Prasun Banerjee – A man for all seasons ( Indian football team )

Thirty one years ago, wiry and slim Prasun Banerjee was a member of the Indian football team which reached the quarter finals of the 9^th Asian Games in Delhi. He scored both the goals, with blistering left footed shots from outside the box, in the 2-0 win over Bangladesh. In the group league phase, he then helped India beat Malaysia 1-0 and draw 2-2 with China. Playing in the 4-3-3 system, the hallmark of India’s display was their superlative midfield trio – Parminder Singh on the right, Prasun as the central holding midfielder and Prasanta Banerjee on the left. Experts like P.K. Banerjee and Arun Ghosh consider this trio as India’s best midfield in the modern era.

read more...

History beckons a young UAE side in Asian Games final

The UAE football team could become the first Gulf side to win an Asian Games gold on Wednesday evening when they take on the mighty Japan at the Tianhe Stadium.
First, though, they must negotiate past another side that, suprisingly, has never triumphed in this event before.
The Emiratis are in fine form and victories over higher-ranked sides has won universal respect but they go into this game as outsiders.
Japan, by default, and courtesy of their placing in the FIFA rankings are the automatic favourite to lift the trophy.
But it would be unwise for the Japanese to write off a side that overcame three-time champions South Korea in a tense semi-final on Tuesday night.
The UAE beat the Koreans, the second most successful side in the history of the competition, when Ahmed Ali Al Abri scored the only goal of the game in the dying seconds of extra-time.
UAE, who had never made the semi-finals of the Asian Games football competition take on a Japanese side who, despite having played in the last four World Cups, one of which they co-hosted, have yet to taste the triumph of winning the gold medal in the Asian Games.
UAE have played just one World Cup in 1990 and will be determined to finish what has been a glorious tournament with the highest prize.
The fearless UAE team, full of youthful exurberance, are being prepared for the Olympic qualifiers to get into the London Olympics in 2012.
They have had an amazing run in the tournament. After winning two of their three matches in the group – they drew 1-1 against Hong Kong but beat both Uzbeks and Bangladesh 3-0, they beat the powerhouses of Asian football, the two Koreas.
But the hard-fought wins came at a cost. Their long-drawn out battles, both lasting 120 minutes, one of which went even beyond that into the penalties in the quarter-finals, has resulted in their players being fatigued.
Yet, as their coach Mahdi Ali Redha said, “We have come this far and we want to win the gold.
“In the last 10 years some of our good players have retired and we had some setbacks.
“But now we have young players and the new team is in place. We want to show our real ability to the world and I think we can do it.”
The long matches also cost them their star striker Ahmed Khalil Al Jenaiby, who was injured but still played in the semi-finals.
Leading by example
The coach hopes he will be fit for the final for the team will need to summon every ounce of energy and strength to go the full distance against a charged-up Japanese side.
For the UAE, their captain and goalkeeper, Ali Khaseif Housaini has been a big source of strength for the team.
He has led the team ably and also saved them in crucial situations, including a penalty shoot-out.
In contrast, Japan have been very consistent. They won all their six matches, three in the Group stage and then three in the knock-out and all of them were within 90 minutes.
They also have a solid defence, and the only goal they conceded was in the sixth minute of the semi-final against Iran, so the UAE strikers will have to be at their best to find a way through.
The star player for the Japanese has been Kensuke Nagai, 21, who has scored five goals in his five matches, and it was his solo winner that sealed four-time champion Iran’s fate in the semi-finals. He dribbled past three defenders over 20 metres before firing a low shot past the Iranian goalkeeper.
The Japanese defence then held out for the last 30 minutes as their goalkeeper Shunsuke Ando held his nerve in crucial stages.
In the final analysis, the UAE have everything to gain and nothing to fear.
The more experienced Japan, however, have a reputation to protect and a record to rectify as the two teams get ready for the battle.
By Staff Reporter

Related articles

• Asian Games Special: Know Your Rivals - India U-23 Must Watch Out For Kensuke Nagai (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Through to the Asian Games Final, as the Women also strike Gold (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• UAE wins second silver medal at Asian Games (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• ASIAN GAMES: Japan determined to bounce back at London 2012 (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Asian Games Football: India now face mighty Japan (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• The 16th Asian Games Guangzhou 2010 - 24 nov photos (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Asian Games: Imura falls short in long jump, no gold for Japan in athletics (asiangames.zimaa.com)

read more...

