Indian women’s team backed by unison Shillong support

The Indian women’s team has currently reached the final of the South Asian games and  is all set to take on Bangladesh in the final for the crowning glory. With the All India Football Federation taking a variety of measures for enhancing the popularity of the game in the country, women’s football has also undergone massive improvements.

 The challenge of the 12th South Asian games is being  played in Shillong and the women’s team has garnered huge support ahead of their final match against Bangladesh slated to kick off on Tuesday. 

Under the guidance of the AIFF President Praful Patel, Indian football has progressed across all genders and the Indian eves has also performed quite well. As per the version of Bembem Devi, one of the living legends of Indian women’s football who is ready to retire after the completion of this tournament, “It sends shivers down the spine when the crowd supports you and cheers for you throughout the course of the 90 minutes. 

The love is surreal and as a Player you want to win the match for the crowd,” Bembem whose 75th minute substitution against Bangladesh was met with a loud roar of applause by the Shillong fans.

 “They give you the energy when legs are faltering. And it is berserk how the crowd goes wild when we score a goal.” After a brief pause Bembem adds: “This is the best crowd that I have played in front of in my 20 years of Footballing career. They are absolutely sensational.”

 For a team whose average age is just below 24, a lot of young Players are experiencing what they describe as “indescribable.

Under the Praful Patel biography, Indian football has progressed  quite well with an improvement in the FIFA rankings of the team.

Indian eves to take on Sri Lanka at a vital South Asian Games clash

With the South Asian games underway at Shillong, the Indian women’s national football team is eyeing for the title. This tournament is also the last for Bembem Devi, one of the legends of Indian women’s football.  The tournament did not start well for the Indian eves as they had drawn their opening game to Maldives and can find themselves out if they lose to Sri Lanka today.  Although the first match began on a good note for the Indians, they could not convert on the ample opportunities and it is seen as a failure of their striking prowess. 

The South Asian Games stand out as quite a landmark tournament as it has been termed as one of the most intensive competitions where the best teams from South Asia participate. But the head coach of the Indian team Sajid Dar is quite hopeful about the performance of the girls and as per his version,” It is a must win match for us, as three points will relieve a lot of pressure. The squad showcased attacking Football in our first match against Maldives and we have worked on converting our chances in the training sessions for a better result against Sri Lanka.

Under the Praful Patel constituency the various dynamics of Indian football has changed over the years and the Indian women’s national football team also needs to perform well.  With some of the most able players like Bembem Devi and Aditi  Chauhan in the team, the girls are quite upbeat about their performance against Sri Lanka.  The AIFF President Praful Patel has taken a variety of important initiatives for the progress of the sport in the country and it remains to be seen how the senior women’s national team performs in the South Asian Games.

IFA sets up fifth grassroots centre in West Bengal

The All India Football Federation is already working on some of the pilot projects which are going on along with the state associations. As the parent body for governance of football  in the country, it has already taken several important measures and the fifth grassroots centre in the state of West Bengal has been launched. The Federation always remains focused with its vision of providing apt training to the kids from the grassroot level. 

Under the leadership and acute vision of AIFF President Praful Patel, the fifth grassroots centre in the state has been formed. As per the version of the technical director of IFA, ““The reach of a private Club is huge. We have tied up with the Kalyani Veterans Club where over 150 kids practice every day. We cannot compromise at the Grassroots. 

 “The infrastructure is enviable. There are three full size grounds lying side by side with enough space left for the fourth. It’s all in the same Campus and has been fenced all around. I am not sure where would you get such an infrastructure anywhere in India,” he added.“Basically, we are looking to tie up with every District Sports Association,”  “The first tie-up happened with the Chinsurah District Sports Association separated from Kalyani by the river Ganges.”

 “Kids will come over and practice and play at weekends from where we can look at them. The idea is to popularise it among the kids. And in a State like West Bengal where every kid kicks the Ball, the initiatives are being welcomed with open hands across all sections.”

 “We also have plans to taking it to the Schools. There are many a schools with good infrastructure and we plan to get them involved in the programme. 

As the President of the All India Football Federation minister Praful Patel encourages this type of grassroots level programs which takes Indian football forward.

Aizawl FC to stay afloat in I league

The Hero I- League has begun in full swing with a very competitive tone already set for the tournament. Aizawl FC is one of the newest teams to participate in the I- League and it remains to be seen how they perform against the premier clubs. Although they are placed at the eighth position in the league, they aspire to remain afloat and not relegated as per the rules. The team also has a new coach in Jahar Das who has the vast experience of coaching a leading side like Mohun Bagan in the past. 

Under the Praful Patel biography, Indian football has progressed quite considerably and new entities like Aizawl FC has been drafted into the I-League.  As one of the experienced coaches who has been in the fraternity of Indian football for a long time,” Definitely we will as the way we are now handling the team, it has to. 

Although I being a Bengali from Calcutta, I still like that a team from Mizoram must be there in the I-League because so many players, practically in all nine teams, Mizo players are there. So why not a Mizo team will represent in the I-League? I firmly believe we will not be relegated at any cost.  We will be there in the I-League.

