Indian Football

[rayde]

after killing India in Fifa World Cup 06 on my PS2, i was just curious as to what sort of leagues India has in real life? has anybody ever capped an Indian team? i'd be interested in seeing it

[saurabh]

I can cap the Indian league matches if you like.

Indian football has a rich history. Ever since Mohun Bagan defeated the Yorkshire Regiment in that historic IFA Shield final in 1911, football became a way of life for most Indians and to a great extent, Bengal became the home of Indian football. Later in 50s, 60s, 70s statewise football got a major boost following India's stupendous show at the international level.

In Calcutta alone football clubs started growing in large numbers. Some of the oldest football clubs are Mohun Bagan (1889), Mohammedan Sporting (1891), East Bengal (1920), Aryans, Sporting Union, Kalighat, Rajasthan Club .

One interesting anecdote that can be mentioned. Nobody knows that Indian football team actually had qualified for the 1950 World Cup. But we didn't go. Yes, we simply refused because our footballers were not keen to wear the boots since in those days Indian
footballers were used to playing barefoot.

India at the Asian Games

1. 1951: India won the Asian Games gold
2. 1962: India won the Asian Games gold at Jakarta
3. 1970: India won the bronze at Bangkok Asian Games (India's last medal at Asian Games)

In Addition to the above wins the Indian team also qualified for the Following Olympics
1. 1948: London Olympics
2. 1952: Helsinki Olympics
3. 1956: Indian Team finished fourth in the Melbourne Olympics
3. 1960: Rome Olympics

Many Brasilians and Africans play in the NFL. Too many foreign players in some clubs. The Goa clubs are good, all Indo-Portuguese players. Footie is not bad. Some derby games like Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal attract large crowds upto 1,50,000.

Clubs in the NFL :-

DEMPO Sports Club (Goa)

Goa's most prominent club. It was founded as Clube Desportivo de Bicholim in 1966. But it was renamed as Dempo Sports Club once Dempo Group of Companies bought in 1968. The club became India's only club to win the Federation Cup and National Football League in 2004-05.
Coach: Armando Colaco
NFL Record: Winner (2004-05), 2nd (2003-04), 4th (1996 - 97), 6th (1997-98), 12th (1999-00), 6th (2002-03)
Players to watch Climax Lawrence, Ishfaq Ahmed, Ranty Martins Soleye, Joaquim Abranches, Clifford Miranda

Sporting clube de Goa (Goa)

Sporting Clube de Goa, based in Panjim, Goa, and formerly known as Haywards 2000, is a team built on the lines of Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon and adopting a similar club crest. The club made its debut in the 2003/2004 season of the Indian National Football League, and were on the verge of winning their first league championship last season. But lost out on the last day when Dempo pipped them to the title.
Coach: Clifford Chukwama
NFL Record: Runners-up 2004-05
Players to watch: Anthony Levino Pereira, Felix D'Souza, Bibiano Fernandes, Chidi Edeh, Dudu

East Bengal (Kolkata)

One of India's top notch club. It was founded in the backdrop of Partition in 1920. The red and gold brigade has its own ground at the Maidan in Calcutta. The most consistent side in recent times in Indian football. From 2002-04, East Bengal was the center of attraction after it won two back to back NFL titles and then capped it with a resounding international triumph at ASEAN Cup in Jakarta in 2003. Under their recently appointed new foreign coach, the red and gold brigade will have their task cut out in NFL.
Coach: Philippe De Ridder
NFL Record: Winners (2000-01, 2002-03, 2003-04), Runners-up (1997-98, 1998-99), Third (1996-97), Seventh (1999-00), Fifth (2001-02)
Players to watch: Baichung Bhutia, Syed Rahim Nabi, Habibur Rahman, Muttath Suresh, K Kulothungan, RC Prakash

Mahindra United (Mumbai)