UAE reaches Asian Games football final for the first time

The UAE football team beat South Korea 1-0. (AFP/Getty Images)

The UAE will face Japan in the Asian Games football final after the Gulf side knocked out South Korea with a goal during the last minute of the game.
UAE Centre-forward Ahmed Al Abry scored the winner after a scuffle between players from both teams, AFP reports. He managed to slip it past substitute goalkeeper Lee Bum-Young who was brought on when it looked like the game was heading for penalties.
The UAE have never appeared in an Asian Games final before, and will have to defeat Japan, who managed to beat four-time champions Iran 2-1, if they want to lift the trophy.
The team’s coach Mahdi Redha told the news agency it was his ambition to qualify for the Olympics in 2012.
At our first press conference here I said our goals at this Asian Games were to prepare for the Olympic qualifiers and try our best for a medal. Now here we are and I'm delighted with our team's performance," Redha was quoted as saying.

Related articles

• UAE wins second silver medal at Asian Games (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Asian Games: China keeps its golden streak (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Through to the Asian Games Final, as the Women also strike Gold (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Preparing for the asian games - Photos (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Asian Games: Singapore rider in final (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Asian Games 2010: China Team's Elimination Slammed By Media (asiangames.zimaa.com)

read more...

Asian Games 2010: China Team’s Elimination Slammed By Media

China’s media showered invective on its national football team, calling the loss to South Korea a humiliating nightmare and labelling the team the worst in the nation’s history.

Three-time champions South Korea knocked China out of the Asian Games comptition Monday, dominating the hosts with a 3-0 victory in front of 43,000 disappointed Chinese fans in the last 16 clash.

“This series of matches by the team that has been called ‘China’s worst Olympic team in history’ has used their performances here to prove that they are the worst in history,” the Yangtze Evening News screamed.

Despite Asian Games victories over Kyrgyzstan and Malaysia, the Chinese side lost to their fiercest rivals South Korea and Japan by identical scores.

Monday’s defeat “rubbed salt into the wounds of Chinese soccer, which has been hit hard in the last few years by match-fixing, crooked referees and illegal gambling,” Xinhua news agency said.

The South Koreans “met few threats from a seemingly amateurish side who created few chances and shots and had a fragile defence.”

Leading web portal Sina.com said the loss was an insult to the fans, adding there was little hope for the future of a youth side that is “paralyzed by fear” of their East Asian opponents.

According to a Sina survey, 91 percent of over 17,000 respondents said there was no hope for the team, while 95 percent said that their technical ability was lagging far behind that of South Korea.

“China’s nightmare of losing to its perennial rival, the Repbulic of Korea, continued on Monday,” said the China Daily in a story headlined: “China chokes in front of huge crowd of hometeam supporters.”

Numerous papers noted that Chinese fans gave up on their team early in the second half and began cheering on the South Korean side.

The Chengdu Business News focused its criticism on the team’s coach Sun Wei, saying his strategy was more fit for rugby than football, joining the chorus of calls for his removal.

“It cannot be decided by me, but by the soccer authorities,” the beleaguered Sun said of his likely dismissal.
“Personally, the tournament in the Asian Games, whether we win or lose, is part of my coaching career.”

Following the loss to Japan last week, the media has reported that the team will hire a foreign coach for the qualifying run to the 2012 London Olympics.

“Watching China fall behind Japan and South Korea, and seeing the performances of Iran and North Korea, we can see that the Chinese team is still far away from London,” the People’s Daily, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party, said.

China’s loyal fans had hoped a run deep into the Asian Games tournament would help turn the page on the nasty corruption scandal that has resulted in the arrests of two former heads of the Chinese Football Association and a bevy of lower-level officials.

Source: soccerway.com

read more...

'Worst miss ever' costs Qatar place in Asian Games quarter-finals -Video

DEFENDING champions Qatar have crashed out of the Asian Games football tournament - after one of their players missed a stunning open goal.

Teenager Khalfan Fahad capitalised after a blunder by Uzbekistan goalkeeper Timur Juraev put him clean through on goal during the match in China.

But the 18-year-old Al-Rayyan scuffed his shot and the ball bounced off the post, with a follow-up shot being blazed over the bar - leading to it being dubbed the worst miss ever by internet users.

Ivan Nagaev grabbed a winner for Uzbekistan 18 minutes into extra-time, to set up a quarter-final clash with South Korea.

Qatar midfielder Mohamed Sala Elneel said the youngster had to put the astonish miss behind him.

"It's a bad moment for him. He's a young player and he's got to forget this one,"

read more...

Asian Games Football: India now face mighty Japan

The India Under-23 national team qualified for the Round of 16 at the 2010 Asian Games, their first passage to the knockout stages of the Asian Games since the 1982 Asian Games at home in New Delhi. And now our boys will face the mighty Japan, who topped Group A while we finished third in Group D.

