<a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=Odisha+FC">Odisha FC</a>&rsquo;s playoff hopes took a hit as they were held to a 1-1 draw by a resilient <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=Punjab+FC">Punjab FC</a> at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. Despite a second-half equaliser from Isak Vanlalruatfela, the Juggernauts now find themselves relying on other results to keep their postseason aspirations alive.
The hosts started the game with attacking intent, as Saviour Gama and Rahul KP looked lively early on. However, Punjab&rsquo;s defence held firm, with goalkeeper Ravi Kumar making crucial saves to keep Odisha at bay. Though Odisha dominated possession and looked in control, the match turned just before halftime.
The key moment came in the 44th minute when Rahul KP was shown a red card for clipping Filip Mrzljak&rsquo;s ankle. With Odisha down to 10 men, Punjab capitalised almost immediately. In stoppage time (45+2&rsquo;), Ricky Shabong played a precise through ball to Petros Giakoumakis, who made no mistake in smashing the ball into the top corner to give the visitors the lead.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/martin-guptill-unleashes-carnage-160-runs-in-just-49-balls-watch-8708809">Martin Guptill unleashes carnage: 160 Runs in just 49 balls!-WATCH</a> Sergio Lobera made tactical adjustments at halftime, bringing on Rahim Ali as Odisha sought a response despite their numerical disadvantage. Their persistence paid off early in the second half when Isak Vanlalruatfela combined with Diego Maur&iacute;cio in the 52nd minute. The winger&rsquo;s left-footed effort found the back of the net, with Ravi Kumar unable to handle the shot cleanly, bringing Odisha level.
<h2>Race for playoffs still alive</h2>
Punjab FC continued to push forward in search of a winner, with head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis making three changes in the 64th minute to inject fresh energy. Luka Majcen, Asmir Suljic, and Asish Pradhan entered the fray, with Majcen proving particularly dangerous with his aggressive runs. Punjab came close in the 88th minute when Filip Mrzljak&rsquo;s strike hit the post, and Majcen&rsquo;s follow-up effort was deflected wide by Rahim Ali.
In stoppage time, Odisha nearly stole all three points when Isak set up Hugo Boumous in the box. However, Ravi Kumar redeemed himself with a sharp save, ensuring Punjab left with a hard-earned point.
With this result, Odisha FC remain in seventh place with 26 points, trailing sixth-placed NorthEast United FC (29 points). Punjab FC, meanwhile, sit ninth with 24 points. Odisha will face <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=Hyderabad+FC">Hyderabad FC</a> at home on February 14, hoping to reignite their playoff push, while Punjab take on Chennaiyin FC on February 15.
(With inputs from agencies)

Football, Sports: The draw leaves Odisha FC in 7th place with 26 points, and their hopes of making the playoffs are now hanging by a thread. They face Hyderabad FC next on Feb 14.

Odisha FC’s playoff hopes took a hit as they were held to a 1-1 draw by a resilient Punjab FC at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. Despite a second-half equaliser from Isak Vanlalruatfela, the Juggernauts now find themselves relying on other results to keep their postseason aspirations alive. The hosts started the game with attacking intent, as Saviour Gama and Rahul KP looked lively early on. However, Punjab’s defence held firm, with goalkeeper Ravi Kumar making crucial saves to keep Odisha at bay. Though Odisha dominated possession and looked in control, the match turned just before halftime. The key moment came in the 44th minute when Rahul KP was shown a red card for clipping Filip Mrzljak’s ankle. With Odisha down to 10 men, Punjab capitalised almost immediately. In stoppage time (45+2’), Ricky Shabong played a precise through ball to Petros Giakoumakis, who made no mistake in smashing the ball into the top corner to give the visitors the lead. Also Read: Martin Guptill unleashes carnage: 160 Runs in just 49 balls!-WATCH Sergio Lobera made tactical adjustments at halftime, bringing on Rahim Ali as Odisha sought a response despite their numerical disadvantage. Their persistence paid off early in the second half when Isak Vanlalruatfela combined with Diego Maurício in the 52nd minute. The winger’s left-footed effort found the back of the net, with Ravi Kumar unable to handle the shot cleanly, bringing Odisha level. Race for playoffs still alive Punjab FC continued to push forward in search of a winner, with head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis making three changes in the 64th minute to inject fresh energy. Luka Majcen, Asmir Suljic, and Asish Pradhan entered the fray, with Majcen proving particularly dangerous with his aggressive runs. Punjab came close in the 88th minute when Filip Mrzljak’s strike hit the post, and Majcen’s follow-up effort was deflected wide by Rahim Ali. In stoppage time, Odisha nearly stole all three points when Isak set up Hugo Boumous in the box. However, Ravi Kumar redeemed himself with a sharp save, ensuring Punjab left with a hard-earned point. With this result, Odisha FC remain in seventh place with 26 points, trailing sixth-placed NorthEast United FC (29 points). Punjab FC, meanwhile, sit ninth with 24 points. Odisha will face Hyderabad FC at home on February 14, hoping to reignite their playoff push, while Punjab take on Chennaiyin FC on February 15. (With inputs from agencies)

