Important decisions taken in AIFF Executive Committee Meeting

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  Besides, AIFF General Secretary Mr. Kushal Das, Senior Vice-President Mr. Subrata Dutta, Treasurer Mr. Hardev Jadeja, Vice-Presidents Mr. Shrinivas V. Dempo, Mr. K.M.I. Mather, Mr. Subhash Chopra, and all other Members including Ms. Sara Pilot with the exception of Vice-President Mr. Larsing Ming and Mr. Sunil Bharadwaj attended the Meeting. Mr. Priti Srivastava from AIFF’s Marketing Partners, IMG-Reliance, was also present.
  Mr. Patel informed the Committee that he had a Meeting with FIFA President Mr. Joseph S Blatter; FIFA Secretary General Mr. Jerome Valcke and Mr. Thierry Regenass, Director Member Associations and Development Vision, FIFA; at the FIFA Headquarters in Zurich where he discussed to put a bid for India to host the FIFA World Club Cup in 2017 and also in 2018.
  “We have to put in a bid to host it for two consecutive editions of the Championship. If we are successful, we would have FIFA Tournaments in India in 2017, 2018 and 2019,” he added. “We will come to know the outcome in December 2014 and if it happens, it will be a big achievement for Indian Football,” he said.
  “I also hope the Indian Super League (ISL) scheduled to kick-off in September 2014 will provide the much-needed boost for the game in our Country. I’m confident it will be a positive development for the promotion of Football in India,” he added.
  The Committee endorsed Mr. Patel’s suggestion to appoint a Special Committee to advice the Technical structure for the 2017 U-17 FIFA World Cup. Mr. Patel suggested that former Indian National Team Captain Bhaichung Bhutia, current Indian National Team Captain Sunil Chhetri and reputed Indian Coach Derrick Pereira form the panel.
  Meanwhile, the Cola Cola Cup will form the primary base for talent scouting for the Indian National Team for the 2017 U-17 FIFA World Cup. Boys born on or after January 1, 2000 will be eligible for the Championship. The Championship will be played first on a zonal format and AIFF will conduct a Seminar with the State Associations explaining the philosophy for Scouting for the Championship. The AIFF Technical Staff would be acting as Scouts for the selection of the National Team for the 2017 U-17 FIFA World Cup.
  An U-15 League including all U-15 Teams from Clubs, various Academies including AIFF Academies was also proposed to identify more talent for 2017 U-17 FIFA World Cup. 
  The Committee also approved a budget of Rs. 3 crore for U-23 Indian National Team’s preparations for the Incheon Asian Games which includes an exposure Tour abroad.
  It was decided that the I-League 2014-15 will kick-off in the first week of December 2014 while the Federation Cup is to be held in Jammu and Kashmir in May 2015.
  The Committee unanimously made compulsory for all Coaches/Technical Director to have an AFC A-Licence degree. Furthermore, any Coach/Technical Director without a valid AFC A-Licence degree, if appointed by any Club, would not be allowed to sit on the reserve bench and Coach the Team both during the match and even in Practice Sessions. They also won’t be allowed to enter the Dressing Rooms.
  Furthermore, the Committee made it mandatory for all I-League Clubs to sign a marquee Player among the foreign recruits. Unless any Club signs a marquee Player, the Club won’t be allowed to field any other foreign recruits in the I-League any more. As advised by the Committee, the definition for the marquee Player will be intimated to the Clubs by I-League Department at the earliest.
  “There is a Meeting on Club Licensing on May 21. It’s entirely up to the First Instance Body to decide on which Clubs get the Licence to play the 2014-15 edition of the I-League,” Mr. Patel stated.
  The Committee was also informed about the ongoing bidding process to get new Teams in the 2014-15 edition of the I-League.
  Meanwhile, the Committee congratulated recipients of the I-League Awards who were voted by all the Captains and the Coaches of all the participating Clubs.
  Furthermore, the Committee approved the appointment of an Integrity Officer to deal with corruption and match-fixing by June 2104 as stipulated by AFC and FIFA.
  An Observer for the Elections of Rajasthan State Football Association which are to slated to be held on May 25, 2014 was also appointed by the Committee.
  It was also directed that the Centralised Registration System for Players and inter-State Transfers be implemented by the respective State Associations by July 31, 2014.
  The Committee complimented the Technical Department for introducing the Academies Certification which they felt would greatly help for Youth Development.
  A special mention of Manipur’s triumph in the Senior Women’s National Championship was also made. The Committee congratulated the success of Manipur Women and appreciated their 17th triumph in 20 National Championships.
  REPORT: AIFF MEDIA

The President of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Mr. Praful Patel Chaired the Executive Committee Meeting at All India Football Federation Headquarters, Football House in the Capital on May 14, 2014.

