Kolkata, May 11 (Football News) Chasing a maiden I-League title, local heavyweights Mohammedan Sporting will look to make the most of a dramatic twist of fortunes and go all out for a win against defending champions Gokulam Kerala here on Saturday.

The Malabarians, who had a six-point advantage over Mohammedan Sporting with two matches to go, needed a draw in their penultimate round clash against Sreenidi Deccan FC to clinch an unprecedented back-to-back I-League titles.

But the Deccan outfit's stunning 3-1 victory on Tuesday gave a lifeline to the local giants who also fought their way back to contention with a 2-0 win over Rajasthan United earlier in the day.

This means that the top two teams will face each other in the final game of the season in a winner-takes-all clash at the Salt Lake Stadium.

Having played out a 1-1 draw earlier in the season, neither Gokulam Kerala nor Mohammedan SC hold any advantage when it comes to head-to-head, as that parameter is considered before goal difference comes into the picture.

The equation is simple as Mohammedan SC will have to win in order to become I-League champions for the first time in their history.

They will also be looking forward to a massive home advantage with some serious backing from their supporters at the iconic venue.

"Now that we have our destiny in our own hands, we are going to give our 200 percent. There will be a huge crowd at the stadium and we are focused and we will be looking to give our all now," Mohammedan SC defender Manoj Mohammad said.

"I would like to thank all the supporters who came to the stadium and cheered on us in our game. Even when it was raining, they came to watch our match and have supported us throughout the tournament, even under difficult circumstances." Gokulam Kerala's brilliant unbeaten run throughout the season was halted with their defeat against Sreenidi Deccan but they have a safety net of three points over Mohammedan SC, which means even a draw would guarantee them an unprecedented second successive championship win.

Playing for a draw is never an ideal scenario but Gokulam Kerala, nevertheless, will be gunning for the win to write their name into the history books.

On the other hand, the Black and White brigade will be fired up after getting a golden chance to overturn the points deficit.

These two teams were considered favourites for the I-League title at the beginning of the season and they have lived up to that billing. 

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Kalyani (WB), Apr 13 (Football News) Mohammedan Sporting and Real Kashmir FC will face off in the I-League here on Thursday, both looking for a win after failing to achieve one in their respective outings last week.

The Black and White Brigade suffered a setback against RoundGlass Punjab in the last match while the Snow Leopards squandered a two-goal advantage against Rajasthan United to settle a solitary point.

The game will take place at the Kalyani Municipal Stadium.

Real Kashmir head coach David Robertson feels disappointed to concede late goals but wants to prepare in the best possible manner for the next few matches.

"It's disappointing. We scored two goals but couldn't hold on to the lead. We are lacking a bit of consistency. There are a few issues but we have to keep going and prepare as well as we can," he said.

On being asked about the opponents, the head coach said he understands the importance of the match for both teams.

"They have a very good team, especially the foreign players. We have to be consistent if we want to get positive results. It's a big game for both of us. Hopefully, we can get a good result," Robertson concluded.

Mohammedan Sporting head coach Andrey Chernyshov wants to rectify mistakes in the coming games.

"When we started the campaign, people expected us to win matches. It's football. You can't win all matches. We made a few mistakes in the first half of the last game. In the second half, we tried to score but we were unlucky," the head coach said.

Aizawl FC meet Sreenidi Deccan FC ===================== In Naihati, former champions Aizawl FC will take on Sreenidi Deccan FC, the former hoping to go all out in what is a must-win game for them.

Only three points will give the former champions any chance of making the top seven. They kept their hopes alive after a solid 2-0 win over NEROCA FC last time out, which pleased coach Yan Law.

"We controlled the game and defended as a unit to keep a clean sheet. If we keep doing that, we'll continue picking up points." The 18-year-old Ayush Dev Chhetri scored his second goal of the season and is quickly becoming a key member of the first team.

Sreenidi Deccan are returning to action after nine days and coach Fernando Santiago Varela welcomed the break.

Sreenidi's six-game unbeaten run came to an end against league leaders Gokulam Kerala as they went down 2-1.

NEROCA FC take on Rajasthan United ======================== NEROCA FC will face Rajasthan United FC in a crucial game which could have ramifications on who finishes in the top seven.

NEROCA head coach W. Khogen Singh believes his side did not play too badly in a 0-2 defeat to Aizawl in their last outing, having failed to utilise most of their chances. 

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Kalyani, (WB), Apr 6 (Football News) Mohammedan SC saw off a strong challenge from Rajasthan United FC to emerge 2–1 winners in the I-League here on Wednesday.

Two first half goals, courtesy Azharuddin Malick (16th) and Nikola Stojanovic (40th) set Mohammedan SC on their way. A stunning free kick from Julian Omar Ramos (70th) in the second half set up a nervy final showdown, but Mohammedan SC held their nerve to see out the game and reclaim the top spot in the league.

In Naihati, RoundGlass Punjab FC recorded their second successive victory as they defeated Indian Arrows 3-1.

In the day's third match, Kingslee Fernandes (90th) netted the winning goal for Churchill Brothers FC Goa in the dying moments as the Goans edged past Real Kashmir FC 1-0 to record their fourth victory of the season.

With this, RoundGlass have moved to the fourth spot on the table. They are now on par with Sreenidi Deccan FC with one game in hand.

Kurtis Guthrie (51st), Maheson Singh Tongbram (54th) and Rupert Nongrum (86th) were on target for RoundGlass while the Indian Arrows saw the margin of defeat reduced through a Jaspreet Singh own goal (90+7).

RoundGlass Punjab FC made a strong start to the game, pressing high and looking to generate chances right away. The Indian Arrows' youngsters dug deep as they planned to counterattack their opponents.

Kurtis Guthrie attempted a header in the 12th minute after Shankar Sampingiraj set him up with a corner kick, but his shot went over the bar.

Joseba Beita's free kick in the 16th minute gave them another chance, but the Spanish playmaker's cross ended up in no man's land. Guthrie attempted another shot in the 20th minute but failed in putting it past Indian Arrows goalie Syed Zahid Hussain Bukhari.

Indian Arrows were handed a blow in the 32nd minute when Velanco Rodrigues replaced an injured Suhail Ahmad Bhat, who was lifted off the ground following a collision with an opposition player.

