East Bengal FC head coach Carles Cuadrat appreciated the array of opportunities and increased game-time that the RFDL is offering young footballers across the country. Cuadrat explained that the elite youth development tournament has made the bridge between the reserve and first teams of clubs pretty smooth for all players.

Cuadrat has had a fairly long tryst with Indian football, having been associated with Bengaluru FC in the market including an ISL title-winning season in 2018. He took over the helm of East Bengal FC ahead of this season and hence has a complete understanding of what the youth footballing structure holds for the further development of the sport here.

According to the Spaniard, RFDL has allowed the players to not waste precious time of their developmental years on the bench, and instead engage in closely fought encounters with their peers from clubs across the country.

“RFDL allows players to play competitive games against their peers”

“It gives them an opportunity to play games. It’s one of the things that are difficult in India is the formation of players. I remember watching a lot of games with the Bengaluru B teams, with the sides winning by 6-0, 8-0, and these results don’t put you in a competitive situation. It’s too easy for teams to be winners in that kind of game and then the jump to the ISL is too high. So, the RFDL gives players the opportunity to be competitive with players of your age, who can give you trouble on the field. I have been watching the games, they have been close like 2-0, 1-0, and 2. It means that it’s a challenging tournament,” Cuadrat said during a recent interaction with the league.

He added, “Players have to give their everything and for sure they will learn a lot from that. Some players are in the first-team, but it’s better for them to get minutes playing in the RFDL. For example, Sayan Ghosh was playing for East Bengal in the RFDL, and he even came in the first-team. The tournament gives them a huge opportunity to express the way they play the game and get an opportunity to get in the first team.”

Cuadrat drew an example from the time he spent with the Blues, saying that the level of competitiveness in youth games has increased reasonably since then. It has thus helped head coaches of Indian Super League (ISL) clubs to deploy their squad players into the RFDL, ensuring that they get some good game-time under their belt before progressing to representing their outfits in the top tier.

“RFDL helps us gauge the potential of players over a long period of time”

Cuadrat dived deep into his overall coaching philosophy to explain the importance of the RFDL and the way it has helped his players grow considerably in this campaign. He mentioned that a lot of uncapped players first earn their stripes by being introduced as fresh legs to keep up the intensity of the game during the final few minutes of ISL matches. That might be beneficial to them, but Cuadrat quipped that such infrequent playing time does not allow them a proper chance to give a testament to their overall talent and caliber. Instead, when they play 90-odd minutes in the RFDL regularly, it gives coaches like him a far greater sample size to assess and induct a player permanently into the first team.

“It allows you to see the games real-time, some players who you weren’t able to give chances in the first-team, we get to see them in a real competitive game. This season, we have been giving opportunities to play to many young players. They have gotten some minutes for the first team, but it’s different when they get to play for 90 minutes. It’s what’s happening in the RFDL. You can see players playing for long periods of a game, and then we can see if they can be of help to us for the next season,” he said.

Cuadrat’s insights have thrown light upon the significance of the league in not only harnessing the skillsets of a particular player but also the comprehensive assessment of the players’ potential over a reasonable period. With the RFDL continues to march forward and thrive, it serves as a testament to the enduring growth of the sport in India.’

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-wta-finals-to-be-held-in-saudi-arabia-starting-2024-in-landmark-move-707737">Tennis: WTA finals to be held in Saudi Arabia starting 2024 in landmark move</a>

East Bengal FC has had a phenomenal run in RFDL so far. They have also qualified for the National Group Stage topping the table of the East Region.

The ongoing season has already witnessed some exciting results where lesser-known teams have showcased their talent against the best clubs in the country, which testament to the vision of RFDL.

The third season of the RFDL got underway across eight zones in February 2024. The three-stage tournament has seen a lot of surprises and the emergence of new clubs competing against their more seasoned counterparts in the Regional Qualifiers being held currently. 20 teams will progress from here to make it to the National Group Stage, from which four sides will qualify for the National Championships.

Punjab FC and Delhi FC from the North Zone have already booked their place in the next round of the competition, whereas Bengaluru FC, Roots FC, and Chennaiyin FC have progressed further from the South Zone. FC Goa, Dempo SC, and Pax of Nagoa SC have qualified from the Regional Qualifiers in Goa, whereas NorthEast United FC have moved forward from the Meghalaya-Assam Region. From the East Zone East Bengal FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Adamas United SA and Muthoot FA, Kerala Blasters FC and Parappur FC from the Kerala region have qualified for the National Group Stage.

The Regional Qualifiers in Mizoram has seen the progress of Home Missions FC so far, whilst the race for the National Group Stage is still on in Mumbai, and Kerala groups.

East Bengal FC head coach Carles Cuadrat appreciated the array of opportunities and increased game-time that the RFDL is offering young footballers across the country.

East Bengal FC head coach Carles Cuadrat appreciated the array of opportunities and increased game-time that the RFDL is offering young footballers across the country. Cuadrat explained that the elite youth development tournament has made the bridge between the reserve and first teams of clubs pretty smooth for all players. Cuadrat has had a fairly long tryst with Indian football, having been associated with Bengaluru FC in the market including an ISL title-winning season in 2018. He took over the helm of East Bengal FC ahead of this season and hence has a complete understanding of what the youth footballing structure holds for the further development of the sport here. According to the Spaniard, RFDL has allowed the players to not waste precious time of their developmental years on the bench, and instead engage in closely fought encounters with their peers from clubs across the country. “RFDL allows players to play competitive games against their peers” “It gives them an opportunity to play games. It’s one of the things that are difficult in India is the formation of players. I remember watching a lot of games with the Bengaluru B teams, with the sides winning by 6-0, 8-0, and these results don’t put you in a competitive situation. It’s too easy for teams to be winners in that kind of game and then the jump to the ISL is too high. So, the RFDL gives players the opportunity to be competitive with players of your age, who can give you trouble on the field. I have been watching the games, they have been close like 2-0, 1-0, and 2. It means that it’s a challenging tournament,” Cuadrat said during a recent interaction with the league. He added, “Players have to give their everything and for sure they will learn a lot from that. Some players are in the first-team, but it’s better for them to get minutes playing in the RFDL. For example, Sayan Ghosh was playing for East Bengal in the RFDL, and he even came in the first-team. The tournament gives them a huge opportunity to express the way they play the game and get an opportunity to get in the first team.” Cuadrat drew an example from the time he spent with the Blues, saying that the level of competitiveness in youth games has increased reasonably since then. It has thus helped head coaches of Indian Super League (ISL) clubs to deploy their squad players into the RFDL, ensuring that they get some good game-time under their belt before progressing to representing their outfits in the top tier. “RFDL helps us gauge the potential of players over a long period of time” Cuadrat dived deep into his overall coaching philosophy to explain the importance of the RFDL and the way it has helped his players grow considerably in this campaign. He mentioned that a lot of uncapped players first earn their stripes by being introduced as fresh legs to keep up the intensity of the game during the final few minutes of ISL matches. That might be beneficial to them, but Cuadrat quipped that such infrequent playing time does not allow them a proper chance to give a testament to their overall talent and caliber. Instead, when they play 90-odd minutes in the RFDL regularly, it gives coaches like him a far greater sample size to assess and induct a player permanently into the first team. “It allows you to see the games real-time, some players who you weren’t able to give chances in the first-team, we get to see them in a real competitive game. This season, we have been giving opportunities to play to many young players. They have gotten some minutes for the first team, but it’s different when they get to play for 90 minutes. It’s what’s happening in the RFDL. You can see players playing for long periods of a game, and then we can see if they can be of help to us for the next season,” he said. Cuadrat’s insights have thrown light upon the significance of the league in not only harnessing the skillsets of a particular player but also the comprehensive assessment of the players’ potential over a reasonable period. With the RFDL continues to march forward and thrive, it serves as a testament to the enduring growth of the sport in India.’ ALSO READ | Tennis: WTA finals to be held in Saudi Arabia starting 2024 in landmark move East Bengal FC has had a phenomenal run in RFDL so far. They have also qualified for the National Group Stage topping the table of the East Region. The ongoing season has already witnessed some exciting results where lesser-known teams have showcased their talent against the best clubs in the country, which testament to the vision of RFDL. The third season of the RFDL got underway across eight zones in February 2024. The three-stage tournament has seen a lot of surprises and the emergence of new clubs competing against their more seasoned counterparts in the Regional Qualifiers being held currently. 20 teams will progress from here to make it to the National Group Stage, from which four sides will qualify for the National Championships. Punjab FC and Delhi FC from the North Zone have already booked their place in the next round of the competition, whereas Bengaluru FC, Roots FC, and Chennaiyin FC have progressed further from the South Zone. FC Goa, Dempo SC, and Pax of Nagoa SC have qualified from the Regional Qualifiers in Goa, whereas NorthEast United FC have moved forward from the Meghalaya-Assam Region. From the East Zone East Bengal FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Adamas United SA and Muthoot FA, Kerala Blasters FC and Parappur FC from the Kerala region have qualified for the National Group Stage. The Regional Qualifiers in Mizoram has seen the progress of Home Missions FC so far, whilst the race for the National Group Stage is still on in Mumbai, and Kerala groups.

ISL: Players have to give their everything - East Bengal head coach Carles Cuadrat ahead of Punjab clash

The Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 season is gearing up for its second Kolkata Derby, with Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC set to clash against each other at the Salt Lake Stadium in the City of Joy on Sunday (Mar 10). Jhulan Goswami represented India in 284 matches on the international stage in a two-decade-long playing career emerging as one of the all-time greats of the sport. Her tally of 355 wickets is the highest of all time in women's international cricket.

Post-hanging her boots as a player, Goswami joined the Mumbai Indians women's team as their Mentor and bowling coach and played a key role in helping them win the Women’s Premier League (WPL) title in the inaugural edition in 2023.

Growing up in West Bengal, Goswami used to play a lot of football as a kid. She has also spoken in the past about how she would have liked to be a footballer if she hadn't been a cricketer. The former pacer took a liking for East Bengal FC and is a passionate supporter of the Red &amp; Gold Brigade, eager to see them succeed in the upcoming derby. She has frequented the stands often as a spectator and describes it as an unmatched experience.

<h2>Kolkata Derby is of a next-level</h2>

“The rivalry between East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant is of a different class. If you have never been to the ground, you don’t know what kinds of things go on, and you can’t explain, it’s difficult. We talk about the derbies of other countries, but the Kolkata Derby is on the next level. It is one of the best derbies that I have experienced in my lifetime,” the 41-year-old said in an interaction.

Having played domestic cricket for Bengal, Goswami is privy to the excitement with which the Kolkata Derby is watched by players plying their trade across different sports. With emotions running high, the dressing room is a sight to savour in her words, with each individual cheering vehemently for their respective teams.

“We tried to avoid watching the derby matches together in the Bengal dressing room”

“In the Bengal team, we had plenty of Mohun Bagan supporters, and we all got in front of the TV and started fighting whenever there was a Mohun Bagan-East Bengal match. We tried to avoid watching the derby matches together in the Bengal dressing room! But honestly, it’s beautiful; you won’t find such passionate fans anywhere,” Goswami recollected.

<h2>Federation Cup 1997 memories</h2>

Apparently, love for football, and more importantly East Bengal FC, runs in the family for the seasoned Indian cricketer. So much so that her favourite memory of supporting the iconic club goes over 27 years back, in the July 1997 fixture between the two teams in the Federation Cup. Former Indian captain Bhaichung Bhutia had scored a hat-trick in front of a jam-packed stadium, and Goswami remembers that day like the back of her hand, even today.

“My entire family supports East Bengal FC. My favourite derby memory is when Bhaichung Bhutia scored a hat-trick in the Federation Cup against East Bengal in a full house of 1.5 lakh people at the Salt Lake Stadium. East Bengal FC won that match by 4-1, and that was a beautiful moment,” Goswami said.

In the present-day context, the MI bowling coach is asking the Red &amp; Gold Brigade to encourage fellow supporters to have the back of head coach Carles Cuadrat. The Spaniard took over coaching duties ahead of the current campaign, and the team finds itself at the ninth spot in the table with 18 points from 18 league matches so far. They are still in the race to qualify for the playoffs, but they have won only seven points out of a possible 24 since the competition resumed after the mid-season break. However, Goswami is looking at the positives seen in Cuadrat’s tenure so far and is confident that favourable results will be witnessed next year onwards.

“We need to give him some more time and not just judge by this year. Next year, I am definitely sure that East Bengal FC will do well and if Cuadrat will be the coach, he will definitely bring some new talents and we will have a great season next year,” she said.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-he-isnt-abusing-his-form-former-india-pacer-zaheer-khan-lauds-yashasvi-jaiswal-697923">IND vs ENG: 'He isn't abusing his form' - Former India pacer Zaheer Khan lauds young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal</a>

Simultaneously, she is overjoyed with the club bringing an end to its trophy drought by emerging victorious in the Kalinga Super Cup in January. Tasting national-level silverware after nearly 12 years, East Bengal FC has a lot of reasons to take heart and confidence from that performance. It showed that they are moving in the right direction and have the talent and temperament within them to set aside and overcome occasional hiccups in the pursuit of sustainable success.

“After one decade, we won one trophy. The last was when we won the Federation Cup in 2012 when Trevor Morgan was the coach and now we won the Super Cup and we are so happy, thrilled, that we have finally started winning trophies. It was long due!” Goswami said.

The Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 season is gearing up for its second Kolkata Derby, with Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC set to clash against each other at the Salt Lake Stadium in the City of Joy on Sunday (Mar 10).

The Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 season is gearing up for its second Kolkata Derby, with Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC set to clash against each other at the Salt Lake Stadium in the City of Joy on Sunday (Mar 10). Jhulan Goswami represented India in 284 matches on the international stage in a two-decade-long playing career emerging as one of the all-time greats of the sport. Her tally of 355 wickets is the highest of all time in women's international cricket. Post-hanging her boots as a player, Goswami joined the Mumbai Indians women's team as their Mentor and bowling coach and played a key role in helping them win the Women’s Premier League (WPL) title in the inaugural edition in 2023. Growing up in West Bengal, Goswami used to play a lot of football as a kid. She has also spoken in the past about how she would have liked to be a footballer if she hadn't been a cricketer. The former pacer took a liking for East Bengal FC and is a passionate supporter of the Red & Gold Brigade, eager to see them succeed in the upcoming derby. She has frequented the stands often as a spectator and describes it as an unmatched experience. Kolkata Derby is of a next-level “The rivalry between East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant is of a different class. If you have never been to the ground, you don’t know what kinds of things go on, and you can’t explain, it’s difficult. We talk about the derbies of other countries, but the Kolkata Derby is on the next level. It is one of the best derbies that I have experienced in my lifetime,” the 41-year-old said in an interaction. Having played domestic cricket for Bengal, Goswami is privy to the excitement with which the Kolkata Derby is watched by players plying their trade across different sports. With emotions running high, the dressing room is a sight to savour in her words, with each individual cheering vehemently for their respective teams. “We tried to avoid watching the derby matches together in the Bengal dressing room” “In the Bengal team, we had plenty of Mohun Bagan supporters, and we all got in front of the TV and started fighting whenever there was a Mohun Bagan-East Bengal match. We tried to avoid watching the derby matches together in the Bengal dressing room! But honestly, it’s beautiful; you won’t find such passionate fans anywhere,” Goswami recollected. Federation Cup 1997 memories Apparently, love for football, and more importantly East Bengal FC, runs in the family for the seasoned Indian cricketer. So much so that her favourite memory of supporting the iconic club goes over 27 years back, in the July 1997 fixture between the two teams in the Federation Cup. Former Indian captain Bhaichung Bhutia had scored a hat-trick in front of a jam-packed stadium, and Goswami remembers that day like the back of her hand, even today. “My entire family supports East Bengal FC. My favourite derby memory is when Bhaichung Bhutia scored a hat-trick in the Federation Cup against East Bengal in a full house of 1.5 lakh people at the Salt Lake Stadium. East Bengal FC won that match by 4-1, and that was a beautiful moment,” Goswami said. In the present-day context, the MI bowling coach is asking the Red & Gold Brigade to encourage fellow supporters to have the back of head coach Carles Cuadrat. The Spaniard took over coaching duties ahead of the current campaign, and the team finds itself at the ninth spot in the table with 18 points from 18 league matches so far. They are still in the race to qualify for the playoffs, but they have won only seven points out of a possible 24 since the competition resumed after the mid-season break. However, Goswami is looking at the positives seen in Cuadrat’s tenure so far and is confident that favourable results will be witnessed next year onwards. “We need to give him some more time and not just judge by this year. Next year, I am definitely sure that East Bengal FC will do well and if Cuadrat will be the coach, he will definitely bring some new talents and we will have a great season next year,” she said. ALSO READ | IND vs ENG: 'He isn't abusing his form' - Former India pacer Zaheer Khan lauds young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal Simultaneously, she is overjoyed with the club bringing an end to its trophy drought by emerging victorious in the Kalinga Super Cup in January. Tasting national-level silverware after nearly 12 years, East Bengal FC has a lot of reasons to take heart and confidence from that performance. It showed that they are moving in the right direction and have the talent and temperament within them to set aside and overcome occasional hiccups in the pursuit of sustainable success. “After one decade, we won one trophy. The last was when we won the Federation Cup in 2012 when Trevor Morgan was the coach and now we won the Super Cup and we are so happy, thrilled, that we have finally started winning trophies. It was long due!” Goswami said.

'We talk about derbies of other countries, but the Kolkata Derby is of a next level': Jhulan Goswami

Indian football has inherited a good culture in recent times as players from the remote parts of the country are making their name. The Northeast part of the nation is proving to be the supply line of top footballers with a blend of technique and talent. While football transformation has been on the rise in states like Mizoram, a music teacher turned football coach – Lalrindika Khiangte (Dika), is carrying the baton for the state. A representative of the state team, Dika has been at the heart of the football revolution in the state and is one of the upcoming coaches in India.

An ‘A-licensed’ coach in the country Dika is one of the prime reasons for the rise of football talents in Mizoram as WION exclusively spoke to the man. Part of the Mizoram Coach Program (MCP), Dika is building a force of coaches for the now-popular Naupang League (a tournament in Mizoram for kids between U-6 to U-14). He looks after the development and the growth of the coaches who in turn help Naupang League kids through various techniques.

Question: How was your journey in the establishment of the Naupang League?

Answer:&nbsp;I used to be a music teacher in Punjab while my wife worked in Guwahati. My family lives in Aizwal so when RFYC brought the initiative to develop younger generations I did not hesitate and gave a thumbs up to the project. This project has in one way brought my family together and now we are working together with the Naupang League.

Question: What is the concept of Naupang League?

Answer: The word ‘Naupang’ in the local Mizo language means ‘kids’ and our initiative was always to develop these crops of players. Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) in association with Mizoram Football Association (MFA) took the next initiative to develop this mini-league. So we are fortunate to have RFYC and their help to develop football in this part of the world.

Question: Does the Naupang League work in a similar model to European club academies?

Answer:&nbsp;It is similar to the European leagues the difference but with little difference. At the age of 5 or 6, the kids there have played enough games and spent time on the pitch to grow their football talent. So Naupang League gives kids the platform to build their talent. I won’t compare ourselves to the European League, but with the RYFC infrastructure in years to come, we will be one of the top Asian countries to develop academy football.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tier-2-tournament-similar-to-ipl-set-for-launch-in-2024-bcci-outlines-window-for-proposed-t10-league-669987">‘Tier 2’ tournament similar to IPL set for launch in 2024, BCCI outlines window for proposed T10 league</a>

Question: How do children learn the fundamentals of football with the Naupang League?

