Brandon Fernandes on his way to make a mark in world soccer on behalf of Indians.

          The 19 years old Indian sensation Brandon Fernandes got a call from attending a two weeks trial from English Premier League side Reading FC through an UK based management company, Kemp Thornton. The teenage sensation is said to have been on the radar of several EPL clubs since he impressed scouts with his skills 4 years ago in the Manchester United Soccer Skills competition. He has completed his medical test on yesterday, we have to wait for few more days for the result then it would be transparent if he gets an opportunity for training with them or not.

             This kid has already participated for India in every age groups yet. He is the son of Jaju Fernandes, a former executive committee member of the Goa Football Association who is quite excited now, he told that he had a dream that one day his son will take part in the highest level of European competitions & that comes true now, he quoted he is not bothered about the result of the trial, just it worths a lot for him that his son got an opportunity of having train in Reading FC.

            In the age of sixteen only Brandon left for Cape Town, South Africa to join ASD, where he improved his skills under the appropriate guidance of technical director Douglas Williams. Brandon has further benefitted from the pastoral involvement of ASD’s partner charity ‘Hope Academy’, who have guided Fernandes in the necessary skills required to make a successful transition into the professional game.
            It has created quite a buzz in football circles in South Asia and the one most excited remains ASD director Mike Steptoe, who, two years ago, was randomly criticised for doing the scouting in cricket-crazy India.
             But whether the Performance of  Readinf Fc is concern it has to be told that Brian McDermott’s side is going to be relegated this year once again with no league wins from six matches, since being promoted to the English Premier League (EPL), Reading FC have been far from impressive.
           ASD Director Mike Steptoe said on Monday that he has no doubts that Brandon is going to impact in European circle, he added Brandon is paving the way and putting Indian soccer rightfully on the sporting map of this planet.

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This time Mohun Bagan officials brought back Karim Bencharifa once again instead of Subrata Bhattacharjee.

        Mohun Bagan recruited another new coach in the mid of the season once again, this time they have brought one of their former axed coach karim Bencharifa from Salgaocar, Goa. By this way they keep their tradition alive. Since last three years Mohun Bagan have changed five coaches, that becomes their renowned tradition. For holding the hotseat of the Green & Maroon coach & occupying a chair in musical chair games almost became synonyms since last few years, if we go through the track record we will get Karim Bencharifa, Stanley Rojario, Steve Derby, Subrata Bhattacharjee & Santosh Kashyap serially.

              This time they could have recruited veteran Subrata Bhattacharjee easily for giving some oxygen to this dying Mohun Bagan side, Bhattacharjee is an ex player of the club, very much loyal Mohun Bagani, all the supporters expected him to take the batton of the Mariners in his hand in this crisis period but only the killer ego of current Mohun Bagan officials denied him from taking the responsibility.

            Actually the current Mohun Bagan official believe in surprise instead of team’s good performance. Last time when they lost to Prayag United in a CFL game, they introduced Tolgay Ozbey from arch rival camp East Bengal to cover the harsh reality of loosing the CFL crown. This time they were trying the same thing with some foreign names as a coach, but they remain in-vain because most of the foreigners denied them actually so they were well determined to grab Karim ultimately.

              Instead of Bhattacharjee they have brought back Karin Bencharifa from Salgaocar, that is true the past experience of karim in Mohun Bagan was not so good, even that can be told that the same officials have sacked him without having any sufficient reason, even that time he made the Mariners victorious in Federation cup & runners in the I-League.

                In his two years tenure he made Salgaocar victorious in the prestigious I-League & the Federation cup. He actually likes to work with juniors, understands the man-management well.

                      The Salgaocar officials Shivanand Salgaocar & Raju Gomes obstructed a lot regarding the release of Karim but this time Karim himself was eager to take the responsibility of the Green & Maroon brigade, he himself forced the officials to release him from his current club.

                  The true thing is the condition of the Mariners is not good enough right now, they have lost both of their starting I-League games, knocked out in the very early stages of the Federation cup, the question might evoke is it the right time for Karim to take the responsibility of heave weight & supporter based club like Mohun Bagan ?  Only the time will give us the answer or else he might have to follow the footsteps of the others like the notorious tradition of the Mariners.

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Sleeping giant India failed to wake up, lost to Singapore by 0-2 margin.

MATCH STATS

Singapore 2 (Khairul Amri 42',  Fazrul Nawaz 49') -0 India

                 The so called sleeping giant of Asian football once again failed to wake up in the real stage, failed to make a mark in the foreign soil. The homeside won the match convincingly after scoring two goals in the either half of the game. Substitute Khairul Amri scored the first goal just 3 minutes to spare in the first half while Farul Nawaz scored the second just 4 minute past second half.

                 This was the first match of Blue Tigers since the bagged the crown of Nehru Cup in their homesoil. There was a lots of expectation regarding that match under the supervision of new coach Wim Kovermans. India already have a very poor trackrecord in the foreign soil. Everybody expected they will do better this time because this Sunil Chhetri team is full of confidence, experience & stamina.

