Football: I-League Preview: Mohammedan Sporting – Dempo SC

This article is taken from Goal.com, all due credits to them

On any other week, this would be just another clash but with the defending champions Dempo in desperate need for points, all eyes would be glued to the action at Salt Lake Stadium when the Goan side takes on Mohammedan Sporting in a ninth round I-League clash.

Difficult Period…

The Kolkata side haven’t had a very good league campaign so far. With only nine points in their kitty, the club shall look to make their home games count. Earlier, it was the defence which was a cause of worry for Coach Shabbir Ali. But with addition of Anit Ghosh and Madhab Das, the backline looked far more stable as in the earlier games.

Their strike duo of Mike Okoro and Theodore Sunday haven’t had an eventful campaign with the former suffering from fitness problems. Okoro did well against Mahindra and got his side three points but since then, the Ghanaian has been quiet.

At the start of the season, Shabbir Ali stated that his side is primarily dependent on their foreign contingent. With two of three foreign players failing to deliver and going by the coach’s words, their team is in bad form.

Midfielder Adebayo Adewusi has been fighting it hard in the middle of the park and surging ahead at every given opportunity. His presence in the middle has been a boon for the Black and Whites.

It’s high time that Mohammedan picks themselves up and restore some pride before the league enters its winter break.

Returning To Normalcy

No one would have expected Dempo to have a pedestrian showing in the league especially after making history by reaching the AFC Cup semi-finals. Languishing in the lower half of the league table, the Goan side struggled in two key departments – striking and defending.

They wouldn’t convert their chances and that got Coach Armando Colaco to scratch his head for the first time in several years. The defence was committing errors and the confidence which one associated with them was nowhere to be seen except in the midfield. Anthony Pereira, Climax Lawrence and Beto have been exceptional this season.

It doesn’t take long for them to stamp their authority on the match and get the opposition players behind the ball. After a convincing victory over Chirag United in the last round, the defending champions shall look to continue the very same form.

Such was their display that it prompted their coach to mention that his side are back to their best. Three points in this game would help them move ahead in the league ladder and thus finish in the top half.

Form Guide

Mohammedan Sporting

November 14 ’08 Mohammedan Sporting 1-0 Vasco SC (I-League)

November 8 ’08 Chirag United 1-0 Mohammedan Sporting (I-League)

November 2 ’08 Mohammedan Sporting 0-0 East Bengal (I-League)

Dempo SC

November 16 ’08 Dempo SC 4-0 Chirag United (I-League)

November 11 ’08 Mumbai FC 0-0 Dempo SC (I-League)

November 8 ’08 Dempo SC 0-1 Sporting Clube De Goa (I-League)

Team News

The good news for Mohammedan is that Sheikh Azim is back after missing out most of the league campaign. Anit Ghosh and Mir Farooq are back from suspension. The bad news is that Theodore Sunday hasn’t yet recovered while skipper Mike Okoro remains doubtful. Dempo continue to be without striker Mboyo Iyomi who suffered a hamstring injury in the match against Mumbai FC. Defender Mahesh Gawli is back from injury.

Key Areas

Pretty much looks like a one sided match and any loss of points would be Dempo’s own squandering.

Key Players

Vimal Pariyar: The former East Bengal scored in the last game and his pace is certainly threatening. Ranti Martins: The Nigerian is back amongst goals after his two against Chirag. He shall look to add more to his tally.

Football:I-League: Injury Time Equaliser Leaves Churchill Frustrated

A brilliant come back by Air India saw them snatch a point from under Churchill’s nose as Michael Tayo scored an injury time goal to deny Churchill full three points in an eighth round I-League encounter at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa.

Churchill Brothers would be disappointed having dropped two crucial points and this is the fifth consecutive game where they have failed to win. They continue to occupy the third position with 14 points from nine outings.

The Airmen shall consider themselves lucky to escape with a point and are currently second on the table with 16 points.

Churchill Brothers saw most of the ball but couldn’t convert the chances that came their way thanks to some brilliant goalkeeping on display by Air India’s Arup Debnath. His alertness and quick reaction denied Churchill for long. Kalu Nnanna’s right footer was well saved by the Air India custodian.