Answer: The kids are not finished products so they need to learn fundamentals of the game like kicking the ball, maintaining accuracy of shot and other key aspects. The Decentralized Coaching Sessions (DECO) session helps them develop these techniques before they step into advanced training. So in short, DECO sessions prepare them for the fundamentals before they are given the opportunity at school and senior level. Interestingly, the kids get coaching from licensed coaches from Mizoram who are developing through the MCP.

Question: How does the Naupang League ensure player development beyond what is already provided?

Answer: There are certain players who are well ahead of their time and are good at their skills, so we through the Emerging Talents Program(ETP) give special attention to these kids. The concept of ETP is to develop the already advanced players and help them grow under the guidance of good coaches in the state. Select players also got to travel to the RFYC academy in Mumbai after the first season of Naupang League to learn how football is beyond Mizoram.

Indian football has inherited a good culture in recent times as players from the remote parts of the country are making their name. The Northeast part of the nation is proving to be the supply line of top footballers with a blend of technique and talent.

Indian football has inherited a good culture in recent times as players from the remote parts of the country are making their name. The Northeast part of the nation is proving to be the supply line of top footballers with a blend of technique and talent. While football transformation has been on the rise in states like Mizoram, a music teacher turned football coach – Lalrindika Khiangte (Dika), is carrying the baton for the state. A representative of the state team, Dika has been at the heart of the football revolution in the state and is one of the upcoming coaches in India. An ‘A-licensed’ coach in the country Dika is one of the prime reasons for the rise of football talents in Mizoram as WION exclusively spoke to the man. Part of the Mizoram Coach Program (MCP), Dika is building a force of coaches for the now-popular Naupang League (a tournament in Mizoram for kids between U-6 to U-14). He looks after the development and the growth of the coaches who in turn help Naupang League kids through various techniques. Question: How was your journey in the establishment of the Naupang League? Answer: I used to be a music teacher in Punjab while my wife worked in Guwahati. My family lives in Aizwal so when RFYC brought the initiative to develop younger generations I did not hesitate and gave a thumbs up to the project. This project has in one way brought my family together and now we are working together with the Naupang League. Question: What is the concept of Naupang League? Answer: The word ‘Naupang’ in the local Mizo language means ‘kids’ and our initiative was always to develop these crops of players. Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) in association with Mizoram Football Association (MFA) took the next initiative to develop this mini-league. So we are fortunate to have RFYC and their help to develop football in this part of the world. Question: Does the Naupang League work in a similar model to European club academies? Answer: It is similar to the European leagues the difference but with little difference. At the age of 5 or 6, the kids there have played enough games and spent time on the pitch to grow their football talent. So Naupang League gives kids the platform to build their talent. I won’t compare ourselves to the European League, but with the RYFC infrastructure in years to come, we will be one of the top Asian countries to develop academy football. ALSO READ | ‘Tier 2’ tournament similar to IPL set for launch in 2024, BCCI outlines window for proposed T10 league Question: How do children learn the fundamentals of football with the Naupang League? Answer: The kids are not finished products so they need to learn fundamentals of the game like kicking the ball, maintaining accuracy of shot and other key aspects. The Decentralized Coaching Sessions (DECO) session helps them develop these techniques before they step into advanced training. So in short, DECO sessions prepare them for the fundamentals before they are given the opportunity at school and senior level. Interestingly, the kids get coaching from licensed coaches from Mizoram who are developing through the MCP. Question: How does the Naupang League ensure player development beyond what is already provided? Answer: There are certain players who are well ahead of their time and are good at their skills, so we through the Emerging Talents Program(ETP) give special attention to these kids. The concept of ETP is to develop the already advanced players and help them grow under the guidance of good coaches in the state. Select players also got to travel to the RFYC academy in Mumbai after the first season of Naupang League to learn how football is beyond Mizoram.

EXCLUSIVE | Lalrindika Khiangte: Man leading football revolution in India through young academy coaching style

Virat Kohli, Neeraj Chopra and Sunil Chhetri have been setting up examples for the new generation of sports stars in India with their eye-catching displays on the field and track. Inspiration is a key matrix in their rise as they continue to work hard, however, these inspirations could often come from different corners of society and nation.&nbsp;

Lalhmingliana Khawlhring (nicknamed Hmingtea), 19, a college student is inspiring a state and the young generation of Mizoram football through his heart-touching story.

<h2>Lalhmingliana’s inspiring journey</h2>

Lalhmingliana, born in Aizwal, the capital of the Northeast Indian state of Mizoram, is a physically challenged footballer who has overcome a host of problems. Lalhmingliana, who plays football for Government Hrangbana College is differently abled, having lost both his hands from the elbow down in a freak accident in 2016.&nbsp;

However, that has not stopped him from working his magic on the field as continues to set up an example for society.

Lalhmingliana, who also captains the Government Hrangbana College side, scored in the final of the Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RFYS) Mizoram U21 Championship on 3 Nov 2023 after his side overcame the challenge of Pachhunga University College. He scored two goals in the final in a remarkable 7-0 win to clinch the championship for his side.

The teenager could now be the next gem that needs attention from the rest of the nation. Recently, during the Asian Para Games India clinch 111 medals with eye-catching displays by Ankur Dhama, Nishad Kumar and others. Lalhmingliana now aims to step into the footsteps of these greats and inspire the next generation.

<h2>More on Lalhmingliana</h2>

Like his ideal Robert Lewandowski, Lalhmingliana plays in the striker’s position wearing No 9. He is a right-footed player who knows where the back of the net is and is often seen switching on the flanks as well.&nbsp;

He is a supporter of Premier League side Manchester City, who are the current European champions. While Lewandowski remains his favourite player, he also adores Lionel Messi who is now an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sa-v-ind-world-cup-bound-star-players-yet-to-join-team-in-south-africa-deepak-chahar-doubtful-667534">SA v IND: World Cup-bound star players yet to join team in South Africa; Deepak Chahar doubtful</a>

“I am thankful to everyone who has supported me in the last 6-7 years as no one has ever made me feel broken. My family, my friends and teachers (coaches) have always stood by me and my desire to play football. To be the captain of the side feels special and to lead them to win makes it extra special. I have always got an underwhelming support from every corner of the society and I will continue to find my way,” Lalhmingliana said in an exclusive conversation with WION.

“If I haven't played in the RFYS&nbsp;Football Tournament, I'm just gonna be Lalhmingliana, who just plays football only for his love of the game'. This tournament has given me the joy and the motivation to play football better than ever.

“RFYS tournament is fully responsible for bringing this kind of joy, happiness and motivation to me, and I'm very thankful and grateful for that, so I want to say "thank you" to RF, all the teams, all the persons who are responsible for the success of this tournament. Also, I would like to thank all of my teammates, my coach Sir Dintea and our biggest supporter Miss Judy. If not for them, I wouldn't be able to get in this position, so thanks to Reliance Foundation and all of contributors from our college,” Lalhmingliana added.

The player now aims at securing a place in the senior state team despite his physical condition.

RFYS launched in 2016 to transform grassroots sports in India by creating a structured competition platform for schools and colleges. Over the years, it has allowed young athletes to showcase their talents through its various competitions taking place around the year. RFYS’ initiatives have touched the lives of over 22 million young people since 2013 across the country from 14,000+ schools and colleges, enabling an opportunity for a talented kid anywhere to be able to achieve their dream of a career in sports.

Virat Kohli, Neeraj Chopra and Sunil Chhetri have been setting up examples for the new generation of sports stars in India with their eye-catching displays on the field and track.

Virat Kohli, Neeraj Chopra and Sunil Chhetri have been setting up examples for the new generation of sports stars in India with their eye-catching displays on the field and track. Inspiration is a key matrix in their rise as they continue to work hard, however, these inspirations could often come from different corners of society and nation. Lalhmingliana Khawlhring (nicknamed Hmingtea), 19, a college student is inspiring a state and the young generation of Mizoram football through his heart-touching story. Lalhmingliana’s inspiring journey Lalhmingliana, born in Aizwal, the capital of the Northeast Indian state of Mizoram, is a physically challenged footballer who has overcome a host of problems. Lalhmingliana, who plays football for Government Hrangbana College is differently abled, having lost both his hands from the elbow down in a freak accident in 2016. However, that has not stopped him from working his magic on the field as continues to set up an example for society. Lalhmingliana, who also captains the Government Hrangbana College side, scored in the final of the Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RFYS) Mizoram U21 Championship on 3 Nov 2023 after his side overcame the challenge of Pachhunga University College. He scored two goals in the final in a remarkable 7-0 win to clinch the championship for his side. The teenager could now be the next gem that needs attention from the rest of the nation. Recently, during the Asian Para Games India clinch 111 medals with eye-catching displays by Ankur Dhama, Nishad Kumar and others. Lalhmingliana now aims to step into the footsteps of these greats and inspire the next generation. More on Lalhmingliana Like his ideal Robert Lewandowski, Lalhmingliana plays in the striker’s position wearing No 9. He is a right-footed player who knows where the back of the net is and is often seen switching on the flanks as well. He is a supporter of Premier League side Manchester City, who are the current European champions. While Lewandowski remains his favourite player, he also adores Lionel Messi who is now an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. ALSO READ | SA v IND: World Cup-bound star players yet to join team in South Africa; Deepak Chahar doubtful “I am thankful to everyone who has supported me in the last 6-7 years as no one has ever made me feel broken. My family, my friends and teachers (coaches) have always stood by me and my desire to play football. To be the captain of the side feels special and to lead them to win makes it extra special. I have always got an underwhelming support from every corner of the society and I will continue to find my way,” Lalhmingliana said in an exclusive conversation with WION. “If I haven't played in the RFYS Football Tournament, I'm just gonna be Lalhmingliana, who just plays football only for his love of the game'. This tournament has given me the joy and the motivation to play football better than ever. “RFYS tournament is fully responsible for bringing this kind of joy, happiness and motivation to me, and I'm very thankful and grateful for that, so I want to say "thank you" to RF, all the teams, all the persons who are responsible for the success of this tournament. Also, I would like to thank all of my teammates, my coach Sir Dintea and our biggest supporter Miss Judy. If not for them, I wouldn't be able to get in this position, so thanks to Reliance Foundation and all of contributors from our college,” Lalhmingliana added. The player now aims at securing a place in the senior state team despite his physical condition. RFYS launched in 2016 to transform grassroots sports in India by creating a structured competition platform for schools and colleges. Over the years, it has allowed young athletes to showcase their talents through its various competitions taking place around the year. RFYS’ initiatives have touched the lives of over 22 million young people since 2013 across the country from 14,000+ schools and colleges, enabling an opportunity for a talented kid anywhere to be able to achieve their dream of a career in sports.

Lalhmingliana Khawlhring: This Indian footballer lost both hands when young, but that's not stopping him

Far from the mainland state capital cities of India, Aizwal is carving its reputation as one of the leading exporters of talent booths. While Mumbai, Bengaluru and other capital cities have forged their reputation as business and IT hubs – Aizwal, the capital of Northeast state Mizoram is developing a hub of young crop of Indian football players. Lalnghinglova Hmar, fondly known as Tetea, the secretary&nbsp;of the Mizoram Football Association (MFA), has laid the foundation for growing the next pool of big Indian footballers with some visionary plans and ideas. Hmar spoke exclusively to WION on the changing landscape of Indian football and how Mizoram is contributing to the cause.

<h2>‘We want to be the future’</h2>

“We want to lay down a foundation for the kids as we think we have the best pool of players where everyone is open to contribute. Mizoram is the place where grassroots football started to develop in India. With the talent we have and the Naupang League now an early success this comes we want to be the future of Indian football. In years to come I hope we lay down a marker for the rest of the nation,” said Hmar while in conversation with WION.

Hmar also spoke on the infrastructure side of things as the state lacks the best facilities, but is still going toe-to-toe with the challenges to produce the best crop of young footballers.

“Yes we lack facilities of the highest qualities. The MFA done a great job in tackling this like collaborating with Reliance Foundation Young Champs for the Naupang League. In the years to come, we hope to provide the best facilities to the kids and make the state proud,” added Hmar.

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Currently, the Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) Naupang League in association with Mizoram Football Association currently operates on the football model of European clubs with more players like Bipin and Lalengmawia on the rise. The RFYC through its scouts selects children for a week-long experiential trip to the academy in Mumbai and helps nurture the young talent.

Speaking about Aizawl FC, Hmar commented, “I believe we have all the resources to make the giant stride and once again jump to reach the top flight if we can put the missing piece in the puzzle right.”

WION also spoke to MFA Chairman PC Vanlalhruaia and Secretary K. Lalenghluna as they discussed the status of football’s rise in the state. They highlighted that MFA put in great efforts to take the next step in football. Vanlalhruaia opened up the world-class facilities of the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium that are helping the kids and the state teams. They also praised the efforts made by RFYC&nbsp;as their efforts intend to change the landscape of football in the state. RFYC&nbsp;has been a revolution in the state as they have provided the necessary infrastructure for the growth of players.

Far from the mainland state capital cities of India, Aizwal is carving its reputation as one of the leading exporters of talent booths. While Mumbai, Bengaluru and other capital cities have forged their reputation as business and IT hubs – Aizwal, the capital of Northeast state Mizoram is developing a hub of young crop of Indian football players.

Far from the mainland state capital cities of India, Aizwal is carving its reputation as one of the leading exporters of talent booths. While Mumbai, Bengaluru and other capital cities have forged their reputation as business and IT hubs – Aizwal, the capital of Northeast state Mizoram is developing a hub of young crop of Indian football players. Lalnghinglova Hmar, fondly known as Tetea, the secretary of the Mizoram Football Association (MFA), has laid the foundation for growing the next pool of big Indian footballers with some visionary plans and ideas. Hmar spoke exclusively to WION on the changing landscape of Indian football and how Mizoram is contributing to the cause. ‘We want to be the future’ “We want to lay down a foundation for the kids as we think we have the best pool of players where everyone is open to contribute. Mizoram is the place where grassroots football started to develop in India. With the talent we have and the Naupang League now an early success this comes we want to be the future of Indian football. In years to come I hope we lay down a marker for the rest of the nation,” said Hmar while in conversation with WION. Hmar also spoke on the infrastructure side of things as the state lacks the best facilities, but is still going toe-to-toe with the challenges to produce the best crop of young footballers. “Yes we lack facilities of the highest qualities. The MFA done a great job in tackling this like collaborating with Reliance Foundation Young Champs for the Naupang League. In the years to come, we hope to provide the best facilities to the kids and make the state proud,” added Hmar. ALSO READ | IPL 2024: 'He's ideal fit for us' - RCB's director of cricket on Cameron Green's trade Currently, the Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) Naupang League in association with Mizoram Football Association currently operates on the football model of European clubs with more players like Bipin and Lalengmawia on the rise. The RFYC through its scouts selects children for a week-long experiential trip to the academy in Mumbai and helps nurture the young talent. Speaking about Aizawl FC, Hmar commented, “I believe we have all the resources to make the giant stride and once again jump to reach the top flight if we can put the missing piece in the puzzle right.” WION also spoke to MFA Chairman PC Vanlalhruaia and Secretary K. Lalenghluna as they discussed the status of football’s rise in the state. They highlighted that MFA put in great efforts to take the next step in football. Vanlalhruaia opened up the world-class facilities of the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium that are helping the kids and the state teams. They also praised the efforts made by RFYC as their efforts intend to change the landscape of football in the state. RFYC has been a revolution in the state as they have provided the necessary infrastructure for the growth of players.

EXCLUSIVE: It’s about putting the right piece in the puzzle - MFA’s Tetea Hmar on football in the state

Sergio Lobera is is back in the&nbsp;Indian Super League (ISL), as the Spaniard now heads to his third team - Odisha FC in the top-tier after previous stints with FC Goa and Mumbai City FC. Lobera,&nbsp;a proven stalwart, and that is reflected in his illustrious cabinet containing the ISL League Winners Shield, the ISL Trophy, and also the Super Cup. However, it is the free-flowing, entertaining style of football bringing spectators to the edge of their seats that he brought in India that has made him a favourite amongst fans.

After leading Mumbai City FC to the iconic league double in 2020-21, Lobera departed from India to manage Chinese outfit Sichuan Jiuniu F.C. However, the 46-year-old returned to take over the reins of Odisha FC and he says that the love and warmth he receives from the fans in India played a massive role in his comeback to the ISL.

“I think you come back to the place where you feel happy. If you didn’t work well, didn’t like the environment, the organisation, or the ISL competition, you wouldn’t want to come back, would you? The reason to come back here is that when I worked before here, I was happy. It means a lot. Foreign players have options from other countries, maybe with more money, but I especially wanted to come back here because I was happy. It is a very good place to work in,” Lobera said in an interaction with the league.

In addition to the footballing culture, Lobera is touched with the love showered on him by the people in India. His family is staying with him in Bhubaneswar and Lobera believes that there is a lot to learn from Indians in all walks of life.

“My daughter is five years old and she has lived more in India than in Spain. We love this country, we love these people. They receive us in this country with a very warm welcome. We are living very happily in Bhubaneswar in Odisha. My daughter has started school now,” Lobera said.

He added, “It’s not just about football, it’s about life. Respecting all the people, different customs in different countries, for me as a father and husband, I want my wife to live this experience in India because we can learn a lot from Indian people. When you win their heart, they are very happy.”

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-is-always-full-of-surprises-ab-de-villiers-on-ms-dhonis-involvement-in-ipl-2024-664606">He is always full of surprises: AB de Villiers on MS Dhoni's involvement in IPL 2024</a>

The beginning of Lobera’s stint at Odisha has panned out similarly as before, with the tactician roping in his former players like Mourtada Fall, Ahmed Jahouh, Cy Goddard, and Amey Ranawade. He says that having familiar faces around is essential for him to quickly impart his ideas to the team. Further, he stressed that he is focusing on building a family within the club and that takes the efforts and contributions of the entire squad.

“A lot of people ask me why I sign players who have worked with me before. It’s because I know these players both as professionals as well as persons. It’s very important to build a good connection between the Indian players and the foreign players. They need to understand and help to improve the level of Indian players during training sessions as well as both on and off the pitch. They are heroes for some of the Indian players. It’s very helpful for me as coach to have players who have worked with me before because I need to implement my ideas, philosophies, and style of play,” Lobera said.

“We are building a family because I am sure we are going to live good moments and bad moments, and for me the winning team is the one that manages the bad moments better,” he signed off.

Lobera’s side will next take on Jamshedpur in their upcoming encounter on Friday when they travel to Jamshedpur FC.

Sergio Lobera is is back in the Indian Super League (ISL), as the Spaniard now heads to his third team - Odisha FC in the top-tier after previous stints with FC Goa and Mumbai City FC.