For coach Sukhvinder Singh and his boys it is a big achievement that our Under-23 national team could qualify for the kncokout stages of the Asian Games after so many years. And to enhance the value of this achievement even more, coach Sukhvinder is missing a number of players from Bob Houghton’s pool of 30 players, who were a crucial part of the team in their SAFF Cup triumph last December like goalkeeper Arindam Bhattcharya and central midfielder Baldeep Singh, leading the team from the front.

India qualified as one of the four best teams in third position in the six groups. Actually India is the best out of those four teams, who all have three points with one win and two losses; but India had a goal difference of +/- 0, Uzbekistan (-1), Vietnam (-3) and Malaysia (-4) wree worse.

Now it is Japan and the Japanese are always a candidate for titles at Asian level competition, but interestingly they have never ever won the Asian Games football title. Their best finish was a runners-up spot in 2002 besides winning the bronze medal in 1951 and 1966. So on paper India is actually the more successful nation in Asian Games football with titles in 1951 and 1962 plus the bronze in 1970, which was won with a 1-0 win against the Japanese. Surely those wins were many decades back and things have changes in Asian football.

Japan qualified for the Round of 16 as the group winners from Group A with an all win record, not even conceding a single goal in the process. They started with a fluent 3-0 win against the hosts China, then a 2-0 win against Malaysia and finished their group engagements with a 3-0 win against Kyrgyzstan.

Surely the Japanese are the big favourites to move on, but in football you never know as upsets are possible. If no injury problems crop up then Sukhvinder is likely to play the same eleven as in the first couple of matches with suspended Robert Lalthalma coming back into the starting line-up, while Gurpreet Singh Sandhu stays in goal.

The two sides will meet on Tuesday, November 16 at 15.30 local time at the Huangpu Sports Center in Guangzhou to decide who makes it to the quarterfinals. The winner of this game would then have to face either Thailand or Turkmenistan for a place in the semifinals.

Likely India Under-23 Line-up

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; Denzil Franco, Rowilson Rodrigues, Dharmaraj Ravanan, Robert Lalthalma; Joachim Abranches, Manish Maithani, Jewel Sheikh Raja, Jibon Singh; Jeje Lalpekhlua, Balwant Singh

Related articles

• Desmond Bulpin And Sukhwinder Singh To Lead India Into Asian Games (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• India run into Japan in Asian Games football (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• India has 2019 Asian Games on its radar (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• China Begins Asian Games Gold Rush in Guangzhou (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Asian Games handball: India lose to Qatar in their second match (asiangames.zimaa.com)

read more...

Football: Focus on grass-root after Asian Games failure

Pakistan continued their poor show on the international circuit and returned home from the Asian Games within a week.

Pakistan continued their poor show on the international circuit and returned home from the Asian Games within a week. The trip, financed by the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) following the Pakistan Olympic Association’s (POA) refusal to fund the squad, resulted in two losses out of three matches, eight goals conceded, none scored and a bottom-place finish in the Group.

The outcome was expected, the reason why the POA declined to include football in their official contingent for the Games. The PFF generated its own funds in order to provide international experience to the under-23 squad. However, what they forget was that if the national outfit is fragile, it is futile to expose it globally. The poor show resulted in increased humiliation and dejection rather than the infusion of experience and exposure.

The PFF should realise that it cannot build a strong team without building a strong infrastructure first, one that includes stadiums, academies, green outfields, decent training facilities, qualified coaches, and suitable income opportunities for the players during and after their careers.

There is no long-term planning in Pakistan football. Coach Akhtar Mohiuddin is of the view that there are no shortcuts in football and the country needs consistency, must give due priority to the U-14 and U-16 levels and only then would the federation have a big enough pool of quality players in the next six years.

While his opinion is correct, one must ask about his involvement with the national squad. If he believes in the promotion of the game at grass-root level, what is he doing with the senior squad instead of concentrating on the juniors.

Unfortunately, youth development is nobody’s priority despite the grants received by the PFF each year by FIFA and the AFC. The Asian Games squad was formed from the youth development sector. We witnessed the huge gap between Pakistan and the rest of the teams in terms of skills and talent.

Good news following the debacle is that the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), under the Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP), has donated the Rs1.5 million to the PFF for the PFF Youth Football Development Project in Gilgit and Lyari. However, the grant is specific to the social development rather than the game’s development in the country.

What we need urgently is the regulation of a comprehensive youth development programme that focuses on the future of football. Last decade, England’s John Layton and Jozef Herel of Slovakia trained and supervised the football youth sector here in Pakistan for about five years and as a result, the team qualified for the U-17 and U-19 Asian Championships for the first time. Later, it was also because of Layton that the senior team earned a point in the World Cup qualifying round by scoring its first-ever goal and a hat-trick by midfielder Gohar Zaman.

