62nd Santosh Trophy

Mizoram wins, Sikkim loses first match:
Srinagar: Mizoram overcame stiff resistance from Chhattisgarh and scored a facile 2-1 win in their first Cluster VII match of the 62nd J&K Bank-National football championship for the Santosh Trophy at the Bakshi stadium here on Monday (May 26).
Arhima and Malsaw scored one goal each for the north-eastern state in the 15th and 87th minutes respectively. Chhattisgarh reduced the margin later on.
Results on May 26:Cluster I: Tamil Nadu beat Sikkim 4-1; Chandigarh beat Bihar 1-0
Cluster III: Delhi drew Gujarat 0-0
Cluster IV: Himachal Pradesh beat Daman and Diu 4-2
Cluster V: Karnataka beat Jharkhand 2-1
Cluster VI: Haryana drew Madhya Pradeh 0-0
Cluster VII: MIzoram beat Chhattisgarh 2-1

62nd Santosh Trophy

International stars from North East to miss action:

Seven international footballers from the north east, including three regular India senior players, will not take part in the Santosh Trophy in Jammu and Kashmir (May 25-JUne 15).

Renedy Singh, Surkumar Singh, Gouramangi Singh, Sushil Kumar, Bungo Singh, Govin Moirangthem (all from Manipur) and Nirmal Chhetri (from Sikkim) are in the Indian team which is playing two friendly games against Chinese Taipei (May 24 and May 27) in preparation of the SAFF Championship in Maldives and Sri Lanka.

Three others Robert Lalthampuana (Mizoram), Chandam Chitrasen (Manipur) and Naoba Singh (Manipur) were also included in the pre-national football coaching camp in Goa but later left out of the main camp.

Lalthampuana will lead Mizoram in the national championship, Naoba Singh is in the Assam Squad while Chitrasen will not play for Manipur.

Sikkim's Ashish Chhetri and Bigendra Rai will also miss the championship due to national camp for the AFC Under under 16 tournament in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from October 4-8.

Some north east players in the big clubs of the country will, however, be seen action. They include Dharamjit Singh (Mohun Bagan), L. James Singh (Mohun Bagan), Bijen Singh (Mohammedan Sporting), Uttam Singh (Air India) and Lalit Thapa (Churchill Brothers) of Manipur, Pachau Lalawmpuia (Mohun Bagan), Henry Gangte (Mohun Bagan), Lalramluaha (Mohun Bagan), Khanthang Paite (Churchill Brothers), Lalhlimthara (JCT), F. Lalrozama (Pune FC), F. Lalmuanpuia (ONGC, Mumbai), JeJe Lalpekhlua (Pune FC), Malsawmdawngliana (Amity United, Haryana) and Buangpuia Ralte (New Delhi Heroes) of Mizoram, Bilifung Narzary (ONGC, Mumbai) and Marcus Basumatary (Salgaocar) of Assam and Sanju Pradhan (Air India) of Sikkim.

62nd Santosh Trophy

No Baichung Bhutia in Sikkim Squad:

Gangtok: Sikkim will miss the services of India captain Bhaichung Bhutia, who is doing national duty, during the 62nd National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy to be held in Jammu and Kashmir from May 25.
Three more key players, besides Bhutia, would not be available for the same reason, SFA General Secretary Menla Ethenpa said.
The three are East Bengal player Nirmal Chhetri and two members of national under-16 team -- Ashish Chhetri and Bigendra Rai.
Keeping these limitations in mind, the Sikkim Football Association has picked a 20-member squad, Ethenpa said adding the boys should do well in the national football tournament as it would be held in similar weather condition as prevailed back home.
Sikkim has been drawn with Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Chandigarh in Pool A and play their lung opener with Tamil Nadu on May 26.
A five-day training camp for the state team was held at Paljor Stadium recently.
The squad: Bimal Bagdas, Karma Tsering Lepcha, Tashi Rapden, Rupen Rai, Karma Lhendup, Robin Gurung, Sonam Bhutia, Don Tshering Lepcha, Sagar Rai, Rohit Ansari, Milan Lepcha, Sanju Pradhan, Tshering Lepcha, Kiran Tamang, Ong Tshering Lepcha, Sisil Karthak, Engphuhang Subba, Bikash Jairu, Nim Tshering Lepcha and Bir Bahadur Pradhan.
Source: The Press Trust of India