Sergio Lobera is is back in the Indian Super League (ISL), as the Spaniard now heads to his third team - Odisha FC in the top-tier after previous stints with FC Goa and Mumbai City FC. Lobera, a proven stalwart, and that is reflected in his illustrious cabinet containing the ISL League Winners Shield, the ISL Trophy, and also the Super Cup. However, it is the free-flowing, entertaining style of football bringing spectators to the edge of their seats that he brought in India that has made him a favourite amongst fans. After leading Mumbai City FC to the iconic league double in 2020-21, Lobera departed from India to manage Chinese outfit Sichuan Jiuniu F.C. However, the 46-year-old returned to take over the reins of Odisha FC and he says that the love and warmth he receives from the fans in India played a massive role in his comeback to the ISL. “I think you come back to the place where you feel happy. If you didn’t work well, didn’t like the environment, the organisation, or the ISL competition, you wouldn’t want to come back, would you? The reason to come back here is that when I worked before here, I was happy. It means a lot. Foreign players have options from other countries, maybe with more money, but I especially wanted to come back here because I was happy. It is a very good place to work in,” Lobera said in an interaction with the league. In addition to the footballing culture, Lobera is touched with the love showered on him by the people in India. His family is staying with him in Bhubaneswar and Lobera believes that there is a lot to learn from Indians in all walks of life. “My daughter is five years old and she has lived more in India than in Spain. We love this country, we love these people. They receive us in this country with a very warm welcome. We are living very happily in Bhubaneswar in Odisha. My daughter has started school now,” Lobera said. He added, “It’s not just about football, it’s about life. Respecting all the people, different customs in different countries, for me as a father and husband, I want my wife to live this experience in India because we can learn a lot from Indian people. When you win their heart, they are very happy.” ALSO READ | He is always full of surprises: AB de Villiers on MS Dhoni's involvement in IPL 2024 The beginning of Lobera’s stint at Odisha has panned out similarly as before, with the tactician roping in his former players like Mourtada Fall, Ahmed Jahouh, Cy Goddard, and Amey Ranawade. He says that having familiar faces around is essential for him to quickly impart his ideas to the team. Further, he stressed that he is focusing on building a family within the club and that takes the efforts and contributions of the entire squad. “A lot of people ask me why I sign players who have worked with me before. It’s because I know these players both as professionals as well as persons. It’s very important to build a good connection between the Indian players and the foreign players. They need to understand and help to improve the level of Indian players during training sessions as well as both on and off the pitch. They are heroes for some of the Indian players. It’s very helpful for me as coach to have players who have worked with me before because I need to implement my ideas, philosophies, and style of play,” Lobera said. “We are building a family because I am sure we are going to live good moments and bad moments, and for me the winning team is the one that manages the bad moments better,” he signed off. Lobera’s side will next take on Jamshedpur in their upcoming encounter on Friday when they travel to Jamshedpur FC.

Football: Spanish coach Sergio Lobera returns to ISL with Odisha FC, to face Jamshedpur in first match

Indian football has been on the rise in recent years as the nation continues to grow with the biggest sport in the world. The nation, devoted to cricket, has seen a meteoric rise in football in recent years with young stars making their name in the national leagues. While top metro cities continue to take the spotlight for big cricketing names, far from the mainland, northeast India is writing its own story in football as a chunk of the next generation is taking lessons in states like Mizoram and Manipur.

<h2>Rise of Indian football</h2>

Currently, players like Bipin Singh, Chinglensana Singh, Suresh Wangjam, Lallianzuala Chhangte and Lalengmawia have made their name on the national side’s map as they continue to impress. Clubs like NorthEast United, Mumbai City FC, ATK Mohun Bagan and others have been dominated by&nbsp;northeast stars. The league development system has been a major contributor, with mentoring and scouting done from a very young age.

Multiple players from northeastern states are plying their trade in the Indian Super League (ISL) and the I-League. The rich history of the state can also be underlined by the success story of Aizwal FC, who played in the playoff rounds of the AFC Champions League most recently. More than 25 per cent of the footballers in the ISL come from the northeast, which shows their rising dominance.

Recently Chhangte, born in Mizoram, played against Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal in the AFC Champions League for Mumbai City FC, which has increased the popularity and reach of the state on the global level.

<h2>What makes the region special?</h2>

Recruiting players at a young age and nurturing them in metro cities with the use of advanced training facilities has become a trend. Currently, majority of the Indian football youngsters are coming through the academies of northeast India, with Mizoram and Manipur being the top contributors. Children as young as five are taught to play football and are scouted for further development.

<h2>Naupang League lays the foundation</h2>

Naupang League’s rise in recent years has been a major factor in helping the kids develop big time and provide a platform. The eight-month-long football league aims&nbsp;at developing grassroots football in Mizoram region.

The league‘s latest season started in September across four districts of Mizoram - Aizawl, Champhai, Kolasib and Lunglei, after a successful inaugural season.

The age group competition aims at the sustainable development of players at a very young age. What makes it interesting is its age categories of U6, U8, U10, U12, and U14. The engagement of the U-6 participants has increased with more activities planned during the match days other than organised matches. In addition, emerging talent sessions have also helped the growth of the league – which are dedicated sessions for children who show good potential and talent.

Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) Naupang League in association with Mizoram Football Association currently operates on the football model of European clubs with more players like Bipin and Lalengmawia are on the rise. The RFYC through its scouts selected around 40 children for a week-long experiential trip to the RFYC academy in Mumbai.

While World Cup qualification still remains a step too far for the nation, it won’t be long before we see one of the players from India compete for top European clubs like Bayern Munich or Real Madrid.&nbsp;

Indian football has been on the rise in recent years as the nation continues to grow with the biggest sport in the world. The nation, devoted to cricket, has seen a meteoric rise in football in recent years with young stars making their name in the national leagues.

Indian football has been on the rise in recent years as the nation continues to grow with the biggest sport in the world. The nation, devoted to cricket, has seen a meteoric rise in football in recent years with young stars making their name in the national leagues. While top metro cities continue to take the spotlight for big cricketing names, far from the mainland, northeast India is writing its own story in football as a chunk of the next generation is taking lessons in states like Mizoram and Manipur. Rise of Indian football Currently, players like Bipin Singh, Chinglensana Singh, Suresh Wangjam, Lallianzuala Chhangte and Lalengmawia have made their name on the national side’s map as they continue to impress. Clubs like NorthEast United, Mumbai City FC, ATK Mohun Bagan and others have been dominated by northeast stars. The league development system has been a major contributor, with mentoring and scouting done from a very young age. Multiple players from northeastern states are plying their trade in the Indian Super League (ISL) and the I-League. The rich history of the state can also be underlined by the success story of Aizwal FC, who played in the playoff rounds of the AFC Champions League most recently. More than 25 per cent of the footballers in the ISL come from the northeast, which shows their rising dominance. Recently Chhangte, born in Mizoram, played against Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal in the AFC Champions League for Mumbai City FC, which has increased the popularity and reach of the state on the global level. What makes the region special? Recruiting players at a young age and nurturing them in metro cities with the use of advanced training facilities has become a trend. Currently, majority of the Indian football youngsters are coming through the academies of northeast India, with Mizoram and Manipur being the top contributors. Children as young as five are taught to play football and are scouted for further development. Naupang League lays the foundation Naupang League’s rise in recent years has been a major factor in helping the kids develop big time and provide a platform. The eight-month-long football league aims at developing grassroots football in Mizoram region. The league‘s latest season started in September across four districts of Mizoram - Aizawl, Champhai, Kolasib and Lunglei, after a successful inaugural season. The age group competition aims at the sustainable development of players at a very young age. What makes it interesting is its age categories of U6, U8, U10, U12, and U14. The engagement of the U-6 participants has increased with more activities planned during the match days other than organised matches. In addition, emerging talent sessions have also helped the growth of the league – which are dedicated sessions for children who show good potential and talent. Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) Naupang League in association with Mizoram Football Association currently operates on the football model of European clubs with more players like Bipin and Lalengmawia are on the rise. The RFYC through its scouts selected around 40 children for a week-long experiential trip to the RFYC academy in Mumbai. While World Cup qualification still remains a step too far for the nation, it won’t be long before we see one of the players from India compete for top European clubs like Bayern Munich or Real Madrid.

Rise of Indian football and how regional leagues are setting a new benchmark

Bengaluru FC skipper Sunil Chhetri has commended the Indian Super League (ISL) for taking football to the length and breadth of the country, hailing the competition for sprouting hopes amongst youngsters across the nation. The 39-year-old has been associated with the ISL since 2015, having represented Bengaluru FC from the 2017-18 campaign onwards. He won the ISL title with the Blues in 2018-19 and is second in the list of the all-time top goal-scorers in the league history with 58 strikes to his name.

Speaking on Curly Tales, Chhetri mentioned that talent identification across different sports at a ripe age is essential for India to become a sporting superpower.

“A lot of things went well for us in the last 10 years, but the biggest was the ISL. What it did was, it got the game to every nook and corner of the country. When they give a kid that hope, it is different. That is the biggest thing that the ISL has done. It has given hope and visibility (to the sport) throughout the country,” Chhetri said.

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Whilst 51 of his goals have come for Bengaluru, the striker also represented Mumbai City FC on loan in 2015 and 2016 and notched seven goals in 17 appearances across two seasons for the Islanders. This season, Chhetri has already netted twice in four appearances.

As the third highest goal-scorer (93) in international football at present, Chhetri’s influence spreads beyond football in the country. He is a proper sporting icon and speaks extensively on the importance of recognising, nurturing, and promoting talents across all sports through a proper mechanism to elevate India to greater heights globally.

“The earlier we can identify the talents, him or her, given them the right infrastructure, right schooling, the right education to become a better player, I think we are good. I hope not only in football, but throughout every sport if we can do it, we will soon be a proper sporting country,” Chhetri further said in the interaction.

Bengaluru FC skipper Sunil Chhetri has commended the Indian Super League (ISL) for taking football to the length and breadth of the country, hailing the competition for sprouting hopes amongst youngsters across the nation.

Bengaluru FC skipper Sunil Chhetri has commended the Indian Super League (ISL) for taking football to the length and breadth of the country, hailing the competition for sprouting hopes amongst youngsters across the nation. The 39-year-old has been associated with the ISL since 2015, having represented Bengaluru FC from the 2017-18 campaign onwards. He won the ISL title with the Blues in 2018-19 and is second in the list of the all-time top goal-scorers in the league history with 58 strikes to his name. Speaking on Curly Tales, Chhetri mentioned that talent identification across different sports at a ripe age is essential for India to become a sporting superpower. “A lot of things went well for us in the last 10 years, but the biggest was the ISL. What it did was, it got the game to every nook and corner of the country. When they give a kid that hope, it is different. That is the biggest thing that the ISL has done. It has given hope and visibility (to the sport) throughout the country,” Chhetri said. ALSO READ | NZ would be the team that India wouldn't want to play in ODI WC semi-final, feels former England pacer Whilst 51 of his goals have come for Bengaluru, the striker also represented Mumbai City FC on loan in 2015 and 2016 and notched seven goals in 17 appearances across two seasons for the Islanders. This season, Chhetri has already netted twice in four appearances. As the third highest goal-scorer (93) in international football at present, Chhetri’s influence spreads beyond football in the country. He is a proper sporting icon and speaks extensively on the importance of recognising, nurturing, and promoting talents across all sports through a proper mechanism to elevate India to greater heights globally. “The earlier we can identify the talents, him or her, given them the right infrastructure, right schooling, the right education to become a better player, I think we are good. I hope not only in football, but throughout every sport if we can do it, we will soon be a proper sporting country,” Chhetri further said in the interaction.

ISL has given hope and visibility for football across the country: Sunil Chhetri

Young football star Mohammed Sanan was added to the illustrious list of RFYC graduates joining the Indian Super League (ISL) outfit, as he secured a three-year-long contract with the first team of Jamshedpur FC in August. The 19-year-old forward, hailing from Kerala, has appeared in all of the Red Miners’ games in the league this season, giving a terrific testament to his talent and immediate readiness to adapt to the rigours of the first team.

The RFYC has been instrumental in helping young footballers in India realise their football dreams by providing a holistic development approach both on and off the pitch. The program has seen significant success with 12 of its graduates signing professional contracts with various Indian football clubs in 2023.

“Signing professional contracts is the first big step in a player’s career, and RFYC is proud to have been able to help these athletes reach this stage.&nbsp;We are proud of all our graduates, and look forward to seeing everything they go on to achieve.” said a RFYC spokesperson said.

The RFYC has made a significant contribution to Indian football with 12 academy graduates making it to various age groups of Indian football.

Nathan Rodrigues and Franklin Nazareth signed up with the first team of Mumbai City FC in the summer. Nathan is a towering defender whose indomitable spirit reflects his incredible determination in coming back from a serious knee injury that kept him on the sidelines last season. On the other hand, Franklin is touted to be a quintessential No. 6 with inbred leadership qualities. His defensive traits are complemented by the wide passing range that makes him a creative outlet at the centre of the park.

Six graduates, Ranit Sarkar (East Bengal FC reserves), Bunando Singh (East Bengal FC reserves), Razibul Mistry (East Bengal FC reserves), Vian Murgod (Mohun Bagan Super Giant reserves), Rashid Cherukad (Bengaluru FC reserves), and Shivaldo Singh (Bengaluru FC reserves) have bagged deals amongst different teams in the ISL.

Amongst these, Shivaldo used to lead the RFYC U-19 team, earmarked as a leader from the heart of the defence. He is a defender who can play across the backline. Hailing from Manipur, he possesses strong leadership skills to complement his talents on the field.

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Bunando Singh recorded impressive performances in the RFDL earlier this year and that earned him a move to the Red &amp; Gold Brigade. Accompanying him in the Kolkata-based club are Ranit, and Razibul, both of whom grew up idolising footballers in West Bengal. Ranit has emerged as a standout talent during his time in the RFYC because of his impressive shot-stopping skills and work ethic, while Razibul has been raised for his electrifying speed, agile footwork, and innate ability to create scoring opportunities.

Rashid is a versatile midfielder, capable of playing across the centre of the field, who joined the Bengaluru FC reserves. He has already begun earning his stripes by recording fine performances in the Bengaluru Super Division. The Mariners have picked up Pune-born striker Vian, who is known for his incredible knack of finding the back of the net. He is well versed with the demands of modern-day football and is an equally capable playmaker too, adding a unique dimension to his attacking arsenal.

I-League will witness the remarkable potential of the RFYC in the coming campaign too. Two graduates, Chirag Bhujel (Rajasthan United) and Surdas Meitei (Rajasthan United), will ply their trade in the second-tier football competition. Bhujel is a dynamic winger with a searing pace and tremendous efficiency in front of the goal. His exploits on the flank will be closely tracked by clubs across the country. Surdas blends a powerful physique with a wonderful eye for a pass. His ability to split defences with his deliveries from the middle of the park makes him an exciting prospect to watch out for.

Alex Konthoujam signed up with Kodagu FC in the Bengaluru Super Division. He is an attacker blessed with tearaway pace, quick footwork, and equally stunning goal-scoring vision. He can shuffle across the frontline and will be hoping to move up the ranks by delivering impactful performances for Kodagu.

Additionally, twins, Aarush Kamath and Avaneesh Kamath, have bagged a two-year-long full scholarship each at the Louisiana State University (EUNICE) with a Business Major. Aarush plays as a left back whereas Avaneesh plays on the right side of the defensive line. They played critical roles in RFYC’s qualification in the RFDL this year and were part of the U19 team that finished runners-up in the MFA Super Division League.

RFYC has had 15 players sign professional contracts from its first two graduating batches (14 ISL players + 1 I League player) including the likes of Ayush Chhikara (MCFC), Muhammed Nemil (FCG), Thoi Singh (NEUFC), amongst others.

The success of RFYC graduates in securing professional contracts demonstrates the positive impact and role that RFYC is playing in Indian football. RFYC has not only nurtured talent but also prepared these young athletes for the rigors of professional football. The program has become a significant contributor to the development of Indian football, with numerous players making their mark in the Indian Super League and I-League. Moreover, RFYC's partnership with Mizoram Football Association to expand grassroots football is a testament to its commitment to developing football talent at the grassroots level.

Young football star Mohammed Sanan was added to the illustrious list of RFYC graduates joining the Indian Super League (ISL) outfit, as he secured a three-year-long contract with the first team of Jamshedpur FC in August.

Young football star Mohammed Sanan was added to the illustrious list of RFYC graduates joining the Indian Super League (ISL) outfit, as he secured a three-year-long contract with the first team of Jamshedpur FC in August. The 19-year-old forward, hailing from Kerala, has appeared in all of the Red Miners’ games in the league this season, giving a terrific testament to his talent and immediate readiness to adapt to the rigours of the first team. The RFYC has been instrumental in helping young footballers in India realise their football dreams by providing a holistic development approach both on and off the pitch. The program has seen significant success with 12 of its graduates signing professional contracts with various Indian football clubs in 2023. “Signing professional contracts is the first big step in a player’s career, and RFYC is proud to have been able to help these athletes reach this stage. We are proud of all our graduates, and look forward to seeing everything they go on to achieve.” said a RFYC spokesperson said. The RFYC has made a significant contribution to Indian football with 12 academy graduates making it to various age groups of Indian football. Nathan Rodrigues and Franklin Nazareth signed up with the first team of Mumbai City FC in the summer. Nathan is a towering defender whose indomitable spirit reflects his incredible determination in coming back from a serious knee injury that kept him on the sidelines last season. On the other hand, Franklin is touted to be a quintessential No. 6 with inbred leadership qualities. His defensive traits are complemented by the wide passing range that makes him a creative outlet at the centre of the park. Six graduates, Ranit Sarkar (East Bengal FC reserves), Bunando Singh (East Bengal FC reserves), Razibul Mistry (East Bengal FC reserves), Vian Murgod (Mohun Bagan Super Giant reserves), Rashid Cherukad (Bengaluru FC reserves), and Shivaldo Singh (Bengaluru FC reserves) have bagged deals amongst different teams in the ISL. Amongst these, Shivaldo used to lead the RFYC U-19 team, earmarked as a leader from the heart of the defence. He is a defender who can play across the backline. Hailing from Manipur, he possesses strong leadership skills to complement his talents on the field. ALSO READ | ODI World Cup 2023: India all-rounder Hardik Pandya ruled out of tournament with injury Bunando Singh recorded impressive performances in the RFDL earlier this year and that earned him a move to the Red & Gold Brigade. Accompanying him in the Kolkata-based club are Ranit, and Razibul, both of whom grew up idolising footballers in West Bengal. Ranit has emerged as a standout talent during his time in the RFYC because of his impressive shot-stopping skills and work ethic, while Razibul has been raised for his electrifying speed, agile footwork, and innate ability to create scoring opportunities. Rashid is a versatile midfielder, capable of playing across the centre of the field, who joined the Bengaluru FC reserves. He has already begun earning his stripes by recording fine performances in the Bengaluru Super Division. The Mariners have picked up Pune-born striker Vian, who is known for his incredible knack of finding the back of the net. He is well versed with the demands of modern-day football and is an equally capable playmaker too, adding a unique dimension to his attacking arsenal. I-League will witness the remarkable potential of the RFYC in the coming campaign too. Two graduates, Chirag Bhujel (Rajasthan United) and Surdas Meitei (Rajasthan United), will ply their trade in the second-tier football competition. Bhujel is a dynamic winger with a searing pace and tremendous efficiency in front of the goal. His exploits on the flank will be closely tracked by clubs across the country. Surdas blends a powerful physique with a wonderful eye for a pass. His ability to split defences with his deliveries from the middle of the park makes him an exciting prospect to watch out for. Alex Konthoujam signed up with Kodagu FC in the Bengaluru Super Division. He is an attacker blessed with tearaway pace, quick footwork, and equally stunning goal-scoring vision. He can shuffle across the frontline and will be hoping to move up the ranks by delivering impactful performances for Kodagu. Additionally, twins, Aarush Kamath and Avaneesh Kamath, have bagged a two-year-long full scholarship each at the Louisiana State University (EUNICE) with a Business Major. Aarush plays as a left back whereas Avaneesh plays on the right side of the defensive line. They played critical roles in RFYC’s qualification in the RFDL this year and were part of the U19 team that finished runners-up in the MFA Super Division League. RFYC has had 15 players sign professional contracts from its first two graduating batches (14 ISL players + 1 I League player) including the likes of Ayush Chhikara (MCFC), Muhammed Nemil (FCG), Thoi Singh (NEUFC), amongst others. The success of RFYC graduates in securing professional contracts demonstrates the positive impact and role that RFYC is playing in Indian football. RFYC has not only nurtured talent but also prepared these young athletes for the rigors of professional football. The program has become a significant contributor to the development of Indian football, with numerous players making their mark in the Indian Super League and I-League. Moreover, RFYC's partnership with Mizoram Football Association to expand grassroots football is a testament to its commitment to developing football talent at the grassroots level.