That, however, was the past. With results such as the ones witnessed in the last few days, the PFF needs to go back to the basics, devise a new plan and ensure the sport gets the attention and recognition it deserves.

M Wasim is a freelance sports writer

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th, 2010.

read more...

India run into Japan in Asian Games football

Image via Wikipedia

GUANGZHOU: After qualifying for the knock-out round for the first time after 1982, India run into formidable Japan in the round of 16 match of the Asian Games on November 16. 

After the end of group matches today, India became the best third-placed team with three points and a goal difference of zero (five against five) in Group D. 

Malaysia (Group A), Vietnam (Group B) and Uzbekistan (Group E) also made it to the round of 16 as other third-placed teams. 

The top two teams from each of four groups and the four best third-placed teams will qualify for the Round of 16. 

Asian powerhouse Japan, who topped Group A this time, had susprisingly not won Asian Games title not even once. Their runners-up finish to Iran in 2002 Busan edition was their best so far in the competition while they had also bagged the bronze on two occasions - in 1951 ( New Delhi) and 1966. 

India, on the other hand, had won the title twice - in 1951 at home and in 1962 in Jakarta - and a bronze in 1970 in Bangkok. Since then they have reached the knock-out stage only once - in 1982 at home again - before this edition. 

India and Japan have met five times against each other in the Asian Games so far. India had won twice - in 1954 (3-2) and in 1962 (2-0) - when the country was an Asian powerhouse. 

Japan won in 1966 (2-1), in 1970 (1-0) and in 1998 (1-0).

Related articles

• India has 2019 Asian Games on its radar (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Asian Games Hockey: Pak, Ind in same group (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Asian Games shooting: Narang helps India win two silver (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Asian Games: Indian hockey eves thrash Malaysia 4-0 in opening match (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Pakistan will end losing streak against India in Asian Games: Zeeshan (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Indian shuttlers out of Asian Games Badminton team events (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Asian Games: World's best enjoy contrasting fortunes (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• India grouped with Pakistan, Japan in Asian Games hockey (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Grapplers will do well at the Asian Games (asiangames.zimaa.com)

read more...

Indian football team starts campaign against Kuwait

Image via Wikipedia

NEW DELHI: Pitted against strong opponents in a tough group, India will kick off their Asian Games campaign against Kuwait on November 7 at Huadu Stadium, Guangzhou in China.

India will lock horns with defending champions Qatar in their second Group D match on November 9, while they play their last league match against Singapore on November 11.

Sukhvinder Singh's boys had left for Guangzhou early on October 25 to acclimatise with the conditions and play practice matches.

The team had a preparatory camp at Cuttack, Orissa from October 6 to 24.

The Asian Games will officially open on November 12 but the football event will kick off on November 7 and conclude on November 25.

Hosts China are slotted in Group A along with Malaysia, Kyrgyzstan and Japan, while Thailand, Maldives, Oman and Pakistan are in Group F.

Group B includes Iran, Vietnam, Bahrain and Turkmenistan while Group C comprises of Korea Republic, Palestine, Jordan and DPR Korea. Uzbekistan, UAE, Hong Kong and Bangladesh form Group E.

The top two teams from each group and the four best third-placed teams will qualify for the Round of 16.

India did not qualify for the women's football competition.

Groupings:

Group A: China, Malaysia, Kyrgyzstan, Japan

Group B: Iran, Vietnam, Bahrain, Turkmenistan

Group C: Korea Republic, Palestine, Jordan, DPR Korea

Group D: Qatar, Kuwait, India, Singapore

Group E: Uzbekistan, UAE, Hong Kong, Bangladesh

Group F: Thailand, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan.

Related articles

• Asian Games Hockey: Pak, Ind in same group (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• India grouped with Pakistan, Japan in Asian Games hockey (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Asian qualifiers for London Olympics announced (tribalfootball.com)
• 2012 Olympics Qualifiers: India open against Myanmar (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Thailand prepare for gold hunt at Asian Games in Guangzhou (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Indian cagers face tough task in Asian Games (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Pakistan will end losing streak against India in Asian Games: Zeeshan (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Easy opener for Malaysia in Guangzhou (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Greenshirts target gold in Asian Games (asiangames.zimaa.com)

read more...

S. Korea wary of N. Korea at Asiad football

Image via Wikipedia

The South Korean Olympic football team started training, Monday with the goal of taking the gold medal for the first time in 24 years at the Asian Games. Team manager Hong Myung-bo highly evaluated North Korea — the first opponents at the Guangzhou Asian Games in November.

“I will try to raise the footballer’s condition up to 100 percent. As North Korea is strong, we may have to focus on the first match,” Hong said in a press conference.

