This week's soccer news round-up

AIFF U-16 boys script a memorable victory over FC Dordrecht colts Posted: 06 Aug 2014 01:00 PM PDT 06.08.2014 FC Dordrecht Academy 0-1 AIFF U-16 Regional Academy AIFF U-16: Nijwm(80th) AIFF U-16 Academy team script a memorable victory in Netherlands, Courtesy: AIFF Media Team AIFF U-16 Regional Academy boys recorded a historic victory over U-17 Academy Boys of Dutch Eredivisie newcomers FC Dordrecht by a goal, played in Netherlands. The U-16 boys scripted the victory thanks to a second half strike from striker Nijwm, who struck a sweet grounded shot past the FC Dordrecht custodian. AIFF XI: Dheeraj Singh (Subrata Das – 80th), Jayananda Singh, Amit Tudu, Amey Ranawade, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Prosenjit Chakraborty (Keke – 79th), Anirudh Thapa (Kishan Singh – 80+4), Deependra Singh Negi (Bodo Baoringdao – 54th), Surya Tirkey (Edmund Lalrindika – 79th), Bedashwor Singh (Krishna Pandit – 79th), Nijwm Muchahary.

Delhi Dynamos sign Danish duo of Junker and Skoubo Posted: 06 Aug 2014 12:41 PM PDT Delhi Dynamos sign Danish striking duo of Junker and Skoubo Delhi Dynamos FC, the national capital’s Football Team for the Hero Indian Super League, announced the signing of Danish international strikers, Mads Junker and Morten Skoubo today. Both Junker and Skoubo have in the past excelled under the team’s coach, Harm Van Veldhoven, at Roda JC in the Dutch Eredivisie, and  share a great understanding which is critical for a strike partnership. Mads Junker has scored over 130 goals at the highest level in European football. A true team player, he is tactically strong, and can play either as a #9 or a #10 in attack formation. Junker has been part of the Denmark national team setup from youth level onwards. He has featured in Euro Cup Qualifying games, and has even scored a goal against European powerhouse Germany in 2010. Junker has won the Danish Superliga and the Danish Cup with Brond by FC. A prolific goal scorer, he has scored 68 goals at the top level of Dutch football – a league that has boasted the likes of Robin Van Persie and Luis Suarez. In fact, in Luis Suarez’s record breaking 2009-10 season (35 goals), Junker scored 21 goals in the Eredevisie. Morten Skoubo has over 15 years of experience playing in the very top leagues in European football. Tall and physically strong, Skoubo has great heading ability. He is one of the few players who can boast of experience in most of the major leagues in Europe including England, Spain, Germany and Netherlands. Commanding 5.46 Mn. GBP in career transfer fees, Skoubo has featured for Real Sociedad in Spain, West Brom in England and Borussia Mönchengladbach in Germany. During the 2005-06 season, Skoubo scored 5 goals in La Liga, 3 goals in the UEFA Cup, as well as a goal in Champions League Qualifying. In February 2006, he scored the fifth fastest goal in La Liga history in just 11 seconds against Valencia. Skoubo has been part of the Denmark national team setup at both U21 and senior levels. With the two international strikers coming on board, this is another major step for Delhi Dynamos FC as they continue with the process of building a world-class team for the inaugural session of Hero Indian Super League. With an experienced coach in Harm and an alliance with Dutch powerhouse Feyenoord Rotterdam, Delhi Dynamos is working towards its mission of building a strong, credible team and developing football into a leading sport across Delhi and Northern India. Piyush Goyal, the Head New Initiatives DEN Networks and Director DEN Soccer said “We are extremely pleased to have Mads Junker and Morten Skoubo in the Delhi team, they have rich and extensive experience of playing at the top level in the world of professional football. We are confident that the two players will form a great strike partnership for the club, steer Delhi Dynamos to the top, and give Delhi fans a lot to cheer about during the tournament.” Harm van Veldhoven, Coach, Delhi Dynamos FC, said, "It’s great to coach Morten and Mads again, who are key acquisitions for us. It is our endeavour to have talented & experienced players to build a strong team."

AFC Disciplinary Committee has today extended the suspension of nine Vietnamese players from XM Vissai Ninh Binh FC

		Kuala Lumpur: The Chairman of the AFC Disciplinary Committee has today extended the suspension of nine Vietnamese players from XM Vissai Ninh Binh FC to take effect at confederation level in accordance with sanctions issued by the Vietnamese Football Federation (VFF) Disciplinary Committee. This action was undertaken following a request from the VFF pursuant to Article 136 of the AFC Disciplinary Code. On 20 May 2014, the VFF Disciplinary Committee temporarily suspended nine players from taking part in any kind of football-related activity while the Ninh Binh Office of Investigation (Police) commenced criminal proceedings for violations of the Vietnam Penal Code relating to gambling on football matches. The prosecution is ongoing. The suspended players, all Vietnamese nationals, are: Nguyen Manh Dung; Tran Manh Dung; Chu Ngoc Anh ; Le Quang Hung; Nguyen Xuan Phu; Phan Anh Tuan; Nguyen Van Hung; Le Van Duyet; and Nguyen Gia Tu. Each extension decision shall expire on 20 November 2014 or the issuing of a final decision by the VFF Disciplinary Committee, whichever is sooner. The decisions have been duly notified to the VFF today.

