I’m Pallab Chakraborty. Sharing my views on Indian football.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Chettri, Jeje not fit for European clubs: Robert Bann
ndian football's technical director Robert Bann feels that strikers Sunil Chettri and Jeje Lalpeklua, who are fresh from trials with Scottish giants Rangers, are not good enough for top European clubs.
The Dutchman said that the fact that Indian strikers went for trials to Glasgow means that they are not good enough for European clubs.
"Sunil and Jeje are top Indian clubs and ideally scouts should have come to India to watch them play. The fact that they travelled to Scotland shows that they are no good enough for top clubs in Europe," said Bann, a former technical director with Australia.
All India Football Federation (AIFF) secretary general Kushan Das also concurred with Bann.
"Indian players lack fitness. I don't think there is any player in the national team who is even fit for second division European club," Das told IANS.
Meanwhile contrary to Bann's views, Chettri said Indian players have the potential to play to Europen clubs.
"It is tough but I believe that Indian players have the potential to play in European league. The basics are same and Indian players and skilled. The only difference is in the training process," Chettri said.
The former Sporting Kansas City striker said that it is about the first Indian player to breakthrough and others would follow soon.
"In Japan and South Korea it happened the same as well. After Kazu Miura and Hidetoshi Nakata now Japan has several players in the European league. It is all about one Indian player and then we can several playing overseas," Chettri said.
Asked about his six-day trial with Rangers, Chettri said: "I am happy that I got a chance to go to the Rangers. We couldn't train much with the main team as they had their matches. The coach stayed a bit busy and we couldn't spend much time with him. But it was a great experience - there were quality footballers all around and it was a learning experience for me. I am a more confident player now."
The 68-year-old Bann feels that Indians still have a long way to go before realising their dreams of playing in Europe.
"Indian players have to be realistic in their approach. The youth development system is faulty. Half-educated coaches are making it worse. There is not talent spotting system and it is making things difficult in a huge country like India," he said.
Bann said India must have talent spotters, on the lines of now defunct Talent Research Development Officers in the Indian cricket board.
"Today India is one of the top cricketing countries because they spotted talents at the right age. I will propose a similar thing in my report to the AIFF. It is not possible for Colin Toal (youth development chief coach) to tap talents all over the country," he said.
Source : The Times of India
The Dutchman said that the fact that Indian strikers went for trials to Glasgow means that they are not good enough for European clubs.
"Sunil and Jeje are top Indian clubs and ideally scouts should have come to India to watch them play. The fact that they travelled to Scotland shows that they are no good enough for top clubs in Europe," said Bann, a former technical director with Australia.
All India Football Federation (AIFF) secretary general Kushan Das also concurred with Bann.
"Indian players lack fitness. I don't think there is any player in the national team who is even fit for second division European club," Das told IANS.
Meanwhile contrary to Bann's views, Chettri said Indian players have the potential to play to Europen clubs.
"It is tough but I believe that Indian players have the potential to play in European league. The basics are same and Indian players and skilled. The only difference is in the training process," Chettri said.
The former Sporting Kansas City striker said that it is about the first Indian player to breakthrough and others would follow soon.
"In Japan and South Korea it happened the same as well. After Kazu Miura and Hidetoshi Nakata now Japan has several players in the European league. It is all about one Indian player and then we can several playing overseas," Chettri said.
Asked about his six-day trial with Rangers, Chettri said: "I am happy that I got a chance to go to the Rangers. We couldn't train much with the main team as they had their matches. The coach stayed a bit busy and we couldn't spend much time with him. But it was a great experience - there were quality footballers all around and it was a learning experience for me. I am a more confident player now."
The 68-year-old Bann feels that Indians still have a long way to go before realising their dreams of playing in Europe.
"Indian players have to be realistic in their approach. The youth development system is faulty. Half-educated coaches are making it worse. There is not talent spotting system and it is making things difficult in a huge country like India," he said.
Bann said India must have talent spotters, on the lines of now defunct Talent Research Development Officers in the Indian cricket board.
"Today India is one of the top cricketing countries because they spotted talents at the right age. I will propose a similar thing in my report to the AIFF. It is not possible for Colin Toal (youth development chief coach) to tap talents all over the country," he said.
Source : The Times of India
Friday, December 2, 2011
GLASGOW RANGER To Monitor Indians
ALLY McCOIST says Rangers will continue to monitor Indian stars Sunil Chhetri and Jeje Lalpekhlua after their trial with the club came to an end.
