Mid week Soccer Round Out

Pakistan tie the two match series with a convincing victory 20.08.2014 Bangalore Football Stadium, Bangalore India 0-2 Pakistan Pakistan: Kaleemullah(38th), Saddam Hussain(90th) An impressive Pakistan U-23 team defeated India U-23 convincingly with goals from captain Kaleemullah and Man of the Match Saddam Hussain coming in each half of the game. Thus the two match series ended in a draw with India clinching the first tie by 1-0.

India host Pakistan in the second friendly in Bangalore Posted: 19 Aug 2014 10:49 PM PDT Team India(U-23) host Pakistan(U-23) in the second friendly at the Bangalore Football Stadium today. The first match ended in India's favour thanks to a solitary goal from captain Sunil Chhetri. The visiting Pakistani team gave a good account of themselves with some good solid performance specially in the midfield but lacked composure in the final third. The match kicks off at 03.30 PM IST and will be telecasted live on DD Sports.

NorthEast United FC sign former New Zealand Coach Ricki Herbert Posted: 19 Aug 2014 09:33 PM PDT NorthEast United FC sign former Kiwi coach Ricki Herbert NorthEast United Football Club today announced former long-time New Zealand Men’s National Team Coach Ricki Herbert as their Manager for the forthcoming Indian Super League. Ricki managed the Kiwi ‘All Whites’ for 8 years from 2005-2013. He also represented the New Zealand National team at World Cup 1982. Ricki Llyod Herbert, 53 led the New Zealand team to the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa. New Zealand performed admirably at the World Cup and came out of it as the only unbeaten team at the World Cup. They battled much fancier opponents such as Italy, Paraguay & Slovakia in their group, eventually drawing the games. During his tenure with the ‘All Whites’, their FIFA ranking improved from 156 to 48. Ricki also coached A-League side Wellington Phoenix from 2007-2013 taking them to A-League Preliminary Finals in 2010. During his long coaching career Ricki has also overseen the New Zealand Olympic team preparation and was Technical Director of the country’s Technical development programme. He was appointed by FIFA to be a part of the 14 member Technical Development Studies group led by Gerard Houlier at the recently concluded FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil. The group was responsible for tracking and studying technical strategies and trends employed by various teams at the World Cup. The club also announced Lajong FC Head-Coach Thangboi Singto will be working with Ricki Herbert at NorthEast United FC in the capacity of Coach. John Abraham, co-owner NorthEast United FC while announcing the appointment said “Ricki is the perfect fit for our plans at NorthEast United FC. His experience at the highest levels of competitive Football and his youth focussed philosophy matches the blue print of NorthEast United FC perfectly. With him on board we look forward to competing in the inaugural season of Indian Super League.” Expressing his delight at being handed over the technical reins at NorthEast United FC, Ricki said “The Indian Super League presents a great opportunity and challenge and with the Football crazy NorthEast fans backing us all the way, we’ll be putting out best foot forward. I look forward to this exciting journey.”

Delhi Dynamos FC sign Belgian goalkeeper Kristof Van Hout Posted: 20 Aug 2014 11:27 AM PDT Delhi Dynamos FC on Tuesday announced the signing of Belgian Kristof Van Hout for the inaugural season of the Hero Indian Super League. An accomplished goalkeeper, Van Hout played for Belgian powerhouse Racing Genk last season. Kristof Van Hout signs for Delhi Dynamos FC With the signing of Van Hout, the New Delhi based club has made a fine addition to one of the most vital positions in football. At 6ft10 (2.08m), he also has the distinction of being the tallest professional football player in the world, making him an imposing figure at the goalpost. At the age of 27, he is at the peak of his footballing prowess and will have plenty to offer to the club. Van Hout burst on to the scene in 2008, becoming the hero of Kortrijk after saving three penalties in the shootout against league champions Standard Liege to help his team progress to the Quarterfinals. This earned him a transfer to none other than Standard Liege itself, with whom he won the Belgian Cup in 2010-11. Van Hout was on the bench for Liege’s matches in the Champions League, including two games against Premier League giants Arsenal. In 2012, Van Hout made the move to another Belgian superclub, Racing Genk, one year after the club sold prodigious talent Thibaut Courtois to Chelsea. That season, Van Hout led Genk to a 3rd place finish in the Pro League, earning them a place in the Europa League. He also won his second Belgian Cup. Van Hout will arrive in Delhi fully fit and raring to go. He featured in the Europa League for Genk as recently as February 27 of this year, playing the full 90 minutes against Russian club, Anzhi Makhachkala. Commenting on his inclusion in the Delhi squad, Van Hout said, “I am eagerly looking forward to playing in India, which has a sizeable fan following for the game of football. I am confident that it will be an enjoyable and fruitful experience to play in Indian conditions.” On Van Hout joining the team, Delhi Dynamos FC Coach Harm van Veldhoven said, “Van Hout is a seasoned player, who has contributed immensely to his teams in the past due to his fine goalkeeping skills. We are sure that he will display the same alacrity and judgement when defending Delhi Dynamos’ goalpost. His height is a big advantage, especially in close games that go down to penalty shootouts.” Kristof Van Hout has added to the already impressive line up of international talent assembled at the Delhi Dynamos under the guidance of fellow countryman Harm van Veldhoven. The club has signed prolific strikers Mads Junker and Morten Skoubo, as well as experienced Belgian defender Wim Raymaekers following their strategic tie up with Feyenoord Rotterdam.