ISL 2023-24: Mohammed Sanan, Nathan Rodrigues add another feather to hat with impressive first season

IN PICS | John Abraham takes to football field to promote youth development in India

Kerala Blasters FC recorded their second straight win of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2022-23 season as they beat visitors Jamshedpur FC by 1-0 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi tonight, thanks to a 74th-minute strike by their talismanic skipper Adrian Luna.&nbsp;The Uruguayan attacking midfielder was the point of difference in a hotly contested encounter as he bagged his second goal of the campaign in this match.

An erratic Jamshedpur backline handed the Blasters their first real goal-scoring opportunity in the game. Ivan Vukomanovic’s strategy and Kerala’s midfield are to be credited for that too. As Jamshedpur FC struggled to clear the ball for once and for all, Jeakson Singh pressed high, recovered possession and played a short pass to Luna from several yards outside the box. The Uruguayan star had ample space to dribble closer to the goal and take a shot. However, he opted for an unconventional approach, instead choosing to chip the ball over Jamshedpur goalkeeper Rehenesh TP’s head. But&nbsp;the ball lobbed over the post.

Jamshedpur maintained a sustained period of offensive pressure for a brief period thereafter. One of those moves brought them within an inch of breaking the deadlock, courtesy of an impressive headed effort by Seiminlen Doungel. Nikhil Baria found significant space on the right flank and used that to curl in a cross for Doungel that landed slightly wide off the post from his head. Daniel Chima Chukwu ran and kept the ball in play, trying to lay up a square pass for the young winger again but it was thwarted by the Kerala backline eventually.

Jamshedpur FC was determined to find the back of the net immediately after the halftime break. Substitute Emil Benny received the ball on the right-hand side and sent in a probing delivery to Jeremy Manzorro on the left-sided channel of the 18-yard box. Manzorro tried to half-volley the ball into the net on his first touch but couldn’t give it the right direction as it ended up being way wide off the crossbar. 15 minutes later, Chukwu controlled a free-kick on the move and tried to get the ball past the Kerala goalkeeper Sachin Suresh, but to no avail.

Finally, it was Luna who landed the decisive blow thanks to a cohesive attacking effort by Daisuke Sakai, Dimitrios Diamantakos, and him. Sakai played a quick pass to Diamantakos inside the box, who backheeled the ball to Luna. The 31-year-old calmly placed the ball in the bottom left corner amidst a thunderous cheer from the home crowd for a goal that guaranteed them three points from this contest.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-avinash-sable-creates-history-with-gold-medal-tajinder-pal-singh-toor-bags-top-prize-in-shot-put-641508">Asian Games: Avinash Sable sets new record; Tajinder Pal Singh Toor also bags gold in shot put</a>

<h2>Key Performer of the Match</h2>

Adrian Luna (Kerala Blasters)

Kerala’s talisman recorded an 89% passing accuracy, two interceptions, two crosses, in addition to creating two goal-scoring opportunities and netting the winner in the 74th minute. He led the team’s charge both on and off the field and carved an impact with his delightful strike to cap off a well-rounded performance.

<h2>What’s next for both teams?</h2>

Kerala Blasters FC will now travel to Mumbai to take on the Islanders in their own backyard on October 8 for their forthcoming fixture in the league. Jamshedpur FC’s next match will be at their home against Hyderabad FC on October 5.

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Kerala Blasters FC recorded their second straight win of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2022-23 season as they beat visitors Jamshedpur FC by 1-0 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi tonight, thanks to a 74th-minute strike by their talismanic skipper Adrian Luna.

Kerala Blasters FC recorded their second straight win of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2022-23 season as they beat visitors Jamshedpur FC by 1-0 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi tonight, thanks to a 74th-minute strike by their talismanic skipper Adrian Luna. The Uruguayan attacking midfielder was the point of difference in a hotly contested encounter as he bagged his second goal of the campaign in this match. An erratic Jamshedpur backline handed the Blasters their first real goal-scoring opportunity in the game. Ivan Vukomanovic’s strategy and Kerala’s midfield are to be credited for that too. As Jamshedpur FC struggled to clear the ball for once and for all, Jeakson Singh pressed high, recovered possession and played a short pass to Luna from several yards outside the box. The Uruguayan star had ample space to dribble closer to the goal and take a shot. However, he opted for an unconventional approach, instead choosing to chip the ball over Jamshedpur goalkeeper Rehenesh TP’s head. But the ball lobbed over the post. Jamshedpur maintained a sustained period of offensive pressure for a brief period thereafter. One of those moves brought them within an inch of breaking the deadlock, courtesy of an impressive headed effort by Seiminlen Doungel. Nikhil Baria found significant space on the right flank and used that to curl in a cross for Doungel that landed slightly wide off the post from his head. Daniel Chima Chukwu ran and kept the ball in play, trying to lay up a square pass for the young winger again but it was thwarted by the Kerala backline eventually. Jamshedpur FC was determined to find the back of the net immediately after the halftime break. Substitute Emil Benny received the ball on the right-hand side and sent in a probing delivery to Jeremy Manzorro on the left-sided channel of the 18-yard box. Manzorro tried to half-volley the ball into the net on his first touch but couldn’t give it the right direction as it ended up being way wide off the crossbar. 15 minutes later, Chukwu controlled a free-kick on the move and tried to get the ball past the Kerala goalkeeper Sachin Suresh, but to no avail. Finally, it was Luna who landed the decisive blow thanks to a cohesive attacking effort by Daisuke Sakai, Dimitrios Diamantakos, and him. Sakai played a quick pass to Diamantakos inside the box, who backheeled the ball to Luna. The 31-year-old calmly placed the ball in the bottom left corner amidst a thunderous cheer from the home crowd for a goal that guaranteed them three points from this contest. ALSO READ | Asian Games: Avinash Sable sets new record; Tajinder Pal Singh Toor also bags gold in shot put Key Performer of the Match Adrian Luna (Kerala Blasters) Kerala’s talisman recorded an 89% passing accuracy, two interceptions, two crosses, in addition to creating two goal-scoring opportunities and netting the winner in the 74th minute. He led the team’s charge both on and off the field and carved an impact with his delightful strike to cap off a well-rounded performance. What’s next for both teams? Kerala Blasters FC will now travel to Mumbai to take on the Islanders in their own backyard on October 8 for their forthcoming fixture in the league. Jamshedpur FC’s next match will be at their home against Hyderabad FC on October 5. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

ISL: Adrian Luna strikes again to help Kerala Blasters FC edge past Jamshedpur FC

The India&nbsp;Super League (ISL) 2023-24 season is all set to take the centrestage as it will kick off on Thursday, September 21 with 2019 champions Bengaluru FC taking on three-time runners-up Kerala Blasters in the opening clash. The latest season will be the 10th edition of the Indian top flight football as 12 teams will compete for the top honours. The season will run until March 2024 as teams across the country try to win the prestigious title.

The start of ISL 2023-24 will coincide with the Asian Games where top Indian players are set to compete. The Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) on Thursday released the schedule, stating it had taken into consideration all the factors necessary to accommodate the calendar.

“The ISL 10 season schedule to begin on September 21st has been created and approved with extensive consultations involving all stakeholders, including the AIFF. Basis the recommendations of AIFF on the league window, the final start dates were calendarised.”

“All stakeholders have formally agreed to the schedule's dates and structure, which incorporates necessary breaks to accommodate FIFA windows and break for AFC Asian Cup.”

“Given the packed football calendar the season schedule has been designed to consider all these factors leaving no scope of postponement of the tournament at this stage.&nbsp;FSDL will continue to work out optimal outcomes with the AIFF,” a spokesperson from FSDL said.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-open-2023-aryna-sabalenka-beats-chinas-zheng-qinwen-to-reach-semi-finals-633071">US Open 2023: Aryna Sabalenka beats China's Zheng Qinwen to reach semi-finals</a>

Earlier, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) chief Kalyan Chaubey requested changes in the original schedule as the players will be on national duty. The Indian football team and its star names will be representing India at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou.

“I’ll be speaking to people in the FSDL to defer the league by 10 days and start it sometime in October so that we can field a full-strength team at the Asiad. The honour of representing the country on the global stage is above all. The national interest should come first and that’s what I would try to explain to clubs and FSDL,” Chaubey said to PTI.

The ISL clubs steadfastly refused to release any of their players to participate in the continental multisport tournament since it would take place outside of the FIFA international match window. The matches for the Asian Games will begin on September 19, whereas the season of the ISL starts just two days later, that is on September 21.

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The India Super League (ISL) 2023-24 season is all set to take the centrestage as it will kick off on Thursday, September 21 with 2019 champions Bengaluru FC taking on three-time runners-up Kerala Blasters in the opening clash.

The India Super League (ISL) 2023-24 season is all set to take the centrestage as it will kick off on Thursday, September 21 with 2019 champions Bengaluru FC taking on three-time runners-up Kerala Blasters in the opening clash. The latest season will be the 10th edition of the Indian top flight football as 12 teams will compete for the top honours. The season will run until March 2024 as teams across the country try to win the prestigious title. The start of ISL 2023-24 will coincide with the Asian Games where top Indian players are set to compete. The Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) on Thursday released the schedule, stating it had taken into consideration all the factors necessary to accommodate the calendar. “The ISL 10 season schedule to begin on September 21st has been created and approved with extensive consultations involving all stakeholders, including the AIFF. Basis the recommendations of AIFF on the league window, the final start dates were calendarised.” “All stakeholders have formally agreed to the schedule's dates and structure, which incorporates necessary breaks to accommodate FIFA windows and break for AFC Asian Cup.” “Given the packed football calendar the season schedule has been designed to consider all these factors leaving no scope of postponement of the tournament at this stage. FSDL will continue to work out optimal outcomes with the AIFF,” a spokesperson from FSDL said. ALSO READ | US Open 2023: Aryna Sabalenka beats China's Zheng Qinwen to reach semi-finals Earlier, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) chief Kalyan Chaubey requested changes in the original schedule as the players will be on national duty. The Indian football team and its star names will be representing India at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou. “I’ll be speaking to people in the FSDL to defer the league by 10 days and start it sometime in October so that we can field a full-strength team at the Asiad. The honour of representing the country on the global stage is above all. The national interest should come first and that’s what I would try to explain to clubs and FSDL,” Chaubey said to PTI. The ISL clubs steadfastly refused to release any of their players to participate in the continental multisport tournament since it would take place outside of the FIFA international match window. The matches for the Asian Games will begin on September 19, whereas the season of the ISL starts just two days later, that is on September 21. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Football: ISL 2023-24 season to start from Sep 21, coinciding with Asian Games

Indian football is on the cusp of a historic campaign right now. Major tournaments like the Asian Games and the AFC Asian Cup 2023 in China awaiting the national team. For the latter, India is pitted against fancied favourites like Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria in the group stage.

Defensive mainstay and one the most notable names in the current setup, Pritam Kotal, who has 52 caps for the Blue Tigers and led the Mohun Bagan Super Giant to the Indian Super League (ISL) title last season, believes that the league has instilled significant fearlessness amongst Indian players. Kotal says that the exposure that youngsters have garnered by rubbing shoulders with their international counterparts has honed them to execute a spirited style of football for the national team.

“See now, the mindset of the players has changed a lot. The quality of the training has changed, and even the players now know what they are supposed to do according to who they are playing against. And for me, whenever we play in the ISL, whichever foreigner is there in front of us, we play without fear. This is a new development that whoever is in front of us, we will compete,” Kotal claims in a recent episode of ‘In the Stands’.&nbsp;

Further, the 29-year-old hails the impact of the various tacticians at the helm of different ISL outfits, mentioning that their philosophies reflect in the performances delivered by the Indian side lately.

“And there is also the influence of coaches. How the coaches give confidence to a player – build up, pass – whatever will happen, we will deal with it. But it’s important to play how we want to. So this is a change since 2015 when we started the Asian Cup qualifiers for the first time. The process started then, and now you will see the way we are playing. This is good for the national team, and good for the individual players as well,” Kotal adds.

After a successful stint with the Mariners, Kotal secured a high-profile transfer to the Kerala Blasters FC last month for the upcoming season. The defender rounded off his stay with the iconic Kolkata club on a high and is now eagerly looking forward to the fresh environment awaiting him in Kochi.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-sharma-needs-to-be-more-aggressive-kapil-dev-advises-indian-captain-cites-bazballs-example-626012">Rohit Sharma needs to be more aggressive: Kapil Dev advises Indian captain, cites Bazball's example</a>

“Last season was difficult for us but despite that we became champions. This was the first time I won the trophy as a captain and doing that whilst wearing the Mohun Bagan shirt was a big achievement for me. But suddenly, there was a movement (in the transfer market). At that time, my only thought was – this is a new challenge for me. Because I had played in Kolkata for many years now. Let’s try new things, new challenges, and a new atmosphere! The club supported me a lot. So it was fine, a mutual decision. And I am feeling good being here. Let’s see what lies ahead of us,” Kotal signs off.

Kotal has been one of the standout stars since the commencement of the ISL. He was the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Emerging Player of the Year in 2015. He is a three-time ISL title winner, one-time I-League champion, two-time Hero Intercontinental Cup victor, and has been a part of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship-winning squad thrice. However, nothing matches the challenge that the national side will face in the forthcoming AFC Asian Cup and Kotal reiterates that the players will leave no stone unturned in giving it their all and more on the pitch.

“As players, we are confident that we will do something different this year. And we will try to do that both individually, and as a team as well as when we start the camps. We will have the King’s Cup, Merdeka Cup, and a few friendlies. So I just want to tell the fans to stick with us. Support the Indian team. Whoever we play, we will not be intimidated. We will go face to face and fight. Be it Australia, Uzbekistan, or Syria. This, I am telling you today,” Kotal explains.

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Indian football is on the cusp of a historic campaign right now. Major tournaments like the Asian Games and the AFC Asian Cup 2023 in China awaiting the national team.

Indian football is on the cusp of a historic campaign right now. Major tournaments like the Asian Games and the AFC Asian Cup 2023 in China awaiting the national team. For the latter, India is pitted against fancied favourites like Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria in the group stage. Defensive mainstay and one the most notable names in the current setup, Pritam Kotal, who has 52 caps for the Blue Tigers and led the Mohun Bagan Super Giant to the Indian Super League (ISL) title last season, believes that the league has instilled significant fearlessness amongst Indian players. Kotal says that the exposure that youngsters have garnered by rubbing shoulders with their international counterparts has honed them to execute a spirited style of football for the national team. “See now, the mindset of the players has changed a lot. The quality of the training has changed, and even the players now know what they are supposed to do according to who they are playing against. And for me, whenever we play in the ISL, whichever foreigner is there in front of us, we play without fear. This is a new development that whoever is in front of us, we will compete,” Kotal claims in a recent episode of ‘In the Stands’. Further, the 29-year-old hails the impact of the various tacticians at the helm of different ISL outfits, mentioning that their philosophies reflect in the performances delivered by the Indian side lately. “And there is also the influence of coaches. How the coaches give confidence to a player – build up, pass – whatever will happen, we will deal with it. But it’s important to play how we want to. So this is a change since 2015 when we started the Asian Cup qualifiers for the first time. The process started then, and now you will see the way we are playing. This is good for the national team, and good for the individual players as well,” Kotal adds. After a successful stint with the Mariners, Kotal secured a high-profile transfer to the Kerala Blasters FC last month for the upcoming season. The defender rounded off his stay with the iconic Kolkata club on a high and is now eagerly looking forward to the fresh environment awaiting him in Kochi. ALSO READ | Rohit Sharma needs to be more aggressive: Kapil Dev advises Indian captain, cites Bazball's example “Last season was difficult for us but despite that we became champions. This was the first time I won the trophy as a captain and doing that whilst wearing the Mohun Bagan shirt was a big achievement for me. But suddenly, there was a movement (in the transfer market). At that time, my only thought was – this is a new challenge for me. Because I had played in Kolkata for many years now. Let’s try new things, new challenges, and a new atmosphere! The club supported me a lot. So it was fine, a mutual decision. And I am feeling good being here. Let’s see what lies ahead of us,” Kotal signs off. Kotal has been one of the standout stars since the commencement of the ISL. He was the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Emerging Player of the Year in 2015. He is a three-time ISL title winner, one-time I-League champion, two-time Hero Intercontinental Cup victor, and has been a part of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship-winning squad thrice. However, nothing matches the challenge that the national side will face in the forthcoming AFC Asian Cup and Kotal reiterates that the players will leave no stone unturned in giving it their all and more on the pitch. “As players, we are confident that we will do something different this year. And we will try to do that both individually, and as a team as well as when we start the camps. We will have the King’s Cup, Merdeka Cup, and a few friendlies. So I just want to tell the fans to stick with us. Support the Indian team. Whoever we play, we will not be intimidated. We will go face to face and fight. Be it Australia, Uzbekistan, or Syria. This, I am telling you today,” Kotal explains. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

ISL has made Indian players fearless which will help us in Asian Cup campaign - Pritam Kotal

Jamshedpur FC have completed the signing of exciting young forward Mohammed Sanan on a three-year deal. Sanan primarily operates on the left side of the pitch and is a naturally attacking player capable of creating chances and scoring goals. The 19-year-old joined the RFYC in 2016 and has been with the club ever since.

Sanan hails from Kerala and possesses impressive dribbling ability but has made a name for himself by working hard and dedicating himself to improving his technique as a whole. The forward is also gifted with both feet and proficient in his shooting and finishing in front of goal.

Sanan has been described as a leader on and off the pitch by his former club and takes significant interest in improving his football knowledge to make his game even better.

“It is a huge moment for me to become a part of Jamshedpur FC,” he said.

“The club is the pinnacle for youth football in the country owing to the glorious history of the Tata Football Academy (TFA) and I believe this is the ideal step forward in my development as a player. I look forward to learning as much as possible and helping the team this season.”

Sanan gained some incredible exposure during his time at RFYC, including an opportunity to represent the team against English Premier League opposition in Wolves and Everton at the Premier League Next Generation Cup where he even scored against the Merseyside club in an impressive display.

“We are delighted to have one more RFYC graduate signing a professional contract with an ISL club,” said an RFYC spokesperson.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/zak-crawley-keen-on-bringing-bazball-game-to-india-admits-adaption-as-key-to-success-622273">Zak Crawley keen on bringing Bazball game to India, admits adaption as key to success</a>

“Mohammed Sanan has great potential and we are sure that he will further enhance his skills and potential being with a club like Jamshedpur FC ahead of the 2023-24 season. We are proud of Sanan's achievement and wish for him to continue to climb ladders of success and rise through the ranks as a promising prospect for the Men of Steel."

Jamshedpur FC Head Coach Scott Cooper also had some words of wisdom to add for our latest recruit - “Sanan is a very exciting young player that we need to develop and bring through carefully,” Cooper said.

“We can see some really exciting technical ability and it’s our job now to polish him up and make him the diamond that we think he can be. He has everything we need but we’ll help him apply other factors of the game that he will learn in pre-season.”