RoundGlass' best chance of the first half came in the 36th minute when Maheson Singh Tongbram's spectacular effort was palmed away by Zahid. Three minutes later, Zahid denied his rivals once again by blocking Guthrie's attempt.

Three extra minutes were added at the end of the first half's regulation time, but nothing transpired.

However, the Punjab outfit struck thrice after the change of ends to ensure full points from the match. 

Also Read : RoundGlass Punjab FC beat Indian Arrows 3-1 (I-League)

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Naihati (WB), Apr 6 (Football News) RoundGlass Punjab FC recorded their second successive victory as they defeated Indian Arrows 3-1 in the I-League here on Wednesday.

With this, RoundGlass have moved to the fourth spot on the table. They are now on par with Sreenidi Deccan FC with one game in hand.

Kurtis Guthrie (51'), Maheson Singh Tongbram (54') and Rupert Nongrum (86) were on target for RoundGlass while the Indian Arrows saw the margin of defeat reduced through a Jaspreet Singh own goal (90+7).

RoundGlass Punjab FC made a strong start to the game, pressing high and looking to generate chances right away. The Indian Arrows' youngsters dug deep as they planned to counterattack their opponents.

Kurtis Guthrie attempted a header in the 12th minute after Shankar Sampingiraj set him up with a corner kick, but his shot went over the bar.

Joseba Beita's free kick in the 16th minute gave them another chance, but the Spanish playmaker's cross ended up in no man's land. Guthrie attempted another shot in the 20th minute but failed in putting it past Indian Arrows goalie Syed Zahid Hussain Bukhari.

Indian Arrows were handed a blow in the 32nd minute when Velanco Rodrigues replaced an injured Suhail Ahmad Bhat, who was stretched off the ground following a collision with an opposition player.

RoundGlass' best chance of the first half came in the 36th minute when Maheson Singh Tongbram's spectacular effort was palmed away by Zahid. Three minutes later, Zahid denied his rivals once again by blocking Guthrie's attempt.

Three extra minutes were added at the end of the first half's regulation time, but nothing transpired.

However, the Punjab outfit struck thrice after the change of ends to ensure full points from the match. 

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Kalyani (WB), Apr 4 (Football News) Unbeaten so far, defending champions Gokulam Kerala would look to notch their sixth win of the season and rise to the top of the I-League table when they take on Sreenidi Deccan FC here on Tuesday.

With 18 points from eight matches, Gokulam are second to table leaders Mohammedan Sporting (19 points from nine games) and they will go on top if they beat Sreenidi in a high-stake match between second and third placed sides.

It’s a reunion of sorts for many Gokulam players as they switched sides after winning the title last year.

“Tomorrow’s game is very important for us, especially because there are many ex-Gokulam players in Sreenidi like Awal, Shibil, Mayakkannan, Lalromawia, Salah and coach Varela as well. They will try everything to win. We need to be very focused on our mental preparation,” said Gokulam coach Vincenzo Annese.

“We want to dominate and win the second ball. They are strong opponents but I have full confidence in my team. We have solid strikers and defenders,” the Italian added.

One player in focus will be Sreenidi striker David Castañeda, who has scored seven goals already and will present a tough challenge for the Gokulam backline led by Cameroonian centre-back Aminou Bouba.

Sreenidi Deccan, on the other hand, continued their fine form, picking up their fourth win in the last five games after beating Kenkre 2-1.

Coach Fernando Santiago Varela said although his side made a defensive mistake and conceded on the counter attack, they were improving their capacity to control the game, which is why they were able to come back and win.

“We have to be in the top-7 first and then compete in the championship round to win the title. We’re always focused on how to do better than our previous match,” Varela said.

Varela was Gokulam’s coach two seasons ago and now has a few former Malabarians playing under him at Sreenidi.

“It doesn’t matter where my players have played before. We are a new team and my focus is to improve our players,” he said.

In the second match of the day, to be played at Naihati Stadium, Tiddim Road Athletic Union (TRAU) FC face former champions Aizawl FC.

After suffering three consecutive losses, TRAU will be aiming to get back on track while Aizawl look to bounce back from a narrow defeat in their previous game.

In the third match of the day, bottom-placed Kenkre FC will be aiming for their first win when they they take on another Manipur side NEROCA FC at Naihati Stadium.

The newly-promoted Mumbai club was beaten by Sreenidi Deccan in their previous outing by a slender margin. In contrast, NEROCA faced a 2-4 loss against Churchill Brothers in their previous match. 

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Kalyani (West Bengal), Apr 1 (Football News) Gokulam Kerala rode on their Jamaican forward Jourdain Fletcher's twin-strike to beat Aizawl FC 2-1 in their I-League fixture here on Friday.

Ayush Dev Chhetri pulled one back with a stunning 90th minute strike but the defending champions snuffed out Aizawl's efforts to bag three points.

Having missed a handful of chances, the Malabarians finally struck when Fletcher pounced on a loose ball to finish off the rebound in the 63rd minute.

Five minutes later, Aizawl almost equalised from a miss by their goalkeeper Rakshit Dagar, who reacted just in time to manage to hold on to their lead.

In the 88th minute, Gokulam doubled the lead with Fletcher bringing up his brace.

After Ayush's strike two minutes later, Aizawl pressed on the attack only to be reduced to 10 players in the 90+3rd minute when Robert Primus was sent off for denying Fletcher a goal-scoring opportunity.

The win maintained their second place in the table as they have 18 points, one point clear of Sreenidi Deccan FC with a match in hand.

At Naihati, Sreenidi Deccan rallied from behind to down Kenkre FC by an identical 2-1 margin, their sixth from eight matches. 

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Kalyani (WB), Mar 31 (Football News) NEROCA FC will be hoping to extend their unbeaten run in the I-League when they face Churchill Brothers at the Kalyani Stadium here on Friday.

The Orange Brigade has put in some strong performances since the beginning of the campaign and a scrappy win against the young Indian Arrows puts them in fourth position in the league.

"In the last match we had some changes because of the injuries but we played a solid match against the Indian Arrows. We improved our defence line and we tried to keep the ball as much as we could," said head coach W. Khogen Singh.

