NEWSLETTER MARCH 2004
indianfootball.com monthly editors column
This month: Arunava Chaudhuri (coming later this week)
indianfootball.com
February was a month of records for indianfootball.com, India's biggest football website.
We for the first time had more than 15.000 HITs in a month, more than 522 HITs on average a day.
Also we set a new record for a day's HITs with 1775 on the day India beat Singapore in the 2006 World Cup qualifier.
2006 World Cup Asian qualifiers
INDIA had a successful start into their 2006 World Cup Asian qualifying campaign with a 1-0 victory against Singapore at the Nehru Stadium, Margao in Goa on February 18. A penalty from Renedy Singh decided the match in India's favour.
Doordarshan criticised for no football coverage
India's opening 2006 World Cup qualifying match against Singapore was not shown on Doordarshan or any other channel. Before and after the match Doordarshan has come under heavy criticism for not showing such an important football match. Doordarshan claim too costly production and no chance to get that money back from adverts as reason.
8th National Football League
The 8th edition of the National Football League continues to be very interesting. Defending champions East Bengal Club for the first time this season top the league after Round 12 with 24 points, followed by underdogs Dempo SC who have also 24 points but with a worse goal difference and have played a match more, like third-placed Mahindra United who have 23 points. Churchill Brothers and JCT Mills follow on 22 points. On the other side of the table Indian Bank can start planning for the 2.Division NFL next year with 2 points from 13 matches.
# |
TEAMS |
P |
W |
D |
L |
GF-GA |
GDIF |
PTS |
1 |
East Bengal Club |
12 |
7 |
3 |
2 |
20-10 |
+10 |
24 |
2 |
Dempo Sports Club |
13 |
6 |
6 |
1 |
15-07 |
+08 |
24 |
3 |
Mahindra United |
13 |
7 |
2 |
4 |
19-13 |
+06 |
23 |
AFC Cup - East Bengal & Mahindra United impressive
The Indian representatives, East Bengal & Mahindra United, made an impressive start into the newly created AFC Cup, the second tier of the Asian Champions League. East Bengal beat Geylang United (Singapore) and Negri Sembilan (Malaysia), while Mahindra United beat Dhofar FC (Oman.
Goa lower league scandal makes worldwide headlines
The two matches - Curtorim Gymkhana 61-1 Sangolda Lightning and Wilfred Leisure 55-1 Dona Paula SC - from the Goa 2.Division league playoffs, made worldwide headlines due to 118 goal scored and loads of stories were published around the world on the scores. Sadly most article were wrong as they claimed the matches were 2.Division National League matches. Goa FA has punished all clubs and their officials and players hard.
India to send U20 team to SAF Games
India will be sending an experimental under-20 squad for the much-delayed but fast-approaching ninth edition of the South Asian Federation Games, slated to be held at Islamabad, in Pakistan. The senior national team is in World Cup qualifying action.
Tata Football Academy hodl trials
The Tata Football Academy held its biannual trials for 13 adn 14 year old boys to be inducted into TFA. Another of selection trials and final round trials will be held.
Football franity portest DDs non-showing of football
A demonstration of football lovers infront of the Doordarshan Kendra Calcutta was held to protest the step-motherly treatment of football by the state channel. Especially the protest was against the non-showing of the World Cup qualifier against Singapore.
Kerala State League
State Bank of Travancore won the Kerala State League with a 2-2,4-2 victory on penalties in the final against FC Kochin in Kochi.
8th Assam Club Championships
Oil India Limited, Duliajan defended their Assam Club Championships title with a 3-0 final victory against Assam State Electricity Board in Diphu.
FIFA World Ranking
Men |
FIFA 139 |
Asia 27 |
Women |
FIFA 57 |
Asia 10 |
Upcoming tournaments and events (March/April)
March/April
March
March
Mar. 26
Mar. to Apr.
March 31
April |
2.Division National Football League
39th Dr. BC Roy Trophy (under-19)
13th Dutta Ray Trophy (under-21)
National Football League
2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier - Kochi: India vs Oman
59th Santosh Trophy |
FURTHER INFOS, RESULTS, NEWS, ETC. ARE AVAILABLE AT
http://www.indianfootball.com |