Cristiano Ronaldo Goal Backheel vs Valencia ~ Ronaldo Goal Amazing Scorpion

AFC Challenge Cup,Maldives -2014 Fixture

Match times are currently set to the LOCAL VENUE time, please click here to convert to your time zone.

Group A

Teams	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
MALDIVES	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
PALESTINE	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
KYRGYZSTAN	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
MYANMAR	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Schedule & Results:

19-05-2014 16:00		16:00
PALESTINE			KYRGYZSTAN
Venue: National Stadium, Male
19-05-2014 21:00		21:00
MALDIVES			MYANMAR
Venue: National Stadium, Male
21-05-2014 16:00		16:00
MYANMAR			PALESTINE
Venue: National Stadium, Male
21-05-2014 21:00		21:00
KYRGYZSTAN			MALDIVES
Venue: National Stadium, Male
23-05-2014 21:00		21:00
MALDIVES			PALESTINE
Venue: National Stadium, Male
23-05-2014 21:00		21:00
KYRGYZSTAN			MYANMAR
Venue: Hithadhoo Stadium, Hithadhoo

Group B

Teams	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
TURKMENISTAN	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
PHILIPPINES	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
AFGHANISTAN	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
LAOS	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Schedule & Results:

20-05-2014 16:00		16:00
TURKMENISTAN			LAOS
Venue: Hithadhoo Stadium, Hithadhoo
20-05-2014 21:00		21:00
PHILIPPINES			AFGHANISTAN
Venue: Hithadhoo Stadium, Hithadhoo
22-05-2014 16:00		16:00
LAOS			PHILIPPINES
Venue: Hithadhoo Stadium, Hithadhoo
22-05-2014 21:00		21:00
AFGHANISTAN			TURKMENISTAN
Venue: Hithadhoo Stadium, Hithadhoo
24-05-2014 16:00		16:00
TURKMENISTAN			PHILIPPINES
Venue: National Stadium, Male
24-05-2014 16:00		16:00
AFGHANISTAN			LAOS
Venue: Hithadhoo Stadium, Hithadhoo

Semi Finals

SF1 27-05-2014 15:30		15:30
Winner Group A			Runner Up Group B
Venue: National Stadium, Male
SF2 27-05-2014 21:00		21:00
Winner Group B			Runner Up Group A
Venue: National Stadium, Male

3rd/4th Placing

3rd/4th 29-05-2014 21:00		21:00
Loser SF1			Loser SF2
Venue: National Stadium, Male

Final

F 30-05-2014 21:00		21:00
Winner SF1			Winner SF2
Venue: National Stadium, Male

Bundesliga side TSG Hoffenheim to tour India

India is again set to get a taste of German football as Bundesliga top-tier club TSG Hoffenheim will be criss-crossing the country from May 12-18 as part of a season-ending tour. 

The team, which finished ninth in the Bundesliga season gone by, will visit Aizawl, Kolkata and Goa.

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim will travel to Aizawl to take on the Santosh Trophy winning Mizoram state team in an exhibition match on May 13. The exhibition match will be played under floodlights at the Lammual Stadium. 

The visiting team will also conduct football clinics for children in the three cities during the one-week long India tour. The Bundesliga and German multinational software corporation SAP are the Presenting Partners of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim's 2014 India Tour. 

Alexander Rosen, Sports Director, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, said: "We are pleased to commence this journey as an international ambassador for the Bundesliga and to step up sustainable and socially relevant projects. Our young team will gain new important cultural and social experiences." 

This is the second Bundesliga side to set foot on Indian shores in recent years after European giants Bayern Munich visited the country twice. In 2008, Bayern came to India for former Germany captain Oliver Kahn's farewell match in Kolkata. Four years later, Bayern travelled to the capital for then Indian captain Baichung Bhutia's farewell match. 

The tour organised by Switzerland-based Adamant Sports will be TSG 1899 Hoffenheim's first visit to India and it will be a new milestone in the Bundesliga and Indian football. 

Mizoram Football Association secretary Lalnghinglova Hmar said, "It's the biggest football match happening in the state. Everyone in the state, not only the football fans, are looking forward to Hoffenheim's arrival in our state." 

"We would like to thank the Bundesliga, Hoffenheim and Adamant Sports for thinking about us to play a match in India. 

"We at Mizoram Football Association are honoured and will field the best possible Mizoram XI to face Hoffenheim at the Lammual Stadium in Aizawl."

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.