Talking about the injuries the coach said,"Sergio Mendigutxia is back from the injury and he will be available for the upcoming match, whereas Juan Mera is still injured and could be sidelined for the next 2-3 matches." On the other hand, Churchill Brothers after an inspiring draw against Sreenidi Deccan will be looking to bounce back with a win.

"For me, it is a very important project because I have the responsibility to bring back the club where it belongs, to the top," newly-appointed coach Antonio Rueda Fernández said.

"I know it will be a difficult task, as all the teams in the league are very good but we have great players in our squad who can help us to win the games," he said.

High-flying Sreenidi Deccan FC and bottom-placed Kenkre FC will clash in another match at the Naihati Stadium.

Sreenidi are unbeaten in the last five games, and in third place. They were, however, held to a 1-1 draw by Churchill, ending their three-game winning run.

“There are still things we can do better. We want to improve our finishing and our defensive phases. But of course we’re in a good position in the table in our first season, which isn’t easy,” said coach Fernando Santiago Varela.

Kenkre sit last in the table with just two points after seven games, but they’ve started to find some solidity in defence, letting in just two goals in their last three games.

“It’s important for us to be in control of the game throughout the 90 minutes. We want to improve our attack and capitalise on our chances,” said coach Akhil Kothari.

In the third game of the day, former winners Aizawl FC take on defending champions Gokulam Kerala FC.

The Malabarians are coming into the match after back-to-back draws, while Aizawl FC are looking confident having won three of their last four matches.

“We have started picking up points. It looks much better. I am happy with the performance. However, we want to control the game more and we are creating chances but we need to convert them," Aizawl FC head coach Yan Law said.

“We have done our homework. We know what we need to do." Gokulam Kerala FC head coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese wants to rectify the mistakes from the previous matches.

“We tried to understand where we need to improve in the coming matches. We need to do more in pressing and wing play.

"Players have to work hard and keep focus during tough situations. It’s always a good opportunity to rectify mistakes after a draw,” said Annese. 

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Kalyani (WB), Mar 27 (Football News) After notching up a hat-trick of wins, new entrants Sreenidi Deccan would look to continue their strong form when they face Churchill Brothers in their I-League match here on Monday.

The Goan side, on the other hand, would look to start collecting points to progress further.

Sreenidi Deccan FC head coach Fernando Santiago Valera will be facing his former side, who came close to lifting the title last year under his guidance.

“Last season was an amazing experience for me and the club. We fought for the title in the last match of the season. However, it’s a new season. Every team provides different challenges. I am focusing on my players,” Valera said on the eve of the match.

“They are a very good team with quality foreigners and Indian players. We have the momentum and we need to keep winning matches. Our intentions are clear, to get all three points.” Churchill are coming to the match on the back of a win against Aizawl FC.

Assistant coach Mateus Costa wants his players to perform as a team.

"We have some fantastic players. The communication between the players is improving every day. We have to perform as a team. We want to go there and start scoring goals," he said.

In the other matches on Monday, former champions Aizwal FC play against Kenkre FC here while NEROCA face All India Football Federation's developmental side Indian Arrows at Naihati stadium. 

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Kolkata, Mar 23 (Cricket News) A tough task awaits the young guns of Indian Arrows as they run into an in-form Sreenidi Deccan FC in the I-League match, even as Churchill Brothers hope for change in fortunes against Aizawl FC here on Thursday.

In another match, after suffering back-to-back defeats, Sudeva Delhi FC will be looking to get back on track against unbeaten Neroca FC. The latter are coming to the match after settling for draws in the last two matches.

After picking up four points in their first two games, Indian Arrows have had a tough time with two losses in the last three matches which has seen them drop to 10th in the table.

Shanmugam Venkatesh's men were beaten 2-0 by Aizawl in their last outing, marking their third straight match, where they failed to score.

Venkatesh was, however, quick to take the positives from the game.

"The first 45 minutes were the best we have played in the last four games. I can see the players' progression. I'm also happy with their positioning on the pitch." Newcomers Sreenidi are starting to find their feet in the I-League with two wins on the bounce. They also picked up an elusive first clean sheet of the season in the 1-0 victory over Sudeva Delhi on Sunday.

Despite the win, coach Fernando Santiago Varela wasn't fully satisfied.

"We have the capacity to control the game better. I'm not a coach who just looks at the results. I want the players to get better and improve their game," he said.

Varela affirmed that his side cannot afford to be complacent against Indian Arrows.

"We await a tough match against coach Venkatesh's side. I don't take them lightly. Arrows are improving every year. They show a lot of attacking intent so we have to take care of that." Sudeva Delhi FC head coach, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, is looking to keep the players motivated ahead of the crucial match.

Wadoo said that from now on his team will need to approach each game as a final.

"Obviously, Neroca FC are a very good team. They are unbeaten so far. Their performance shows where they stand currently. However, we have to execute our plans and focus on developing other players," the coach said.

On the other hand, Neroca FC head coach Khogen Singh wants to keep the momentum in the upcoming matches.

"In the last two matches, we had to settle for draws against very good teams. We are playing well but conceding goals in the closing minutes. We have to make sure that we finish the game very well," Singh mentioned.

After a morale-boosting win against league leaders Mohammedan SC, Churchill Brothers were hoping to revive their campaign after a poor start but that fell flat as they went down to Rajasthan United FC in the previous game, increasing the pressure on assistant coach Mateus Costa and the players.

"We have been keeping the ball well and not playing too badly but the results are just not coming for us and at the end of the day, it is those that count," said Costa.

"It is time for the players to pull up their socks and make it count if we are to have any chance of making it to the championship stage." Aizawl FC have won two in two matches after failing to win their first four and this represents a good opportunity for them to make it three wins in a row.

After chopping and changing personnel in their first few games, Aizawl FC seem to have settled on a stable starting XI and head coach Yan Law believes that has also been a contributing factor to their recent form.

"When there is stability, each player knows their roles and the movements of those around them. It also helps them familiarize themselves to training ground drills and specific patterns of play," Law said. 

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Vasco, Mar 15 (Football News) Kerala Blasters FC entered the ISL final for the first time since 2016 after playing out a 1-1 draw with Jamshedpur FC on Tuesday and pipping the League Shield winners 2-1 on aggregate over double leg semi-finals.