ISL 2024-25: 10-men Odisha FC held to a draw by Punjab FC, stay in playoffs race

FC Goa registered back-to-back wins at home as they edged past Punjab FC by 2-1 at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season tonight.

Asmir Suljic handed Punjab FC the early lead before Armando Sadiku and Iker Guarrotxena registered their names on the scoresheet for FC Goa to secure their third win of the ongoing season.

The visitors took the early initiative in the game, with Suljic netting in back-to-back games. Despite a few personnel changes, Panagiotis Dilmperis’ men were quickly off the blocks. They were rewarded for their persistent attacks when Asmir Suljic scored in the 13th minute.

It was an excellent cross from Nihal Sudheesh, who lost Boris Singh on the left flank before drilling in a low cross. It was intended for Luka Majcen, who left it for the onrushing Suljic which surprised the FC Goa backline. The Bosnian made no mistake in recording the first strike of the night.

The Gaurs showed great retaliation to the early goal. Their urgency to equalise increased as they pushed bodies forward to support Sadiku. They came close to scoring a couple of times before it all worked out in the 22nd minute when Ayush Chhetri and Sahil Tavora worked out off a tight space in midfield before the latter played it to Iker Guarrotxena in an advanced position.

The Spaniard delivered a deft pass to play Sadiku through on goal. With plenty of work to do, the Albanian showed his goal-scoring prowess as he slotted it past Ravi Kumar and a horde of Punjab FC defenders to level the scores.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ca-squashed-it-quickly-david-warner-on-india-as-ball-tampering-controversy-asks-board-to-release-statement-773945">CA squashed it quickly: David Warner on India A's ball tampering controversy, asks board to release statement</a>

The final quarter of the first half was quite chaotic, as both teams were vulnerable in defence. Punjab FC almost had the lead ahead of the break when Suljic combined with Majcen and the latter was through on goal. But FC Goa custodian Hrithik Tiwari stood in the Slovenian’s way.

Unlike the first period, it was the hosts, who had the better start to the second half, as they took the onus in the 49th minute when Guarrotxena found a way past Ravi Kumar, following a fast counter-attack, to hand FC Goa a crucial lead.

The goal forced Dilmperis to increase the attacking panache as he made structural changes to fit in Mushaga Bakenga from the bench.

Punjab FC kept pushing for the equaliser to salvage something from the game, but Manolo Marqeuz’s men held their lines brilliantly to thwart the danger and register a second successive win in the ISL.&nbsp;

FC Goa registered back-to-back wins at home as they edged past Punjab FC by 2-1 at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season tonight.

