AFC CUP CONTENDERS PREPARE FOR EXCITING 2018 GROUP STAGE

Qatar's iconic Al Wakrah Stadium to be ready by end of the year: Officials

Qatar has been gearing up for the "Greatest show on earth" World Cup 2022 as officials confirmed Gulf Times that the $575m Al-Wakrah Stadium was on course for completion by the year-end.

The stadium built on the design by Zaha Hadid has a capacity of 40,000 and the cost is estimated to be around $575m for the spectacular venue which located about 15km from Doha city.

Doha based English daily The Peninsula reported, "In such a scenario, Qatar — which is spending almost $500m a week on World Cup projects — will have built almost half of its proposed eight venues with four years still to go to the tournament."

The most complicated part of the project is expected to be the boat-shaped retractable roof and the unique roof structure composed of 1400 pieces is expected to be shipped from Italy.An official expressed his excitement about the roof design and how it expected to add to the stadium atmosphere by retaining the buzz and cheer and this could be the ‘one of the loudest stadiums’ of Qatar 2022.

Thani Al Zarraa, Al Wakrah Stadium’s project manager is hopeful for completion of the project by the year and end will be handed to the officials of the World Cup tournament committee for inspection and hosting of "test matches" possibly few International Friendlies.

The construction of The Khalifa International Stadium was completed last year along with 60,000-seater Al Bayt Stadium is expected to be completed later this year. With  Al Wakrah Stadium well on course for completion, Qatar seems to be getting ready ahead of time for the mega event in 2022.

India U-17 goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh departs for his trial stint with Motherwell FC

By Rajarshi Chakrabarty

India U-17 and Indian Arrows goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh who impressed everyone with his valiant show during the U-17 World Cup held in India last year is all set for a trial with Scottish side Motherwell FC.

Dheeraj is expected to depart today (February 7th,2018)  and is expected to wait until July for his trials till he turns 18.

AIFF developmental side Coach Luis de Matos expressed his disappointment on the move and was quoted "a wrong career move instigated by agent".

Matos reiterated the importance of youth development and said that the move for trial with Motherwell FC "wasn't the best decision of his career".

De Matos felt that development by playing I League against senior boys and foreign players with 15-20 games under his belt would have provided him with the necessary experience and confidence before moving out for trial.

The Manipur lad is expected to train at the Fir Park senior team rather than the youth development team over next few weeks and hope to impress the management for any potential transfer happening around July.

India U-17 Goalkeeping Coach Paolo Grilo rates Dheeraj very highly and said scouts from major European clubs and around the world were definitely keeping an eye on the young shot-stopper, without naming the clubs

Grilo quoted to Indian Express “If he returns to the methodology of training in India, then he won’t improve. Dheeraj has the potential to play there (in Europe).”

Dheeraj's arrival for trial to Scotland has been "welcomed" by club spokesman and added, “He will gain fantastic experience working with our goalkeeping coach Craig Hinchcliffe, as well as Trevor Carson and Russell Griffiths.”

Dheeraj trained briefly with former England Goalkeeper David James with ISL side Kerala Blasters before his departure and would be hoping for a stellar show in his training with the senior Motherwell FC team before the all-important trial in July.

Churchill Brothers beats Aizawl FC through Mechac's solitary goal

Koffi Mechac's solitary goal on a 21st minute was the difference between two sides as Churchill Brothers overcame Aizawl FC at Tilak Maidan on Tuesday.

Nicholas Fernandes had the opening chance of the game on2nd minute as he strayed his header wide of the target from a brilliant cross of Harshad Naik.On the other end, Dodoz had a chance for Aizawl FC to test the Churchill keeper but his weak left-footed effort was deflected out for a corner.

The goal came in the 21st minute from brilliant work down the left flank by Nicholas Fernandes as the winger twisted and turned to lose his marker and delivered a perfect low cross to the path of advancing Koffi Mechac who made no mistake slotting it calmly past Aizawl keeper Avilash Paul to give the hosts 1-0 lead.