Mumbai's most colourful football team and managed by automobile giants Mahindras. The club was founded in 1962 as Mahindra & Mahindra but was rechristened as Mahindra United in the summer of 2000. They are fondly known as India's MU after Manchester United. Today, MU have seven to eight players in the national squad and are the front-runners for the NFL this season.
Coach: Deryk Pereira
NFL Record: 3rd (2003-04), 4th (2004-05), 8th (1996 - 1997), 10th (1997-98), Did'nt Qualify for final 6 (1998-99), Sixth (1999-00), Seventh (2000-01), Sixth (2001-02), Eight (2002-03
Players to watch: S Venkatesh, Sandip Nandy, NS Manju, Krishnan Nair Ajayan, Ramirez Barreto, Abhisek Yadav

Mohun Bagan (Kolkata)

Founded in 1889, Mohun Bagan is Asia's Oldest club. It is actually an institution. Moreover, the green and maroon club became the first Indian football club to win a major trophy when it defeated Yorkshire Regiment in that historic IFA Shield final in 1911. The club has its own ground located across the Eden Gardens in Calcutta. Like its many 'firsts' Bagan became the first Calcutta team to win the National Football League when it annexed the crown in 1997-98. But this season, the three time winners face a tough task.
Coach: Jahar Das
NFL Record: Winners (1997-98, 1999-2000, 2001-02); Runners-up 2000-01
Players to watch: Mehtab Hussain, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Dharamjit Singh, Tomba Singh

Salgaocar Sports Club (Goa)

Goa's most successful side in recent years. Besides being a three-time Fed Cup champions, Salgaocar, which was formed in 1955, became the first Goan side to win the NFL in 1998-99 under the guidance of coach Shabbir Ali. Backed by the V M Salgaocar Group of Companies, this Vasco based club has always been the strong contenders in NFL. Besides, Salgaocar has won the Rovers Cup thrice and lifted the Professional Goa League a record 19 times.
Coach: Shabbir Ali
NFL Record: Winner in 1998-99; Runners-up 2002-03, Third 1997-98, Third 1999-00, Sixth 2000-01, Fourth 2001-02, Runners-up 2002-03, Seventh 2003-04
Players to watch: Manitombi Singh, Ashim Biswas, Sangram Mukherjee, Selwyn Fernandes

JCT (Punjab)

Inaugural champions of NFL in 1996, JCT is Punjab's or for that matter North India's major football team. Though an institutional side, Jagatjit Cotton Textiles became a name to be reckon with in Indian football in the nineties winning almost all major national trophies. It's home ground is Guru Nanak Stadium at Ludhiana.
Coach: Sukhwinder Singh
NFL Record: Winners 1996-97, Seventh 1997-98, Fifth 1998-99, Fifth 1999-00, Nineth 2000-01, Tenth 2001-02, Fourth 2002-03, Fifth 2003-04, Seventh 2004-05
Players to watch: Rennedy Singh, Marcos Pereira, Sunil Chettri, Praveen Kumar

Fransa Footbal Club (Goa)

Based in Nagoa in Goa, Fransa Football Club is an emerging club from Indian football's latest powerhouse. Initially, known as Pax of Nagoa it was renamed as Fransa SC in 2002 and is sponsored by Fransa Group of Companies. In its maiden appearance last season, Fransa did well and finished fifth in the 12-team NFL.
Coach: Norbert Gonsalves
NFL Record: Fifth (2004-05)
Players to watch: Marcus Peixito, Alex Ambrose, Mark Mascarenhas, Ryan D'Souza, Roque Barreto

Mohammedan Sporting (Kolkata)

The black and white brigade. Founded in 1891, Mohammedan Sporting became the first Indian club to win the Calcutta Football League for five years in a row in the pre-Independence era. Probably, it is one of the very few Indian clubs which boasts of a broadbased supporters throughout the country. Though it has lost much of its sheen, Mohammedan Sporting still holds that charm. Qualified for the NFL for the first time in 2003-04. But couldn't hang on to NFL standings as it was relegated. Once again they are back in the NFL fold. Need more consistency to be able to match with the rest.
Coach: Md Habib
NFL Record: 11th (2003-04)
Players to watch: Raman Vijayan, Bijen Singh, Okonji Patrick D'Souza, Madhab Das