FC Goa registered back-to-back wins at home as they edged past Punjab FC by 2-1 at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season tonight. Asmir Suljic handed Punjab FC the early lead before Armando Sadiku and Iker Guarrotxena registered their names on the scoresheet for FC Goa to secure their third win of the ongoing season. The visitors took the early initiative in the game, with Suljic netting in back-to-back games. Despite a few personnel changes, Panagiotis Dilmperis’ men were quickly off the blocks. They were rewarded for their persistent attacks when Asmir Suljic scored in the 13th minute. It was an excellent cross from Nihal Sudheesh, who lost Boris Singh on the left flank before drilling in a low cross. It was intended for Luka Majcen, who left it for the onrushing Suljic which surprised the FC Goa backline. The Bosnian made no mistake in recording the first strike of the night. The Gaurs showed great retaliation to the early goal. Their urgency to equalise increased as they pushed bodies forward to support Sadiku. They came close to scoring a couple of times before it all worked out in the 22nd minute when Ayush Chhetri and Sahil Tavora worked out off a tight space in midfield before the latter played it to Iker Guarrotxena in an advanced position. The Spaniard delivered a deft pass to play Sadiku through on goal. With plenty of work to do, the Albanian showed his goal-scoring prowess as he slotted it past Ravi Kumar and a horde of Punjab FC defenders to level the scores. ALSO READ | CA squashed it quickly: David Warner on India A's ball tampering controversy, asks board to release statement The final quarter of the first half was quite chaotic, as both teams were vulnerable in defence. Punjab FC almost had the lead ahead of the break when Suljic combined with Majcen and the latter was through on goal. But FC Goa custodian Hrithik Tiwari stood in the Slovenian’s way. Unlike the first period, it was the hosts, who had the better start to the second half, as they took the onus in the 49th minute when Guarrotxena found a way past Ravi Kumar, following a fast counter-attack, to hand FC Goa a crucial lead. The goal forced Dilmperis to increase the attacking panache as he made structural changes to fit in Mushaga Bakenga from the bench. Punjab FC kept pushing for the equaliser to salvage something from the game, but Manolo Marqeuz’s men held their lines brilliantly to thwart the danger and register a second successive win in the ISL.

ISL: Sadiku, Guarrotxena on target as FC Goa spark valiant comeback to edge past Punjab FC

Bengaluru FC earned a slender 1-0 win over Punjab FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru this evening. With this win, the Blues have taken a four-point lead at the top of the table.

The clean sheet also means Bengaluru FC have now set a new record for most minutes without conceding from the start of an ISL season (450 minutes and counting) overtaking Jamshedpur FC (389 minutes at the start of the 2017-18 season). Gerard Zaragoza broke his own record of four clean sheets that the team created under his watch last season, courtesy of this outcome.

A solitary goal from Naorem Roshan Singh was enough to hand Zaragoza’s side their fourth victory of the season. Punjab FC tried their luck mostly from a distance, often missing the target.

Bengaluru FC’s first positive move came in the 10th minute when Naorem Roshan Singh found himself at the end of a through ball. But before the full-back could conjure some magic, Khaiminthang Lhungdim came to Punjab FC’s rescue.

Ten minutes later, the Blues came up with another chance. Rohit Danu played a pass onto Edgar Mendez's feet. Mendez then laid it off to Roshan. The latter took some extra time on the ball and his shot was successfully blocked by Suresh Meitei.

Finally, in the 43rd minute, the deadlock was broken. Jorge Pereyra Diaz’s cross from inside the 18-yard area itself took a deflection to fall into the path of Roshan. The left-back didn’t hesitate to try his luck and came back with a stunning goal. Nikhil Prabhu tried to restore parity from distance before the half-break. However, his shot was quite some distance from the target.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/noman-ali-and-sajid-khan-put-up-colossal-effort-to-see-pakistan-through-in-second-test-vs-eng-level-series-768619">Noman Ali and Sajid Khan put up colossal effort to see Pakistan through in second Test vs ENG, level series</a>

In the 50th minute, the Blues could have found their second goal of the evening. Jorge Pereyra Diaz played in a ball to Sunil Chhetri who laid it off for Alberto Noguera. The Spaniard’s curling effort, meanwhile, wasn’t on target. Bengaluru FC went down to 10 men in the 58th minute after Chinglensana Singh was given his marching orders. Post this, Punjab FC started getting a stronghold of the game.

Punjab FC got their best chance of the evening in the 74th minute. Asmir Suljic whipped in a ball into the six-yard area. Roshan Singh failed to clear it properly and the ball fell straight into Mushaga Bakenga’s feet. With a clear sight of the goal, the Norwegian hit the crossbar.

Bengaluru FC earned a slender 1-0 win over Punjab FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru this evening. With this win, the Blues have taken a four-point lead at the top of the table.