Churchill lead 1-0 at halftime with both sides not creating enough chances to stamp authority into the game.Churchill had a penalty shout turned down by the referee in the 50th minute as Koffi was allowed to turn in the box and was brought down by the tangling legs of Aizawl's defenders.

On the 68th minute Nicholas Fernandes displayed another brilliant run from his own half playing one-two with Dawda Ceesay to deliver another cross with surgical precision to Koffi Mechac but the striker hit it straight into the hands of Aizawl keeper Avilash Paul.

On 80th-minute Dawda Ceesay was released into an open Aizawl FC half through a long ball from the defence as he found himself in a one-one situation with just Lalrosanga shadowing him to the box. Ceesay was eventually pulled over the edge of the box by Lalrosanga and referee had no hesitation showing a straight red the culprit being the last defender and denying Ceesay a clear goalscoring opportunity.

However, Ceesay failed to capitalize on the freekick from the edge of the box as the powerful left-footed effort missed the target as the final scoreline remained 1-0.

Churchill having won five out of their last six games are now placed 7th on the league table with 16 points after a horrendous start to their league campaign, while Aizawl remains on 6th with same points on account of a better goal difference.

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Dudu's last gasp header wins all three points for East Bengal

East Bengal had to wait till 93rd-minute to break the deadlock of a resolute Indian Arrows side to bag three points at Barasat stadium on Sunday (04 February 2018)

East Bengal went into the match looking for all three points to be in title contention for the Hero I-League trailing 4 points in the league table from NEROCA FC.

Coach Khalid Jamil started with Dudu Omagbemi and Jobby Justin upfront while Katsumi Yusa and Laldanmawia Ralte on both the flanks while Ansumana Koromah slotted in behind the two strikers in the playmaker's role.

Arrows Coach deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation playing Rahim Ali as a lone striker supported from behind by the attacking trio of Aniket Jadhav, Rahul Balan and Abhijit Sarkar.

Indian Arrows showed compact shape in their playing formation as they stopped any free-flowing football in the attacking third to deny East Bengal creating any build up.

Dudu had a chance to give East Bengal the lead on the 25th minute when Kevin Lobo's cross found the striker within 6 yards box but the ageing striker failed to make proper connection resulting in an easy save for Arrows keeper Prabhsukan Gill.

Having spilt an easy chance earlier, Dudu found himself with space on the edge of the box on the 35th minute but the ball crashed the far post and was cleared by defender Jitender Singh.

Having ended the first half goalless, Khalid Jamil inducted Samad Ali Mullick and  Brandon Vanlalremdika to inject some pace and width to the attack but the resolute Arrows defence showed resolute defending as the young centre-back duo of Anwar Ali and Jitender Singh won most of the aerial battle and interceptions.

East Bengal failed to make use of a couple of dangerous free kicks just outside the box and plenty of corners that Arrows conceded throughout the game.With the clock running down to the additional time and vocal East Bengal fans expressing their disappointment for the Coach and their players, it seemed that match was headed for another disappointing draw.Until a long ball from substitute Rafiq on 93rd minute found Dudu's head and a looping header foxed the advancing goalkeeper Prabsukhan Gill to land at the back of the net to hand East Bengal 1-0 win and three crucial points.

The goal was virtually the last kick off the match as the referee called for full time after the kick off as the young boys from AIFF's developmental side went down fighting against the mighty East Bengal, who are now placed third on the league table with 23 point from 13 games.

Hero I league: League leaders Minerva Punjab FC stumble against Churchill Brothers

I-league table toppers Minerva Punjab FC had a crucial slip in their quest for the I-League glory as the Punjab side lost 2-1 to a resolute Churchill Brothers in their away game at Tilak Maidan.

Churchill Brothers went into the match as underdogs against the rampaging Minerva Punjab FC side as Churchill Coach made three changes including Kyrghyztan midfielder Bektur Talgat Uulu in the starting line-up for the Reds.

