Mar - Apr 17 Issue

Congratulations Aizawl FC on winning the I-League 2017

Photo credits : Nilanjan Dutta

President’s Corner

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Congratulations Aizawl on winning the I-League. Their story has been a fairy tale. We have been talking about Leicester City but Aizawl achievement is nothing less. They have gone from strength to strength in this league and Khalid Jamil should take full credit for this. His team has been mentally strong and has churned out results when the time came. Aizawl’s victory is a victory for the

whole of North East which has been a nursery for football talent for over 3 decades now. Our players have been going outside the state to give their services to the big clubs in Goa , Calcutta and now Bengaluru but with the rise of Aizawl and Neroca (who also look destined to qualify for the I-league)

our players can be at home and follow their passion beside earning a living.

The Indian national team also started off their Asian Cup qualifying campaign with an away win. Though the win wasn’t

the most convincing one the boys should take a lot of heart from it and prepare better for the next match which I believe is at home. A

win would mean 6 points in the first two matches which would be a huge step towards qualifying for the 2019 Asian Cup in Dubai. The team is very talented and hard working. Honestly I don’t see any reason of not qualifying

for the Asian Cup. I wish Coach Stephen Constantine and his wards the best for their quest for UAE 2019. Their qualifying would give a huge boost

to Indian Football.

The season end is coming and we are planning on an exhibition match to generate some revenue for our association. We will use this money to fund the coaching camps which our members run generally for under privilege children in various parts of the country. Would request you to come forward and support us for this game. The AFC B license will also be conducted in June and there are only a few spots left so please register asap. These licenses are conducted by the association on a subsidized budget especially for the players. Please take the opportunity and finish your badges as fast as you can. For registering, get in touch with Siddhartha (+91-9830379888).

The season is ending and for any contract issues please get in touch with our office. We are there to help you and would request you to approach us for any problems on or off the field. We will be supporting you provided you are right and honest. Call Cyrus (+91-9830999436) or Siddhartha (+91-9830379888) for any issue. They are there to help you out.

Congratulating Aizawl for their I-League championship and redefining Indian football. The Fed Cup will now be all the more interesting especially with the big guns missing out on the league. Would wish luck to all the teams and hope that the best one wins it. Till the next time. Cheers .

football. The Fed Cup will now be all the more interesting especially with the big football. The Fed Cup will now be all the more interesting especially with the big guns missing out on the league. Would wish luck to all the teams and hope that guns missing out on the league. Would wish luck to all the teams and hope that

Bengal today lifted the Santosh Trophy for the 32nd time after Manvir Singh struck in the 119th minute for a 1-0 win over Goa, extending their domination in the premier domestic football tournament.

After playing out a goalless 90 minutes, Manvir finally came good in the dying moments of extra time to leave the home crowd shocked at the GMC Stadium.

Entering the title clash on the back of some impressive outings, Manvir was kept quiet for a major part of the match but with barely seconds to go for the final whistle, he found the target with a stunning left-footer.

Playing in front of a vociferous home crowd, five-time winners Goa tried their best and controlled the match, but ran out of steam in the extra time. The hosts had their chances to score but the rival keeper pulled off some great saves.

Bengal, thus, ended a six-year wait having last won the title in 2011. Goa last won it in 2009.

Goa, who had hosted the tournament thrice prior to the 2016-17 edition, lost to Bengal in the semifinal in 1972 and the final in 1996, while won against Kerala in 1990.

We congratulate the whole Bengal team and Coach Mr. Mridul Banerjee for an outstanding tournament and bringing back the Santosh Trophy to the Mecca of Indian football.

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Bengal lifts Santosh Trophy 2017.

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Interview of Rupert Nongrum midfielder Shillong Lajong and Delhi Dynamos.

FPAI : What are your earliest memories of football? How did you start playing the game?

RN : My earliest memories of football are with my childhood friends on the streets and in the muddy fields. The experience was even better when it rained.

I started playing the game since I was 5 but never took it seriously. It was in school when I was in class 6 that I got selected to play for my school team and started becoming serious about the game .

FPAI : You have been in Shillong from the time you started playing football. Enjoying your stint here?

RN : Yes I have been with Shillong Lajong since I started playing and I have enjoyed my stint with the club. I have worked with various coaches and everyone has contributed immensely to my career here. I am what I am today because of Shillong Lajong.

