Srinagar to host national camp for SAFF U-16 Championship
New Delhi, July 15: The India camp for the SAFF Under-16 Championship will be held in Srinagar from the third week of July, the national football federation announced on Saturday. This is the first time that the Valley will host a national camp though it has staged Santosh Trophy and I-League games. The camp will be held under newly-appointed coach Ishfaq Ahmed. The SAFF U-16 Championship is slated in Bhutan from September 1-11. “As part of our Vision 2047 to take the game to the newest geographies in India, having first-ever national team coaching camp in Srinagar will surely have a huge impact on local football in Jammu and Kashmir,” AIFF secretary general Shaji Prabhakaran said in a statement. “I have no doubt that the youth of the Valley will be further encouraged to be part of football and we can easily expect more talents to emerge from J&K to play at a higher level in India.” The similarities in the weather conditions between Srinagar and Bhutan are also one of the reasons why the camp is being held in the city. The camp initially will start with 52 probables picked up by a team of experts from the AIFF after extensive scouting. (PTI)
Punjab FC extend contract of I-League winning foreign trio
Mohali, July 15: Punjab FC, the first I-League club to get a promotion into the top-tier Indian Super League, have extended the contract of their foreign trio of Luka, Juan Mera and Kiran Kumar Limbu. Slovenian forward Luka, Spanish midfielder Juan and Nepalese custodian Limbu played a key role in their historic title-winning season. Luka finished the I-League season as the top scorer with 16 goals. Left-footed magician Juan was adjudged the best midfielder of the league. He also contributed upfront as he finished the season with 10 goals. This was also Juan’s best season in India. Limbu was adjudged the best goalkeeper of the league for his stellar performances in between the sticks. He finished the season with 11 clean sheets and conceded just 16 goals from 21 matches. (PTI)
Gautam Sarkar to be awarded ‘Mohun Bagan Ratna’
Kolkata, July 15: Former India midifielder Gautam Sarkar, who made headlines for his man-marking of the legendary Pele in an exhibition match against New York Cosmos in 1977, will be conferred with the ‘Mohun Bagan Ratna’. The 73-year-old, who had the distinction of leading Mohun Bagan and arch-rivals East Bengal in the 70s, will be given the club’s highest honour at the Mohun Bagan Day celebrations on July 30. The annual affair has been postponed by a day due to Muharram. Known as the ‘Beckenbauer of Indian football’, Sarkar started out his career with Kidderpore SC and then Aryans. Sarkar was snapped by East Bengal where he played a key role in their treble run in 1972. He then joined Mohun Bagan and achieved the feat in 1977. He represented Mohun Bagan till 1983, but only to return to East Bengal. Mohun Bagan at its executive committee meeting on Saturday also picked Dimitri Petratos for the Subhas Bhowmick Award for the Best Footballer and Arnab Nandi for Arun Lal Award for the Best Cricketer of the season. (PTI)
Women’s World Cup warm-up game abandoned after 20 minutes
Brisbane, July 15: A warm-up game between Ireland and Colombia ahead of the Women’s World Cup was abandoned after only 20 minutes on Friday because of what the Irish said was the “overly physical” nature of the match. Ireland said in a statement the behind-closed-doors game in Brisbane was called off after consultation with match officials, and the team then held a full training session on the field instead. Ireland midfielder Denise O’Sullivan was taken to the hospital with a shin injury sustained during the match. Two Colombia players received yellow cards in the opening 19 minutes. Ireland Football later said in a tweet that an x-ray and CT scan on O’Sullivan’s injury showed no fracture and that she would work with the team’s medical staff on a “return to play” procedure. It did not says whether she would play in Ireland’s opening match against Australia next Thursday in Sydney. Media were reportedly not allowed to attend the Brisbane game. The World Cup hosted by Australia and New Zealand starts July 20. (AP)