Adrian Luna (18th) opened the scoring for Kerala with a stunning goal before Pronay Halder (50th) pulled one back for the Red Miners, who needed one more goal to take the game to extra time but another solid performance by the Kerala backline ensured they held firm to confirm a place in the summit clash.

In the first leg, Sahal Abdul Samad scored the only goal in a 1-0 win for Kerala who made it to their third ISL final. They were the finalists in the inaugural 2014 edition as well.

The yellow shirts started the second leg without the injured Sahal but showed no signs of slowing down, almost taking the lead inside the first two minutes had Alvaro Vazquez not tried to be cheeky when one on one with the keeper, dinking the ball over T.P. Rehenesh in Jamshedpur goal and wide of the far post.

Four minutes later, Vazquez got possession deep inside his own half to then set up Ayush Adhikari but Rehenesh was alert to the danger, coming out of his line in time. Kerala found a lot of joy as Jamshedpur full-backs pushed forward leaving a lot of spaces for their rivals to exploit.

Adhikari got another chance from a Jorge Diaz cross but Jamshedpur skipper Peter Hartley put his body on the line to snuff out the danger.

Vazquez atoned for his miss earlier in the half soon after, flicking on a delightful pass from the left flank for Luna who darted in, dropped a shoulder and curled a side-footed effort past Rehenesh and into the right corner.

At the break, Kerala led 2-0 on aggregate. Five minutes into the re-start, Halder nicked one in to get Jamshedpur back in the game, poking in a Stewart corner which was initially met by Chima whose header lacked power and fell to Halder who netted from two yards out. But that wasn't going to be enough for Jamshedpur. 

Also Read : I-League: RoundGlass Punjab FC goes down 1-2 against Sreenidi Deccan FC

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Kalyani (WB), Mar 15 (Football News) RoundGlass Punjab FC went down 1-2 to Sreenidi Deccan FC in their I-League match on Tuesday.

Sreenidi Deccan FC took the lead as a shot from inside the box by Louis Ogana took a deflection off a defender and went into the net in the 23rd minute.

Punjab FC increased the pressure on the opposition defence in search of an equalizer, which eventually came in the 39th minute through Sumit Passi.

Aakash Sangwan played in a superb cross from the left flank, which was headed home in fine style by an onrushing Passi to level the score.

One almost became two for RoundGlass Punjab FC one minute before half-time as CK Vineeth fired a shot from close range, which narrowly missed the target. Both teams headed into the breather with the scores level at 1-1.

Sreenidi Deccan took the lead in the 56th minute through Ogana. Aphaoba Singh, Maheson Singh, Lalchhuanmawia Fanai and Robin Singh came on as substitutes as RoundGlass Punjab FC hunted for an equaliser.

Bikash Yumnam put the ball in the back of the net midway through the second half but it was ruled out for an off-side decision.

Maheson came close to scoring in the 86th minute with a curling shot, which went wide of the post.

In its next encounter, RoundGlass Punjab FC will face NEROCA FC on March 20. 

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Kolkata, Mar 14 (Football News) NEROCA FC will look to continue their unbeaten run when they take on a struggling Real Kashmir FC in an I-League fixture at the Kalyani Stadium here on Tuesday.

The Manipur outfit are fresh from their comfortable win over TRAU, their second from three matches, to be in fourth place in the table with seven points with a match in hand.

All eyes would be on NEROCA's Spanish recruit Sergio Mendigutxia, who slammed a debut hattrick for the Imphal outfit in their 3-2 win over Sreenidi Deccan in their opening match of the season.

"I am very happy at the club and would like to continue. Our boys will fight to get all three points. I am very comfortable here and want to keep working," the 28-year-old centre forward said.

Coming from a week's break, NEROCA will also start fresh and head coach Khogen Singh is confident this will benefit his team a lot.

"We had a few tactical training sessions. The boys are fresh and want to win all three points," the NEROCA coach said.

He further warned against complacency and said: "Real Kashmir are a good team who play long balls over the top of the defence. We have to make sure that we win the second ball. Players need to press accordingly to find spaces. We have to be clinical to get all three points." The Snow Leopards have been struggling with their porous defence as they had to settle for a 1-1 draw after conceding a 90th minute goal against Sreenidi Deccan FC.

Before that they suffered a 1-5 rout against Gokulam Kerala FC and currently lie in fifth place with five points from four matches.

"We worked hard in the last match and played well. Unfortunately, we didn't get the result we wanted," experienced midfielder Pradesh Shirodkar said.

"NEROCA FC are a good team and we have to play well and be positive to get all three points," he added.

Former champs Aizawl FC desperate to open account ==================================== In the opening fixture of the day at the Naihati Stadium, bottom-placed Aizawl FC will be desperate to open their account when they take on Sudeva Delhi FC.

The former I-League champions endured a 3-4 defeat at the hands of RoundGlass Punjab FC in the last round to suffer their fourth successive loss.

Head coach Yan Law is confident that they are about to turn the corner.

"We know our strengths and this is not where we want to be. We've been performing well and I'm proud of the boys.

"The points are not coming but we are controlling the game, creating chances. We are targeting the biggest comeback in I-League history," Law said.

The Delhi ouftit, coached by former India International Mehrajuddin Wadoo, are currently in seventh place with one win, one loss and two draws.

The main concern has been their profligacy up front and Wadoo stressed on converting their chances.

"We are lacking in some areas, we created chances even though we couldn't convert them which is a concern. But as long as we are playing as a unit, I am not worried," said Wadoo.

He further said Aizawl FC would be all fired up to notch up their first points.

"They are still a very good team despite having not won yet. The league table doesn’t reflect their quality. They will be hungry for points,” he added.

Punjab eyeing top spot vs Sreenidi Deccan ============================= RoundGlass Punjab FC, who pipped Aizawl FC in a seven-goal thriller, will have a chance to go past leaders Mohammedan Sporting when they take on Sreenidi Deccan FC at Kalyani Stadium.

The third-placed Punjab side have three wins and one draw to be on 10 points, two shy of Mohammedan Sporting.

Deccan are on four points with one win, one draw and two losses.

Tomorrow's fixtures Suveda Delhi vs Aizawl FC (At Naihati, Kickoff: 2pm); RoundGlass Punjab FC vs Sreenidi Deccan (At Kalyani, Kickoff: 4.30pm); Real Kashmir v NEROCA (Kickoff: 7.30pm). 