“As we haven’t won the gold medal over the past 24 years, the football team’s performance will gain a lot of attention,” Hong said. “We will do our best to achieve our goal by preparing well.”

South Korea is in the same qualifying group as North Korea, Jordan and Palestine.

Touching upon North Korea’s win at the AFC U-19 Championship in October, he said, “North Korea’s performance in the AFC U-19 Championship was different from their traditional style that I had known. I think the team will be as strong as the team in the U-19 Championship.

Hong plans to employ national team striker Park Chu-young of AS Monaco and midfielder Kim Jung-woo of Gwangju Sangmu as his wild cards.

In Korea, athletes can win military exemption if they take home gold in the Asian Games, which is a huge motivation for them to mark good results. However the 41-year-old team boss had a different idea.

“Military exemption can be a great motivation for the players, but it can also be the most harmful option for them,” Hong said.

The team will train and head to Okinawa on Oct. 29 and on to China on Nov. 5.

Related articles

• Indian shooting coach predicts modest harvest in Asian Games (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• S. Korea's billiards team set to win gold at Asian Games (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• RP cagebelles to focus on SEABA tilt (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Taeneung offers support for athletes preparing for Asian Games: head of training center (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Asian Games Cost 122.6 Bln RMB (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• It will be an uphill task for India at the Asian Games (asiangames.zimaa.com)

read more...

S. Korea to face NK in Asian Games football match

Image via Wikipedia

South Korean footballers will compete against North Korean rivals in the 2010 Asian Games, officials here said Thursday.

In a lottery held at a hotel in Guangzhou, China, earlier in the day, South Korea was picked to join Group C along with the communist state, Jordan and Palestine.

read more...

Football: Asian Games And Sea Games Our Main Mission - FAM

SHAH ALAM, July 31 (Bernama) -- The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Sultan Ahmad Shah has set qualifying for the Asian Games final rounds and defending the SEA Games gold as the main targets for the national team.

Sultan Ahmad Shah who retained the FAM president's post unopposed, said making the final round of the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China come November and defending the gold medal won at the Laos SEA Games during the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia, would be FAM's main targets.

"Only after that can we talk of seeing action in the Olympics or the World Cup," said Sultan Ahmad Shah in his speech that was read by former deputy president Khairy Jamaluddin at the 47th FAM Congress held at a leading hotel here Saturday.

Sultan Ahmad Shah was returned unopposed when nominations closed on July 18, while Khairy did not seek re-election during the FAM Congress that ended today.

He added that since many questions were raised in Parliament with regard to the quality and standard of football in the country and when Malaysia would see action in the Olympics and World Cup, FAM would regard the revival of football as a National agenda.



Meanwhile, FAM Congress today agreed to accept the Professional Footballers' Association of Malaysia (PFAM) as an affiliate, increasing the number of affiliates from 19 to 20.

Before the Congress, the FAM had already increased the number of affiliates from 16 to 19 by including the Malaysian Malays Football Association, Malaysian Chinese Football Association and Malaysian Indians Football Association.

Each affiliate was given two voting rights during the Congress held today.

-- BERNAMA

Related articles

• Malaysia approves Asian Games delegation (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Asian Games My Priority, Says Mohd Azlan (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Redknapp criticises pre-season international friendlies (fifa.zimaa.com)
• Ali hopes more of his youngsters make the next step (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Exclusion of football team from Asian Games widely criticized (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Close to 15 million dollars spent on 2010 World Cup - Minister (fifa.zimaa.com)
• Asian bronze for women's foil team (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Maradona Voted Out of the Argentinean Football Federation Due To FIFA World Cup 2010 Loss (fifa.zimaa.com)
• OCM finalise Asian Games selection list for Malaysia (asiangames.zimaa.com)

read more...

UAE beat Saudi Arabia in Gulf Cup game

An 86th minute strike from Ahmed Khalil was all that separated the UAE Olympic team and Saudi Arabia in Group B of the U-23 Gulf Cup

• By Ashley Mark Hammond, Staff Reporter
• Published: 09:39 July 31, 2010

• UAE's Ahmad Khalil (centre) scored the winner against Saudi Arabia in the opening match of the Under-23 Gulf Cup at the Aspire Stadium in Doha on Friday.
• Image Credit: Gulf News archive