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Jamshedpur FC have completed the signing of exciting young forward Mohammed Sanan on a three-year deal. Sanan primarily operates on the left side of the pitch and is a naturally attacking player capable of creating chances and scoring goals.

Jamshedpur FC have completed the signing of exciting young forward Mohammed Sanan on a three-year deal. Sanan primarily operates on the left side of the pitch and is a naturally attacking player capable of creating chances and scoring goals. The 19-year-old joined the RFYC in 2016 and has been with the club ever since. Sanan hails from Kerala and possesses impressive dribbling ability but has made a name for himself by working hard and dedicating himself to improving his technique as a whole. The forward is also gifted with both feet and proficient in his shooting and finishing in front of goal. Sanan has been described as a leader on and off the pitch by his former club and takes significant interest in improving his football knowledge to make his game even better. “It is a huge moment for me to become a part of Jamshedpur FC,” he said. “The club is the pinnacle for youth football in the country owing to the glorious history of the Tata Football Academy (TFA) and I believe this is the ideal step forward in my development as a player. I look forward to learning as much as possible and helping the team this season.” Sanan gained some incredible exposure during his time at RFYC, including an opportunity to represent the team against English Premier League opposition in Wolves and Everton at the Premier League Next Generation Cup where he even scored against the Merseyside club in an impressive display. “We are delighted to have one more RFYC graduate signing a professional contract with an ISL club,” said an RFYC spokesperson. ALSO READ | Zak Crawley keen on bringing Bazball game to India, admits adaption as key to success “Mohammed Sanan has great potential and we are sure that he will further enhance his skills and potential being with a club like Jamshedpur FC ahead of the 2023-24 season. We are proud of Sanan's achievement and wish for him to continue to climb ladders of success and rise through the ranks as a promising prospect for the Men of Steel." Jamshedpur FC Head Coach Scott Cooper also had some words of wisdom to add for our latest recruit - “Sanan is a very exciting young player that we need to develop and bring through carefully,” Cooper said. “We can see some really exciting technical ability and it’s our job now to polish him up and make him the diamond that we think he can be. He has everything we need but we’ll help him apply other factors of the game that he will learn in pre-season.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Indian Super League: Jamshedpur FC announce Mohammed Sanan signing on three-year deal

The Indian Super League (ISL) on Wednesday, August 2, announced Punjab FC as the latest entrant to the top-tier league in Indian football from the upcoming 2023-24 season onwards. Punjab FC became the first club to be promoted into ISL, owing to their title-winning 2022-23 I-League campaign. The addition of Punjab FC sees the count of teams in the ISL rise to 12 for the upcoming season.

<h2>Punjab becomes latest inductee</h2>

“We are delighted to welcome Punjab FC to the Indian Super League family. Punjab FC’s promotion to ISL will further expedite the growing fan affinity and footprint of the game in India. It brings a new wave of enthusiasm, talent, and determination into the league, representing the passionate football fans from Punjab.”

“As ISL celebrates its 10th year this season, the league remains committed to delivering on its promise of fostering an inclusive and strong league ecosystem aimed at taking Indian football to new heights,” Indian Super League spokesperson said.

The Indian Super League has been a big time success in Indian domestic football and has provided a platform for the top tier. It replaced I-League as India’s top-tier football competition in the 2019-20 season and has been home to world-class talents.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashes-2023-england-australia-docked-points-in-double-digits-for-slow-over-rate-621712">Ashes 2023: England, Australia docked points in double digits for slow over rate</a>

<h2>What is ISL’s history?</h2>

In nine seasons of the competition, Atlético de Kolkata have been the most successful team with three titles having most recently won in 2020. Chennaiyin came second with two titles in 2015 and 2018. The likes of Mumbai City, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Mohan Bagan have won the title once. ATK Mohun Bagan beat Bengaluru FC 4-3 on penalties with the game ending 2-2 in regular time.

There have been six teams that have played every season of the ISL with no relegation system in place. The latest season of the ISL will start in October as teams will also compete for a place in the AFC Champions League.

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The Indian Super League (ISL) on Wednesday, August 2, announced Punjab FC as the latest entrant to the top-tier league in Indian football from the upcoming 2023-24 season onwards.

The Indian Super League (ISL) on Wednesday, August 2, announced Punjab FC as the latest entrant to the top-tier league in Indian football from the upcoming 2023-24 season onwards. Punjab FC became the first club to be promoted into ISL, owing to their title-winning 2022-23 I-League campaign. The addition of Punjab FC sees the count of teams in the ISL rise to 12 for the upcoming season. Punjab becomes latest inductee “We are delighted to welcome Punjab FC to the Indian Super League family. Punjab FC’s promotion to ISL will further expedite the growing fan affinity and footprint of the game in India. It brings a new wave of enthusiasm, talent, and determination into the league, representing the passionate football fans from Punjab.” “As ISL celebrates its 10th year this season, the league remains committed to delivering on its promise of fostering an inclusive and strong league ecosystem aimed at taking Indian football to new heights,” Indian Super League spokesperson said. The Indian Super League has been a big time success in Indian domestic football and has provided a platform for the top tier. It replaced I-League as India’s top-tier football competition in the 2019-20 season and has been home to world-class talents. ALSO READ | Ashes 2023: England, Australia docked points in double digits for slow over rate What is ISL’s history? In nine seasons of the competition, Atlético de Kolkata have been the most successful team with three titles having most recently won in 2020. Chennaiyin came second with two titles in 2015 and 2018. The likes of Mumbai City, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Mohan Bagan have won the title once. ATK Mohun Bagan beat Bengaluru FC 4-3 on penalties with the game ending 2-2 in regular time. There have been six teams that have played every season of the ISL with no relegation system in place. The latest season of the ISL will start in October as teams will also compete for a place in the AFC Champions League. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Football: Punjab FC becomes 12th franchise to join Indian Super League; first to be promoted from I-League

Bengaluru FC Head Coach Simon Grayson hailed the Foundation Developmental League (RFDL) as an ideal opportunity for coaches to assess players who can rise up the ranks and make it to the senior squads of their respective clubs. The final&nbsp;of the second season of the RFDL will be held at the Reliance Corporate Park (RCP) in Navi Mumbai at 7 pm on Sunday. The Blues made it to the upcoming title-winning clash of RFDL after defeating ATK Mohun Bagan in a tense penalty shootout on Thursday.

Huidrom Thoi Singh, Bengaluru’s 19-year-old midfielder, got on the scoresheet in the semi-final and has been making waves in the tournament so far. He smashed a hat-trick in the National Group Stage against FC Goa as well and has hit the ground running in the National Championship straightaway as well. Interestingly, Thoi trained and travelled with the Bengaluru senior squad in the previous season of the Indian Super League (ISL) as well.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for younger players to get more game-time, more experience, working with good coaches, playing competitive matches. It gives opportunities to some of the younger players in the I-League teams, state football association (SFA) clubs to test themselves along with the ISL clubs and also to some of the younger players who are thriving and striving to be professional players in the ISL over the coming years,” Grayson said on the eve of the RFDL final.

Bengaluru’s young forward Sivasakhti Narayanan scored six goals and notched three assists in the team’s run to the finals of ISL 2022-23. He won the ISL Emerging Player of the Year award and the player was actually a part of the BFC squad that won the inaugural season of the RFDL last year. Grayson cited his example, along with that of defender Naorem Roshan Singh and Namgyal Bhutia to encourage players make the move up to the first-team by showcasing their skills and proving their mettle in the RFDL.

“With the RFDL, it is also an opportunity for the head coach to see maybe who we can bring through the ranks, train with the first-team, give them some experience. In the last few years at BFC, we have seen Sivasakhti Narayanan, Naorem Roshan Singh and Namgyal Bhutia come through the league into the first-team squad and then star in the ISL,” Grayson signed off.

Bengaluru FC Head Coach Simon Grayson hailed the Foundation Developmental League (RFDL) as an ideal opportunity for coaches to assess players who can rise up the ranks and make it to the senior squads of their respective clubs.

Bengaluru FC Head Coach Simon Grayson hailed the Foundation Developmental League (RFDL) as an ideal opportunity for coaches to assess players who can rise up the ranks and make it to the senior squads of their respective clubs. The final of the second season of the RFDL will be held at the Reliance Corporate Park (RCP) in Navi Mumbai at 7 pm on Sunday. The Blues made it to the upcoming title-winning clash of RFDL after defeating ATK Mohun Bagan in a tense penalty shootout on Thursday. Huidrom Thoi Singh, Bengaluru’s 19-year-old midfielder, got on the scoresheet in the semi-final and has been making waves in the tournament so far. He smashed a hat-trick in the National Group Stage against FC Goa as well and has hit the ground running in the National Championship straightaway as well. Interestingly, Thoi trained and travelled with the Bengaluru senior squad in the previous season of the Indian Super League (ISL) as well. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for younger players to get more game-time, more experience, working with good coaches, playing competitive matches. It gives opportunities to some of the younger players in the I-League teams, state football association (SFA) clubs to test themselves along with the ISL clubs and also to some of the younger players who are thriving and striving to be professional players in the ISL over the coming years,” Grayson said on the eve of the RFDL final. Bengaluru’s young forward Sivasakhti Narayanan scored six goals and notched three assists in the team’s run to the finals of ISL 2022-23. He won the ISL Emerging Player of the Year award and the player was actually a part of the BFC squad that won the inaugural season of the RFDL last year. Grayson cited his example, along with that of defender Naorem Roshan Singh and Namgyal Bhutia to encourage players make the move up to the first-team by showcasing their skills and proving their mettle in the RFDL. “With the RFDL, it is also an opportunity for the head coach to see maybe who we can bring through the ranks, train with the first-team, give them some experience. In the last few years at BFC, we have seen Sivasakhti Narayanan, Naorem Roshan Singh and Namgyal Bhutia come through the league into the first-team squad and then star in the ISL,” Grayson signed off.

Bengaluru FC Head Coach Simon Grayson lauds RFDL as 'great opportunity' to identify talent

The Bengaluru FC boys who will appear in the finals of the second season of the Foundation Developmental League (FDL) have received the best possible motivation prior to the summit clash. Indian national football team skipper and stalwart Sunil Chhetri had words of praise for both the Blues as well along with the other semi-finalists as the teams battle it out on the final day of the RFDL campaign.&nbsp;

Bengaluru FC are the defending champions of FDL as they look to retain their title against Sudeva Delhi FC at the Reliance Corporate Park at 7pm tonight. They edged past ATK Mohun Bagan in a tense penalty shootout on Thursday as the game headed into spot-kicks after rounding off 1-1 at end of regulation time.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bengaluru-fc-head-coach-simon-grayson-lauds-rfdl-as-great-opportunity-to-identify-talent-592254">Bengaluru FC Head Coach Simon Grayson lauds RFDL as 'great opportunity' to identify talent</a>

Chhetri hailed the fact that the Blues have made their second consecutive finale in FDL. More importantly, he stressed upon the greater competition and more number of teams that played in the tournament this time around. The four semi-finalists progressed into the National Championship after going through the regional qualifiers and the National Group Stage matches. Over 50 teams from across the country participated in the regionals with over 250 matches being played in that round.&nbsp;

“Second consecutive final at the RFDL, well done boys, well done!", he said for the BFC team.

He added, “I want to congratulate all the teams that participated. I want to congratulate the organisers for doing a great job. I got a glimpse of few matches and they were outstanding. What a chance for young boys, to firstly develop and for others who didn’t get a chance in the I-League, ISL or the main team, to come over here and keep playing games. We all know no matter how much you train, playing matches are vital for the development of a player.”&nbsp;

The importance of the greater game-time coming through this league has been touched upon by several former players and coaches of the participating clubs as well. Now, this issue has gotten the backing of one of the most prominent faces of Indian football and the sporting landscape in the country in general.

The second season of the RFDL kicked off on March 6 and matches have been cohesively conducted all across the country. Chhetri praised the organisers for ensuring a seamless process for the same and encouraged them to carry on the promising work. &nbsp;

“On that front, the organisation and everyone involved in the league, well done! Congratulations and keep up the good work!” Chhetri signed off.

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The Bengaluru FC boys who will appear in the finals of the second season of the Foundation Developmental League (FDL) have received the best possible motivation prior to the summit clash.

The Bengaluru FC boys who will appear in the finals of the second season of the Foundation Developmental League (FDL) have received the best possible motivation prior to the summit clash. Indian national football team skipper and stalwart Sunil Chhetri had words of praise for both the Blues as well along with the other semi-finalists as the teams battle it out on the final day of the RFDL campaign. Bengaluru FC are the defending champions of FDL as they look to retain their title against Sudeva Delhi FC at the Reliance Corporate Park at 7pm tonight. They edged past ATK Mohun Bagan in a tense penalty shootout on Thursday as the game headed into spot-kicks after rounding off 1-1 at end of regulation time. Also Read: Bengaluru FC Head Coach Simon Grayson lauds RFDL as 'great opportunity' to identify talent Chhetri hailed the fact that the Blues have made their second consecutive finale in FDL. More importantly, he stressed upon the greater competition and more number of teams that played in the tournament this time around. The four semi-finalists progressed into the National Championship after going through the regional qualifiers and the National Group Stage matches. Over 50 teams from across the country participated in the regionals with over 250 matches being played in that round. “Second consecutive final at the RFDL, well done boys, well done!", he said for the BFC team. He added, “I want to congratulate all the teams that participated. I want to congratulate the organisers for doing a great job. I got a glimpse of few matches and they were outstanding. What a chance for young boys, to firstly develop and for others who didn’t get a chance in the I-League, ISL or the main team, to come over here and keep playing games. We all know no matter how much you train, playing matches are vital for the development of a player.” The importance of the greater game-time coming through this league has been touched upon by several former players and coaches of the participating clubs as well. Now, this issue has gotten the backing of one of the most prominent faces of Indian football and the sporting landscape in the country in general. The second season of the RFDL kicked off on March 6 and matches have been cohesively conducted all across the country. Chhetri praised the organisers for ensuring a seamless process for the same and encouraged them to carry on the promising work. “On that front, the organisation and everyone involved in the league, well done! Congratulations and keep up the good work!” Chhetri signed off. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

No matter how much you train, playing matches vital for player development: India football captain Chhetri

Former India footballer Gouramangi Singh has worked his magic in the domestic football circuit having taken charge of FC Goa. Gouramangi is very pleased with what Reliance Foundation Development League (RDFL) has done in two seasons so far, for unearthing the young talent, nurturing them for the future of Indian football.

<h2>Unearthing players</h2>

The 37-year-old, who has played for many clubs in the country, including Dempo SC, Churchill Brothers, FC Pune City, recalled his playing days when there were very few opportunities and asked the modern-day players to make the most out of the facilities they are getting now.

"I am glad to see that a lot of things are happening today. If I compare from my time when I was growing up, now there are a lot more platforms for boys to compete and perform, which is a positive sign for Indian football.”

As football is evolving all over the country, boys nowadays play more competitive matches in a structured manner. They are getting a great league like RFDL, so the only thing players have to do is make the most out of it," said Gouramangi.

<h2>Offering more game time</h2>

Singh feels development tournaments play a vital role in making U-21 players ready for the next level and give them the much-required game time.

"What RFDL has done so far is commendable, not for only our (FC Goa) boys but for all the young players in the country. Earlier, the game time was missing for the players but now there is an impressive level of competition. As an assistant of FC Goa coach, our focus is definitely on the league and I'm glad about what the tournament has done in two seasons," he said.

There are a few things that they can do now as U-21 players but not when they are part of the senior dressing room. When one becomes part of the senior dressing room, there are higher expectations from them to deliver. But now here, maybe some coaches will allow them or give them room to explore, and make a few mistakes. So, it's now an opportunity to sharpen their skills and be ready, because the next step will be different altogether," he added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/explained-why-india-should-look-beyond-jasprit-bumrah-for-2023-world-cup-584343">Explained – Why India should look beyond Jasprit Bumrah for 2023 World Cup?</a>

<h2>Great platform to break through into the first team</h2>

The former footballer from Manipur also highlighted why boys eagerly wait for the tournament.

"I think RFDL is a great platform and as a club, we are looking forward to it because, for the developmental team, it's one of the most important features in the calendar year. And as the assistant coach of an ISL team, whenever I talk to boys, they are looking forward to the matches because they know that they are going to meet some of the best in the country. This is the right way to move further, get to the senior team," Gouramangi said.

"I hope a lot more players come up, grab the opportunities and get selected to a lot of bigger clubs in the ISL, I-League," he concluded.

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Former India footballer Gouramangi Singh has worked his magic in the domestic football circuit having taken charge of FC Goa. Gouramangi is very pleased with what Reliance Foundation Development League (RDFL) has done in two seasons so far, for unearthing the young talent, nurturing them for the future of Indian football.

Former India footballer Gouramangi Singh has worked his magic in the domestic football circuit having taken charge of FC Goa. Gouramangi is very pleased with what Reliance Foundation Development League (RDFL) has done in two seasons so far, for unearthing the young talent, nurturing them for the future of Indian football. Unearthing players The 37-year-old, who has played for many clubs in the country, including Dempo SC, Churchill Brothers, FC Pune City, recalled his playing days when there were very few opportunities and asked the modern-day players to make the most out of the facilities they are getting now. "I am glad to see that a lot of things are happening today. If I compare from my time when I was growing up, now there are a lot more platforms for boys to compete and perform, which is a positive sign for Indian football.” As football is evolving all over the country, boys nowadays play more competitive matches in a structured manner. They are getting a great league like RFDL, so the only thing players have to do is make the most out of it," said Gouramangi. Offering more game time Singh feels development tournaments play a vital role in making U-21 players ready for the next level and give them the much-required game time. "What RFDL has done so far is commendable, not for only our (FC Goa) boys but for all the young players in the country. Earlier, the game time was missing for the players but now there is an impressive level of competition. As an assistant of FC Goa coach, our focus is definitely on the league and I'm glad about what the tournament has done in two seasons," he said. There are a few things that they can do now as U-21 players but not when they are part of the senior dressing room. When one becomes part of the senior dressing room, there are higher expectations from them to deliver. But now here, maybe some coaches will allow them or give them room to explore, and make a few mistakes. So, it's now an opportunity to sharpen their skills and be ready, because the next step will be different altogether," he added. ALSO READ | Explained – Why India should look beyond Jasprit Bumrah for 2023 World Cup? Great platform to break through into the first team The former footballer from Manipur also highlighted why boys eagerly wait for the tournament. "I think RFDL is a great platform and as a club, we are looking forward to it because, for the developmental team, it's one of the most important features in the calendar year. And as the assistant coach of an ISL team, whenever I talk to boys, they are looking forward to the matches because they know that they are going to meet some of the best in the country. This is the right way to move further, get to the senior team," Gouramangi said. "I hope a lot more players come up, grab the opportunities and get selected to a lot of bigger clubs in the ISL, I-League," he concluded. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'I hope a lot more players come up' - Former India footballer Gouramangi Singh backs ISL, I-League academies

ISL 2023 finals: The venue for the finals of the Indian Super League (ISL) was announced today, February 20. The final match of the ISL 2023 will be held in Goa.