The strikers have spent the last six days working in Scotland with the SPL champions after arriving in Glasgow last Friday.
And they took part in a bounce game amongst squad members yesterday at Murray Park as the manager and his assistant Kenny McDowall took the opportunity to see them in action.
Chhetri and Lalpekhlua will now resume their careers with their clubs in the I-League but McCoist is ready to keep a close eye on how they progress.
He told The Ibrox Edition: "Sunil and Jeje did fine and showed up well in training. They showed some lovely touches and adapted to the different surroundings they experienced.
"They are away back home today but we will keep monitoring their situations and keep monitoring their performances back home.
"They will continue to play for their sides in India and it was great to have them both working with us as they are talented boys.
"It was a good experience for them and I think they certainly enjoyed it. We enjoyed having them here too.
"Kenny and I watched them playing in the match yesterday and it was a really enjoyable game. They did absolutely fine."
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
Subrata Paul Out for 3 Months
Subrata Paul, who was stretchered out mid-way into the first half of Pune FC’s Federation Cup encounter against East Bengal in Kolkata after a collision with the opposition striker, will need surgery to his left knee.Paul suffered an ACL rupture after falling, which turned out to be serious.
Shahinlal Meloly or Amrinder Singh will be replacing Paul.
“The injury is unfortunate. I want to be back as soon as possible. And believe me sitting out is not easy. I am always with the team, even when I am out due to injury. I will cheer the team from the outside and wish that all you fans join me,” a disappointed Paul said.
On Pune FC’s I-League campaign, Paul said: “Our first two matches are at home and I am expectant of we doing well in the I-league. I appeal to the fans to come out and support us and I am sure that with the support results will follow.”
Pune FC Head Operations, Chirag Tanna said: “Paul’s injury is a big blow after initially given to understand that Paul will be out for some weeks. However, medically it is much serious and involves an operation.”
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Subrata is TD, Prasanta named coach for Mohan Bagan
Prasanta Banerjee
Subrata BhattacharyaKolkata: Former India international Subrata Bhattacharjee was on Tuesday appointed as the technical director of Mohun Bagan team while veteran midfielder Prasanta Banerjee will be the new chief coach of city soccer giants for the 2011-12 season.
Bhattacharjee has coached Bagan earlier while Banerjee holds an AFC "A" license in coaching besides being a member of the club`s technical committee, club general secretary Anjan Mitra said.
According to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) guidelines, coaches of the I-League teams have to possess AFC `A` coaching license.
Earlier, former assistant coach of Thai National team and FIFA-recognised coach Steeve Derby, who was acting as chief coach of Mohun Bagan, submitted his resignation to the club authorities after Bagan formed a three-member technical committee comprising Olympian Chuni Goswami, Prasanta Banerjee and Satyajit Chatterjee to look after the affairs of the club`s soccer team.
As a player, Subrata spent his entire career with Mohun Bagan and his first stint as the club coach was in 1995. But that lasted for only six months before he was brought back again in November l999 and continued till 2003.
During this period, Mohun Bagan won many major titles including I-league, Federation Cup, Kolkata League, IFA Shield.
Before joining as technical director, Subrata was associated with the Chirag Viva Kerala club in the same position.
Bhattacharjee has coached Bagan earlier while Banerjee holds an AFC "A" license in coaching besides being a member of the club`s technical committee, club general secretary Anjan Mitra said.
According to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) guidelines, coaches of the I-League teams have to possess AFC `A` coaching license.
Earlier, former assistant coach of Thai National team and FIFA-recognised coach Steeve Derby, who was acting as chief coach of Mohun Bagan, submitted his resignation to the club authorities after Bagan formed a three-member technical committee comprising Olympian Chuni Goswami, Prasanta Banerjee and Satyajit Chatterjee to look after the affairs of the club`s soccer team.
As a player, Subrata spent his entire career with Mohun Bagan and his first stint as the club coach was in 1995. But that lasted for only six months before he was brought back again in November l999 and continued till 2003.
During this period, Mohun Bagan won many major titles including I-league, Federation Cup, Kolkata League, IFA Shield.
Before joining as technical director, Subrata was associated with the Chirag Viva Kerala club in the same position.
Super Cup win by Super Team : East Bengal
East Bengal clinched the Super Cup thriller as they beat Goa's Salgaocar 9-8 in a penalty shoot-out at the Ambedkar Stadium on Tuesday.
Saikat Saha Roy turned out to be the hero for East Bengal as his spot kick won the game for the Kolkata side. The defender sent the Salgaocar goalkeeper Karanjit Singh wide as East Bengal became the first team to clinch the coveted Cup for the third time.