The Mumbai club were lucky to escape as defender Chukuwama Udofia made a goalline save off a Chitra Sen shot. The goal came in the 38th minute as Odafa Okolie from inside the box drew two defenders and then chipped for Felix to head it in.

In the second session, Churchill continued to apply pressure and it was only the brilliance of Arup Debnath which came in their path. He made some stunning saves off Bineesh Balan, Odafa Okolie and Felix Chimaokwu.

The Goan side slowed down and it was well exploited by Air India coach Bimal Ghosh. He brought on fresh legs in the form of Samson Singh, Gauranga Biswas and Thomte for Kailash Patil, Surojit Roy and Napoleon Singh. The positive changes spurred Air India as they dominated the proceedings in the last quarter or so.

Their efforts brought reward in the final minute of injury time when Michael Tayo tapped it in from close range. This would certainly boost the morale of Air India who could have come out empty handed from the match.

Churchill were left to rue their defensive errors and would need to get it right before they travel to Kolkata to face Mohammedan Sporting and East Bengal.

Arup Debnath was awarded the Man of the Match award.

Final Score: 1-1

Goalscorer Churchill: Felix Chimaokwu (38th min)

Goalscorer Air India: Michael Tayo (93rd)

Football: I League. Mumbai FC rally to hold Churchill Bros

Goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya’s lapse allowed Mumbai FC to come from behind and hold Churchill brothers to an exciting 2-2 draw in the ONGC I-League match, played at Nehru Stadium in Margao on Saturday.

Mumbai FC held initial forays as they took the lead in the 10th minute through Abhishek Yadav. The lead was later neutralised by Odafe Okolie in the 20th minute as both the teams led 1-1 at half time.

Churchill Bros who had a major share of exchanges in the second half went ahead in the 70th minute through Reisangmi Vashum as his goal-bound cross from the right deflected rival defender Sanjay Parte and eluded keeper Kalyan Chaubey to find the far post.

Mumbai FC showed the fighting spirit as they equalised five minutes later through a soft goal. Following a flag kick, Wilson floated the ball into the box. Keeper Arindam Bhattacharya charged out to collect the aerial ball but failed to hold it as the ball popped out from his hand and an unmarked Kulothungan shot it into the empty net from the top of the box.

The draw took Churchill Bros to 13 points from 8 matches. Mumbai FC have collected 11 points from as many matches.

Both the teams played the game at fast pace. Mumbai FC who raised their game this time showed the fighting spirit which lacked against Sporting Clube de Goa , when they played last here.

Churchill Bros coach Zoran Djordjevic was disappointed with the draw. “Our boys failed to convert scoring chances and also our defense fumbled at crucial juncture which has led to the draw,” he said.

On the other hand Mumbai FC coach David Booth was satisfied with the result. “It was a big match and our boys showed fighting spirit when the chips were down. In the end it was a good draw,” said Booth.

India to play in Asian Champions League ??

The AFC Professional League Ad-Hoc Committee will visit the country for the second time on April 7 to assess whether India can send a club in the revamped AFC Champions League beginning next year.

Ad-Hoc Committee Deputy Chairman Tokuaki Suzuki and Chief Officer Satoshi Saito, who had visited India in November last year, will make further scrutiny if the country meets the entry criteria to the much anticipated league, besides meeting AIFF President Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi and General Secretary Alberto Colaco.

Formed in 2006 under the chairmanship of Saburo Kawabuchi, the brain behind the hugely successful J-League of Japan , the AFC Professional League Ad-Hoc Committee has visited 21 countries from April 2007 and narrowed down to 15 countries for a second visit.

The two-member committee will begin their visit of 15 proposed participating member associations in Thailand tomorrow. They will proceeed to Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea, Uzbekistan, India, Iran, Qatar, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, China and Australia.

The AFC Committee will meet on May 20 to finalise which of these countries satisfy the criteria to take part in the new competition which is likely to have 32 teams.

The countries were assessed in 10 areas — organisation, technical standard, attendance, governance/soundness, marketing and promotion, business scale, match operations, media, stadia and facilities and clubs.

Further, clubs to participate in the new AFC Champions League must employ a full time General Manager or CEO as well as other professional and competent staff to overlook matters related to competition, technical, youth development, media, marketing, finance and administration.