62nd National Football Championship

Squads for Santosh Trophy at Jammu and Srinagar from May 25 to June 15:
Manipur: In Cluster II along with Services, Orissa and Nagaland
Venue: G. G. M. Science College Ground, Jammu
Goalkeepers: Lalit Thapa and S. Basanta Singh
Defenders: L. Dhanachandra Singh, L. Uttam Singh, Khelemba Singh, Benjamin Kamson, H. Devan Singh, S. Thomas, Y. Raju Singh
Midfielders: Charan Rai, W. Ngouba Singh, W. Ajitkumar Singh, Zenith Tangkhul, S. Dharamjit Singh, L. James Meitei, M. Bijen Singh
Forwards: N. Jimmy Singh, I. Nilakumar Singh, K. Kamson Singh and Jotin Singh.
Coach: S. Akendra Singh
Manager: P. Raghumani Singh (AMFA VP)
27.05.2008: Manipur Vs Orissa; Nagaland vs Services
29.05.2008: Manipur vs Nagaland; Orissa Vs Services
31.05.2008: Manipur Vs Services; Orissa Vs Nagaland

Mizoram: In Cluster VII along with Chhattisgarh and Railways
Venue: Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar
Goalkeepers: Danny Lalrohlua, Vanlalhruaia
Defenders: Lalpianfela, Zohmingliana Arhima, R.Vanlalpeka, F. Lalrozama, Lalremruata Midfielders: Robert Lalthlamuana (Captain), F. Lalmuanpuia, Buangpuia Ralte, Samson Ramengmawia, Khanthang Paite, Malsawmtluanga, Henry Gangte, Lalramluaha
Forwards: Lalruatliana Sailo, Malsawmdawngliana, JeJe Lalpekhlua, Lalhlimthara, P C.Lalawmpuia
Coach: Vanlalngheta
Manager: Lalbiakzuala
26.05.2008: Mizoram vs Chhattisgarh
28.05.2008: Mizoram Vs Railways
30.05.2008: Railways Vs Chhattisgarh

Assam: In Cluster VI along with Haryana and Madhya Pradesh
Venue: Polo Ground, Srinagar
Goalkeepers: Bilifang Narzary (captain), Marcus Basumatary, Gobinda Boro.
Defenders: Dhananjay Boro, Mitradev Swargiary, Biplob Sonowal, Naoba Singh, Hemanta Brahma, Jyotish Basumatary.
Midfielders: Khirod Das, Ajit Singh, Fwjwbswrang Wari, Gulidom Rongmei, Manoj Boro, Priya Kumar Singh, Thoiba Singh.
Forwards: Manash Manjit Chetia, Sanjeeba Rongpi, Thomson Langthasa, Jayanta Basumatary. Coach: Anjan Nath
Manager: Subimal Dhar.
26.05.2008: Haryana Vs Madhya Pradesh
28.05.2008: Assam vs Madhya Pradesh
30.05.2008: Assam Vs Haryana

Sikkim: In Cluster I along with Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Chandigarh
Venue: G. G. M. Science College Ground, Jammu
Bimal Bagdas, Karma Tsering Lepcha, Tashi Rapden, Rupen Rai, Karma Lhendup, Robin Gurung, Sonam Bhutia, Don Tshering Lepcha, Sagar Rai, Rohit Ansari, Milan Lepcha, Sanju Pradhan, Tshering Lepcha, Kiran Tamang, Ong Tshering Lepcha, Sisil Karthak, Engphuhang Subba, Bikash Jairu, Nim Tshering Lepcha and Bir Bahadur Pradhan.
Coach: Thupden Rapgyal
Manager: Arjun Rai
26.05.2008: Tamil Nadu Vs Sikkim; Bihar Vs Chandigarh
28.05.2008: Sikkim Vs Bihar; Chandigarh Vs Tamil Nadu
30.05.2008: Sikkim vs Chandigarh; Tamil Nadu Vs Bihar

Tripura is in Cluster III along with Delhi and Gujarat
Venue: Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar
26.05.2008: Delhi Vs Gujarat
28.05.2008: Tripura vs Gujarat
30.05.2008: Tripura Vs Delhi

Meghalaya is in Cluster VIII along with Goa and Uttarakhand
Venue: Polo Ground, Srinagar
27.05.2008: Meghalaya Vs Uttarakhand
29.05.2008: Uttarakhand Vs Goa
31.05.2008: Meghalaya vs Goa

Complete Fixture:

Cricket Spreads to Nagaland

Meet Hokaito, India’s first cricketer from Nagaland
Kolkata, May 17: He is known for his nippy left-arm fast bowling and for his right-handed big-hitting prowess. And he is a cricket coach’s ideal model when it comes to athleticism and smart fielding skills.
Meet Hokaito Zhimomi, India's first ever cricketer from the state of Nagaland, looking to make a name for himself in mainstream sports. North-East has produced scores of top athletes and sportspersons for decades, but Nagaland has been an exception, with no history of producing a home-bred sportstar on the national stage.
Playing club cricket over the last five years or so in the Kolkata Maidan, 22-year-old Hokaito may not have stood out with exceptional performances in the city's club circuit. But the boy from Dimapur, in Nagaland, has definitely become one of the most talked about names in Kolkata’s sports circuit after he got the call-up to train at the Eden Gardens with the Kolkata Knight Riders. In the few days of nets at Eden with Sourav Ganguly, Ricky Ponting & Co, Hokaito stood out with his liveliness.
The chirpy Nagaland player, who is currently playing for popular city club Dalhousie AC, honed his skills in the game under former national selector-turned-coach Sambaran Banerjee at his southern Kolkata coaching academy.
Recalls Hokaito in a chat with The Indian Express: “My journey in full-time cricket goes back a long way, when I was a kid back home in Dimapur. I used to passionately watch cricket on TV, and then decided to become a cricketer. So, I came to Kolkata with an uncle of mine, who stays here, and joined the Gymkhana Club. That's where my cricket career started.”
After spending a year with Gymkhana Club, Hokaito was signed up by Victoria Sporting Club, before eventually switching over to his present club. And all along, under former national selector Sambaran Banerjee, Hokaito has been specialising in his all-round skills, and making a name for himself over the last five years of training. Says Banerjee: “He’s a rare talent. I say this because not often do you see a player bowling left-arm pace and batting right-handed as a big-hitter, and then backing it all up with impressive fielding and fitness. Hokaito hails from the hills, which is why he is a remarkably tough guy out in the field.”
The wiry player said: “When I started playing cricket, there wasn’t anybody back home who played cricket. But today, things have changed in Nagaland.”

Women's Football

Golden Year for Manipuri Women:

It was a sweet revenge for Manipuri girls over their opponents who dared to challenge their supremacy in sub junior football in recent years. Manipur defeated last year's winners Orissa 2-0 in the final of 4th Girl's (U-17) Sub Junior National Football Championship 2007-2008 at Diphu in Assam (April 25-May 11, 2008).

N. Montesori Chanu and E. Bindyarani Devi scored for Manipur. The duo must be doubly
happy that they were part of the team that lost to Orissa in the last edition.

Manipur had won the first and second editions of the tournament before Orissa won it in the third edition. Interestingly, all the finals so far had been between Manipur and Orissa. In the first edition at Udhagamandalam in Tamil Nadu in 2003, Manipur beat Orissa 1-0 in the final. In the second edition in 2004 at Dindigul in Tamil Nadu from December 9-24, Manipur had won 4-0 with a hat-trick from Bala Devi and Lalvarmoi Hmar scoring the other goal.

In the third edition in Chandigarh (July 10-27, 2006), the Manipur team led by international Bembem Devi and coached by yesteryear star Chaoba Devi returned second best losing to Orissa 0-1. This year, Manipur had beaten Chandigarh 17-0, Goa 6-0, Kerala 11-0, Mizoram 5-0 en-route to the semifinal where they beat Tamil Nadu 1-0.

The sub junior win also completed Manipur's domination in the women's football arena with the small state winning two other national competitions in the AIFF calendar -- U-19 and senior nationals. In the 16th Women's National Football Championship 2008 at Haldia in West Bengal from February 29 to March 16, Manipur beat Orissa 4-1 in the final while in the last edition of the Girls' under-19 National Football Championships held in Pondicherry from January 3 to 20, Manipur defeated Tamil Nadu 5-1 in the final.

Manipuri girls made up of more than half of national squad in U-17, U-19 and seniors. Players like Ngangom Bala Devi, Bembem Devi, Romi Devi Ashem and Lalvarmoi Hmar have graduated from U-17 to U-19 and now in the senior national squad.