FPAI : Delhi Dynamos team had a fantastic season in the ISL. Tell us your experience playing under someone like Gianluca Zambrotta and sharing the dressing room with someone like Malouda.

RN : Playing for Delhi Dynamos in ISL 3 was one of the best experiences for me. To play under an world cup winner Gianluca Zambrotta and having teammates

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like Malouda is special .From watching them play on television to sharing the same dressing room as them was the probably the greatest experience of my life.

FPAI : You are still pursuing your studies. How do you balance studies and professional football?

RN : I am currently waiting for my BA final year results so I have finally finished my studies haha. Football is my bread and butter but i feel that it is also important to have a back up plan and at least have a graduation degree. I have always managed my time well and studies with football was not really difficult.

FPAI : How would you rate your performance this season? Shillong finished 5th in the i-league after a strong start. What would be the plan going into the Federation Cup?

RN : Personally I feel I have improved a lot after my stint in the ISL. Having said that I know I have miles to go as footballer. I would like to keep improving every day and would like to keep working hard.

Going into the Federation Cup we would of course like to do well. We know our limitations and would give every team a fight.

FPAI : What do you do when you aren’t playing football? RN : When I’m not playing football I like to hang out with my

family and friends,listen to music,play video games with my brothers.

FPAI : Tell us a bit about your family. RN : My dad is a business man and mom is a housewife.I

have 3 younger brothers .All 3 of them are still pursuing their studies.

FPAI : Where do we see you in the next ISL season? Planning to continue with Delhi Dynamos

RN : I haven’t planned anything honestly. I still have a contract with Shillong Lajong and would respect their decision when it comes to ISL.

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Interview of Beikhokhei Beingaichho, forward Bengaluru FC

FPAI : How did you start playing football? BB : I started playing football at a very early age in my home

town. I would kick the football around with the kids from the locality and slowly started getting serious. I kept playing in different age group tournaments in and around my home town and got a call from the IFA Academy in West Bengal.

FPAI : What brought you to George Telegraph all the way from Mizoram?

BB : As I mentioned I joined the IFA Academy in West Bengal at a young age and kept training there for the next three years. Once I was in the academy the only thing I wanted to be was a professional footballer. When I graduated George Telegraph who were playing the CFL wanted my services and I didn’t hesitate.

FPAI : You are in Bengaluru since 2013. What keeps you going here?

BB : Their professionalism. For me they are best club in the I-League and I have enjoyed my stay here. This club has given me some great memories and experiences and I will always cherish them.

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FPAI : Bengaluru FC went all the way to the AFC Cup final last year. How was the experience ?

BB : It was a great experience. You play against some of the top teams in Asia and there is so much to learn from every game. When you play a tournament of that stature you learn on and off the field. Of course having said that we were bitterly disappointed not to win the trophy after going all the way but this year we will give our best again in the competition and try going one up from the last time and win the trophy. It is not going to be easy at all but we believe we have the quality and fighting spirit to go all the way again.

FPAI : Aizawl FC are the I-League champions. How is the feeling since the team is from your home state ?

BB : Well to start off with I would like to congratulate them. It has been a massive effort from a team which operates with such little budget. I am really happy for them and wish them the best for the upcoming seasons also. Mizoram football has been on the rise for the past few years and Aizawl winning the league will be another shot in the arm for the budding footballers from the state who dream to make it big at the national level.

FPAI : Are you disappointed missing out on the ISL? BB : Of course. Very disappointed since I was in the draft and

wasn’t selected because I had a knee operation prior to it however I am hoping next season I will be playing in the ISL.

FPAI : Where do we see you next season? Planning to continue in Bengaluru?

BB : My contract expires soon with Bengaluru so I haven’t decided where I really want to go. As of now I am working hard and want to play many matches for the team so that I get good offers once my contract expires.

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Interview of Mridul Banerjee

FPAI : Tell us about your playing days. Where it started & what was the highest point?