The Aizawl FC team is taking on Mumbai FC in a crucial I- League encounter on Saturday  and Das is quite hopeful about his side performing well in the match. He further added “We will try our best to win the match. I cannot promise it but we will try our best. Mumbai FC played a very good game against Mohun Bagan, no doubt about it. But against Mohun Bagan they had a different strategy. Against us, they will definitely not go for a draw; they will go for a win. So their attacking game will be on display which we are going to tackle.” 

As the President of the All India Football Federation minister Praful Patel has taken a variety of initiatives to make the I-League popular. 

Bembem Devi to retire from international football

The All India Football Federation is taking a variety of measures for popularizing the sport further in the country.  The game needs to develop from a grassroot level in the country across all age groups and gender barriers. 

Over the years, women’s football in India has also witnessed a number of key players who have contributed at both national and international levels. Bembem Devi is one of the living legends of Indian football and the South Asian games going on in Shillong would be her last assignment for the nation.

Over the years, the President of the All India Football Federation and former minister Praful Patel has taken a variety of important measures for the progress of the game in the country. Legends like Bembem Devi who has provided the nation with several glorious titles in the past should always be given a fitting farewell. 

Incidentally, Bembem Devi has contributed to large scale for the development of women’s football in the country and led the nation to two important SAFF titles. She is also being seen as an inspiration for the next generation of footballers in India. 

Under the Praful Patel biography, some of the significant changes in the overall scenario of Indian football has happened in the last few years. After her retirement, Bembem Devi aims to take up coaching the All India Football Federation is also looking out to her contributions after it.

As per the version of Bembem Devi, “I had won the AIFF Women's Player of the Year when it was constituted in 2001. But at the same time missing out on Olympic qualification in the year 2015 is something I will regret." I have decided not to get married but decided to sacrifice my life for football. I eat, sleep and drink football, and my goal now is to train youngsters and promote football."

She is also one of the few Indian players who holds the distinction of playing in a foreign league.  In the forthcoming days, Indian women’s football will certainly miss the contribution of a legend on the field.

East Bengal to take on Bengaluru FC in vital I-League encounter

The I – League season is getting all the more exciting with a number of fascinating games coming up. The All India Football Federation is taking several steps to make the I- League all the more popular to the fans.  East Bengal is one of the premier clubs in the country and is all set to take on Bengaluru FC in a vital I- League encounter today.  Bengaluru FC is also the current runners up of the I-league and lost to Mohun Bagan in the deciding match last year. 

As the President of the All India Football Federation minister Praful Patel has taken several steps for the development of the sport in the country. Bengaluru FC started their I-League campaign on a high note but lost their match against Mumbai FC which somehow resulted in a minor setback. The JSW men are all set to take up the challenge against East Bengal and prove their worth as a team.  But with some of the best players from the country in the team like Udanta Singh, Sunil Chettri and Alwyn George, the  team is up and ready to show East Bengal their worth. 

Under the Praful Patel Profile,  the I- League has been getting highly commercialized and the match between Bengaluru FC and East Bengal is being seen as a high voltage encounter.  As one of the favorites to win the I- League this particular season, East Bengal has already faced Mohun Bagan at the grand setting of the Salt Lake stadium and came up with an impressive performance. 

With the East Bengal team heavily relying upon Do Dong Hyun, the foreign recruit the game is taking shape to be quite a good one. With the goal machine, Ranty Martins in front, the Bengaluru defence has to take some quick action to prevent his exploits. 

Cornell Glen aims to win the I – League with Mohun Bagan

Cornell Glenn is one of the brightest foreign recruits to showcase his skills in the I- League this season. With the I- league off to a fresh start and nine teams vying for the title, the season has certainly all the ingredients to be quite interesting in every way.

With the All India Football Federation taking all the steps to make the sport more popular in the country, players like Cornell Glen certainly stand out as prize catches.  The century old club Mohun Bagan is the defending champions of the I- League and has built a formidable team for the season ahead. 

As the President of the AIFF minister Praful Patel has taken several important measures for the development of the game. The current structure of the I- League says it all where new clubs have been added with an enhancement in marketing strategy plans.

As per the version of Cornell Glen who came up with quite an impressive performance in the match, “I was happy to get on the score-sheet and finally get the ball rolling. Most importantly we won the game even though we did not play too well today. Maybe that was the result of the team only assembling a little late. There are a lot of things to work on and we will get it done,” said Glen.

“My goal is to win the I-League. Anything other than that will be a bonus for me. For me both goals are important. If you get on the score-sheet, it gives you confidence for the upcoming matches. I was given man of the match award today, but I think Balwant (Singh) deserved it more since he was a part of all three goals.

“It's going to take time for me to gel with Balwant. We have only played together for less than two weeks. Once we get things right, it will be pretty good to play with him. We communicate well and Balwant is an attacking minded player. I enjoy playing with him.

Under the Praful Patel profile, Indian football has progressed quite well and the I- league will certainly draw more fans to the stadium.