Important members of Manipur team in the last three editions of U-17 national championship:
2nd edition (at Dindigul in Tamil Nadu from December 9 to 24, 2004): Bembem Devi, Ng. Bala Devi, A. Romi Devi, Kamala Devi, N. Roma Devi, L. Naobi Devi, Prameshwori Devi, Surbala Devi, Itarani Devi, Radharani Devi, Ranjita Devi, Lalvarmoi Hmar.
3rd edition (in Chandigarh from July 10 to 27, 2006): Y. Kamala Devi, M. Bembem Devi, N. Chanchan Chanu, N. Montesori Chanu, M. Mandakini Devi, N. Binodini Devi, T. Nungshitombi
Devi, W. Radharani Devi, H. Bijeta Devi, E Bindyarani Devi, Ksh Naocha Devi, I Itabala Devi
4th edition (at Diphu in Assam from April 25 to May 11, 2008): Y. Premi Devi, Ksh. Naocha
Devi, Y. Chandrajini Devi, E. Bindryarani Devi, N. Montesori Devi, K. Rameshori Devi, T.
Nungshitombi Devi.

India U-17 squad for the AFC U-17 women's championship in April 2005:
Goalkeeper: Wangkhem Thabal Devi (captain), Ahalaya Munda, Neelam Khalko
Defenders: Alochana Senapati, Romi Devi Ashem, Thangjam Ranjita, Tuli Goon, Suprana
Supraya Samal, Gulti Choudhary, Manpreet Sidhu
Midfielders: Chingtham Sanathoi Chanu, Lalvarmoi Hmar, Maibam Bembem Devi, Sasmita Malik, Manpreet Kaur, Suganya Raju
Forwards: Sapna Guria, Ngangom Bala Devi, Sangita Patra, Nameirakpam Roma Devi
Chief Coach: Moirangthem Ratan Kumar Singh

India U-19 squad for the AFC U-19 women's championship in Novemebr 2006:
Goalkeeper: Wangkhem Thabal Devi, Tarini Singh, Neelam Khalko
Defenders: Tuli Goon (captain), Surbala Devi Khumukcham, Alochana Senapati, Sabita Singh, Valarmita Ravi, Bijay Laxmi Sahoo, Romi Devi Ashem
Midfielders: Maibam Bembem Devi, Manpreet Kaur, Asha Rani Laishram, Chingtham Sanathoi Chanu, Sasmita Malik, Prameshwori Devi Irom, Shradhanjali Sahoo, Rinki Kujur, Nameirakpam Roma Devi
Forwards: Ngangom Bala Devi, Manpreet Kaur Sidhu, Lalvarmoi Hmar, Anuradha Chetri
Chief Coach: Moirangthem Ratan Kumar Singh

Indian women's senior squad for the AFC Women's Asia Cup Qualifiers 2008 in October 2007:
Goalkeeper: Ronibala Chanu Lourembam (Manipur), Prasanthi Pradhan
Defenders: Madhu Kumari (Bihar), Romi Devi Ashem (Manipur), Nameirakpam Geeta Rani Chanu (Manipur), Thoi Devi (Manipur), Alochana Senapati (West Bengal), Gulti Choudhary (West Bengal), Jayanti Barua, Ansha
Midfielders: Gitanjali Kuntia (Orissa), Oinam Bembem Devi (Manipur), Ngangom Bala Devi (Manipur), Lalvarmoi Hmar (Manipur), Gayatri Mallick (West Bengal), Rinku Ghosh (West Bengal), Pinky Bompal Magar (Orissa), Amoolya Jayaram
Forwards: Susmita Malick (West Bengal), Domiana Gomendes (Goa), Shilpy Deb (West Bengal),
Jagdeep Kaur (Punjab), Vasanthy Somu
Chief Coach: Premkanta Singh