Air India (Mumbai)

Founded in 1952, Air India though not a great side in terms of popularity and flair yet this Mumbai side have the potential to turn the tables on fancied teams. The Airmen grabbed the fifth spot in the 2nd NFL - their best result so far since the NFL started in 1996. Qualified for this year's National Football League after they finished second to Mohammedan Sporting in the 2nd tier of NFL. This is their fifth NFL appearance.
Coach: Bimal Ghosh
NFL Record: Sixth (1996-97), Fifth (1997-98), Relegated (1998-99), Relegated (2000-01)
Players to watch: Nepoleon Singh, Sunder Rajan, Paresh Shivalkar

The only unusual thing is that we have CHEERLEADERS in football. :rolleyes:

http://www.zeesports.co.in/images/leftbottoms/football.jpg

We also have a very good tournament called the IFA Challenge Shield. The current champions are Bayern Munich. Great teams like PSV Eindhoven have participated and won this tournament.

India has the largest number of Football viewers in the World. The number of EPL viewers in India is estimated to be greater than the total population of UK!

Despite the interest in football, the AIFF hasn't been able to channelise the interest into results at National level.

AIFF has launched the GOAL 2010 programme to get India to WC 2006 in South Africa. India are coached by Bristish managers since a long time. The current coach is Bobby Houghton who was preferred over Brian Kerr.

[varun]

What he said^^^

A few years ago Indian clubs (East Bengal) started winning a few things abroad and even India managed a few upsets and things looked bright but it's all back to normal now, ie crap shit.

There is enough talent here to manage some great things but the income is so low that nearly no one bothers to continue with football :(

[zahidmaqbool]

what varun said is right.. as far as i remember few months back i watched a football match on tele, i guess the team was mahindra united , some decision went against them and they were fighting with the ref...

[Sammy 21]

Sounds interesting, would be up for watching some Indian League matches. :)

[fcb_sandy05]

Also,the 3rd oldest football tournament, the Durand Cup,is played in India.
The two older ones are the English FA Cup and the Scottish FA Cup.
The first Durand Cup final was played in 1888 and won by the Royal Scots Fusiliers.

[killa-cam]

I'm also interesting in seeing some Indian football :)

[dbzclips]

If India haden't arragontly dropped out of the 1950 World Cup because they didn't feel like wearing boots, perhaps India would be viewed greater in football. Ironically, 2 year later during the Olympics, many of the Indian Football team suffered forstbite on their feet. From then on, the Indian Football Association made it mandatory for all players to wear boots.

[jak914]

would be interesting to see a match

[cipro]

Isn't one of the biggest stadiums in the world in West Bengal state? I remember reading somewhere that the biggest stadium is in North Korea of all places and the second is in India. Here in NYC I know a lot of Bangladeshis and they say that soccer is only popular among Bengalis and that they are the best on the subcontinent.

Maybe off topic but did you know that the president of our great US soccer federation is Indian American.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/grant_wahl/07/07/gulati.qa/index.html

[hanul21]

i definently want to see an Indian Football Match.

my desi friends always talk about how the market is in India, but despite the large attendances, cricket is just too popular for a sport like football to take over as the nation's number one sport.

[Silas]

What Football is in Brazil, Cricket is in India. Nothing can replace it.

[kingbittorrent]

u no al u manz r wrong. india's national sport is hockey. that is number 1 and is xtremely popular. like here in da u.k all da rich guys play golf in india its hockey

[Silas]

u no al u manz r wrong. india's national sport is hockey. that is number 1 and is xtremely popular. like here in da u.k all da rich guys play golf in india its hockey

wel no. itz not. all da gangstaz play krikit and hip-hop plays krikit too lolz.

[Solitary R@F]

u no al u manz r wrong. india's national sport is hockey. that is number 1 and is xtremely popular. like here in da u.k all da rich guys play golf in india its hockey

that's true... i hear they got a Hockey league as Big as the NHL in the US..