MB : In the year 1976, I started my football life as a Striker and a Central Mid-fielder in Aurora Athletic Association, then a 2nd.division club in the Calcutta Football League. That year I was the ‘Highest Scorer’ with 2 hattricks. Even then I did not get any place in the U-19 squad of the Bengal team for reasons unknown to me till now. In 1977, I signed for Calcutta Port Trust, the Giant Killers & a balanced side in Calcutta Premier Division League. The same year I represented Calcutta University team in the Inter-varsity tournament as Captain and again I represented India University team as Vice-Captain. I was adjudged ‘The Best Player of Calcutta University’ and awarded ‘The Chancellor Trophy’ along with ‘Gostha Pal Gold Medal’ for the first time. I continued with Calcutta Port Trust in 1978 switched to George Telegraph the following year and in November,1979, joined State Bank of India as a footballer. It was my first job in my career as a footballer & I am still working in SBI. For 1980 football season, I was chosen to sign for Mohun Bagan, but unfortunately on 24th.Febtuary, 1980, I received a serious right leg injury (Tibia fracture, Patella fracture associated with tear of ligament) at the All India State Bank Football Tournament at Coimbatore, Tamilnadu. I recovered and went on to play for George Telegraph and Sporting Union in the later years

FPAI : When did you start coaching ? Tell us about the past club you have coached.

MB : I completed the Coaching Course of Sports Authority of India in 1989 and obtained First Class. After that in 1990 I started a coaching camp in my local area at Tala Park. In 1991, I joined Greer Sporting club as their head coach. The club was in 2nd division Calcutta league at that time. In 1992, I joined the International Preliminary Coaching Course of the Football Associattion of England and obtained Result with excellent remarks in all the subjects. I came back from England and joined Bally Protiva Club which plied its trade at the Calcutta first division at that time. My first big assignment was with Mohammedan Sporting Club as their head coach in 1998 and that year, Mohammedan beat Mohun Bagan. Other than that I have worked with the Bengal U-21 team and even the Indian age group teams. Of course this year I was the head coach of the Bengal team which won the Santosh Trophy after 6 years.

FPAI : In recent times, you have had success with Mohammedan Sporting Club & then also with the State Football Team. Tell us about the experience please & finest moment in football.

MB : I am really satisfied with my work in Mohammedan and Bengal team which won the Santosh Trophy. When I joined Mohammedan last season people said that the

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team will get relegated but we finished runners up above mighty Mohun Bagan and even beat them in the league. The Bengal team too didn’t get off to the best of starts and It’s always tough to win against a team like Goa when they are playing at their own ground. The greatest moment would be beating Goa on their home soil and lifting the Santosh Trophy.

FPAI : You have seen the infrastructure of Indian football. What are your comments? How & Where can it be improved for the better?

MB : There are so many areas where we can improve. But what hurts me is that we lack proper playing grounds in India. Young children need proper grounds to develop their skills and we hardly have any of that. We can only get better players if children get the proper infrastructure which is only there in a selected few places.

FPAI : Tell us what you see as the strength & weakness of Indian players.

MB : We have very good players, but we are lacking behind in technical & tactical aspects. If each player is good tactically and technically, then automatically the team will play better football.

FPAI : You are a gentleman in this sport. Tell us how you manage & handle the pressure ?

MB : Here in India, every gentle Indian faces a problem. Here gentlemanly behaviour is taken as a weakness. In regard to football coaching, here those who use slang language are judged as a strong personality and can control players which I do not agree on. In the professional world, both Professional ethics & demands will be there. As a coach, my work is to train players and players must act and respond accordingly. If a coach has knowledge about how to manage then he can easily manage every sector related to football.

FPAI : What are your views on the ISL vis-a-vis I League ? MB : In my opinion, India needs 3 tier National League to

involve every state in football. When every state will join more enthusiastically then India will get more talent through mass participation.

FPAI : Who is your favourite Coach & favourite Player ? MB : I have two favourite coaches & two favourite players.

My favourite Coaches are both Spanish, one is Vicente del Bosque and the other one is Pep Guardiola. My favourite players are none other than Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta.

FPAI : What is your hobbies besides coaching ? MB : My hobbies besides coaching are listening to music and

collecting stamps.

FPAI : You have heard of the Football Players Association of India. Any message for the FPAI.

MB : FPAI is working as the representative of Indian footballers and doing a good job. But please work for the benefit of those who are yet to come into the limelight.

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Interview of Jayesh Rane midfielder Chennaiyin FC and Aizawl FC

FPAI : Is winning the I-League for Aizawl the biggest achievement of your career?

JR : It has to be one of the biggest in my career for sure. The feeling is great. It is so special winning the league for Aizawl because no one thought we will win the league. We battled against all the odds to achieve the impossible.