Bengaluru FC earned a slender 1-0 win over Punjab FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru this evening. With this win, the Blues have taken a four-point lead at the top of the table. The clean sheet also means Bengaluru FC have now set a new record for most minutes without conceding from the start of an ISL season (450 minutes and counting) overtaking Jamshedpur FC (389 minutes at the start of the 2017-18 season). Gerard Zaragoza broke his own record of four clean sheets that the team created under his watch last season, courtesy of this outcome. A solitary goal from Naorem Roshan Singh was enough to hand Zaragoza’s side their fourth victory of the season. Punjab FC tried their luck mostly from a distance, often missing the target. Bengaluru FC’s first positive move came in the 10th minute when Naorem Roshan Singh found himself at the end of a through ball. But before the full-back could conjure some magic, Khaiminthang Lhungdim came to Punjab FC’s rescue. Ten minutes later, the Blues came up with another chance. Rohit Danu played a pass onto Edgar Mendez's feet. Mendez then laid it off to Roshan. The latter took some extra time on the ball and his shot was successfully blocked by Suresh Meitei. Finally, in the 43rd minute, the deadlock was broken. Jorge Pereyra Diaz’s cross from inside the 18-yard area itself took a deflection to fall into the path of Roshan. The left-back didn’t hesitate to try his luck and came back with a stunning goal. Nikhil Prabhu tried to restore parity from distance before the half-break. However, his shot was quite some distance from the target. ALSO READ | Noman Ali and Sajid Khan put up colossal effort to see Pakistan through in second Test vs ENG, level series In the 50th minute, the Blues could have found their second goal of the evening. Jorge Pereyra Diaz played in a ball to Sunil Chhetri who laid it off for Alberto Noguera. The Spaniard’s curling effort, meanwhile, wasn’t on target. Bengaluru FC went down to 10 men in the 58th minute after Chinglensana Singh was given his marching orders. Post this, Punjab FC started getting a stronghold of the game. Punjab FC got their best chance of the evening in the 74th minute. Asmir Suljic whipped in a ball into the six-yard area. Roshan Singh failed to clear it properly and the ball fell straight into Mushaga Bakenga’s feet. With a clear sight of the goal, the Norwegian hit the crossbar.

ISL: Bengaluru FC open four-point gap at top after narrow win over Punjab FC

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) 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.

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

&nbsp;

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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

RoundGlass Punjab FC Head Coach Ashley Westwood addressed the media at a virtual press conference on December 8, Wednesday as the Club gears up for the forthcoming I-League 2021-22 season, set to kick off on December 26.

Sharing his thoughts, Westwood said, "The Club has been thought about and built for the right reasons. Our Founder Sunny (Gurpreet) Singh has a keen interest in sports and wants to create opportunities for the children and youth of Punjab, where he hails from, to play sports. He wants to enable the Wholistic Wellbeing of people through not just sports but also a focus on nutrition, learning, encouraging a healthy lifestyle, and other aspects of wellbeing."

"The same principles apply to our football team. We want to create a healthy, honest, and hard-working team and aim to inspire young people with our performances and style of play, in line with Sunny's vision, which includes providing a genuine platform that the children and youth of Punjab look up to, are inspired by, and that helps nurture their dreams of becoming sportspersons,"&nbsp;he added.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/isl-2021-22-mumbai-city-fc-beat-jamshedpur-fc-to-remain-on-top-435604">ISL 2021-22: Mumbai City FC beat Jamshedpur FC to remain on top</a>

RoundGlass Punjab FC’s pre-season training began in October and the team has been in Kolkata since, with the players and support staff being housed in a bio-secure environment.&nbsp;

"Pre-season has been good. It’s a new team and the more time we spend with each other, the better it is. Being in this environment, which means living and working together day in and day out, helps bring the team together and allows us to find out more about one another and understand the character of each member of the team, which is part of our decision-making process."

"Another benefit of being together is that we can focus on football, as there are no distractions, and we can control the environment. We are trying to keep things challenging for the players and, at the same time, ensure that it is not monotonous,"&nbsp;Westwood said.