ISL 2023 finals: The venue for the finals of the Indian Super League (ISL) was announced today, February 20. The final match of the ISL 2023 will be held in Goa. Goa has been chosen for the marquee match due to the available training grounds and infrastructure for the teams. This is the 9th season of the ISL and the 27th season of top-tier Indian football. The tournament began on October 7 and is scheduled to end on March 18. The tickets for the final match can be booked on BookMyShow.com, which will be available from March 5 on their official website and app. Apart from the final action; a host of other activities are also lined-up to keep fans involved and entertained as part of an entire carnival. ISL 2023 Final: Venue The final match of the ISL 2022-2023 season will be played at the PNJ Stadium, Fatorda, Goa. The announcement for venue of the final match was announced today. All roads lead to #Goa for the #HeroISL 2022-23 Final📍🏆#LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/IyYVPfs9Gs — Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) February 20, 2023 × ISL 2023: Points Table Position Team Name Played Win Draw Loss GD Points 1 Mumbai City FC (Q) 19 14 4 1 34 46 2 Hyderabad FC (Q) 18 12 3 3 20 39 3 Kerala Blasters (Q) 18 10 1 7 2 31 4 Bengaluru FC (Q) 19 10 1 8 2 31 5 ATK Mohun Bagan 18 8 4 6 4 28 6 FC Goa 19 8 3 8 3 27 7 Odisha FC 18 8 3 7 -2 27 8 Chennaiyin FC 19 6 6 7 -2 24 9 East Bengal FC 18 5 1 12 -15 16 9 Jamshedpur FC 18 3 4 11 -14 13 11 NorthEast United FC 18 1 2 15 -32 5 Defending champions Hyderabad FC sealed their place in the playoff with a second-placed finish spearheaded by ISL’s leading scorer Bart Ogbeche. Manolo Marquez will look to herald his men to yet another title and retain their crown.

ISL 2022-23: Venue for the Indian Super League announced; check details & updated points table

ATK Mohun Bagan continue&nbsp;to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season of the Indian Super League (ISL) with a host of new signings. Former Manchester United star Paul Pogba's brother Florentin Pogba has become the latest high-profile signing of the ISL giants. ATK Mohun Bagan have signed Florentin from French club Sochaux, who ply their trade&nbsp;in the Ligue 2 - the second division in French football.

Florentin is the elder brother of Paul Pogba, who is a World Cup winner with France and is regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world at present. However, unlike Paul, Florentin has not represented France at the international level in senior football and played for Guinea. He had represented the France U20 team during his youth days but currently has 31 caps to his name for Guinea.

Florentin, a central defender, will significantly strengthen ATK Mohun Bagan's backline and will provide them stability in defence after a disappointing last season. ATK, one of the most successful clubs in ISL history, had missed out on the title last season after finishing third behind champions Jamshedpur FC and Hyderabad FC.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/did-sunil-chhetri-led-india-hire-astrologer-for-afc-asian-cup-qualifiers-success-490991">Did Sunil Chhetri-led India hire astrologer for AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers' success?</a>

The Kolkata club has not only roped in Florentin to bolster their defence but have also signed Indian forward Ashique Kuruniyan from Bengaluru FC after letting go star striker Roy Krishna and David Williams following the conclusion of last season. Kuruniyan has been in fine form for the Indian team and is expected to carry it for the club in the upcoming season.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/psg-president-nasser-al-khelaifi-acquitted-for-second-time-jerome-valcke-found-guilty-in-fifa-retrial-491367">PSG President Nasser al-Khelaïfi acquitted for second time, Jérôme Valcke found guilty in FIFA retrial</a>

ATK have also signed right-back Ashish Rai to further bolster their defence ahead of the new season after letting ho Prabir Das, who was part of their title-winning squad in 2020-21. The club have also signed 29-year-old Australian defender Brendon Hamill and will head into the new season with a completely revamped backline.

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ATK Mohun Bagan continue to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season of the Indian Super League (ISL) with a host of new signings. Former Manchester United star Paul Pogba's brother Florentin Pogba has become the latest high-profile signing of the ISL giants.

ATK Mohun Bagan continue to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season of the Indian Super League (ISL) with a host of new signings. Former Manchester United star Paul Pogba's brother Florentin Pogba has become the latest high-profile signing of the ISL giants. ATK Mohun Bagan have signed Florentin from French club Sochaux, who ply their trade in the Ligue 2 - the second division in French football. Florentin is the elder brother of Paul Pogba, who is a World Cup winner with France and is regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world at present. However, unlike Paul, Florentin has not represented France at the international level in senior football and played for Guinea. He had represented the France U20 team during his youth days but currently has 31 caps to his name for Guinea. Florentin, a central defender, will significantly strengthen ATK Mohun Bagan's backline and will provide them stability in defence after a disappointing last season. ATK, one of the most successful clubs in ISL history, had missed out on the title last season after finishing third behind champions Jamshedpur FC and Hyderabad FC. Also Read: Did Sunil Chhetri-led India hire astrologer for AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers' success? The Kolkata club has not only roped in Florentin to bolster their defence but have also signed Indian forward Ashique Kuruniyan from Bengaluru FC after letting go star striker Roy Krishna and David Williams following the conclusion of last season. Kuruniyan has been in fine form for the Indian team and is expected to carry it for the club in the upcoming season. Also Read: PSG President Nasser al-Khelaïfi acquitted for second time, Jérôme Valcke found guilty in FIFA retrial ATK have also signed right-back Ashish Rai to further bolster their defence ahead of the new season after letting ho Prabir Das, who was part of their title-winning squad in 2020-21. The club have also signed 29-year-old Australian defender Brendon Hamill and will head into the new season with a completely revamped backline.

Paul Pogba’s brother Florentin Pogba completes move to Indian Super League, joins ATK Mohun Bagan

Goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani made three stunning saves as Hyderabad FC clinched their maiden Indian Super League title after defeating Kerala Blasters in penalty shoot-out in the summit clash here on Sunday.

Hyderabad beat Kerala 3-1 in the shoot-out after the match ended 1-1 in the regulation and extra time.

For Hyderabad, Joao Victor, Khassa Camara and Halicharan Narzary scored while only Ayush Adhikari found the target in the shoot-out as Kerala suffered heart-break for the third time in the finals.

It was Kattimani's day as his heroics helped Kerala prevailed in the shoot-out. He saved the spot kicks from Mark Leskovic, Nishu Kumar and Jeakson Singh.

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As soon as Narzary's spot kick sent Kerala goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill the wrong way, the Hyderabad dug out and supporters at the stands erupted with joy while it was heartbreak for the passionate Kerala fans as spectators returned to the stadium to watch an ISL match after two years.

Earlier in the match, 22-year-old Rahul KP's goal in the 68th minute put Kerala ahead, but Sahil Tavora equalised for Sahil Tavora with a stunning volley in the 88th minute.

There was not much to differentiate between the two teams till Rahul broke the deadlock in the 68th minute with a stunning right-footed shot from outside the box.

Rahul came charging towards the goal and struck a blinder of a shot, to which rival custodian Kattimani only got a hand before hitting the net.

Kerala must have thought they would lift their maiden ISL title but Tavora broke their hearts as he struck with a breath-taking right-footed volley from the edge of the box with just two minutes left for the final whistle.

The two sides failed to produce a winner in the extra-time as the game went to penalty shoot-out.

Hyderabad midfielder Souvik Chakrabarti had a shot early in the match but Kerala goalie Prabhsukhan Singh Gill was upto the task to deal with it.

In the 14th minute, Harmanjot Khabra whipped a cross for striker Jorge Diaz, who was free inside the box, but the Argentine could not connect it.

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In the 23rd minute, Lalthathanga Khawlhring got the ball on the left-flank, skipped past Chakrabarti and passed it to Alvaro Vazquez, but the Hyderabad defenders did it well to not let the ball sneak behind the backline.

Kerala skipper Luna attempted a dipping shot from outside the box in the 30th minute but rival custodian Laximikanth Kattimani collected it with ease.

Hyderabad had a chance to score when Javier Sivero, who replaced Joel Chianese, headed on target from a free-kick, but Gill made a wonderful save before Thounaojam Jeakson cleared the ball for the corner even as both the sides were locked 0-0 at half-time.

After the change of ends, Hyderabad started on the front foot and had a couple of chances in quick succession.

Goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani made three stunning saves as Hyderabad FC clinched their maiden Indian Super League title after defeating Kerala Blasters in penalty shoot-out in the summit clash here on Sunday.

Goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani made three stunning saves as Hyderabad FC clinched their maiden Indian Super League title after defeating Kerala Blasters in penalty shoot-out in the summit clash here on Sunday. Hyderabad beat Kerala 3-1 in the shoot-out after the match ended 1-1 in the regulation and extra time. For Hyderabad, Joao Victor, Khassa Camara and Halicharan Narzary scored while only Ayush Adhikari found the target in the shoot-out as Kerala suffered heart-break for the third time in the finals. It was Kattimani's day as his heroics helped Kerala prevailed in the shoot-out. He saved the spot kicks from Mark Leskovic, Nishu Kumar and Jeakson Singh. ALSO READ: El Clasico: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scores twice as Barcelona hammer Real Madrid 4-0 in La Liga As soon as Narzary's spot kick sent Kerala goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill the wrong way, the Hyderabad dug out and supporters at the stands erupted with joy while it was heartbreak for the passionate Kerala fans as spectators returned to the stadium to watch an ISL match after two years. Earlier in the match, 22-year-old Rahul KP's goal in the 68th minute put Kerala ahead, but Sahil Tavora equalised for Sahil Tavora with a stunning volley in the 88th minute. There was not much to differentiate between the two teams till Rahul broke the deadlock in the 68th minute with a stunning right-footed shot from outside the box. Rahul came charging towards the goal and struck a blinder of a shot, to which rival custodian Kattimani only got a hand before hitting the net. Kerala must have thought they would lift their maiden ISL title but Tavora broke their hearts as he struck with a breath-taking right-footed volley from the edge of the box with just two minutes left for the final whistle. The two sides failed to produce a winner in the extra-time as the game went to penalty shoot-out. Hyderabad midfielder Souvik Chakrabarti had a shot early in the match but Kerala goalie Prabhsukhan Singh Gill was upto the task to deal with it. In the 14th minute, Harmanjot Khabra whipped a cross for striker Jorge Diaz, who was free inside the box, but the Argentine could not connect it. ALSO READ: League 1: Wissam Ben Yedder's brace helps Monaco thrash Paris St Germain 3-0 In the 23rd minute, Lalthathanga Khawlhring got the ball on the left-flank, skipped past Chakrabarti and passed it to Alvaro Vazquez, but the Hyderabad defenders did it well to not let the ball sneak behind the backline. Kerala skipper Luna attempted a dipping shot from outside the box in the 30th minute but rival custodian Laximikanth Kattimani collected it with ease. Hyderabad had a chance to score when Javier Sivero, who replaced Joel Chianese, headed on target from a free-kick, but Gill made a wonderful save before Thounaojam Jeakson cleared the ball for the corner even as both the sides were locked 0-0 at half-time. After the change of ends, Hyderabad started on the front foot and had a couple of chances in quick succession.

ISL final 2022: Hyderabad FC hold nerve to clinch maiden title, beat Kerala Blasters on penalty shoot-out

The Indian Super League will have a new winner after Kerala Blasters go up against a resurgent Hyderabad FC in the final here on Sunday.

While it would be Hyderabad's maiden final appearance, Kerala Blasters will be competing in the final for the third time.

In 2014 and 2016, Kerala Blasters had made it to the finals, but on both occasions, they had lost to erstwhile ATK, and thus their dream of winning the coveted ISL Trophy remained unfulfilled.

Hyderabad FC qualified after a 3-2 win on aggregate over ATK Mohun Bagan despite losing the second leg of the semi-final 0-1. Hyderabad had won the first leg 3-1 through goals from Bartholomew Ogbeche, Yasir Mohammad, and Javier Siverio.

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On the other hand, Kerala Blasters FC entered the ISL final for the first time since 2016 after playing out a 1-1 draw with Jamshedpur FC and pipped the League Shield winners 2-1 on aggregate over double leg semi-finals. In the first leg, Sahal Abdul Samad scored the only goal in a 1-0 win for Kerala.

For Hyderabad, a lot would depend on how their star striker Bartholomew Ogbeche fares against the Kerala defence.

The 37-year-old Nigerian forward, who is the season's leading goal-scorer with 18 goals to his name from 19 matches, and is the highest goal-scorer in ISL history with 53 goals.

However, Ogbeche would need support from other strikers Javier Siverio, who has netted seven times this season and Joel Chianese (4 goals). 
Also the role of midfielder Joao Victor, the captain, who has five goals to his name would also be crucial.

Victor could serve as a key link between strikers and defence and with his prowess can turn the game on its head.

Hyderabad also possess an array of good mid-fielders including Aniket Jadhav, experienced Halicharan Narzary, Souvik Chakrabarti and they will have to play to perfection.

Hyderabad custodian Laxmikant Kattimani would be aiming to keep a clean-sheet.

Hyderabad also have 46 goals this season, the highest for any team, 10 more than their opponents Kerala Blasters and thus going into the final, they could have a slight upper hand.

Meanwhile, for Kerala their top goalscorer this season has been their star striker Jorge Pereyra Diaz (8 goals). And for them, the 31-year-old Argentine will have to be at his best and need to fire on all cylinders.

Also, Diaz coupled with Alvaro Vazquez form a lethal pair and the Hyderabad defence would indeed be vary of them.

In what comes as a major blow, Kerala are certain to miss the services of mid-fielder Sahal Abdul Samad through a thigh injury.

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A lot will depend on mid-field duo Lalthathanga Khawlhring and Ayush Adhikari, ably supported by Marko Leskovic and defensive partner Hormipam Ruivah, fresh off a national team call-up.

Also, this would be the first occasion since the outbreak of COVID-19, the fans would be in the stands cheering for favorite teams and a 100 per cent crowd has been allowed, so a ?sea of yellow' is expected to turn up at the venue.

Also, Indian football legend IM Vijayan, chief national coach Igor Stimac would be in attendance for the summit clash.

Match starts at 7.30 PM IST.

The Indian Super League will have a new winner after Kerala Blasters go up against a resurgent Hyderabad FC in the final here on Sunday. While it would be Hyderabad's maiden final appearance, Kerala Blasters will be competing in the final for the third time.

The Indian Super League will have a new winner after Kerala Blasters go up against a resurgent Hyderabad FC in the final here on Sunday. While it would be Hyderabad's maiden final appearance, Kerala Blasters will be competing in the final for the third time. In 2014 and 2016, Kerala Blasters had made it to the finals, but on both occasions, they had lost to erstwhile ATK, and thus their dream of winning the coveted ISL Trophy remained unfulfilled. Hyderabad FC qualified after a 3-2 win on aggregate over ATK Mohun Bagan despite losing the second leg of the semi-final 0-1. Hyderabad had won the first leg 3-1 through goals from Bartholomew Ogbeche, Yasir Mohammad, and Javier Siverio. ALSO READ: End of Roman Abramovich era! Three bids submitted for Chelsea as deadline passes On the other hand, Kerala Blasters FC entered the ISL final for the first time since 2016 after playing out a 1-1 draw with Jamshedpur FC and pipped the League Shield winners 2-1 on aggregate over double leg semi-finals. In the first leg, Sahal Abdul Samad scored the only goal in a 1-0 win for Kerala. For Hyderabad, a lot would depend on how their star striker Bartholomew Ogbeche fares against the Kerala defence. The 37-year-old Nigerian forward, who is the season's leading goal-scorer with 18 goals to his name from 19 matches, and is the highest goal-scorer in ISL history with 53 goals. However, Ogbeche would need support from other strikers Javier Siverio, who has netted seven times this season and Joel Chianese (4 goals). Also the role of midfielder Joao Victor, the captain, who has five goals to his name would also be crucial. Victor could serve as a key link between strikers and defence and with his prowess can turn the game on its head. Hyderabad also possess an array of good mid-fielders including Aniket Jadhav, experienced Halicharan Narzary, Souvik Chakrabarti and they will have to play to perfection. Hyderabad custodian Laxmikant Kattimani would be aiming to keep a clean-sheet. Hyderabad also have 46 goals this season, the highest for any team, 10 more than their opponents Kerala Blasters and thus going into the final, they could have a slight upper hand. Meanwhile, for Kerala their top goalscorer this season has been their star striker Jorge Pereyra Diaz (8 goals). And for them, the 31-year-old Argentine will have to be at his best and need to fire on all cylinders. Also, Diaz coupled with Alvaro Vazquez form a lethal pair and the Hyderabad defence would indeed be vary of them. In what comes as a major blow, Kerala are certain to miss the services of mid-fielder Sahal Abdul Samad through a thigh injury. ALSO READ: CAS upholds FIFA Council's decision to suspend all Russian teams and clubs A lot will depend on mid-field duo Lalthathanga Khawlhring and Ayush Adhikari, ably supported by Marko Leskovic and defensive partner Hormipam Ruivah, fresh off a national team call-up. Also, this would be the first occasion since the outbreak of COVID-19, the fans would be in the stands cheering for favorite teams and a 100 per cent crowd has been allowed, so a ?sea of yellow' is expected to turn up at the venue. Also, Indian football legend IM Vijayan, chief national coach Igor Stimac would be in attendance for the summit clash. Match starts at 7.30 PM IST.

ISL to have new winner as Kerala Blasters go up against Hyderabad FC in final

Despite their 0-1 loss to ATK Mohun Bagan in the second leg of the Hero Indian Super League semifinal, Hyderabad FC made history by qualifying for the final with a 3-2 victory on aggregate over two legs at the Athletic Stadium, here on Wednesday.

Roy Krishna scored in the 79th minute to give ATKMB a glimmer of hope and make for an end-to-end last ten minutes but in the end, it was not enough for the finalists of last season as the men in yellow booked a final date with Kerala Blasters at the PJN Stadium in Fatorda on Sunday.

In the first leg, Bartholomew Ogbeche, Yasir Mohammad and Javier Siverio netted for Hyderabad. 
 
Hyderabad head coach Manolo Marquez played the same team that won the first leg 3-1 while Juan Ferrando made a few changes to the ATKMB side from the last game with the ever-dependable centre-back Tiri being a forced one as he picked up an injury in the last game. Kiyan Nassiri -- who scored a memorable hat-trick in the Kolkata derby earlier this season -- got a start.

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ATKMB looked the likelier of the two teams to nod ahead in the opening exchanges, the Mariners needing two goals at least to make a comeback. 
 
Liston Colaco was proving to be a handful for the Hyderabad defenders as he time and again put Nim Dorjee Tamang to the sword with his jinking runs.

Colaco's industry could have paid dividends soon but the local boy curled his effort just wide of target after dribbling past a few Hyderabad shirts inside the box. Colaco then tried to set up Krishna with a similar run and delivery inside the box but Yasir Mohammad did well to keep the Fijian striker at bay. 
 
There was no stopping Colaco as he shimmied past a few defenders post the drinks break and took a swipe at goal only for Laxmikant Kattimani to pull off a stunning save with his outstretched leg.

At the other end, Aniket Jadhav spurned a gilt-edged chance to make it 4-1 on aggregate for Hyderabad from a Yasir ball, nodding a free header from five yards, wide.

The best chance of the half, though, fell to Hugo Boumous who could not stab home from handshaking distance after a pin-point Prabir Das cross set him up perfectly, the French-Moroccan sliding in to get a touch on the ball as well but only dragging his effort wide.

Just before halftime, Joni Kauko shot wide, to sum up ATKMB's half of missed opportunities. 
 
Hyderabad suffered a blow early on in the second half when Sauvik Chakrabarti had to come off due to an injury, Sahil Tavora replacing the midfielder.

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ATKMB kept piling on one attack after another as Hyderabad sat back and defended deep. Ferrando took off Sandesh Jhingan and threw in Manvir Singh, going all out in search of goals.

There were huge appeals for a penalty when Joni Kauko was brought down by Akash Mishra but replays showed he was tackled just outside the box. 
 