FPAI : What convinced you to come to Aizawl FC? JR : It was Khalid sir who convinced me to come here. When

he offered me a place in the team I didn’t even think twice. I packed my bags and arrived in Aizawl.

FPAI : How difficult was it to adjust here coming from a city like Mumbai?

JR : It was very difficult initially. The food, the weather, and the culture everything is totally different from Mumbai. I am thankful to the people of the club, the local players, and the backroom staff for helping me to adjust here. Also the people in Aizawl are warm and friendly which helped massively. I am thankful to the whole of Aizawl for making me feel at home here.

FPAI : Khalid Jamil is being worshipped as a cult hero here in Aizawl. What does he bring to a team he coaches?

JR : I don’t think any other person in the team deserves this trophy more than Khalid Sir. Yes he is a hero in Aizawl and why shouldn’t he be. He has done the unthinkable and deserves such a status.

It’s difficult to say what exactly he brings as coach because for me he is a complete coach. He knows his players

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inside out, their strong points and their limitations.

FPAI : Thoughts on your boyhood club Mumbai FC finishing last and getting relegated.

JR : Its really sad. Mumbai FC has been the flag bearer of the city in football for a long time now. I feel for the fans who have always stood by the club in difficult times. I hope that they will be back soon.

FPAI : What is the mood like in the camp now going into the Federation Cup?

JR : Well Khalid Sir is hard task master. The day after winning the league we had normal training. We know the Federation Cup will be a tough task but we want to win it too for the people of Aizawl. We are preparing hard for it and will fight for every ball on the pitch.

FPAI : Do we see you coming back to Aizawl next season? JR : Honestly I haven’t decided on anything but would love to

come back here. I have got a lot of affection from the people here and I enjoy playing here.

FPAI : What is your message for the Aizawl fans? JR : I would thank all of the supporters of Aizawl from the

bottom of my heart. It wasn’t possible to win this league without them. I would love to keep playing here and winning more trophies for these fantastic fans.

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Interview of Ranjit Bajaj, owner Minerva Punjab FC.

FPAI : What prompted you to invest in an I-League club when the ISL is being deemed to be the future of Indian football?

Ranjit : Being a footballer player myself I saw the need for a platform for the talent of the great region of Punjab to Shine. Until now players from Punjab had to go all over the country in search of employment. I wanted the graduates of Minerva’s Youth development program to stay inspired and focus towards their goal of playing in the top division through Minerva Punjab FC. I wanted to have representation from Chandigarh/Punjab/North India on the national scene in an effort to bring forward more talent from the region that gave us the greats of Indian football like Jarnail Singh and Inder Singh.

FPAI : Your thoughts on the ISL and I-League merging.Ranjit : Its a good idea and the way forward for Indian Football

but only if there is promotion and relegation. If its going to be just the select few elite clubs playing in a exclusive league then its no good for development of Indian football.

FPAI : As the owner of Minerva what are your long term plans for the club?

Ranjit : Our long term plans are to become one of the prier youth development academies in India and the world. We will continue to work towards our mission to bring

forward more players for the Indian National Teams. Our Senior team will continue to strive to represent Punjab in the top division of Indian Football thereby providing a future for the footballers of North India.

FPAI : Punjab has seen steady decline in the number of footballers playing the national circuit over the last decade or so. Your thoughts?

Ranjit : The decline in players from Punjab is a direct consequence of the shutting down of the only professional club from Punjab i.e. JCT Football Club. The footballers saw no future and most of them took up government jobs, changed careers or sports. Minerva has brought about a revolution and resurrection of football in Punjab. By providing the footballers a future we are ensuring a steady stream of talent coming in from Punjab.

FPAI : Minerva didn’t have a great season and finished second from the bottom of the table. What according to you went wrong this season?

Ranjit : We were informed just 10 days before the start of the I-League that we would be participating. We barely had time to put together a team let alone enough time for them to have a few practice sessions together. The start of the season was rough for us, our first

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four matches were all away and then we came home to meet East Bengal in our first home match. It was a baptism by fire for our young lot but as the season progressed they started gelling well together as a unit. Infact we remind unbeaten in the I-league throughout the month of February. At the end of the league there was not much of a difference between the last 5 teams standing, just one more win and we could have ended up 6th! We learned a lot this season and will definitely be better prepared for the coming season. We will not disappoint the growing fan base which we have garnered over the last season.