The Committee would review the list of participating member associations again in 2010 and those who failed to meet the criteria for the 2009 edition can join the 2011 edition if they meet the criteria in 2010.

First Indian Football mascot

In a first for an Indian football club, Mohan Bagan will have a mascot much like the European clubs.

West Bengal’s football powerhouse Mohun Bagan has decided to have Baggu the Royal Bengal tiger as their mascot.

Baggu suits the club and Mohun Bagan has stuck to the Royal Bengal tiger – the 20th century symbol of Mohun Bagan Athletic Club.

“I feel this will bring young people to watch the game and you know this indeed will help the game per say. The fans will like it and at the same time theme music will be fun,” says former Indian football team skipper Chuni Goswami.

To bring professional culture in India football, we are the first club in India to do it.

And being the first club of Bengal, it is only befitting that Baggu be the mascot of Mohan Bagan. The name of the mascot was chosen from among the following four names – Mahabal, Mama, Bade Miya and Baggu.

But despite all the enthusiasm among the officials, club veterans are taking a cynical view of things. They feel choosing a mascot is all fanfare and it’s the game that matters something that’s lacking.

“I don’t think it will make any difference. The players will have to play well as Baggu won’t play the game. We never had such things on our time. The main thing is that you have to have good coaching. Bring coach from a foreign country,” Sailendra Nath Manna, who was the skipper of the Indian team that won the Asian Games gold medal in 1951.

But despite the hardliners, Baggu is all set roar and his presence left the crowds cheering. Baggu’s presence not only made the players and referees happy but even the fans enjoyed it.

“We are looking towards modernisation. We pioneered many things before and now it’s Baggu. We are also going to introduce souvenir shops. This will bring professional culture in India football and we are the first club in India to do so,” Anjan Mitra, Secretary Mohun Bagan, says.

This is not the end and Mohan Bagan are shortly introducing a theme song like the other European clubs that is going to be composed by Bappi Lahiri.

East Bengal beat Ahli Sana’a

East Bengal brought their AFC Cup campaign back on track with a 1-0 victory over Yemen’s Ahli Sana’a in a Group D league match in Kolkata on Tuesday.

Edmilson Marquis slotted in a spectacular half-volley to ensure full points for the Kolkata giants, who now have three points from two outings.

East Bengal had lost 0-1 in their lung-opener against Lebanese club Safa FC in Beirut last week.

After today’s defeat, Sana’a have a solitary point which they garnered from their 1-1 draw against Jordan’s Al Wihdat in their first outing.

The all-important goal for the Federation Cup champions came in the 34th minute when Ibe Ikechukwu Gift’s volley deflected off Sana’a defender Ahmed Khalili to unmarked Brazilian Edmilson, who fired a power-packed right-footer that lodged in the net, giving no chance to rival goalkeeper Manaudh Abdul Khaleej.

The Yemenis looked enterprising in the initial minutes as they used their big frame to advantage in trying to build attacks down the right flank, but failed to create scoring chances.

East Bengal took some time to gauge their opponents before having a look at the visitor’s goal in the 12th minute. Edmilson essayed a cross from the right flank, but Syed Rahim Nabi’s header flew over.

The red and yellow brigade gradually seized control of the match with the Yemenis having sapped all energy in the hot and humid conditions.

Football-Indian soccer fans set to bid Kahn a grand farewell

Football fans in Kolkata will have the privilege of watching former German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn in action when top German club Bayern Munich takes on Mohun Bagan in an exhibition tie on May 27.

The Bundesliga leaders are set for a 10-day tour of Asia in May as they look to raise their profile in the continent.

The team will fly out to Indonesia on May 18 and play their national side on the May 21 before taking on the Chinese Olympic side on May 24 in Guangzhou.

India will be their next stopover and they will play against Mohun Bagun in Kolkata.

Kahn is in his final season at Bayern, where he has played with distinction since 1994. He will play his farewell match in September when Bayern Munich take on the German national team.

The club had played Chinese Olympic team at the Allianz Arena in January.

They will, however, not have their top players available for the tour.

Players like Franck Ribery, Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose are set to represent their countries in the Euro 2008 tournament in June.