Dubai: The UAE Olympic team beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 in their opening game of the U-23 Gulf Cup at the Aspire Stadium in Doha, Qatar, last night.
An 86th minute strike from Ahmed Khalil was all that separated the two sides in Group B of the tournament, which features teams from all six GCC states.
Prior to the game, Coach Mehdi Ali had stressed the importance of getting off to a good start in the tournament in order to secure promotion to the second round. He had expected a tough game.
Used as preparation for the Asian Games and Olympic Games; coaches of senior squads will also pay close attention to the ongoing tournament in order to draft players ahead of November's Gulf Cup in Yemen.
The fate of defending champions Saudi is now to be decided on the UAE's result over Kuwait on Sunday (August 1), after Saudi could only manage a 1-1 draw in last Wednesday’s match.
Meanwhile In Group A, Oman is through to the second round after two consecutive 2-0 wins over Qatar and Bahrain.
Groups
A
Oman
Bahrain
Qatar
B
UAE
Kuwait
Saudi
Results
July 28
Qatar 0-2 Oman
Saudi Arabia 1-1 Kuwait
July 30
Bahrain 0-2 Oman
Saudi Arabia 0-1 UAE
Fixtures
August 1
Kuwait – UAE
Qatar – Bahrain
Semi Final
August 4
Oman – GB2
GB1 – GA2

read more...

Exclusion of football team from Asian Games widely criticized

Image via Wikipedia

ISLAMABAD, Jul 29: Former national football captain Muhammad Naveed Chaudhry Thursday criticised the decision of Pakistan Olympic Association not to include football team in the Pakistan contingent for the coming November’s 16th Asian Games.

He also took to task the officials of Pakistan Football Federation for the recent poor performances of the national team, leading to the difficult decision by POA to exclude football from the Asiad.

“The exclusion of football team from the Asiad would make a negative impact on the team and will not boost the morale of the players”, he said. Naveed recalled that the performance of the team was not at all bad in the 15th Asian Games in 2006 at Doha (Qatar) though it narrowly lost its matches against North Korea and Japan.

Besides, he said, Pakistan team secured gold medal in South Asian Games in 2006 when Salman Sharida of Bahrain was the Coach. He said that departure of Sharida after differences with the PFF resulted in a string of poor performances by the national side after 2006 as the Federation failed to find another coach of his calibre.

Naveed who was the captain of the national team in 1986 in the Asian Games at Seoul (South Korea) said that Pakistan team was now ranked last among 8 countries of South Asia, languishing behind countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives and India. He said that despite the grant of Rs 20 million by the government, the team couldn’t produce good enough results to secure a berth in the Asian Games.

He said PFF officials had made a laughing stock of themselves. “These officials issued a statement that Pakistan could qualify for the World Cup in 2022. Now if you cannot even figure in the Asian Games, how come you boast of qualifying for World Cup”.

read more...

Ali hopes more of his youngsters make the next step

Several youngsters have been promoted to the senior squad from Mahdi Ali's Under 23 side. Ryan Carter / The National

Mahdi Ali, the UAE Olympic football team coach, believes the Under 23 Gulf Cup will provide an ideal platform for his side’s preparations for the Asian Games in Guangdong, China, from November 12 to 27.

Ali’s side, making their debut in the second staging of the championship, face Saudi Arabia, the defending champions, tonight (KO 9pm) in Group B at the Aspire Academy stadium in Doha, Qatar.

“Our main task is to qualify for the 2012 Olympics, and this type of competition will surely help us in our preparation,” said Ali, who made the nation proud by leading the UAE to the last eight in the Under 20 World Cup in Egypt last year.

“It is not only a good platform for us, but the competition is designed to provide all the Gulf teams with an equal opportunity. The timing is good and all teams have come after their training camps abroad. It is a good trial for all the players.”

Ali may not be able to pick his best players for the Asian Games as some of top prospects have been drafted in to the senior squad preparing for the 20th Gulf Cup in Yemen, from November 22 to December 4.

Hamdan al Kamali, the U20 captain, along with Ahmed Khalil, the 2008 Asian Youth Player of the Year, Yousif Abdelrahman, Sultan al Minhali, Theyab Awana, Amer Abdulrahman, Mohammed Fayez and Ali Mabkhout have all played for the senior side.

Obviously I would like to have all those players in my squad, but they have made the grade and now have a better role to play in the senior squad,” said Ali. “I am quite satisfied with the players with whom I am working with. They have shown remarkable improvement and have the potential to follow in the footsteps of those who have made it to the senior team. These boys have been together for more than a year and this tournament is a good test for them as well as a good opportunity for me to see how they have progressed. The first game is always important and full points from it will give us a chance to reach the last four after Saudi Arabia and Kuwait played out a draw [in their opener on Wednesday]. They are all pretty good sides but we will go with the idea of winning this first game.”

Ali’s squad arrived in Qatar direct from a three-week camp in Nuremburg, Germany.

Oman, who top Group A after a crushing 2-0 win over Qatar in their opening game, face Bahrain tonight (KO 6.30pm). They head and need only a draw to secure a place in the semi-finals to be played on August 4.

In the Pro League, Abdulsalam Jumaa, the Al Jazira defender, has been ruled out for three months following groin surgery.