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Kalyani, Mar 10 (Football News) Real Kashmir FC and Sreenidi Deccan FC will look to return to winning ways after suffering defeats in their previous ties, when they face each other in a Hero I-League match here at the Kalyani Stadium here on Friday.

While Real Kashmir were thrashed by defending champions Gokulam Kerala 5-1, Sreenidi went down fighting against league leaders Mohammedan SC 1-3 in their previous match.

Real Kashmir are placed sixth in the league standings with four points from three games, while Sreenidi are a rung below with three points same number of matches.

Even though his side was battered by Gokulam in its last match, Real Kashmir head coach David Robertson has moved on from that disappointing outing.

"The morale in the team is fantastic. Going down to 10 men so early in the game is not ideal but we have to look past that now," he said.

In what would be their first rematch after the 2021 IFA Shield final, the Snow Leopards take on Sreenidi, whom they beat 2-1 to claim the crown last year.

But Robertson knows the challenge that awaits them.

"They (Sreenidi) are a fantastic team with some great players and it is not going to be an easy game for sure," the Scotsman said.

"As they are also coming into this game on the back of a defeat, they will be up for it and that should make for a great game." Sreenidi Deccan head coach Fernando Santiago Varela is confident that his team will learn from their mistakes going forward.

"They have shown for a long time that they are a strong team and have been competing at the top," said Varela.

"It was unfortunate that they had to play almost the entire game with a man down so we will be ready for a reaction from them." In another tie, Rajasthan United FC and Sudeva Delhi FC will face off against each other riding high on confidence as both the sides registered wins in their previous matches.

Rajasthan United head coach Francesc Bonet is aiming for consistency in their upcoming matches.

"Every win gives confidence. The boys are working hard every day. It always helps the team to believe what we want to achieve. Like in the last match, we would fight until the end." "Sudeva Delhi is a tough opponent to play against. They defend very well. We have seen their performances in the last few matches. We have our plans and will be aiming to get the victory," Bonet said.

Sudeva head coach Mehrajuddin Wadoo is looking at the positives but wants his players to cut down on their mistakes.

"The last match was good. The players gave their hundred per cent and executed the plans successfully. If we want to be somewhere around the top, we should win matches. As a team, we need to minimise mistakes and go for positive results," he said. 

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Kalyani (West Bengal), Mar 6 (Football News) Defending champions Gokulam Kerala would look for revenge of their IFA Shield defeat when they lock horns against Real Kashmir FC in an I-League match here on Monday.

Gokulam were defeated in the semifinals of the IFA Shield by Real Kashmir FC in December last.

The Malabarians drew their previous match against NEROCA and will be looking to improve their performance on Monday.

"We need to create more space in the build-up and more opportunities in attack. We have concentrated on quality passing and the team needs to understand to get more possession to create more chances and get control in the game," coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese said.

The Kerala side have scored just one goal in two matches and they are looking to improve in that count also.

"We are not worried about the lack of goals because we have a quality striker like Luka (Majcen) but have to create chances for him, which we have not done in the previous matches," the coach said.

The Snow Leopards, on the other hand, were pleased with their performance against Kenkre FC in their earlier match.

"In the first half, it took a little while for the team to get going due to quarantine and lack of training, but in the second half we were very good and deserved to win, but unfortunately we couldn't get our second goal, but the performance was excellent," head coach David Robertson said.

Real Kashmir have a good record against Gokulam Kerala, having won two and lost none of their previous five games.

In Monday's second match, table-toppers Mohammedan Sporting and the new entrants Sreenidi Deccan FC will clash at the Naihati Stadium.

After securing back-to-back victories, the Black and White Brigade will be looking to extend their lead at the top. Head coach Andrey Chernyshov is targeting a hat-trick of wins.

"Sreenidi played two games and got a victory in the last match. They have some quality players with good experience. I will analyse them and talk with my players about the plan. We are focusing on our game and looking forward to the game," Chernyshov said.

Manipur sides TRAU FC and NEROCA FC face each other in Imphal derby at Kalyani stadium in the third match of the day. 

Also Read : Jamshedpur FC to miss Mobashir in League Shield decider

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Naihati (West Bengal), Mar 3 (Football News) David Munoz scored a brace as Sreenidi Deccan FC beat TRAU FC 3-1 to notch up their maiden win in the I-League here on Thursday.

Munoz scored in the second and 41st minutes while Louis Ugochukwu Ogana (30th) struck in between for Sreenidi Deccan. Akobir Turaev (33rd) scored a consolation goal for TRAU.

Sreenidi Deccan kicked off the proceedings in style with Munoz getting the first goal in just the second minute of the match. Munoz got another opportunity in the seventh minute but TRAU goalkeeper Amrit Gope was quick to deflect the ball to his right.

Salam Johnson Singh and Joseph Olaleye started linking up well on the front lines as TRAU started dominating possession.

In the 25th minute, a diagonal cross from Netrajit Singh inside the box towards Salam Johnson Singh provided a big opportunity for TRAU to get the equaliser. But Sreenidi Deccan goalkeeper Shibinraj Kunniyil kept his calm and averted the danger.

In the 29th minute, Sreenidi Deccan extended their lead with Louis Ogana receiving the ball from the right and sending it towards bottom-right corner past TRAU goalkeeper Amrit Gope.

But Akobir Turaev managed to get one goal back minutes later, as he struck a right-footed shot into the nets, bringing TRAU back into the contest.

In the 40th minute, a free-kick inside the box from Lal Chungnunga was headed in by David Munoz to again extend Sreenidi Deccan's lead by two goals.

In the second match of the day at Kalyani, NEROCA and Gokulam Kerala FC played out a goal-less draw.

The Spanish duo of Juan Mera and Sergio Mendiguchia were at the heart of NEROCA’s creative engine and looked the likeliest source for the Manipuri side to break the deadlock.

Combative midfielder Jiteshwor Singh had an influential first half as well, proving to be a bundle of energy and winning the ball back for NEROCA FC on multiple occasions.

But in the end, both sides could not find a goal. 