Opinion Piece

Manipur should be allowed to play as state team in I-League:
The All India Football Federation has decided that the second edition of the I-League will consist of only 12 teams and matches will be played only on weekends from mid-September till March 2009. I-League means India league but sadly the 12 teams represent just four states in India. Eleven of the clubs come from just three states.
There are four from Bengal — Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and the newly promoted Mohammedan Sporting and Chirag United. Goa also has four teams, holders Dempo, runners-up Churchill Brothers, Sporting Clube de Goa and promoted Vasco. The trio from Mumbai are Mahindra United, Air India and 2nd division champions, newly formed Mumbai FC. The 12th team in the fray is north India’s lone representative, JCT.
So the I-League is not really representative of Indian football, as it involves people of only a few cities, barely 10 per cent of India’s estimated population of 1.2 billion. Instead it reflects the fact that club football in India has so far developed only in three states. There are no easy solutions. Promotion of more teams will only make the I-League more lop-sided, as there will be more representatives from Bengal and Goa.
Current Indian captain Baichung Bhutia’s remedy is that states like Manipur and Kerala where the game is popular but lack a tradition of club football should be allowed to play as state teams. Baichung cites the example of Malaysia where state teams like Perak and Selangor feature in the Malaysian league. Of course if Manipur play as a state team it could create a quandary for several of their internationals Surkumar Singh and Renedy Singh who play for East Bengal or Gourmangi Singh (Churchill Brothers).
Baichung’s idea is meritorious as in this way the I-League will be more representative. Both Kerala and Manipur are beneficiaries of the Vision Asia programme and are vigorously promoting football amongst the youth. The state teams of Kerala and Manipur have invariably excelled in the Santosh Trophy as they play with great pride. Another important factor is that both these teams receive massive support in other states also from migrant Keralites and Manipuris. This was evident when the Santosh Trophy was held in Delhi in 2004 and Gurgaon in 2006. Kerala and Manipur received the maximum support.
The I-League is modeled on the J-League in Japan. But in Japan, football has spread all over the country. The J-League first started in 1992 with 10 teams just like the I-League. However the ten teams as can been from the list are from nine different cities, Kashima Antlers, Urawa Red Diamonds, JEF United Ichihara, Verdy Kawasaki, Yokohama Marinos, Yokohama Flügels, Shimizu S-Pulse, Nagoya Grampus Eight, Gamba Osaka, and Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Only Yokohama had two representatives.
The 15th edition of the J-league in 2007 had 18 clubs and they represented 17 different cities, each with their own stadiums. Japan succeeded in spreading the game all over the country because of their visionary approach. The J-League encouraged clubs to promote football or non-football related sports to acquire local sponsorships, and to build good relationship.

This article was written by noted football commentator Novy Kapadia

U-17 Girls' National Football

Orissa, Haryana win matches:
Diphu, May 1: In two group A quarter final league match of the U-17 girls national football championship here on Thursday, Orissa prevailed over Tamil Nadu 3-0 while Hariyana edged past Sikkim 1-0.
With the wins both Orissa and Hariyana brightened their chances of entering into the last four stage from the four-team group.
In two matches of group B tomorrow Goa will play Manipur while Kerala will take on Mizoram.

Shifting Base

OIL to leave Duliajan for Guwahati:
Guwahati: Oil India Limited is all set to shift their camp from Duliajan to Guwahati and if everything goes according to plan then the team will be in the city in June.

A top official of Oil India Limited Ramesh Phukan, who was also the manager of the side during their National Second Division League campaign in Kolhapur, told The Sentinel that they are trying their best to shift the team to Guwahati as it will help them to prepare the team in the best possible way for the forthcoming season.

It may be mentioned here that a couple of years back, Oil India Limited tried to shift their camp to Guwahati. However, that time there wish was not fulfilled. But after getting a good exposure in the Second Division Soccer League the officials of the Duliajan outfit is seriously considering shifting the team to Guwahati.

Commenting on a query on their consideration to shift the team to Guwahati, Phukan said, “We need some good competition to prepare the team for a tournament like the National Second Division Soccer League and this was the main cause for shifting. We will set up our camp in Narengi.” He also added that they are trying to get a berth in the Super Division Soccer League in Guwahati.

He said that Oil India Limited might appoint a new coach for their team this season and they have short listed few names for the post. It has been learnt that the coach of Mohammedan Sporting Sabir Ali is on the top of the list.
Source: The Sentinel

Laishram Monika Fetches Weightlifting Olympic Berth:
New Delhi, Apr 30: With one silver and two bronze to their kitty in the ongoing Asian weightlifting championship in Kanazawa in Japan, Indian women have booked one berth for Beijing Olympics.
Laishram Monika Devi has fetched three medals for India in the women’s 69kg event in the final Olympic qualifying event which concludes on Thursday.
The team’s assistant manager Parminder Singh said that India had secured one Olympic berth in the women’s section.
“By virtue of one silver and two bronze medals, our women have booked one quota place for Olympics,” he said.
On Wednesday, Shailaja Pujari finished fifth overall in the women’s 75kg category with a total lift of 218kg (95 in snatch and 123 in clean and jerk), while compatriot Kavita Devi withdrew from the competition in the same category.
In the women’s above-75 kg category, Geeta Rani finished overall sixth with a lift of 224kg (99+125), while compatriot K. Tulsi ended at the bottom of the list in the 11-lifter field with a total lift of 177 (80+97).
Source: Press Trust of India