FPAI : You are always with the team when they are playing their matches. How do you manage your time?

Ranjit : It is very very challenging to manage my time and I still feel like I should be doing more. I was playing with many of the boys of our senior team until 2 years ago, they trust me and having me by their side makes them more confident and motivated, and that’s enough for me to make sure that I make myself available for matches. I have to say that the I-League has been a rollercoaster ride, it has been hard to get enough sleep, but the wins and high make up for all the fatigue! I should not be compared to the other team owners; I am a player and mentor first.

FPAI : Away from football what keeps your occupied?Ranjit : Minerva Academy, our parent concern is the India’s

Premier Armed Forces Preparatory institute which was set up by my grandfather Lt. Col. I S. Deol in 1955. Since its inception Minerva Academy has trained more than 35,000 officers to join the Armed Forces. I train and motivate youngsters from all over the country to join the Indian Armed Forces, I am also the COO so that keeps me busy year round. Apart from the Academy

and the football, Minerva also runs a thriving Cricket Club and Academy under Minerva Academy Cricket Club. MACC has produced many players for Team India and the IPL since its inception in 2003 including Barinder Singh Sran, Gurkeerat Mann, Manan Vohra and Siddharth Kaul to name a few. Other than this I also run an Wildlife Conservation NGO and a Dog rescue-rehab-adoption centre for strays and abandoned dogs that is a cause very close to my heart.

FPAI : What would be Minerva’s plan for the next season?Ranjit : We look forward to bring out more promising talent

from Punjab in the coming season not only in our senior team but also in U18, U16 and U13 teams as well. We plan to spread out all over Punjab with our grassroots programs and we want to strengthen our youth development program to have a steady stream of talent for our senior team. We want to put up a good show in the I-League especially and maybe pull a few victories against big teams like KEB, MB and BFC!! Aizawl did what they did in their second season after ending up 9th in their debut season too, so you just never know!

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Interview of Samir Naik, , assiatant coach and player Dempo Sports Club, Goa

FPAI : How and where did you start playing football? SN : I initially started playing football at my village with my

friends and grew fond of the game. My serious tryst with football came when I joined my local village team and then FC Siolim who were playing first division at that time in the Goa league. From there I got my career defining break when I signed for Dempo Sports Club Goa.

FPAI : You have been a Dempo faithful all your life. What keeps you going here?

SN : I always wanted to join Dempo as a kid since it was my dream to play for a historic club like Dempo . As a club we have won everything which we could domestically.

We were making great strides in Asia. I wouldn’t be wrong if I say we were the best Indian team for almost a decade. Success came naturally to us and we were a great group of players under the tutelage of Mr.Armando Colaco. There was no reason for me to leave this club which treated and paid me well.

Whatever I wanted I found in Dempo. Our chairman is a big motivation for the whole team and not to forget the late Manuel Rebello who treated me and all the other players as family.

FPAI : Dempo has pulled out from the top level of Indian football. Does this disappoint you?

SN : As a player and fan of the club I am disappointed like any other but I am sure the club has its own reason to do the same which I cannot and do not want to comment on. As a faithful servant of the club I am available for anything the clubs asks me to do.

FPAI : You take on the tussle between the I-league and ISL. Which would be better for Indian football?

SN : Both the ISL and I-League are football leagues which promote football. For me as football fan the game of football should win whichever league prevails at the end.

FPAI : You played under Stephen Constantine who has come back for his second stint as the national team coach. What are your thoughts on that?

SN : Yes I have great memories of my national team days under Mr. Constantine. To start off with he gave me my break into the national team. We won a lot of trophies with him at the helm. He did a great job then and he is doing a great job now.

FPAI : How are you enjoying your stint as a coach in Dempo? SN : It is a great experience and a learning process. At the

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present moment I am an assistant coach and learning from Mauricio Alfonso. I try to put in the knowledge which I have gained from my previous coaches.

FPAI : Tell us something about your family. SN : My father and mother supported me immensely to take

up the game. Throughout my career my family has been very enthusiastic about me playing football. Their

proudest moment was when I represented India for the first time.

FPAI : Your message to FPAI. SN : FPAI is our own organization and doing a great job in

up keeping the welfare and rights of the players. The current President Renedy is a good friend and under him the organization can only get bigger and better.

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Aizawl FC Celebrations

Photo credits : Nilanjan Dutta

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At George College