Bengaluru FC clinch 2013-14 I-League title

Bengaluru FC today emerged victorious in a 6-goal thriller against Dempo SC to clinch the I-league title in their maiden appearance. Bengalaru FC are the 2nd Team to win the Title in their first appearance. Mohun Bagan achieved the feat in 1997-98 when they won the National Football League. Obviously, JCT Club had won the title in the inaugural year.

Dempo SC has won the title maximum 5 number of times, followed by Mohun Bagan and East Bengal who have won the tournament 3 times each. Also, Salgaocar SC and Churchill Brothers has clinched the title twice each while Bengaluru FC, JCT and Mahindra United won the most coveted tournament of the country once each.

Winners of the past editions of National Football League/I-League:

National Football League:

1996-97 - JCT
1997-98 - Mohun Bagan
1998-99 - Salgaocar SC
1999-2000 - Mohun Bagan
2000-01 - East Bengal
2001-02 - Mohun Bagan
2002-03 - East Bengal
2003-04 - East Bengal
2004-05 - Dempo SC
2005-06 - Mahindra United
2006-07 - Dempo SC

Renamed as I-League: 

2007-08 - Dempo SC
2008-09 - Churchill Brothers
2009-10 - Dempo SC
2010-11 - Salgaocar SC
2011-12 - Dempo SC
2012-13 - Churchill Brothers
2013-14 - Bengaluru FC

AFC President stresses importance of media role

Kuala Lumpur: AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa welcomed at his office on April 18th the President of the Oman Football Association (OFA), AFC Executive Committee member and Media and Communication Task Force Chairman, Sayyid Khalid bin Hamed Al Busaidi, in the presence of AFC General Secretary Dato' Alex Soosay and Director Media and Communications, Markus Helbling.

Several topics related to the AFC were discussed at the meeting, including the media planning of the AFC as well as the programmes that Media and Communications plans to conduct in an attempt to highlight the efforts of the confederation.

Shaikh Salman lauded the fruitful efforts exerted by Sayyid Khalid Al Busaidi in AFC's development, noting his keenness at the committee to provide distinctive ideas and suggestions that promote the media performance at the AFC.

The AFC President added that the plans and programmes of the AFC put more pressure on the committee in order to keep up with a distinguished media coverage and highlight them in order to contribute to achieving the desired objectives.

Shaikh Salman stressed the importance of continuing the coordination and cooperation between the Media and Communication Task Force and the Media and Communications department at the AFC to fulfil these objectives.

On his part, Sayyid Khalid Al Busaidi thanked the AFC President for his continued support to the standing committees at the confederation and for providing the best conditions in order to do their part in achieving AFC's goals.

Royal Wahingdoh FC beat Bhowanipore to qualify for next season's I league

AIZAWL: The wait has finally ended for Royal Wahingdoh. In a thrilling match of deciding match the 2^ndDivision League at the Lammual Stadium in Aizawl on Friday (April 11), the Shillong Club came back from behind as they rallied to beat Sangbad Pratidin Bhawanipore FC 3-2 to earn a ticket to the 2014-15 edition of the Airtel I-League. In the process, they became the third Shillong Club to have achieved the feat.

India Youth Player Jackiechand Singh (37^th), Babatunde Badmus (57^th) and Liberian Striker Bekay Bawar (87^th) scored one apiece for the winners. The victory enabled Wahingdoh finish on top the League Table of the 2^nd Division League with 18 points from 8 matches followed by Bhawanipore FC on 17 points. Kalighat Milan Sangha with 10 points finished third followed by United Sikkim FC (7 points) and Hindustan FC on 4 points.

For Bhawanipore, Daniel Bidemi’s brace went in vain.

Congratulating the winners, I-League CEO Mr. Sunando Dhar welcomed Wahingdoh into the Premier League of the Country. “I congratulate Royal Wahingdoh and welcome them to the next edition of the Airtel I-League. At the same time I hope they continue the good work both on and off the field,” he toldwww.the-aiff.com.

“I am thankful to the Silchar District Sports Association and Mizoram FA for their cooperation and discipline which ensured the successful hosting of the final phase of the 2^nd Division League,” he added.

Despite knowing that a draw would see them through, Bhawanipore FC tried to seize the momentum and pressed right from the kick-off. Nigerian striker Daniel Bidemi tested rival goalkeeper Nikhil Bernard with a low shot from just outside the box but Bernard was equal to the task.

Wahingdoh, backed by a partisan crowd of more than 3000 slowly settled down and thereafter used their pace to catch their opponents on the wrong foot — the tireless Seityasen Singh staying at the heart of all the action.

Seitasen, proving a bit too hot to handle for the Kolkata outfit first sneaked past a defender but his shot landed straight at the rival Goalkeeper. Minutes later, he turned provider for Bawar but the latter’s effort ricocheted off one of his Teammates before bouncing out of play.

Bhawanipore took the lead almost immediately after through Daniel Bidemi. A fine move from the right saw Manjit Singh finding Bidemi in the clear. The Nigerian Striker made no mistake in slotting home from close.

Wahingdoh bounced back strongly and equalised through Jackiechand Singh. The India Youth Player who had scored against Pakistan in the AFC U-19 Qualifers in Tehran in 2011sidestepped his marker before letting loose a venomous pile-driver from the top of the box as both the Teams ended 1-1 at the interval.

Changing over, veteran Babatunde Badmus gave Wahingdoh the lead in the 57^th minute. Seitasen split open the rival defence with a measured pass and an ice-cool Babatude bulged the net. The crowd went berserk.

Even as the celebrations hadn’t died down, Bhawanipore, played their last trump card as Jose Ramirez Barreto substituted Alex Petroman Silva in the 58^th minute.

Bhawanipore went all out for the equaliser and it came in the 74^th minute as Bidemi leapt higher than all to head home Gurpreet Singh’s free-kick.

With sixteen minutes left, it seemed Bhawanipore would have the last laugh. But the never say die attitude of Wahingdoh boys and their relentless attacks pushed Bhawanipore on the backfoot even as they managed to hold on.

The moment, however, arrived three minutes prior to the final whistle. A deft feint from Bawar opened up space from him and he sent Bhawanipore Goalie Debjit Majumdar the wrong way. Wahingdoh were on the right path.

Wild celebrations followed after the final whistle — they stayed the sole unbeaten Team in the Championship. Another Club from Shillong are in the Big League.