[sweed]

i wish footie was more popular in india...

[sof2xlc]

i wish footie was more popular in india...
just came back from india..and india cared more aboutsoccer than the us...i think there is a movement growing.. cause the game was more popular and more cared about than 4 yrs ago..and now only if the aiff wasnt so corrupt..btw anyone have any success with india in fm2006?

[Silas]

i wish footie was more popular in india...

The revolution has begun, partly because the Idols the whole nation had, Sachin, Ganguly are almost gone. Well Ganguly has gone forever to be frank and be happy about.


But Cricket will be no longer be #1, due to, maybe, Sania Mirza, or R.S Rathore, or Anju Bobby George getting the accolades, or more importantly getting exposure and sponserships from various companies, which they dully deserved.

At the same time, the seniors in the Cricket team, like Ganguly and Laxman were being forced out. The one person even God himself couldn't force out, Sachin Tendulkar, was injured for a good part of 2 years. There was a lot of hue and cry over the appointment of Greg Chappell, and his hatred of Ganguly, which the media bastards couldn't get was good for the team.


And suddenly the World Cup is On. It breaks all the previous viewing records. Or let me say shatters, and then again. Not only Beckham, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, but players like Lahm, Grosso and Appiah were common names, which believe me is a very big thing to happen.


India might not qualify for the next 2-3 World Cups, but the day is not far.

The reason might be the fast life the BPO's and other MNC's have given the youth, they find it more and more torturing to sit for 5 days for a draw, when instead they can have a 120 minutes Argentina vs Germany or Italy vs Germany.


Let's hope for good.



Ohh I forgot to mention Corruption. Can't be arsed now.

[sof2xlc]

india is playing in some tourny in vancouver right now how is it going for them?

[ivanlo]

Up with Indian football! Two Indian girls on my floor in my dorm were soccer fans. They've played since they were little, they're pretty good. It's probably one of the more popular sports in India right?

[sof2xlc]

ya but its competition is chess tennis and basketball and rugby and badmiton..its probably the 3rd most popular behind cricket and badmition

[cmquakes]

This is awesome! It's so great to finally hear about Indian soccer. Thanks for this guys :) I'd love to see any games, especially the big ones. Keep the discussions going or tell me if there are any good websites with news. I'd love to read whatever I can get. Thanks again!

[kushal]

ok if anybody's interested...

The ONGC National Football League just started...this is the first round this week and i went to watch Mahindra United (from mumbai) take on Dempo SC (Goa)...decent game...it doesn't look half as bad as it looks on tv...didn't take any pics sadly coz it was my first match at the stadium and i was too busy getting excited about little things :p next match is on the 11th of January, Mahindra United v Churchill Brothers...will prob go for that one as well...

[varun]

Lost 4-1 to Lebenon in the away leg :( :'(

[vai2die4]

here are the facts..

Football is popular in a few states.. besides that very few people from the urban population follow european leagues.. and thats it..

Cricket is the No.1 sport..

Hockey is below that.. not too popular

[May261999]

India and football sounds very much like Malaysia, to a larger extent, of course.

[sdotsom]

Though I'm born and raised in the U.S.A., both my parents are from Kolkata and I've gone back quite a bit. I got to see Mohun Bagan play and it was an awesome experience. Kolkata has a great footballing history with East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, and Mohammedan Sporting, so we have decent fields, stadia, etc. Some of the grounds around the country though....really poor. Still a fun watch, not too many Indians anymore unfortunately but it is what it is.

Recently more interest has been expressed in getting us up to a decent standards. I mean FFS, we have a billion people and we can't produce a squad of players talented enough to play? I know Man United set up a clinic for youngsters in Goa, hopefully more things like that happen. Cricket is obviously number 1, but footy is not far behind. The coverage of the EPL, etc is very good, and the India League is covered on Zee Sports (with a smoking hot host if I may say so myself ;) ). I hope we start to climb back up into world football soon.

[sof2xlc]

any one capping any games?

[Soccer_addicted]

can some one cap india vs syria nehru cup final ??