The goal came from a likely source for ATKMB as Colaco showed his magic again down the left flank, bursting down that side to cross from the byline at the far post where Krishna was on hand to slam home from close. 
 
ATKMB threw in the towel in the last ten minutes but it proved to be too tall an order for them in the end as they succumbed to a semifinal exit.

Despite their 0-1 loss to ATK Mohun Bagan in the second leg of the Hero Indian Super League semifinal, Hyderabad FC made history by qualifying for the final with a 3-2 victory on aggregate over two legs at the Athletic Stadium, here on Wednesday.

Despite their 0-1 loss to ATK Mohun Bagan in the second leg of the Hero Indian Super League semifinal, Hyderabad FC made history by qualifying for the final with a 3-2 victory on aggregate over two legs at the Athletic Stadium, here on Wednesday. Roy Krishna scored in the 79th minute to give ATKMB a glimmer of hope and make for an end-to-end last ten minutes but in the end, it was not enough for the finalists of last season as the men in yellow booked a final date with Kerala Blasters at the PJN Stadium in Fatorda on Sunday. In the first leg, Bartholomew Ogbeche, Yasir Mohammad and Javier Siverio netted for Hyderabad. Hyderabad head coach Manolo Marquez played the same team that won the first leg 3-1 while Juan Ferrando made a few changes to the ATKMB side from the last game with the ever-dependable centre-back Tiri being a forced one as he picked up an injury in the last game. Kiyan Nassiri -- who scored a memorable hat-trick in the Kolkata derby earlier this season -- got a start. ALSO READ: Champions League: Villarreal knock Juventus out with 3-0 victory to enter quarter-finals ATKMB looked the likelier of the two teams to nod ahead in the opening exchanges, the Mariners needing two goals at least to make a comeback. Liston Colaco was proving to be a handful for the Hyderabad defenders as he time and again put Nim Dorjee Tamang to the sword with his jinking runs. Colaco's industry could have paid dividends soon but the local boy curled his effort just wide of target after dribbling past a few Hyderabad shirts inside the box. Colaco then tried to set up Krishna with a similar run and delivery inside the box but Yasir Mohammad did well to keep the Fijian striker at bay. There was no stopping Colaco as he shimmied past a few defenders post the drinks break and took a swipe at goal only for Laxmikant Kattimani to pull off a stunning save with his outstretched leg. At the other end, Aniket Jadhav spurned a gilt-edged chance to make it 4-1 on aggregate for Hyderabad from a Yasir ball, nodding a free header from five yards, wide. The best chance of the half, though, fell to Hugo Boumous who could not stab home from handshaking distance after a pin-point Prabir Das cross set him up perfectly, the French-Moroccan sliding in to get a touch on the ball as well but only dragging his effort wide. Just before halftime, Joni Kauko shot wide, to sum up ATKMB's half of missed opportunities. Hyderabad suffered a blow early on in the second half when Sauvik Chakrabarti had to come off due to an injury, Sahil Tavora replacing the midfielder. ALSO READ: Real Madrid to donate one million euros to help displaced in Ukraine amid Russia's invasion ATKMB kept piling on one attack after another as Hyderabad sat back and defended deep. Ferrando took off Sandesh Jhingan and threw in Manvir Singh, going all out in search of goals. There were huge appeals for a penalty when Joni Kauko was brought down by Akash Mishra but replays showed he was tackled just outside the box. The goal came from a likely source for ATKMB as Colaco showed his magic again down the left flank, bursting down that side to cross from the byline at the far post where Krishna was on hand to slam home from close. ATKMB threw in the towel in the last ten minutes but it proved to be too tall an order for them in the end as they succumbed to a semifinal exit.

ISL: Hyderabad book final date against Kerala with 3-2 aggregate win over ATK Mohun Bagan

Kerala Blasters FC split honours with Jamshedpur FC on the night playing out a 1-1 draw, but rode on two top-draw defensive displays to pip the League Shield winners 2-1 on aggregate over two legs and qualify for their first final since 2016, in the 2021-22 Indian Super League at the Tilak Maidan Stadium here on Tuesday.

Adrian Luna (18th) opened the scoring for Kerala with a stunning goal before Pronay Halder (50th) pulled one back for the Red Miners who needed one more goal to take the game to extra time, but another solid performance by the Kerala backline ensured they held firm and confirm a place in the summit clash since their defeat to ATK FC six years back.

In the first leg, Sahal Abdul Samad scored the only goal in a 1-0 win for Kerala who made it to their third ISL final. They were the finalists in the inaugural 2014 edition as well.

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The yellow shirts started the second leg without the injured Sahal but showed no signs of slowing down, almost taking the lead inside the first two minutes had Alvaro Vazquez not tried to be cheeky when one on one with the keeper, dinking the ball over T.P. Rehenesh in Jamshedpur goal and wide of the far post.

Four minutes later, Vazquez got possession deep inside his own half to then set up Ayush Adhikari but Rehenesh was alert to the danger, coming out of his line in time.

Kerala found a lot of joy as Jamshedpur full-backs pushed forward leaving a lot of spaces for their rivals to exploit.

Adhikari got another chance from a Jorge Diaz cross but Jamshedpur skipper Peter Hartley put his body on the line to snuff out the danger.

Vazquez atoned for his miss earlier in the half soon after, flicking on a delightful pass from the left flank for Luna who darted in, dropped a shoulder and curled a side-footed effort past Rehenesh and into the right corner.

After the cooling break, Daniel Chima Chukwu thought he had pulled Jamshedpur back in the game but his stab from close was ruled offside, albeit belatedly after keeping his flag down initially.

Prabhsukhan Gill was then at fault in Kerala goal as he punched a Greg Stewart free-kick over his head with Jamshedpur players all surrounding him, but eventually, the referee blew the whistle for a foul, much to the keeper's relief.

AT the break, Kerala led 2-0 on aggregate. Five minutes into the restart, Halder nicked one in to get Jamshedpur back in the game, poking in a Stewart corner which was initially met by Chima whose header lacked power and fell to Halder who netted from two yards out.

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One minute later, Vazquez could have all but sealed the tie for Kerala but Rehenesh was on hand to save from a chip after the Spaniard was one on one with him.

The ball, though, kept rolling goalwards with Eli Sabia but the Brazilian did enough to clear it off the line.

Kerala kept pushing for more as Marko Leskovic, brilliant at the back again, dragged a header wide while Jorge Diaz had Rahul KP free in front of goal but instead lobbed the ball over the keeper trying to score himself.

In between the two chances for Kerala, Jitendra Singh's header was cleared timely off the goalline by Diaz after the ball was rolling goalwards despite Gill getting a hand to it.

Kerala Blasters FC split honours with Jamshedpur FC on the night playing out a 1-1 draw, but rode on two top-draw defensive displays to pip the League Shield winners 2-1 on aggregate over two legs and qualify for their first final since 2016, in the 2021-22 Indian Super League at the Tilak Maidan Stadium here on Tuesday.

Kerala Blasters FC split honours with Jamshedpur FC on the night playing out a 1-1 draw, but rode on two top-draw defensive displays to pip the League Shield winners 2-1 on aggregate over two legs and qualify for their first final since 2016, in the 2021-22 Indian Super League at the Tilak Maidan Stadium here on Tuesday. Adrian Luna (18th) opened the scoring for Kerala with a stunning goal before Pronay Halder (50th) pulled one back for the Red Miners who needed one more goal to take the game to extra time, but another solid performance by the Kerala backline ensured they held firm and confirm a place in the summit clash since their defeat to ATK FC six years back. In the first leg, Sahal Abdul Samad scored the only goal in a 1-0 win for Kerala who made it to their third ISL final. They were the finalists in the inaugural 2014 edition as well. ALSO READ: Atletico Madrid win at Old Trafford to knock out Cristiano Ronaldo-starrer Manchester United The yellow shirts started the second leg without the injured Sahal but showed no signs of slowing down, almost taking the lead inside the first two minutes had Alvaro Vazquez not tried to be cheeky when one on one with the keeper, dinking the ball over T.P. Rehenesh in Jamshedpur goal and wide of the far post. Four minutes later, Vazquez got possession deep inside his own half to then set up Ayush Adhikari but Rehenesh was alert to the danger, coming out of his line in time. Kerala found a lot of joy as Jamshedpur full-backs pushed forward leaving a lot of spaces for their rivals to exploit. Adhikari got another chance from a Jorge Diaz cross but Jamshedpur skipper Peter Hartley put his body on the line to snuff out the danger. Vazquez atoned for his miss earlier in the half soon after, flicking on a delightful pass from the left flank for Luna who darted in, dropped a shoulder and curled a side-footed effort past Rehenesh and into the right corner. After the cooling break, Daniel Chima Chukwu thought he had pulled Jamshedpur back in the game but his stab from close was ruled offside, albeit belatedly after keeping his flag down initially. Prabhsukhan Gill was then at fault in Kerala goal as he punched a Greg Stewart free-kick over his head with Jamshedpur players all surrounding him, but eventually, the referee blew the whistle for a foul, much to the keeper's relief. AT the break, Kerala led 2-0 on aggregate. Five minutes into the restart, Halder nicked one in to get Jamshedpur back in the game, poking in a Stewart corner which was initially met by Chima whose header lacked power and fell to Halder who netted from two yards out. ALSO READ: CAS upholds UEFA ban on Russian teams pending appeal One minute later, Vazquez could have all but sealed the tie for Kerala but Rehenesh was on hand to save from a chip after the Spaniard was one on one with him. The ball, though, kept rolling goalwards with Eli Sabia but the Brazilian did enough to clear it off the line. Kerala kept pushing for more as Marko Leskovic, brilliant at the back again, dragged a header wide while Jorge Diaz had Rahul KP free in front of goal but instead lobbed the ball over the keeper trying to score himself. In between the two chances for Kerala, Jitendra Singh's header was cleared timely off the goalline by Diaz after the ball was rolling goalwards despite Gill getting a hand to it.

ISL: Kerala edge past League Shield winner Jamshedpur 2-1 over two legs to book first final berth since 2016

Ritwik Das helped Jamshedpur FC and himself gallop into the history books with a second-half winner to down ATK Mohun Bagan by a 1-0 margin and bag the League Shield for the first time creating history, in the Indian Super League at the PJN Stadium in Fatorda on Monday.

Jamshedpur needed to draw to finish top of the table and clinch the League Shield, and the Red Miners rode Ritwik's goal in the 56th minute to ensure they finish the season on a high, capping off a stellar campaign under Owen Coyle.

They finished with 43 points from 20 games, winning 13 games.

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ATKMB ended their league engagements having 37 in their kitty from 20 matches.

Jamshedpur will take on Kerala Blasters FC on March 11 in the first semi-final while ATKMB will square off with Hyderabad FC the next day in the second last-four clash.

Jamshedpur will get richer by Rs 3.5 Crore, the prize money for the League Shield.

ATKMB needed to win by a 2-0 victory to leapfrog Jamshedpur and second-placed Hyderabad FC, but it was not to be as Ritwik continued his purple patch with a sumptuous strike after Greg Stewart did all the spadework.

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With stakes so high, it was expected to be a cagey affair and so it was with both teams eager to suss each other out.

The Mariners enjoyed more of the ball in the initial exchanges, coming closest to breaking the deadlock when a wild attempt from Tiri went wide.

The busiest person on the field was the referee as he reached to his pocket thrice, flashing yellow cards in the first half and all to Jamshedpur players.

After change of ends, Stewart started bossing proceedings with his mazy runs and incisive passing, the industry bearing fruit four minutes to the hour mark when the Scotsman evaded two ATKMB shirts to cut into his right and beat his marker.

Stewart went for goal himself but the ball came off an ATKMB player and fell to Ritwik who shot first time as the ball went past Amrinder Singh and into the back of the net.

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ATKMB tried hard to forge a comeback but Jamshedpur held firm and eventually bagged three points, becoming the first side in the ISL history to make seven wins in a row.

It was a new dawn for football in the steel city, boasting of one of India's biggest academies, Tata Football Academy which has produced a plethora of footballers over the years.

Jamshedpur's renaissance under Coyle began last year when they finished a credible sixth, hinting at a playing style under the reputed English tactician and also a roadmap for the future.

This year, Stewart was exceptional for Jamshedpur and so was Daniel Chima Chukwu whose move to the club in January proved to be a masterstroke.

It remains to be seen whether the newly-crowned League Shield winners go on to win the ISL or not but it has already been an exceptional season for them.

Ritwik Das helped Jamshedpur FC and himself gallop into the history books with a second-half winner to down ATK Mohun Bagan by a 1-0 margin and bag the League Shield for the first time creating history, in the Indian Super League at the PJN Stadium in Fatorda on Monday.

Ritwik Das helped Jamshedpur FC and himself gallop into the history books with a second-half winner to down ATK Mohun Bagan by a 1-0 margin and bag the League Shield for the first time creating history, in the Indian Super League at the PJN Stadium in Fatorda on Monday. Jamshedpur needed to draw to finish top of the table and clinch the League Shield, and the Red Miners rode Ritwik's goal in the 56th minute to ensure they finish the season on a high, capping off a stellar campaign under Owen Coyle. They finished with 43 points from 20 games, winning 13 games. ALSO READ: Former Manchester United manager Frank O'Farrell passes away at 94 ATKMB ended their league engagements having 37 in their kitty from 20 matches. Jamshedpur will take on Kerala Blasters FC on March 11 in the first semi-final while ATKMB will square off with Hyderabad FC the next day in the second last-four clash. Jamshedpur will get richer by Rs 3.5 Crore, the prize money for the League Shield. ATKMB needed to win by a 2-0 victory to leapfrog Jamshedpur and second-placed Hyderabad FC, but it was not to be as Ritwik continued his purple patch with a sumptuous strike after Greg Stewart did all the spadework. ALSO READ: Champions League: Liverpool's Juergen Klopp warns against complacency ahead of Inter second leg With stakes so high, it was expected to be a cagey affair and so it was with both teams eager to suss each other out. The Mariners enjoyed more of the ball in the initial exchanges, coming closest to breaking the deadlock when a wild attempt from Tiri went wide. The busiest person on the field was the referee as he reached to his pocket thrice, flashing yellow cards in the first half and all to Jamshedpur players. After change of ends, Stewart started bossing proceedings with his mazy runs and incisive passing, the industry bearing fruit four minutes to the hour mark when the Scotsman evaded two ATKMB shirts to cut into his right and beat his marker. Stewart went for goal himself but the ball came off an ATKMB player and fell to Ritwik who shot first time as the ball went past Amrinder Singh and into the back of the net. ALSO READ: India captain Sunil Chhetri ruled out of friendlies against Bahrain, Belarus ATKMB tried hard to forge a comeback but Jamshedpur held firm and eventually bagged three points, becoming the first side in the ISL history to make seven wins in a row. It was a new dawn for football in the steel city, boasting of one of India's biggest academies, Tata Football Academy which has produced a plethora of footballers over the years. Jamshedpur's renaissance under Coyle began last year when they finished a credible sixth, hinting at a playing style under the reputed English tactician and also a roadmap for the future. This year, Stewart was exceptional for Jamshedpur and so was Daniel Chima Chukwu whose move to the club in January proved to be a masterstroke. It remains to be seen whether the newly-crowned League Shield winners go on to win the ISL or not but it has already been an exceptional season for them.

ISL: Ritwik Das stars as Jamshedpur FC lift maiden league shield with 1-0 win vs ATK Mohun Bagan

Bengaluru FC had to come from behind to defeat Odisha FC by a 2-1 scoreline in the 2021-22 Indian Super League (ISL) at the Athletic Stadium, here on Monday. The result keeps the Blues in the hunt for a semi-finals spot as they rise to fifth with 26 points, one behind fourth-placed Kerala Blasters FC. On the other hand, a third winless outing causes O`C`s semi-finals ambitions to suffer a huge blow. 
 
Nandhakumar Sekar (8`) pounced on a loose ball to score early in the game but Danish Farooq`s (31`) header levelled the score. Cleiton Silva (49`) scored from the penalty spot in the second half, which eventually separated the two teams. 
 
Both teams began on a strong note, creating decent scoring opportunities. Bruno Ramires came close to scoring inside five minutes but his long-ranger swerved narrowly past the target. 
 
However, it was Odisha FC that took the lead after Jonathas found space behind the BFC backline but saw his shot saved by Lara Sharma. Unfortunately for the Blues, the rebound fell to Nandhakumar Sekar who sent his team into an early lead. 
 
The equaliser arrived soon as Danish Farooq scored with a header from Roshan Naorem`s corner at the half-hour mark. Kamaljit Singh misjudged the flight of the ball that gave the midfielder a free-header on the far post, leading to the goal. The first half had an eventful end with Nandhakumar coming up one-on-one with the goalkeeper. But, the winger managed to hit the side netting after dodging the advancing Sharma, failing to score a second.

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The second half started on a poor note for the Kalinga Warriors, as they gave away a penalty inside the first few minutes of the restart after Udanta Singh was tripped inside the box. Cleiton Silva took the spot-kick and expertly sent the goalkeeper in the wrong direction to hand the lead to BFC. 
 
Odisha`s quest for a second saw them make a few attacking substitutions, one of them being Aridai Cabrera. The forward fed Isaac Vanmalsawma whose shot was parried onto the right goalpost by Sharma in goal. Bengaluru FC defended resiliently in the final stages of the match. Despite getting an extra five minutes of added time, OFC was unable to find the crucial second goal and conceded the defeat. 
 
Odisha FC`s next outing will be against top-four contenders ATK Mohun Bagan at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Thursday whereas Bengaluru FC also play the Mariners next at the PJN Stadium on Sunday.

Bengaluru FC had to come from behind to defeat Odisha FC by a 2-1 scoreline in the 2021-22 Indian Super League (ISL) at the Athletic Stadium, here on Monday. The result keeps the Blues in the hunt for a semi-finals spot as they rise to fifth with 26 points, one behind fourth-placed Kerala Blasters FC.

Bengaluru FC had to come from behind to defeat Odisha FC by a 2-1 scoreline in the 2021-22 Indian Super League (ISL) at the Athletic Stadium, here on Monday. The result keeps the Blues in the hunt for a semi-finals spot as they rise to fifth with 26 points, one behind fourth-placed Kerala Blasters FC. On the other hand, a third winless outing causes O`C`s semi-finals ambitions to suffer a huge blow. Nandhakumar Sekar (8`) pounced on a loose ball to score early in the game but Danish Farooq`s (31`) header levelled the score. Cleiton Silva (49`) scored from the penalty spot in the second half, which eventually separated the two teams. Both teams began on a strong note, creating decent scoring opportunities. Bruno Ramires came close to scoring inside five minutes but his long-ranger swerved narrowly past the target. However, it was Odisha FC that took the lead after Jonathas found space behind the BFC backline but saw his shot saved by Lara Sharma. Unfortunately for the Blues, the rebound fell to Nandhakumar Sekar who sent his team into an early lead. The equaliser arrived soon as Danish Farooq scored with a header from Roshan Naorem`s corner at the half-hour mark. Kamaljit Singh misjudged the flight of the ball that gave the midfielder a free-header on the far post, leading to the goal. The first half had an eventful end with Nandhakumar coming up one-on-one with the goalkeeper. But, the winger managed to hit the side netting after dodging the advancing Sharma, failing to score a second. ALSO READ | Roberto Firmino, Diogo Jota doubtful for League Cup final against Chelsea, says manager Juergen Klopp The second half started on a poor note for the Kalinga Warriors, as they gave away a penalty inside the first few minutes of the restart after Udanta Singh was tripped inside the box. Cleiton Silva took the spot-kick and expertly sent the goalkeeper in the wrong direction to hand the lead to BFC. Odisha`s quest for a second saw them make a few attacking substitutions, one of them being Aridai Cabrera. The forward fed Isaac Vanmalsawma whose shot was parried onto the right goalpost by Sharma in goal. Bengaluru FC defended resiliently in the final stages of the match. Despite getting an extra five minutes of added time, OFC was unable to find the crucial second goal and conceded the defeat. Odisha FC`s next outing will be against top-four contenders ATK Mohun Bagan at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Thursday whereas Bengaluru FC also play the Mariners next at the PJN Stadium on Sunday.