Also Read : Churchill Brothers look to bounce back from first round defeat, Kenkre FC to make debut

News Source : PTI

Kolkata, Mar 2 (Football News) The I-League will resume here on Thursday with newcomers Sreenidi Deccan FC looking for their first-ever point in the tournament when they take on last season's third-place team TRAU FC. On January 3, the I-League was suspended for at least six weeks by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) after a fresh COVID-19 outbreak hit the participating teams inside the bio-bubble in Kolkata.

Sreenidi Deccan are targeting their first-ever points in the I-League after they were beaten 2-3 by Neroca FC on the opening day of the league.

"During the break, we signed two more foreign players (Kheir and Ogana), which is good for the team. We couldn't win our first game, but the break gave us more time to correct our mistakes," said coach Fernando Santiago Varela.

Girik Khosla scored Sreenidi's first-ever Hero I-League goal against Neroca and coach Varela was all praise for him.

"Girik has the quality to play in any tournament in the country. He is hungry to learn new things. He is very versatile and is an important player for us." Sreenidi have assembled a solid backline with the pairing of Hamza Kheir and Mohamed Awal in defence.

"For me, Hamza and Awal were the two best centre-backs in the Hero I-League last year. Both will contribute a lot with their experience," claimed Varela.

Awal said that the I-League is a tough challenge.

"We can win, lose or draw. Whatever happens, we move on because there are more games ahead. We don't dwell on the past, we think about the next game. Most importantly, we need our first win in the league." The Ghanaian added that the team doesn't solely depend on foreigners.

"Once we sign for the league, we are professionals. I don't understand the difference between foreigners and local players because we're all football players and stay as a family." TRAU FC got their first taste of life without last season's top-scorer Bidyashagar Singh as they were held goalless by a resolute Indian Arrows defence on match day one in December.

"We were pretty disappointed with the result against Arrows as we couldn't score. Against Sreenidi, we have to get all three points. We watched their last match and analysed them," said assistant coach Surmani Singh.

TRAU added two new Brazilian players to the squad during the break -- Douglas Santana and Fernandinho.

Gerard Williams also returned to the team after two years.

"We have a lot of expectations from all the new players. We know about Williams' quality as he was with us previously," he added.

TRAU have also signed promising defender Buanthanglun Samte, who is hoping to make his Hero I-League debut.

"The break was beneficial for me as I was injured during December and now I've come back stronger," said the youngster. 

Also Read : Azpilicueta and Christensen on the verge of joining Barcelona

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Kolkata, Jan 3 (Football News) The I-League was on Monday suspended for at least six weeks by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) after a fresh COVID-19 outbreak hit the participating teams inside the bio-bubble here.

It has been learnt that the total number of COVID-19 cases now stands at 45 after the latest round of tests which prompted the AIFF to suspend the league for six weeks.

"The League Committee, abiding consensus of all participating clubs as per the suggestion of Dr Harsh Mahajan (member of AIFF Sports Medical Committee) ratified the decision to postpone the ongoing Hero I-League 2021-22 for at least 6 weeks," the AIFF said in a release.

The I-League Committee, chaired by senior AIFF vice-president Subrata Dutta, will have a review meeting after four weeks to take stock of the situation and decide the future course of action.

The health protocols of the bio-bubble will continue till January 7, as all teams will be tested again on Wednesday. The teams can travel back to their respective destinations once they are tested negative.

Players and officials, who have tested positive in the team hotels and have already been isolated, will be treated and quarantined in Kolkata as per the health parameters laid down. They will be allowed to leave the bio-bubble after they test negative.

The fresh round of COVID-19 cases has thrown the I-League into jeopardy. With COVID-19 cases surging throughout the country, including in Kolkata and its suburbs where the I-League is being held, it will be a tough task ahead for the organisers to resume it.

"The omicron variant spreads very fast but also comes down very rapidly. We also need to take account and consider the government regulations and policies," Mahajan said, giving hope of resumption of the I-League after the situation gets better.

Mahajan informed the clubs and the AIFF about the rising number of cases in the country, the new COVID-19 norms and restrictions being implemented by West Bengal government.

The clubs appreciated the efforts made by the AIFF to give paramount importance to the health and safety of the players and officials.

"The AIFF did their best under the circumstances and helped the players and officials in the best possible way. We appreciate their efforts," Real Kashmir owner Sandeep Chattoo told PTI.

On December 29, I-League was suspended for a week after COVID-19 breached its bio-bubble. Eight players and three officials had tested positive for the dreaded virus, last week.

Five players and three team officials from Real Kashmir FC, one player each from Mohammedan Sporting, debutants Sreenidi Deccan FC and Aizawl FC had returned positive.

Thirteen teams are competing in this year's I-League across three venues -- the Mohun Bagan Ground in Kolkata, the Kalyani Stadium at Kalyani and the Naihati Stadium at Naihati.

Only six matches of the I-League season have been played so far -- on December 26 and 27 -- before it was suspended. 

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News Source : PTI

Kolkata, Dec 29 (Football News) The continuation of I League was on Wednesday thrown into doubt after multiple COVID-19 cases were reported among participating teams, staying and competing inside a bio-bubble.

It has been learnt that more than 10 participants, including at least seven players have tested positive for the virus.

Five players from Real Kashmir FC and at least one each from Mohammedan Sporting and debutants Sreenidi Deccan FC were among those who returned positive in the tests conducted on Tuesday.

"Five players and three officials from Real Kashmir and at least one player each from Mohammedan Sporting and Sreenidi Deccan FC are among those positive cases," a top league source told PTI.

An emergency meeting of the League Committee has been called to take a decision on continuation or suspension of the league that began on December 26.

"I-League is not yet suspended and we will take a decision in the emergency meeting of the league committee at 4pm today," the source added. 

Also Read : Hyderabad emphatically defeat Odisha 6-1 in the Indian Super League

News Source : PTI

Kalyani (WB), Dec 26 (Football News) An in-form Real Kashmir FC is confident of beginning its I-League campaign with a win when it faces former champions Aizawl FC here on Monday.

Real Kashmir have come into the I-League high on confidence after successfully defending their IFA Shield title earlier this month in Kolkata.

Their head coach David Robertson sounded confident of doing well in the league.

"Our preparation was very good. We came early to Kolkata. The team played a few friendlies and took part in IFA Shield. We played four I-League teams, and the team is looking solid in terms of fitness," Robertson said at the pre-match conference.