In a tense shoot-out, the pendulum swung a great deal from one side to another. Salgaocar’s Jaspal Parmar was unlucky to have his penalty saved by East Bengal keeper Gurpreet Singh at 3-3. Then Ravinder Singh failed to win it for East Bengal as he hit in the keeper’s path to take it to sudden death.
The shoot-out went on till 8-8, and then Saha Roy stepped up and sealed the deal.
The game was entertaining as both sides had chances to win it in normal time. The match started with East Bengal taking early initiative. Defender Nirmal Chettri headed a corner from Scottish import Alan Gow, wide of the target in the fifth minute. East Bengal kept on dominating the proceedings as star player Gow took a free kick from 25 yards only to be denied by Salgaocar keeper Karanjit Singh in the 13th minute.
East Bengal continued their good show in the midfield as Robert Lalthumuana and Robin Singh displayed some clever interplay, but when it came to scoring, both came a cropper.
Salgaocar had their first chance in the 28th minute as Tomba Singh and Francis Fernandes set up a chance for Chidi Edeh, but the latter miscued his shot.
East Bengal seized the match again as brilliant midfield play between Gow and Orji choked the Goan side. However, the first half ended at 0-0.
The Kolkata club dominated the second half as well. The tempo, however, slowed down and the chances were few and far between. The match went on as tiring legs resulted in sloppy tackling and a flurry of yellow cards. Saha Roy got booked for tackling Ishfaq Ahmed from behind.
In the 83rd minute, Gow took a free kick from 30 yards but the keeper was up to the challenge as he tipped it over the cross bar. That was the closest East Bengal's best chance in the second half. Substitutions were made as the match was heading into penalties.
Gow sent one more free kick towards the goal but it hit the wall and went to Sanju Pradhan who could only manage to find the side-netting. Salgaocar then tried to steal the match at the death but Francis Fernandes failed to reach a cross from Ryuji Seoka.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Ten Sports bags I-League broadcast Rights
Ten Sports has bagged the national broadcast rights of the I-League 2011-2012 season and would telecast 'live' 75 out of 182 matches of the tournament that commences from October 22.
The deal with the sports channel was signed by IMG Reliance which is the marketing partner of the All India Football Federation, a media release said.
The matches would be telecast on 'Ten Action Plus' channel.
Speaking on the initiative, a spokesperson from IMG Reliance commented that the broadcasters shared their vision for the sport in India.
"Ten Sports shares our vision for the sport in India and we are delighted to partner with them in bringing football into the homes of fans across the nation."
"Zee and Ten have been supporters of Indian football for many years and we continue committed to our vision of enhancing and adding value to the sport," said Atul Pande, CEO of Ten Sports, owned by Zee network.
AIFF general secretary Kushal Das also expressed his satisfaction over the deal and said the channel's visibility and promotional activities on air would go a long way in enhancing the profile of 26-round I-League that runs till the end of April, 2012.
Taj Television, which operates Ten Sports, further said that it has renewed the contracts for the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League football tournaments for three years, for an undisclosed amount.
"Ten Sports has acquired the rights across all broadcast platforms which shall enable it to reach significant audiences throughout India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh," the company said.
Live and delayed broadcasts of the matches will be available on Ten Sports and Ten Action Plus, it said.
The deal with the sports channel was signed by IMG Reliance which is the marketing partner of the All India Football Federation, a media release said.
The matches would be telecast on 'Ten Action Plus' channel.
Speaking on the initiative, a spokesperson from IMG Reliance commented that the broadcasters shared their vision for the sport in India.
"Ten Sports shares our vision for the sport in India and we are delighted to partner with them in bringing football into the homes of fans across the nation."
"Zee and Ten have been supporters of Indian football for many years and we continue committed to our vision of enhancing and adding value to the sport," said Atul Pande, CEO of Ten Sports, owned by Zee network.
AIFF general secretary Kushal Das also expressed his satisfaction over the deal and said the channel's visibility and promotional activities on air would go a long way in enhancing the profile of 26-round I-League that runs till the end of April, 2012.
Taj Television, which operates Ten Sports, further said that it has renewed the contracts for the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League football tournaments for three years, for an undisclosed amount.
"Ten Sports has acquired the rights across all broadcast platforms which shall enable it to reach significant audiences throughout India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh," the company said.
Live and delayed broadcasts of the matches will be available on Ten Sports and Ten Action Plus, it said.
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