisers on Monday announcing two more franchises after a bidding process, with Bengaluru FC set to ply in the three-year-old ISL by leaving I-League.
'India can benefit from the sheer number of kids who play, and with more development the game in India will grow,' says Anthony Frost, a Melbourne-based grassroots football instructor.
The country of 1.3 billion is finally waking up to the most popular sport on the planet. Kushal Das, secretary general of the All India Football Federation, has said the country is aiming to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Churchill Brothers came back from behind strongly to end Mohun Bagan's unbeaten run with a 2-1 win in the 12th round match of Hero I-League at Tilak Stadium, in Vasco, on Saturday.