Westwood, a two-time I-League winner with Bengaluru FC and seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience as a player and coach, joined RoundGlass Punjab FC as the Head Coach in July.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
We are proud to welcome two-time I-League winner ASHLEY WESTWOOD as our new first-team head coach!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AshleyWestwood?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AshleyWestwood</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RGPFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RGPFC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PunjabInSpirit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PunjabInSpirit</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianFootball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianFootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AIFF?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AIFF</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HeroILeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HeroILeague</a> <a href="https://t.co/Qugak92aWI">pic.twitter.com/Qugak92aWI</a>
— RoundGlass Punjab FC (@RGPunjabFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/RGPunjabFC/status/1417765547836547074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/isl-2021-22-bartholomew-ogbeche-stars-as-hyderabad-fc-beat-bengaluru-fc-1-0-435259">ISL 2021-22: Bartholomew Ogbeche stars as Hyderabad FC beat Bengaluru FC 1-0</a>&nbsp;

The Club, after an impressive I-League debut under new ownership last season, made a strong statement of intent in the summer transfer window as well.&nbsp;

"The players we have signed give us balance and have been brought onboard for not only their abilities but also their professionalism and experience. I know the players I’ve worked with earlier will do things the right way and be role models for not only the younger players at the Club, but also those at our Academy and our fans. We wanted a balance of youth and experience in the squad so we can challenge for the I-League,"&nbsp;Westwood said.

RoundGlass Punjab FC Head Coach Ashley Westwood addressed the media at a virtual press conference on December 8, Wednesday as the Club gears up for the forthcoming I-League 2021-22 season, set to kick off on December 26.

RoundGlass Punjab FC Head Coach Ashley Westwood addressed the media at a virtual press conference on December 8, Wednesday as the Club gears up for the forthcoming I-League 2021-22 season, set to kick off on December 26. Sharing his thoughts, Westwood said, "The Club has been thought about and built for the right reasons. Our Founder Sunny (Gurpreet) Singh has a keen interest in sports and wants to create opportunities for the children and youth of Punjab, where he hails from, to play sports. He wants to enable the Wholistic Wellbeing of people through not just sports but also a focus on nutrition, learning, encouraging a healthy lifestyle, and other aspects of wellbeing." "The same principles apply to our football team. We want to create a healthy, honest, and hard-working team and aim to inspire young people with our performances and style of play, in line with Sunny's vision, which includes providing a genuine platform that the children and youth of Punjab look up to, are inspired by, and that helps nurture their dreams of becoming sportspersons," he added. ALSO READ: ISL 2021-22: Mumbai City FC beat Jamshedpur FC to remain on top RoundGlass Punjab FC’s pre-season training began in October and the team has been in Kolkata since, with the players and support staff being housed in a bio-secure environment. "Pre-season has been good. It’s a new team and the more time we spend with each other, the better it is. Being in this environment, which means living and working together day in and day out, helps bring the team together and allows us to find out more about one another and understand the character of each member of the team, which is part of our decision-making process." "Another benefit of being together is that we can focus on football, as there are no distractions, and we can control the environment. We are trying to keep things challenging for the players and, at the same time, ensure that it is not monotonous," Westwood said. Westwood, a two-time I-League winner with Bengaluru FC and seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience as a player and coach, joined RoundGlass Punjab FC as the Head Coach in July. We are proud to welcome two-time I-League winner ASHLEY WESTWOOD as our new first-team head coach!! #AshleyWestwood #RGPFC #PunjabInSpirit #IndianFootball #AIFF #HeroILeague pic.twitter.com/Qugak92aWI — RoundGlass Punjab FC (@RGPunjabFC) July 21, 2021 × ALSO READ: ISL 2021-22: Bartholomew Ogbeche stars as Hyderabad FC beat Bengaluru FC 1-0 The Club, after an impressive I-League debut under new ownership last season, made a strong statement of intent in the summer transfer window as well. "The players we have signed give us balance and have been brought onboard for not only their abilities but also their professionalism and experience. I know the players I’ve worked with earlier will do things the right way and be role models for not only the younger players at the Club, but also those at our Academy and our fans. We wanted a balance of youth and experience in the squad so we can challenge for the I-League," Westwood said.

‘We aim to inspire with our game’: RoundGlass Punjab FC Head Coach Ashley Westwood ahead of new season

punjab-fc

Punjab Fc, News on Punjab Fc, stories on Punjab Fc, articles on Punjab Fc, Punjab Fc stories at Wion, Punjab Fc news, Punjab Fc latest news