"Aizawl is a very competitive side. They have some quality players. It will be a tough game for sure. We will make sure that we turn up and get all three points." He said his side will take one game at a time as any team is capable of defeating any other on a given day.

"We are ready for the challenge. We are looking forward to the season.” In another match on Monday, Manipur side Neroca FC will be up against debutants Sreenidi Deccan FC in their opening match at the Naihati stadium.

NEROCA head coach Khogen Singh said his players are looking forward to begin with a win.

"Sreenidi is a very good team. We have seen them play the IFA Shield. They have many young players and their coach is experienced. They are a competitive side. We will analyze them and we are looking to getting the three points from the match," Khogen said.

Sreenidi head coach Fernando Varela is also confident about the capabilities of his squad.

"We have had a very good preseason in Hyderabad. We played the IFA Shield to figure out our level. Our players have character and personality. They will try their best to get all three points in the first match." In the third match of the day, Mohammedan Sporting of Kolkata will lock horns against Sudeva Delhi FC at the Naihati Stadium.

It has been a good year for Mohammedan Sporting with Durand Cup final appearance followed by their first Calcutta Football League title win in 40 years.

However, head coach Andrey Chernyshov stated that the I-League will be a different ball game.

"We've waited for this game for four months. The first game is always special. We'll take one game at a time in the league. There are many teams who are favourites to win the trophy," said Chernyshov.

The Black Panthers have signed former Gokulam Kerala striker Marcus Joseph, known for his clinical finishing.

"We respect Sudeva Delhi. They have a lot of young players who have the hunger and desire to win," the Russian coach said.

Sudeva Delhi had a competitive debut season in 2020-21, finishing eighth. They have once again opted to compete with an all-Indian squad under new head coach Mehrajuddin Wadoo this season. 

Also Read : Bizarre beginning to I-League: Debutants Rajasthan United left to play with 9 players

Newt Source : PTI

Kolkata, Dec 15 (Football News) Real Kashmir FC showed tremendous resilience to pull off a stunning 2-1 win over a spirited Sreenidi Deccan FC and lift their second successive IFA Shield title here on Wednesday.

The David Robertson-coached side endured a below-par outing in the first half as the I-League debutants from Vizag dominated with their superior tactical and technical display, with a 30th-minute strike by their Colombian centre-forward David Castaneda Munoz.

Deccan FC staved off some valiant attacks by RKFC in the second half and all they had to do was to see through the final three minutes to cap their dream journey with a maiden title on debut.

But their inexperience came to the fore as RKFC made a dramatic turnaround riding on their dependable Spaniard and Scottish duo of Fran Gonzalez and Mason Lee Robertson who struck one each to help their side emerge winners.

In the last edition too, RKFC had pulled off an identical 2-1 win over George Telegraph with their goalkeeper Mithun Samanta saving a penalty in the closing minutes.

The club's elated owner, Sandeep Chattoo, dedicated the win to the die-hard fans and supporters of RKFC in the valley.

"The boys have made Kashmir proud. Indeed it's a glory that will bring lots and lots of cheers to the supporters of RKFC back in the valley," Chattoo told PTI.

"Three local boys were playing in the squad. It gives me immense pleasure and all kudos to the team for keeping the flag of Snow Leopards high and flying despite all odds." "A team as young as five years old has made history after a decade by clinching the IFA shield twice in a row. I would also like to thank coach David and must say that my belief in my coach is impeccable." The Fernando Santiago Varela-coached outfit, which was the latest entrant in this year's I-League and was launched less than six months ago, dominated the proceedings early on.

Their attacking midfielder Girik Khosla set it up from the left as David tapped the ball brilliantly and turned it around to fire in a powerful right-footer to give Deccan the early advantage and score his fourth goal of the tournament.

In the second half, RKFC stepped it up but could not convert their chances with Thoi Singh missing two sitters in front of the goalmouth.

In the 66th minute, Thoi squandered a fine opportunity when he was set up brilliantly by a Mason throw-in but Thoi's shot hit the upright.

Time was fast running out for RKFC with the match getting into the second-half stoppage time as Sanchez brought up the equaliser in the 90+3rd minute to take the match into the extra time.

It was Mason who set it up with a clinical centre from the right as Sanchez chested the ball before shooting from an acute angle.

In the 100th minute, Mason seized on a superbly connected centre from Pratesh Shirodkar and towered above his rival defender for a winning header.

Deccan FC gave it their all and also brought in their goalkeeper CK Ubaid into the attack in the dying minutes of the extra-time but RKFC defence held on. 

Also Read : Real Kashmir storm into second successive IFA Shield final

News Source : PTI

Kolkata, Dec 14 (Football News) I-League debutants Sreenidi Deccan FC, with their resolute and compact defence, stand in the way of Real Kashmir's bid for a second successive title when the two teams clash in the IFA Shield final here on Wednesday.

Less than six months after being launched, the Vizag outfit is in the middle of a fairytale campaign making into the final of the second oldest football tournament of the country on debut.

The Santiago Varela-coached outfit showed supreme ball control and maintained intensity to edge out Railway FC 2-1 in the extra-time at the East Bengal ground.

The Deccan club has showcased a high level of finesse and executed their plans meticulously throughout the tournament.

But what has stood out has been their resolute defence conceding just two goals from five matches as the likes of Mason Robertson and Fran Gonzalez will have a tough ask in hand when the two teams clash it out.

That they have already played in the same venue will act as an advantage for Deccan outfit.

"We are fully prepared for the match. Yes they have played the final last year too but that's not playing in our mind," defender Samad Ali Mallick, who is well aware of the conditions with his past experience in East Bengal, said.

"We are focused on our game. We have trained in Hyderabad for last two months and it's showing in our collective game in this tournament.

"We're very excited to play the final in such a short duration. No team will look to afford an inch, it will be a strong fight," he added.

Coach Varela said, "We have showed good football in each of our game. But RKFC would be a tough challenge. We will try to do our job, control the game." Real Kashmir have been supreme in the attack with the likes of Mason, Gonzalez and Shahnawaz Bashir putting up a cohesive display in the midfield.

The only blip has been against the Calcutta Customs when they lost out by a solitary goal in their league outing.

"We have played three I-League teams so far, it gives a lot of confidence to be in the final of a tournament ahead of the I-League," David said.