The 31-year-old aggravated a long-standing problem during the club’s training camp in Austria and it was deemed serious enough to require an operation.

read more...

Pakistan withdraw football team from Asian game

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has stopped its football team from taking part in the upcoming 16th Asian Games 2010 to be played in Guangzhou, China this November.

Sources in government told The Sports Encounter that government has barred its football team to take part in the Asian Games 2010. Pakistan football team had a reasonable performance in the previous edition of the Asian Games played in 2006 at Doha.

The government’s decision to prevent the football team to take part in the Asian Games 2010 is not only a shocking decision but it will also hurt the growth of football sports in the country.

The decision has shocked many stake holders and Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) is seeking the government’s help to get the permission to send its team for the all-important Games.

Related articles

• Football authorities to seek help from ministry (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Football not included in POA list for 2010 Asian Games! (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Special action on protection of Asian Games' symbols to be carried out (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Singapore U-23s get nod for 2010 Asian Games (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• World Media to Descend on Guangzhou for Second World Press Briefing (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Sunny outlook for Asian Games (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• JOC - health care - House support the establishment of the Asian Games athletes (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Taiwan Athletes to Enjoy Home Advantage at Guangzhou Asian Games: Mainland Official (asiangames.zimaa.com)
• Asian Games-Bound Squad Resumes Preparations After Two-Month Delay (asiangames.zimaa.com)

read more...

Asian Games squad show talent

THE Asian Games squad were impressive in their 3-0 victory over S- League club Beijing Guoan Talent FC in a warm-up ahead of Sunday's friendly match against the South Korean Olympic squad.

"I tested most of my players against Beijing Guoan and most of them gave a good account of themselves. They showed consistency in their game but of course, there are certain areas to be worked on," said national coach K. Rajagobal.

The national team took the lead in the 20th minute through Kelantan striker Norshahrul Idlan Talaha.

The Radzak twins, Aidil Zafuan and Zaquan Adha, were also on target in the 46th and 63rd minutes respectively at the Yishun Stadium in Singapore on Tuesday.

Rajagobal will drop three players from the squad before the friendly with the Koreans.

"This match will give me a chance to gauge my players' quality. It will also give me good indication on where we stand as a team," he said.

Rajagobal also indicated that most of the players in his current training squad will be selected for the Asian Games.

"I prefer to name my final squad just before the Asian Games deadline as I want to look at more players. I only want players who are eager to give 100 percent in tournaments," he added.

The national team should have a slight advantage as the Koreans will not be fielding four key players who played in the recent World Cup in South Africa.

They are Bolton Wanderers winger Lee Chung Yong, Lee Seung Yeoul, Kim Bo Kyung and Ki Sung Yueng.

Korea coach Hong Myung Bo is also preparing his squad for the Guangzhou Asian Games in November.

The Korea squad - Goalkeepers: Yang Han Bin, Lee Bum Soo; Defenders: Jo Young Hoon, Shin Se Gye, Lee Chang Yong, Park Hyung Jin, Kim Oh Gyu, Lee Yong, Jang Seok Won, Jung Dong Ho; Midfielders: Lee Jong Chan, Chun Hyun Chul, Kim Sun Min, Lee Seok Hyun, Jung Woo Young, Ko Moo Yeol; Forwards: Ryu Sun Gon, Kim Dong Hee, Park Hee Sung, Kim Dong Sub.

read more...

Football not included in POA list for 2010 Asian Games!

Image via Wikipedia

KARACHI: There was a hue and cry everywhere in the country about the future of football in Pakistan during the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, but here a major disclosure on Thursday by a Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) official that the country would not send its football team to China to show its worth in the Asian Games in November, shows the real future of the game.

After a few days of struggle this correspondent finally succeeded on Thursday to compel the stubborn acting secretary of the POA Major Afzal to officially confirm that football is not included in the list of disciplines under consideration for the Asian Games. “No, football is not included in the list under consideration for the Asian Games,” Major Afzal said. 

The decision of ignoring football for the Asian Games is surprising and a blow to the richly growing sport in the country. If Pakistan’s performance in the previous Asian Games in Doha in 2006 is analysed, so there the team had played impressively and even it had given tough time to the teams like Japan and North Korea who were also the part of the World Cup. Japan, also reached quarter-final in the World Cup, had hardly beaten Greenshirts 3-2 in Doha. Moreover, majority of the Japanese team’s players which had played against Pakistan in the Doha Asian Games were seen playing in the World Cup in South Africa. 

The decision to ignore football for the Asian Games has raised many eyebrows in the football circle. “It’s very bad. I don’t want to go into politics but would frankly say that football should have been included in the Asian Games. The authorities should have put on the list those disciplines for the Asian Games in which the country have medal wining chance along with those which have good future,” the secretary of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Col Ahmed Yar Lodhi said. 