Czech Republic Tour: U-23 team loose to Senco Doubravka

Czech Republic Tour: U-23 team loose to Senco Doubravka Posted: 28 Jul 2014 01:41 PM PDT 27.07.2014 Pilsen, Czech Republic India U-23 0-1 Senco Doubravka SD: Kutak(85th) INDIA: Amrinder Singh; Pritam Kotal (Keenan – 75th), Joyner Lourenco (Shankar – 75th), Sandesh Jhingan (Salam Singh – 46th), Narayan Das; Milan Singh (Lalrindika Ralte – 46th), Rowlin Borges (Pronay Halder – 46th), Mandar Rao Desai (Clifton Dias – 87th), Francis Fernandes (Seiminlen Doungel 86th), Sunil Chhetri (Alwyn George – 65th), Robin Singh (Haokip – 46th

IFA Announces fixture for CFL Premeir divison for matches to be played on 31st July and 2nd August

Indian Super League(ISL) Central Domestic Draft Day 1 Roundup Posted: 22 Jul 2014 12:34 PM PDT Indian Super League Central Domestic Draft Day 1 completed Mumbai's plush Palladium Hotel was the center stage for Indian Super League(ISL)'s first day of Central Domestic Player Draft, which saw some crunch decision making between different teams. 26 players who have been a part of the National Team anywhere in the last 3 years were drafted by the six participating clubs. The order for drafting was pre-decided by a draw, which took place a day earlier. Team Mumbai picked up Subrata Paul in its first pick while Mehtab Hussain was snapped up by Kerala Blasters. Versatile defender Syed Rahim Nabi also will feature for Team Mumbai. See below for entire team list. Here is how the teams shaped up after Day 1: Team Pune Lenny Rodrigues  Dharmaraj Ravanan  Ashutosh Mehta  Joaquim Abranches  Pritam Kotal  Manish Maithani  Israil Gurung Team Mumbai Subrata Paul  Lalrindika Ralte  Syed Rahim Nabi  Raju Gaikwad  Subash Singh  Ram Malik  Deepak Mondal Kerala Blasters FC Mehtab Hussain  Sandesh Jhingan  Ishfaq Ahmed  Gurwinder Singh  Nirmal Chettri  Sushant Matthew  Godwin Franco Team Bengaluru Harmanjot Khabra  Dhanachandra Singh  Jeje Lalpekhlua  Gouramangi Singh  Shilton Paul  Denson Devadas  Khelemba Meitei Atletico de Kolkata Cavin Lobo  Arnab Mondal  Denzil Franco  Rakesh Masih  Mohammed Rafique  Mohammed Rafi  Biswajit Saha Delhi Dynamos FC Francis Fernandes  Robert Lalthamuana  Naoba Singh  Shylo Malswamtluanga  Shouvik Ghosh  Shouvik Chakraborty  Munmun Lugun Team Goa Laxmikant Kattimani  Debabrata Roy  Gabriel Fernandes  Clifford Miranda  Jewel Raja Shaikh  Alwyn George  Narayan Das NorthEast United FC Kunzang Bhutia  Jibon Singh  Durga Boro  Aibor Khongjee  Zodingliana Ralte  TP Rehnesh  Boithang Haokip

Indian squad departs for Czech Republic exposure tour Posted: 21 Jul 2014 08:55 PM PDT A 25-member Indian squad left for Czech Republic for a 19-day exposure Tour for preparation for the forthcoming Incheon Asian Games. The Team would be back on August 8, 2014. However, four Players from the 29-member squad – Deepak Devrani, Shouvik Ghosh, Sanjay Balmuchu and Romeo Fernandes -- who were practicing under National Coach Wim Koevermans have been released from the Camp and didn’t travel to Czech Republic. 25 member squad leaves for Czech Republic The Indian squad will play three matches during the period against three different Clubs -- Senco Doubravka, FK Most and TJ Domazlice. The Team will be based in Pilsen. Besides, the Indian Team would be playing two matches in the Friendly Series against Pakistan U-23 National Team in Bangalore on August 17 and 20 respectively. Furthermore, the squad will also be travelling to China for another exposure Tour from August 25-September 8 where they would be playing two matches against Shanghai FC and JiangSu. Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh and Francis Fernandes are the three Senior Players who are part of the squad. The rest of the squad comprise of U-23 Players. The 25-member squad presently which travelled to Czech Republic is as follows: GOALKEEPERS: Amrinder Singh, Ravi Kumar, Kamaljit Singh. DEFENDERS: Pritam Kotal, Keenan Almeida, Joyner Lourenco, Shankar Sampingiraj, Sandesh Jhingan, Salam Singh, Narayan Das. MIDFIELDERS: Pronoy Halder, Rowlin Borges, Clifton Dias, Alwyn George, Siam Hangal, Lalrindika Ralte, Dhanpal Ganesh, Milan Singh.  FORWARDS: Francis Fernandes (Senior Player), Seiminlen Doungel, Sunil Chhetri (Senior Player), Robin Singh (Senior Player), Haokip Thongkoshim, Alesh Sawant, Mandar Rao Desai.