                 Indian side started the much in their preferred 4-4-1-1 combination while the Radojko Avramovic's side started in 4-4-2 formation with a 4-4-2 formation with Alexander Duric and Fazrul Nawaz in the uprfront.  The Blue Tigers have taken the entire control of the match for first 15 minutes and Singapore was left with the occasional counter through the middle but the visitors defence led by Gouramangi Moirangthem was proving a tough nut to crack. Entire situation turned around for the hosts when Khairul Amri introduced into the ground in the plance of injured Shi Jiayai, he changed the entire climate of the game by scoring the first goal for the hosts utilizing apoor clearance by the defence of the visitors in the 42^nd minute of the game, Subrata Paul didn’t have to anything more during the first goal. The first half ended 1-0 situation in the fore of the homeside.
                  The homeside doubles the lead just after the start of the second half courtesy Fazrul Nawaz. Syed Rahim Nabi was left chasing Mustafic down the left and was not able to stop the Tampines Rovers midfielder from launching a perfect grounder that eluded the entire Indian defence. Fazrul placed the ball into the top corner.
                  Indian coach Kovermans made few substitutions to change the colour of the match, he brought Robin Singh in the place of off-colour Sunil Chhetri but he also failed to make a mark in the national side. The Blue Tigers looks quite frustrated as they couldn't create a decent opening to threaten the Singaporean defence as they went out of ideas. The misery of Indian side could have been extended but the reliable hands of Subrata Paul denied Singapore from scoring another one in the dying moments of the game.

                The Indian side is here to improve their FIFA ranking & for making an impact, it was though before the match that Indian side will beat much superior FIFA ranked side Sigapaore after waking up from their sleep & will improve their FIFA ranking but the tries of rousing the sleeping giant from its sleep goes completely in-vain, unfortunately the giant remain asleep.

Singapore
Izwan Mahbud - Shaiful Esah, Baihakki Khaizan, Shi Jiayi (39' Khairul Amri), Shahdan Sulaiman (89' Hafiz Abu Sujad), Aleksandar Duric (90' Firdaus Kasman), Fazrul Nawaz (66' Fazli Ayob), Hariss Harun [C], Mustafic Fahrudin (75' Isa Halim), Safuwan Baharudin, Juma'at Jantan
Substitutes: Hyrulnizam Juma'at, Joey Sim; Raihan Rahman, Daniel Bennett, Irwan Shah, Jufri Taha, Yasir Hanapi

INDIA
Subrata Pal - Nirmal Chettri, Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh, Raju Eknath Gaikwad (65' Gurwinder Singh), Syed Rahim Nabi (82' Denzil Franco) - Sanju Pradhan (Jewel Raja Sheikh), Mehtab Hossain (82' Joaquim Abranches), Lenny Rodrigues, Clifford Miranda (77' Anthony Pereira) - Francis Fernandes - Sunil Chhetri [C] (Robin Singh)
Substitutes: Karanjit Singh, Subhasish Roy Chowdhury; Alwyn George

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Well balanced Indian side going to take Singapore in a FIFA friendly encounter today.

                 

          Well prepared Indian side under the supervision of Wim Kovermans are going to take Singapore in a FIFA international friendly match at Chau Chau Kang stadium, Singapore today. After the major Nehru Cup triumph under the guidance of Dutchman Kovermans the Blue Tigers first time going to play against any kind of opponents, regarding to that triumph this time Indian side look relatively strong & confident enough to conquer Singapore easily. Kovermans wants to continue his wining momentum of Nehru cup here which will guide India a few steps onwards in the FIFA ranking.

                Several times in the near past we witnessed the tussle between the clubs & the AIFF regarding the release of the key players due to national purpose but this time Kovermans is going to get a full-fledged Indian squad in his hand without any controversy in a match in FIFA date against a bit of superior side according to the current FIFA ranking. The Singapore side is currently placed in 162^nd place whether the Indian side is in the 168^th place right now.

                 The Singapore side are playing this match as a preparation of upcoming AFF Suzuki Cup, they are going to miss few key players alongwith their regular captain Shahril Ishak in the final squad. Serbian Coach Radojko Avramovic has named a full strength squad ahead of the friendly as the Lions prepare for the AFF Suzuki Cup. Singapore last played against Philippines and lost 2-0 when they were expected to easily get past their opponents and then drew 1-1 against Myanmar. 22 year old goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud will start in goal for the Singapore team while Daniel Bennett, a British Citizen who switched nationality to Singapore will lead the defense. The 34 year old is a veteran of 110 caps and will be accompanied by Baihakki Khaizan in the center of defense.

                  Indian captain Sunil Chhetri told in a press meet yesterday that “we are excited to come here and play. Our last tournament was memorable one but that’s past. Now it’s up to us to take up the challenge”, Chhetri reminded.

                  Lasttime India won a match against foreign soil almost 15 months ago while the Blue Tigers have beaten Quatar by a 2-1 margin in a friendly game. India don’t have good past record in the foreign soil which makes Kovermans quite worried. The Ductman is expected to apply the same formation 4-4-1-1 he used in the last Nehru Cup, first tournament in his tenure.

                 Possible Starting XI (4-4-1-1): Subrata Pal; Rahim Nabi, Gourmangi Singh, Raju Gaikwad, Nirmal Chhetri; Clifford Miranda, Mehtab Hussain, Lenny Rodriguez, Sanju Pradhan; Alwyn George; Sunil Chhetri

                 The match is going to start at 7-45pm according to the local time of Singapore it means for live action according to IST the match will kick off at 5-15 pm.

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