“Not only football is growing rapidly but our team had also played well in the previous edition of the Asian Games. We are not happy with the decision as it will harm the future of the game. Maximum exposure is badly needed for Pakistan’s football team,” Lodhi said. 

Former Pakistan coach Tariq Lutfi was shocked by the news and said, “It’s ridiculous. We are not playing in the Olympics and World Cup and the Asian Games is the only other platform left where our team gets a chance to face some strong teams of the region.” 

Pakistan’s most qualified coach Nasir Ismail said, “Its shameful act. Without exposure you cannot raise the standard of the game.” 

More interestingly, Pakistani government is only giving the PFF Rs1.5 million annually and it is FIFA which is patronising the game by filtering $250,000 per year. The aid from FIFA is subject to proper utilisation and performance.

[COURTESY: Alam Zeb Safi - The News]

read more...

Desmond Bulpin And Sukhwinder Singh To Lead India Into Asian Games

The much talked about Desmond Bulpin arrived at the national capital on Monday as he would take over the mooted All India Football Federation (AIFF) XI who shall participate in the I-League starting the upcoming season.

Indian national team coach Bob Houghton had suggested the Englishman’s name for the post but it took a while before the AIFF and Bulpin could reach an agreement both on financial and contractual terms.

Can We Make It Into The Finals? India U-23 Coach Sukwhinder Singh Ponders Ahead Of The SAFF Cup Semis Against Bangladesh (Mango Peel)

he much talked about Desmond Bulpin arrived at the national capital on Monday as he would take over the mooted All India Football Federation (AIFF) XI who shall participate in the I-League starting the upcoming season.


Indian national team coach Bob Houghton had suggested the Englishman’s name for the post but it took a while before the AIFF and Bulpin could reach an agreement both on financial and contractual terms.

Having managed Tottenham’s youth team where he oversaw the development of England international Jermain Defoe, the expectations from Bulpin would be sky high. He has also managed Queen’s Park Rangers and the national team of Philippines.

Sukhwinder Singh, who has a contract with the AIFF until the end of Asian Games, is overseeing the training of the 24 players who are/will be part of the federation’s team.

Meanwhile the AIFF has also listed another 14 players who were part of the India U-23 squad who participated in the SAFF cup 2009 and AFC Challenge Cup 2010 and could possibly join the Asian Games team. After the Indian National Team returns from Portugal, some of those boys (U-23) could join the Asain Games team.

It is learnt that Bulpin and Sukhwinder shall work together until November following which the former shall take over the reins completely.

The idea behind the AIFF XI team is to ensure that the youngsters, who are the future of the country, stay together and thereby, possibly be a part of the team that fights for the 2018 World Cup qualification.

AIFF U-19 team:

Ravi Kumar, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Jagroop Singh, Vishal Kumar Ravindrakumar, Abhishek Das, Indrapreet Singh, Deepak Devrani, Raju Eknath Gaikwad, Souvik Ghosh, Lalrozama Fanai, Prathamesh, Aksay Vimal Kumar Mali, Subodh Kumar, O. Milan Singh, Lalrindika Ralte, Tirthankar Sarkar, Jibon Singh, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Manandeep, Jagtar Singh, Malswmfela.

Asian Games team:

Nirmal Chettri, Baldeep Singh, Sushil Kumar Singh, D. Ravanan, Debabrata Roy, Arindam Bhattacharya, Rowilson Rodrigues, Naoba Singh, Robert, N. Mohanraj, Baljit Sahni, Jagpreet Singh, Rakesh Masih, Govin Singh.

read more...

Football authorities to seek help from ministry

KARACHI: Football authorities in the country will write a letter to the federal sports minister on Monday (today) to seek for his help to include football in the Asian Games slated to be held in China in November.

“We will request the federal sports minister through a letter which we are sending to him today that Pakistan had performed well in the previous Asian Games in Doha and keeping in view the past performance of the side it should be given a chance in the China Asian Games also,” the secretary of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Col Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi told ‘The News’.

He said that Chief de Mission of the previous Asian Games had also lauded the brilliant effort of the Pakistani footballers and therefore the discipline should have been included in the coming competitions.

“We will not keep silent and will strive our level best to convince the government to reconsider its decision of omitting football from the list of disciplines finalised for the Asian Games,” Lodhi said.

Pakistan had given tough time to the teams like Japan, North Korea and Syria during the Doha Asian Games held in December 2006. The government should have included in the list for the Asian Games those disciplines in which the country have medal winning chance and those in which the country have bright future, said the PFF official.

read more...