Churchill had a golden chance as early as 3rd minute into the game as Koffi Mechac found himself with space in the Minerva FC box but the Ivorian striker's heavy touch denied Churchill of an early lead into the game.

 Having conceded an early goal Minerva FC looked to breach Churchill defence with pace and deception of Chencho Gyaltsen and William Opoku.

On the 9th minute, Opoku was brought down inside the box by a two-footed challenge by Osagie Monday but the referee had no interest and proceeded with the play in what seemed to be a contentious decision.

Just 6 minutes later Churchill forward Koffi tried to reach for a deflection from a long ranger by Bektur Talgat and went down in the box as he went past Sukhdev Singh without any apparent touch from the defender.

The soft penalty had irked the Minerva FC players but Koffi stepped up from the spot to send Kiran Chemjong the wrong way to give Churchill 1-0 lead into the game.

Looking for an equalizer Minerva FC pressed forward and won a free kick on 22 minutes just outside the box but Chencho failed to capitalize from the promising spot-kick to hit the Churchill wall.

On the stroke of half-time  Osagie Monday delivered a long ball from a free kick from the halfway line into the box to  Dawda Ceesay who played it on to Wayne Vaz.Wayne Vaz sent a looping cross into the box but an out of position Minerva Goalkeeper Kiran made a mess of it as it landed at the back of the net to give Churchill Brothers a 2-0 lead at the break.

In the second half, both teams had odd chances and Minerva FC managed to pull one back through Kassim Aidara after receiving the pass from a freekick by Chencho delivered perfectly into the 18-yard box and smashed it past the goalkeeper in the second attempt to make it 2-1.

Looking for an equalizer Minerva FC pressed deep into the Minerva half and were eventually rewarded as Wayne Vaz handled the ball inside to box and the referee was on-spot to award a penalty to the away side.

The league leaders looked to be on the script for a dramatic comeback as Bhutanese goal machine stepped up to the take penalty but blasted it wide of the target.

Minerva FC did everything to setal a point but Churchill managed to hold on to the slender lead to deny the visitors any point as Minerva FC still has a slender 2 point lead over second placed NEROCA having played one game less.

Mohun Bagan signs Nepal International Bimal Gharti Magar as a replacement for Sony Norde for the remaining of the I league season

Bimal Gharti Magar popularly known as BG10 hailing from the Himalayan nation of Nepal is all set to ply his trade in India as Mohun Bagan signed the young playmaker for the remaining of the I league 2017-18 season.

The rise of Bimal Gharti Magar is no less than a fairytale, the youngest ever player to debut for Nepal national team at the age of just 14 and a year later the youngest scorer for Nepal at the age of just 15 with a crucial goal against Pakistan at the SAFF Championship.

BG10 is a product of ANFA academy and has led Nepal across various youth level international competitions of SAFF and AFC apart from being a regular Nepal International.

In 2014, Bimal Gharti Magar had an opportunity to train with Anderlecht youth team and subsequently managed to put pen to paper to a 1 year deal with the famed Belgian club's youth program and had a successful stint.

Between 2013 and 2016 Bimal had several short stints with clubs like FC Twente, RSC Anderlecht and KSC Lokeren.

He last represented Three Stars Club of Nepal before joining Mohun Bagan who were looking to bolster their squad and replace Haitian playmaker Sony Norder.

Known for his darting runs and inward-cuts paired with an eye for goal with his lethal left foot, it would be interesting to see how he fits into Mohun Bagan Coach Shankarlal Chakraborty's scheme of things.

Mohun Bagan sits in the fourth position in the league table with 17 points in 11 games, a crucial 8 points behind leaders Minerva Punjab FC.

Mohun Bagan's 4 out of the 5 remaining games are away fixture and Bimal Gharti Magar's individual brilliance might be the X-factor Mohun Bagan hoping for should there be any turn of the tables.