"We enjoyed our last season and somehow managed to be in the final this time. We will play with the same intensity." David further said the Deccan outfit would pose a big challengeand it does not matter that they're debutants.

"They know our team quite well, they have an experienced coach. It would be a very, very difficult team game. Anything can happen," David said.

"I don't think we start as strong favourites. It all comes down to hard work on the pitch," Mason Robertson said.

Kickoff: 1.30pm IST. 

Also Read : Real Kashmir storm into second successive IFA Shield final

News Source : PTI

Kalyani (WB), Dec 12 (Football News) Defending champions Real Kashmir FC beat Gokulam Kerala FC 2-1 to enter the final of the IFA Shield football tournament here on Sunday.

The Malabarians dominated possession but the David Robertson-coached RKFC put up a cohesive display and converted their chances to storm into their second final on the trot.

In the summit clash of the 124th IFA Shield on Wednesday, the Snow Leopards will face Sreenidi Deccan FC who scored a hard-fought 2-1 win over Railway FC in extra-time.

Mason Lee Robertson scored the opening goal with his 23rd minute header, while Thoi Singh doubled the lead from a Surchandra Chandam Singh corner in a space of eight minutes.

Shahnawaz Bashir was brilliant in the role of the playmaker and was instrumental in setting it up from the corner as he was adjudged man-of-the-match.

The Kerala outfit pulled one back through Robin Singh in the 45+3rd minute, capitalising on a momentary lapse from the goalkeeper Bilal Husain Khan.

"It's really commendable for the fact that we defeated two top I-League clubs -- first local heavyweights Mohammedan Sporting and now Gokulam Kerala FC -- to make the final. The boys have put up a spirited show," RKFC founder Sandeep Chattoo told PTI.

"Hard work does pay off and so have the boys of RKFC done today. Kudos to them especially today's man of the match Shahnawaz Bashir who was exceptionally brilliant.

"The RKFC led by its coach David will surely repeat their performance in the final." Mason Lee Robertson looked threatening up front and almost scored in the 21st minute but his shot came off the crosspiece.

Two minutes later, he finally gave the lead after Pratesh Shirodkar set it up with a clinical centre as the GKFC defenders were nowhere to be seen.

An unmarked Mason just had to head the ball into the far corner with goalkeeper Rakshit Dagar in no position to collect it to give them the lead.

Shahnawaz got to a perfect position and set it up for Thoi from a goalmouth melee as the Manipur midfielder showed fine reflexes to turn it around and score from the rebound to give them a 2-0 cushion.

RKFC almost scored a third in the 42nd minute but Mason's header missed the target this time.

Against the run of play, GKFC pulled one back after RKFC goalkeeper Bilal Husain Khan failed to collect the ball.

But that was the lone moment of joy for the Kerala outfit who failed to make further inroads with RKFC putting up a resolute defensive display after the changeover.

"We're delighted to win today, we played extremely well in the first half and deserved to be 2-0 up, we lost a goal in the last minute of the first half and had to defend well in the second half. We showed so much grit and passion," RKFC's Scottish gaffer David Robertson said.

"We look forward to playing in our second consecutive IFA shield final which alone is a fantastic achievement for the club but we want to give it our all to retain the Shield," he added. 

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News Source : PTI

Kolkata, Dec 8 (Football news) Defending champions Real Kashmir FC fought hard to beat local heavyweights Mohammedan Sporting 1-0 in the extra time to advance to the semi-finals of the 124th IFA Shield in Kalyani on Wednesday.

RKFC's Mizoram recruit Lalchhawnkima struck the all-important goal in the 98th minute to take them to their second successive semi-finals of the IFA Shield.

Earlier both the teams pressed hard but could not get a decisive goal taking the match into the extra time.

In another quarterfinal at the East Bengal ground, Sreenidi Deccan FC beat George Telegraph, riding on a 70th minute goal from Lalromawia.

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News Source : PTI

New Delhi, Dec 7 (Football news) This year's I-League season will kick off on December 26 in Kolkata with a match between TRAU FC of Manipur and All India Football Federation's developmental side Indian Arrows.

The matches will be played across three venues -- Mohun Bagan Ground in Kolkata, Kalyani Stadium and Naihati Stadium.

With three new entrants -- Sreenidi Deccan FC of Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan United FC and Kenkre FC of Kolhapur -- this season, the number of teams has increased to 13. All of them, along with the referees, officials and volunteers, will be housed inside bio-secured bubbles in four different hotels across Kolkata.

"The AIFF has been a pioneer in Indian sporting ecosystem in hosting sporting events from inside bio-bubbles, and we are happy to continue providing a safe heaven for players, referees, and everyone else involved in running the league," said AIFF Leagues CEO Sunando Dhar in a release.

"We need to thank all our partners, because the logistical and financial effort to house 13 teams in a bio-bubble for an entire season would not have been possible without their help." Rajasthan United FC and Kenkre FC have made their way to the I-League by virtue of finishing first and second in the Qualifiers.

As per the tournament format, all the teams will play against each other once in a round-robin format in Phase 1, before being split into two groups in Phase 2 of the league. The top seven teams will make up Group A and the bottom six will make up Group B.

Once the divisions are made after the end of Phase I, the teams of each group will play against each another in a single leg round-robin format. While the teams in Group A will play to determine the champions, those in Group B will be in a relegation battle.

Also Read : Consistency key for Hyderabad as Bengaluru attempt resurgence

News Source : PTI

New Delhi, Jul 8 (Football news) Sreenidi Deccan FC, the latest entrants into the Hero I-League this season, was launched in Visakhapatnam with Andhra Pradesh Sports Minister Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao attending the event as the chief guest.

Also present at the launch of the based club on Wednesday were All India Football Federation General Secretary Kushal Das and AIFF Leagues CEO Sunando Dhar among others.

Speaking on the occasion, the state Sports Minister remarked, “Mental and physical fitness is coming to Visakhapatnam in such a big way." Das stated, “We welcome Sreenidi Deccan FC to the Hero I-League, and it’s great to see a team from Vizag in the elite group, which would be having the best facilities.” Sreenidhi will have their first experience of playing in the I-League 2021-22 later this season. The 2021-22 edition of the I-League is set to kick off in December in Kolkata, the pandemic situation permitting.

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News source: PTI