ISL 2021-22: Bengaluru FC come from behind to beat Odisha FC, keep semis hopes alive

A commanding display by Mumbai City FC helped them secure a 4-1 win over Odisha FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, here on Sunday. A brace each from Igor Angulo (41`, 70`) and Bipin Singh (47`, 73`) was enough to cancel Jonathas` (90+1`) goal and secure three points that lift the club to the fourth position on the table. On the other hand, the Kalinga Warriors are left licking their wounds as they remain stuck in seventh place. 
 
MCFC was denied two shouts for a penalty early in the match as they pushed for the opening goal. Both teams exchanged blows back and forth until the half-hour mark, looking for the opening goal. Jerry Mawihmingthanga came extremely close to opening the scoring but Mandar Dessai denied him with a last-ditch clearance right after the drinks break. 
 
However, it was the Islanders that broke the deadlock through Igor Angulo. The Spaniard was left unmarked inside the box by the Odisha defenders, who met Rahul Bheke`s cross and slotted his header past the goalkeeper with ease. 
 
Victor Mongil came close to scoring the equaliser but his header from a corner went off-target, to the disappointment of his head coach on the sidelines. Des`ite OFC`s best efforts, MCFC maintained their advantage heading into the half-time break.

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The second half began on a terrible note for Odisha as they conceded the second goal, this time through Bipin Singh. The winger was fed by Ahmed Jahouh and managed to find the back of the net from an extremely tight angle. The scorers Bipin and Igor combined again at the stroke of the 70th minute to add a third goal. Scoring his second, Angulo weaved past a couple of defenders and calmly put his left-footed shot in the bottom right corner. 
 
Then, Bipin Singh scored his second from close range barely two minutes later following on some brilliant work from Cassio Gabriel on the left flank, who served the ball on a platter. The Islanders were denied the clean sheet by Jonathas, who found the back of the net with a sensational curling effort from long range, four minutes before the final whistle. 
 
Odisha face a struggling Chennaiyin FC in their next fixture at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Wednesday whereas Mumbai City FC clashes with fellow top-four contenders Jamshedpur FC at the Athletic Stadium on Thursday.

A commanding display by Mumbai City FC helped them secure a 4-1 win over Odisha FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, here on Sunday.

A commanding display by Mumbai City FC helped them secure a 4-1 win over Odisha FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, here on Sunday. A brace each from Igor Angulo (41`, 70`) and Bipin Singh (47`, 73`) was enough to cancel Jonathas` (90+1`) goal and secure three points that lift the club to the fourth position on the table. On the other hand, the Kalinga Warriors are left licking their wounds as they remain stuck in seventh place. MCFC was denied two shouts for a penalty early in the match as they pushed for the opening goal. Both teams exchanged blows back and forth until the half-hour mark, looking for the opening goal. Jerry Mawihmingthanga came extremely close to opening the scoring but Mandar Dessai denied him with a last-ditch clearance right after the drinks break. However, it was the Islanders that broke the deadlock through Igor Angulo. The Spaniard was left unmarked inside the box by the Odisha defenders, who met Rahul Bheke`s cross and slotted his header past the goalkeeper with ease. Victor Mongil came close to scoring the equaliser but his header from a corner went off-target, to the disappointment of his head coach on the sidelines. Des`ite OFC`s best efforts, MCFC maintained their advantage heading into the half-time break. ALSO READ | FIFA Club World Cup: Chelsea secures maiden title after Kai Havertz's late penalty The second half began on a terrible note for Odisha as they conceded the second goal, this time through Bipin Singh. The winger was fed by Ahmed Jahouh and managed to find the back of the net from an extremely tight angle. The scorers Bipin and Igor combined again at the stroke of the 70th minute to add a third goal. Scoring his second, Angulo weaved past a couple of defenders and calmly put his left-footed shot in the bottom right corner. Then, Bipin Singh scored his second from close range barely two minutes later following on some brilliant work from Cassio Gabriel on the left flank, who served the ball on a platter. The Islanders were denied the clean sheet by Jonathas, who found the back of the net with a sensational curling effort from long range, four minutes before the final whistle. Odisha face a struggling Chennaiyin FC in their next fixture at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Wednesday whereas Mumbai City FC clashes with fellow top-four contenders Jamshedpur FC at the Athletic Stadium on Thursday.

ISL 2021-22: Mumbai FC thrash Odisha FC to storm into fourth spot in points table

Odisha FC fended off a strong challenge from SC East Bengal to record a 2-1 win in the 2021-22 Indian Super League (ISL) at the Tilak Maidan Stadium, here on Monday. The result keeps the outfit in the hunt for the top-four places by elevating them to sixth place in the points table. 
 
Jonathas (23`) gave the Odisha FC an early lead that lasted until Antonio Perosevic (64`) scored the equaliser in the second half. Javier Hernandez (75`) regained the lead for OFC with a precise finish which proved to be the winner in the end. 
 
In the early stages of the match, Odisha FC piled a lot of pressure and was finally rewarded with an early goal from Jonathas. The cross for the goal was provided by Javier Hernandez who made room on the right flank and served the ball on a platter for the striker who tapped in from close range. 
 
Looking for the equaliser, Hira Mondal took an attempt just before half-time but his left-footed strike went wayward. The first half ended with the Kalinga Warriors retaining their one-goal advantage. The restart saw more sluggish gameplay as neither side was able to find inspiration in the final third.

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The best chance to score the equaliser fell to Antonio Perosevic two minutes before the hour mark. A long ball from deep saw the forward find room behind the defensive line but his volley had too much elevation. However, the Croatian made no mistake from a similar opportunity a few minutes later and scored the equaliser with a low finish into the bottom right corner. 
 
Nevertheless, Odisha FC regained the lead ten minutes later through Javier Hernandez. The midfielder received a lay-off from Jonathas who turned from scorer to provider. The right-footed shot from the Spaniard took a slight deflection before swerving into the back of the net. 
 
Javi looked to have scored another a few minutes later but Mondal managed to make a goal-line clearance to deny him the goal. The Red &amp; Gold Brigade had four minutes of added time to find the leveller for the second time which they eventually could not, allowing OFC to bag the three points. 
 
Odisha FC face the reigning champions Mumbai City FC in their next match at the PJN Stadium on Sunday whereas SC East Bengal play an in-form Kerala Blasters FC at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Monday.

Odisha FC fended off a strong challenge from SC East Bengal to record a 2-1 win in the 2021-22 Indian Super League (ISL) at the Tilak Maidan Stadium, here on Monday.

Odisha FC fended off a strong challenge from SC East Bengal to record a 2-1 win in the 2021-22 Indian Super League (ISL) at the Tilak Maidan Stadium, here on Monday. The result keeps the outfit in the hunt for the top-four places by elevating them to sixth place in the points table. Jonathas (23`) gave the Odisha FC an early lead that lasted until Antonio Perosevic (64`) scored the equaliser in the second half. Javier Hernandez (75`) regained the lead for OFC with a precise finish which proved to be the winner in the end. In the early stages of the match, Odisha FC piled a lot of pressure and was finally rewarded with an early goal from Jonathas. The cross for the goal was provided by Javier Hernandez who made room on the right flank and served the ball on a platter for the striker who tapped in from close range. Looking for the equaliser, Hira Mondal took an attempt just before half-time but his left-footed strike went wayward. The first half ended with the Kalinga Warriors retaining their one-goal advantage. The restart saw more sluggish gameplay as neither side was able to find inspiration in the final third. ALSO READ | Cristiano Ronaldo-starrer Man United top league of transfer losses with 1 billion euro net spend The best chance to score the equaliser fell to Antonio Perosevic two minutes before the hour mark. A long ball from deep saw the forward find room behind the defensive line but his volley had too much elevation. However, the Croatian made no mistake from a similar opportunity a few minutes later and scored the equaliser with a low finish into the bottom right corner. Nevertheless, Odisha FC regained the lead ten minutes later through Javier Hernandez. The midfielder received a lay-off from Jonathas who turned from scorer to provider. The right-footed shot from the Spaniard took a slight deflection before swerving into the back of the net. Javi looked to have scored another a few minutes later but Mondal managed to make a goal-line clearance to deny him the goal. The Red & Gold Brigade had four minutes of added time to find the leveller for the second time which they eventually could not, allowing OFC to bag the three points. Odisha FC face the reigning champions Mumbai City FC in their next match at the PJN Stadium on Sunday whereas SC East Bengal play an in-form Kerala Blasters FC at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Monday.

ISL 2021-22: Odisha FC keep semi-final hopes alive with hard-fought win vs SC East Bengal

Kerala Blasters brought Hyderabad FC`s unbeaten run to an end and jumped to the top of the table with a 1-0 win in the Indian Super League at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Sunday.

Alvaro Vazquez (42nd) scored a first-half goal which eventually proved to be the winner as Kerala stretched their unbeaten streak to nine games, moving to the top of the points table with a better goal difference than Mumbai City FC, both being on 17 points from 10 games.

This was the first time they went top of the ISL table, for the first time since the last seven years. Hyderabad, on the other hand, saw their eight-game unbeaten run come to an end as they dropped to the third in the table having 16 points from 10 matches.

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Hyderabad had a chance to take the lead early on when Edu Garcia`s free-kick was deflected onto the crossbar by Prabhsukhan Gill after the ball was curled expertly over the wall.

Bartholomew Ogbeche was shown his fourth yellow card in the next minute, meaning he will miss the next match. Kattimani pulled off a brilliant save in the 24th minute to deny Jorge Diaz as Kerala kept knocking on the door.

As the match progressed, both teams tried to carve open a clear-cut chance before Vazquez helped the yellow shirts nose ahead.

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A long throw-in was met by Sahal Abdul Samad who flicked it behind in the danger area where Vazquez struck a sweet volley to beat the keeper all ends up.

Hyderabad came close through Ogbeche on the cusp of halftime but the Nigerian shot wide.

In the second period, Hyderabad tried to up the ante but failed to muster any real opportunity in front of goal barring one where Kerala skipper Jessel Carneiro kept his side in the lead with a goalline clearance.&nbsp;

Kerala Blasters brought Hyderabad FC`s unbeaten run to an end and jumped to the top of the table with a 1-0 win in the Indian Super League at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Sunday.

Kerala Blasters brought Hyderabad FC`s unbeaten run to an end and jumped to the top of the table with a 1-0 win in the Indian Super League at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Sunday. Alvaro Vazquez (42nd) scored a first-half goal which eventually proved to be the winner as Kerala stretched their unbeaten streak to nine games, moving to the top of the points table with a better goal difference than Mumbai City FC, both being on 17 points from 10 games. This was the first time they went top of the ISL table, for the first time since the last seven years. Hyderabad, on the other hand, saw their eight-game unbeaten run come to an end as they dropped to the third in the table having 16 points from 10 matches. Read Also | Antonio Puertas' goal helps Granada pull off 1-1 draw against Barcelona in La Liga Hyderabad had a chance to take the lead early on when Edu Garcia`s free-kick was deflected onto the crossbar by Prabhsukhan Gill after the ball was curled expertly over the wall. Bartholomew Ogbeche was shown his fourth yellow card in the next minute, meaning he will miss the next match. Kattimani pulled off a brilliant save in the 24th minute to deny Jorge Diaz as Kerala kept knocking on the door. As the match progressed, both teams tried to carve open a clear-cut chance before Vazquez helped the yellow shirts nose ahead. Also Read | Karim Benzema and Vinicius Jr shine as Real Madrid thrash Valencia 4-1 in La Liga A long throw-in was met by Sahal Abdul Samad who flicked it behind in the danger area where Vazquez struck a sweet volley to beat the keeper all ends up. Hyderabad came close through Ogbeche on the cusp of halftime but the Nigerian shot wide. In the second period, Hyderabad tried to up the ante but failed to muster any real opportunity in front of goal barring one where Kerala skipper Jessel Carneiro kept his side in the lead with a goalline clearance.

ISL 2021-22: Kerala Blasters bring an end to Hyderabad FC's unbeaten streak, go on top of points table

SC East Bengal held reigning champions Mumbai City FC to a goalless draw in an Indian Super League match here on Friday.

The result allowed City to reclaim the first place in the points table. However, their winless streak extends to four matches while SCEB is now 10 games without a win.

Igor Angulo was the first to test the goalkeeper as his header was comfortably saved by Arindam Bhattacharja.

Daniel Chima Chukwu was next to threaten the goal on the other end but his attempt from close-range went narrowly past the right side of the goal. SCEB were dealt an early blow due to injury to Joyner Lourenco who needed to be replaced by Ankit Mukherjee.

Both teams struggled to create major scoring chances in the first half. The Islanders dominated the possession but found it tough to find spaces behind SCEB's back-line. Due to the resilient defending from the Red &amp; Golds, both teams went into the half-time break on level terms.

Mohammad Rafique was sent in the second half as a replacement to Bikash Jairu. A few minutes post the restart, strong calls for a penalty from MCFC players were denied by the referee as Adil Khaan allegedly fouled Cassio Gabriel inside the box.

The Brazilian then blasted a long-range drive which was expertly parried away by Bhattacharja. The frustration could be seen amongst the MCFC ranks as Ahmed Jahouh came close with a long-range strike at the hour mark.&nbsp;

SC East Bengal held reigning champions Mumbai City FC to a goalless draw in an Indian Super League match here on Friday. The result allowed City to reclaim the first place in the points table.

SC East Bengal held reigning champions Mumbai City FC to a goalless draw in an Indian Super League match here on Friday. The result allowed City to reclaim the first place in the points table. However, their winless streak extends to four matches while SCEB is now 10 games without a win. Igor Angulo was the first to test the goalkeeper as his header was comfortably saved by Arindam Bhattacharja. Daniel Chima Chukwu was next to threaten the goal on the other end but his attempt from close-range went narrowly past the right side of the goal. SCEB were dealt an early blow due to injury to Joyner Lourenco who needed to be replaced by Ankit Mukherjee. Both teams struggled to create major scoring chances in the first half. The Islanders dominated the possession but found it tough to find spaces behind SCEB's back-line. Due to the resilient defending from the Red & Golds, both teams went into the half-time break on level terms. Mohammad Rafique was sent in the second half as a replacement to Bikash Jairu. A few minutes post the restart, strong calls for a penalty from MCFC players were denied by the referee as Adil Khaan allegedly fouled Cassio Gabriel inside the box. The Brazilian then blasted a long-range drive which was expertly parried away by Bhattacharja. The frustration could be seen amongst the MCFC ranks as Ahmed Jahouh came close with a long-range strike at the hour mark.

Mumbai City FC regain top spot after goalless draw with SC East Bengal

Bengaluru FC's hopes of securing playoffs qualification suffered another blow as they were held to a 1-1 draw by a resilient SC East Bengal in the Indian Super League here on Tuesday. The result also extended SCEB's winless run to nine matches.

Semboi Haokip (28th) opened the scoring with a diving header until Sourav Das (OG 55th) handed the equaliser to the opposition with an own goal at the Athletic Stadium. In a nervy start, SC East Bengal's goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharja was shown an early yellow card for fouling Prince Ibara.

On the other end, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu also had a rusty start as he misjudged a free-kick from deep that went unpunished. It took the 18th minute for either side to create a meaningful scoring opportunity when Lalrinliana Hnamte's shot from the edge of the box was blocked by the BFC defence.

Roshan Naorem was shown a yellow card for a shirt pull and the subsequent free-kick led to Semboi Haokip breaking the deadlock just before the half-hour mark. He scored with a diving header which gave no chance to the keeper.

Alan Costa nearly scored the equaliser from Cleiton Silva's free-kick a few moments later but his header went slightly over the bar.

Marco Pezzaiuoli's men kept pressing for an equaliser but went into the halftime break trailing. The restart saw the tactician send Sunil Chhetri to change the complexion of the match. 
The equaliser finally came after a period of sustained pressure by the Blues in the second half. A cross from the right flank by Roshan was met by Sourav Das whose miscued header went past his own goalkeeper on the near post. 
Ibara was a constant threat and had the chance to give BFC the advantage after the hour mark but his header went over the crossbar. 
BFC was again denied the lead at the 71st-minute mark after Chhetri's strike from 10-yards out was cleared on the line by Hira Mondal. 
The Blues piled on more pressure as substitute Ankit Mukherjee picked up a yellow card for a bad foul on Ashique Kuruniyan in the late stages of the match. 
Udanta Singh also took an attempt at goal but he sliced across the ball which swerved away from the target. 
Five minutes were added for stoppages but neither side was able to find the winning goal as they settled for a point each. 
SC East Bengal will be next in action against leaders Mumbai City FC at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Friday, while Bengaluru FC also plays the Islanders in their next assignment at the PJN Stadium on Monday.

Bengaluru FC's hopes of securing playoffs qualification suffered another blow as they were held to a 1-1 draw by a resilient SC East Bengal in the Indian Super League here on Tuesday.

Bengaluru FC's hopes of securing playoffs qualification suffered another blow as they were held to a 1-1 draw by a resilient SC East Bengal in the Indian Super League here on Tuesday. The result also extended SCEB's winless run to nine matches. Semboi Haokip (28th) opened the scoring with a diving header until Sourav Das (OG 55th) handed the equaliser to the opposition with an own goal at the Athletic Stadium. In a nervy start, SC East Bengal's goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharja was shown an early yellow card for fouling Prince Ibara. On the other end, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu also had a rusty start as he misjudged a free-kick from deep that went unpunished. It took the 18th minute for either side to create a meaningful scoring opportunity when Lalrinliana Hnamte's shot from the edge of the box was blocked by the BFC defence. Roshan Naorem was shown a yellow card for a shirt pull and the subsequent free-kick led to Semboi Haokip breaking the deadlock just before the half-hour mark. He scored with a diving header which gave no chance to the keeper. Alan Costa nearly scored the equaliser from Cleiton Silva's free-kick a few moments later but his header went slightly over the bar. Marco Pezzaiuoli's men kept pressing for an equaliser but went into the halftime break trailing. The restart saw the tactician send Sunil Chhetri to change the complexion of the match. The equaliser finally came after a period of sustained pressure by the Blues in the second half. A cross from the right flank by Roshan was met by Sourav Das whose miscued header went past his own goalkeeper on the near post. Ibara was a constant threat and had the chance to give BFC the advantage after the hour mark but his header went over the crossbar. BFC was again denied the lead at the 71st-minute mark after Chhetri's strike from 10-yards out was cleared on the line by Hira Mondal. The Blues piled on more pressure as substitute Ankit Mukherjee picked up a yellow card for a bad foul on Ashique Kuruniyan in the late stages of the match. Udanta Singh also took an attempt at goal but he sliced across the ball which swerved away from the target. Five minutes were added for stoppages but neither side was able to find the winning goal as they settled for a point each. SC East Bengal will be next in action against leaders Mumbai City FC at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Friday, while Bengaluru FC also plays the Islanders in their next assignment at the PJN Stadium on Monday.

Bengaluru FC, SC East Bengal share points after 1-1 draw in ISL

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