ISL Domestic Player Draft Day 1 Completed. Which team do you feel have done a good shopping till now?

PUNE CITY FC
Lenny Rodrigues, Dharamraj Ravanan, Ashhutosh Mehta, Joaquim Abranches, Pritam Kotal, Manish Maithani, Isreal Gurung

MUMBAI CITY FC
Subrata Paul, Lalrindika Ralte, Syed Rahim Nabi, Raju Gaikwad, Subash Singam, Ram Malik, Deepak Mandal

KERALA BLASTERS
Mehtab Hossain, Sandesh Jhingan, Ishfaq Ahmed, Gurwinder Singh, Nirmal Chettri, Sushanth Mathew, Godwin Franco

BENGALURU TEAM
Harmanjot Singh. L Dhanachandra, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Gouramangi Singh, Shilton Paul, Denson Devadas, Khelemba Singh

ATHLETICO DE KOLKATA
Cavin Lobo, Arnab Mondal, Denzil Franco, Rakesh Masih, Mohammed Rafique, Mohammad Rafi, Biswajit Saha

DELHI DYNAMOS
Francis Fernandes, Robert Lalthamuana, Naoba Singh Thokchom, Malsawmtluanga Syuhlo, Souvik Ghosh, Souvik Chakraborty, Munmum T Lugun

FC GOA (Picked from Dempo SC)
Laxmikant Kattiman, Debabrata Roy, Gabriel Fernandes, Clifford Miranda, Jewel Raja, Alwyn George, Narayan Das

NORTH EAST UNITED FC (Picked from Shillong Lajong)
Kunzang Bhutia, Jibon Singh, Durga Boro, Aiborlang Khonjee, Z Ralte, Rehnesh TP. Boithang Haokip

Indian Super League updates

Pune franchisee sign Italian players Cirillo and Belardi Posted: 16 Jul 2014 07:39 AM PDT Bruno Cirillo(Left) and Emanuele Belardi(right) signed by Pune based ISL side After the tie up with Serie A heavyweights Fiorentina, Pune based Indian Super League(ISL) side has signed two Italian players. Partly owned by Bollywood star Salman Khan, the Pune based club roped in Bruno Cirillo(37) and Emanuele Belardi(36). Emanuele Belardi, Goalkeeper, started his career as a youth product of Italian outfits Reggina. He enjoyed several loan spells during his time with Napoli being the most notable highlights. Belardi also featured for Juventus and Udinese, but only as a backup goalkeeper. Bruno Cirillo, 6ft, centre back, has played for clubs like Inter Milan(Italy), AEK Athens and PAOK(both Greece), Levante(Spain) and FC Mentz(France).

NorthEast United FC officially announce signing of Joan Capdevila Posted: 16 Jul 2014 03:59 AM PDT NorthEast United FC announce signing of Spanish International and World Cup Champion Capdevila NorthEast United Football Club has signed World Cup 2010 & European 2008 Championship Winner; Spanish Defender, Joan Capdevilaas their Marquee player for the inaugural season of Indian Super League(ISL). Capdevila who marshalled the left back position for the La Roja, was a prominent member of the sides that won both the World Cup in 2010 and European Championship in 2008. He has played over 400 games with 36 goals in the Spanish La Liga for big Guns like Espanyol, Athletico Madrid, Deportivo, and Villarreal. Capdevilla last season played for La Liga Club, Espanyol and expressed his delight on recently signing for NorthEast United FC, “At this stage, after winning everything to be won a new challenge was needed. After speaking to John Abraham about the way he is passionately looking to promote football in India and the project of NorthEast United FC, it excited me to take up this challenge. India is a huge country and it should be a privilege for me to be a small part in popularising this global game here and working with the young talented footballers of North East India.” NorthEast United FC co-owner John Abraham said “We at North East United FC are very excited that Joan Capdevilla is a marquee player for our team. We are confident that his achievements in the game and his presence in our team will motivate our younger Indian players and his inputs would help us build a strong team for our future. Speaking with him when he was in Brazil I got a sense of his passion for the game and especially his excitement for joining our team was motivational and unparalleled. We look forward to his arrival in India.” Lajong FC Managing Director and NorthEast United FC co-owner, Mr.Larsing M. Sawyan feels “This is the best thing that has happened to NorthEast United FC. A player of Joan Capdevilla’s calibre will definitely add impetus to our ambitions in the upcoming ISL. Football fans from the NorthEast are already familiar with him and we believe the excitement of the ISL in NorthEast has already reached a high level. We welcome Joan Capdevilla to NorthEast United FC and hope he can help us bring success both on and off the field.”

Joan Capdevila set to join ISL side North East FC Posted: 16 Jul 2014 01:26 AM PDT Joan Capdevila is set to join North East FC