Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia on Monday said the lack of top-class infrastructure still remains an impediment to the development of football in the country, while AIFF president Praful Patel lamented the absence of enough money in sports other than cricket. Considered the torchbearer of Indian football during his playing days, Bhutia felt while avenues have opened up now lot can still be done in the area of infrastructure.
All India Football Federation will discuss in its executive committee meeting on May 7 the impact on the next I-League of Mahindra United's decision to disband itself from competitive football.
In a major blow to football in Mumbai, Mahindra United Football Club will be disbanded at the end of current I-League season, the parent company shifting its focus towards developing talent at school level.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Sunday
With the world gearing up for the FIFA World Cup on June 12 in Brazil young footballers are enthusiastically training with local clubs in the hope of taking football to newer heights in the country.
The 72-year-old, also an eminent Congress leader, passed away today after being in coma since 2008, when he had suffered a stroke.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Sunday
Laxmi Negi/Rediff.com caught up with the two footballers to find out more about their time in the country.
Opposition from national football coach Bob Houghton and captain Bhaichung Bhutia has led to a rethink by the All India Football Federation on the five-foreigner quota in the I-League. The AIFF has also sought views of state associations on the issue.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Friday
Sporting Clube de Goa have signed Japanese defender Kenji Arai from Singapore Armed Forces to strengthen their weak defense for the next round of I-league, commencing from January.
Mohun Bagan scored through Marcos Pereiera to bounce back from a goal deficit to edge past hosts Shillong Lajong FC 2-1 in a round five I-League match in Shillong on Thursday.
Salgaocar FC picked up their first home win of the season today as they breezed past East Bengal by a margin of 3-1 at the Tilak Maidan. The result came as a shocking performance as the Greens had been struggling for a while to get the required results, but an inspiring performance against the Red and Golds gave them much needed three points. There were a plethora of changes in Salgaocar FC lineup from their loss to Mohun Bagan. Calvin Mbarga, Semboi Haokip started in the forward line with Darryl Duffy while Saran Singh started in the back. The game got off the best possible start for Salgaocar FC, as Haokip put the Goan side ahead in the third minute. Darryl Duffy's cross from the right was received by the striker who took one touch and blasted it past Luis Barreto into the back of the net. However, there was an immediate blow to Salgaocar in the 10th minute as the Hero I-League's leading goal scorer, Darryl Duffy, picked up a groin injury, and had to be substituted by Jackichand Singh.
Uruguayan striker Emiliano Alfaro struck twice, including one in the final minute of the game, as FC Pune City staged a remarkable fightback to beat Mumbai City FC 2-1 in the Indian Super league (ISL) in Pune on Wednesday.
Having missed the IFA Shield and Durand Cup, Baichung Bhutia said he is not fully fit and will take some time to settle down when he dons the East Bengal jersey in the I-League.
I-League champions Bengaluru FC will play against Jordanian club Al Wehdat SC in their AFC Champions League Preliminary Stage 2 fixture in an away tie on January 31.
Over the next fortnight the country's top 16 teams, which includes 12 second division I-League clubs, will vie for honours in the Federation Cup, in Kolkata and Barasat.
Defender Anas Edathodika and midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh emerged as costliest picks for an identical Rs 1.1 crore by new outfit Jamshedpur FC and two-time champions ATK respectively in the Indian Super League domestic players draft in Mumbai on Sunday.
Former Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia tells Laxmi Negi the IPL-style football IMG-Reliance league will not only bring in some of the world's leading players, but spectators to the grounds too, something the struggling I-League cannot do.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Saturday.
Jose Ramirez Baretto scored the all-important goal from a penalty in the 50th minute to give the Kolkata team their first victory in six matches in the ONGC I-League football championship.
Qualifiers New Delhi Heroes stunned a listless Sporting Clube de Goa 1-0 to knock out the I-League leaders from the 30th Federation Cup at Vidyasagar Krirangan in Barasat on Saturday.
Mumbai FC scored their second victory in as many matches when they beat Kolkata giants East Bengal by a solitary goal in Kolkata on Tuesday.
Air pollution in the city is a cause of concern for not only the Sri Lankan cricketers but also for the footballers competing in the Indian Super League as they wore masks while training on Tuesday.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Sunday
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Thursday
Mohun Bagan's winless streak stretched to four matches as Sporting Clube de Goa rode on a Boima Karpeh double for a 2-1 win in the I-League at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Saturday.
Man of the match Junior Obagbemiro's second-half brace guided Sporting Clube De Goa to an emphatic 3-0 win over Mohammedan Sporting in the second round of the ONGC I-League in Margao on Saturday. After a barren first-half, Sporting Clube De Goa scored their goals through Obagbemiro (62nd, 76th minutes) and Micky Fernandes (75th). Sporting Clube De Goa, who scored their second victory in as many matches, have six points while Mohammedan Sporting have one.
FIFA has praised Lebanon for taking action against matchfixing and has requested more details about the sanctions it recently imposed on players and officials, world soccer's governing body has said.
Akram Moghrabi was released by Churchill Brothers before the Lebanese player was named in a major match-fixing scandal in his native country, the Indian I-League club told Reuters on Friday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the India Under-17 football team in New Delhi on Friday as he encouraged the youngsters to stick together and represent the country at the highest level in the years to come.
Indian football was a picture of good health with a 10-man under-20 outfit's triumph over Argentina
The growing interest in alternative sports is encouraging Ronnie Screwvala to extend the U Mumba brand from kabaddi to football and volleyball.
Shillong Lajong FC has signed Trinidad & Tobago international Cornell Glen for a one year deal with the I-League club.
India football captain Subrata Paul is among retired stars Climax Lawrence and Mahesh Gawli to have been recommended by the All India Football Federation for the prestigious Arjuna Awards.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Wednesday.
Though a bid cannot be expected from either of the two Kolkata giants just because the document has been taken up for consideration, this is a sign that both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan are easing their stance against the IMG-Reliance owned league.
India's star striker Sunil Chhetri is in doubt for India's Asian Cup qualifier against Kyrgyzstan as well as the international friendly against Lebanon next month, according to his I-League club Bengaluru FC's chief executive officer.
Much against the wishes of national football coach Bob Houghton, the next edition of the I-League will feature 12 teams.
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