newsletter AUGUST 31, 2015 Turf inaugurated Page 2 Aditi scripts history Page 4 GPS debut for India Page 1
GPS TRACKERS USED IN NATIONAL TEAM TRAINING From the GS Desk Modern Football is all about embracing modern methods of training. Keeping in mind the involvement of Sports Science in the development of every Sport leave aside Football, AIFF have introduced the Player Tracker System for the Indian National Team s training. With FIFA having approved the usage of the GPS systems even during International matches, the National Team would be using the Trackers even during the matches from now on. Besides, the Trackers would be further used to develop and evaluate the U-19 National Team Players in the AIFF Academy in Goa. The I-League Core Committee also met at Football House during the month. Besides approving the 2nd Division core Committee criteria, the Committee, keeping in tune with AIFF s Strategic Plan to expand Youth Leagues, enhanced the participation of the U-18 League to 25 Teams this season. The committee also put an onus on the participating Teams of the U-15 and U-18 Leagues to curb the menace of age fraud in India. The Teams would be adhering to the recommendation of the Medical Committee of All India Football Federation (AIFF) while registering the Players. There was so much encouragement for all Women Footballers when Goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan became the first Indian Woman Footballer to play in England. She has been an integral part of the Indian National Team for many a Championship and I hope she will continue the good work and serve as an inspiration for others to follow. Warm regards, Kushal Das Sports is a Science and only the best utilise Sports Science to develop themselves further aiming to attain Global standards. In a first of sorts for Indian Football, the National Football Team implemented Player Tracking system in the Preparatory Camp at the DSK Dream City, the Home of DSK Shivajians Football Club in Pune. The Players wore the GPS systems inside their vests, resembling pretty much pictures of Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibramovich which had gone viral some weeks back. The development kicked-off under National Coach Stephen Constantine with Sports Scientist Danny Deigan monitoring the entire process. From now on, we will be using them in every training session, even during matches, Deigan informed www.the-aiff.com. FIFA approved them two months ago to be used during the match. It just needs to be approved by the Match Commissioner a day prior to the match, he added. Australian Football has been using them for the last 14 years, Rugby have been using them since the last seven years. This is much more reliable than the video systems which have been used, Deigan maintained. From the conditioning point of view it will make drills a lot more specific. I know how to supplement Football drills to make sure the Players are best prepared for the International standard. Constantine nodded. The way the game is going at the moment it s pertinent that you have every possible piece of information in your hand to evaluate the Players, both mentally and physically, Constantine told www.the-aiff.com. The game has reached new levels of expertise and now we can monitor the Players while they are in training, as to how they do it and how long they do it. It s invaluable in identifying a Player s capabilities from the physiological point of view. Workaholic Danny as Constantine calls him, educates that the trackers will facilitate prevention of injury. The trackers will facilitate injury prevention. We know that we need to condition Players so that they are prepared for the match conditions, Deigan states. It s also about seeing where the Players are at the moment. We can see the maximum speeds which they have attained, their heart rates, speeds at which they work, and understand where they stand at the Global level. Thirdly, we will use them to monitor our Players, seeing how they tolerate training load and we will be working with individuals to bring them up to the required standard. Constantine who has been toiling hard to streamline the U-19s and U-17s same manner as the Seniors, further informed that the information be will be used with the U-19s and even the U-17s wherever possible. I believe in the optimal utilization of resources of staff and equipment, he stressed. I need to thank Mr. Patel and Mr. Das for granting me the funds and believing in the concept of taking Indian Football to the next level. 1
Indian National Team launches Natural Turf at DSK Dream City Stephen Constantine, Head Coach, Indian National Football Team launched the Natural Turf at the DSK Dream City Football Fields, along with Mr. Shirish Kulkarni, President, DSK Shivajians Football Club. Players representing India for the forthcoming matches against Nepal and Iran were also present at the inauguration of the pitch where they lined up for photographs with players of DSK Shivajians Football Club, as well as the young players of Liverpool FC International Academy DSK Shivajians. DSK Dream City, home of the DSK Shivajians and Liverpool FC International Academy DSK Shivajians, is also hosting the Indian National Football Team as they prepare for their International Friendly against Nepal and 2018 Russia World Cup Qualifier against Iran. The twelve day camp held ahead of the clash with Giants of Asia Iran saw the National Team use the facilities at the DSK Dream City to prepare for the challenge. The DSK Dream City offered a range of facilities, varying from a natural and an artificial football turf, swimming pool, gymnasium, recreation area to screening room. Speaking about the facilities, Stephen Constantine, Head Coach, Indian National Football Team, said: I have travelled around the Country in the last six months trying to find accommodation, a training pitch and a Stadium in one place. The DSK Dream City offers us everything and more than what we require. Here we have pitches and facilities in one campus and the distances that we have to cover are super excellent and so much convenient. Speaking on the announcement, Mr. Shirish Kulkarni, President, DSK Shivajians Football Club, commented: It is an honor for the DSK Group to host the Indian National Football Team at the DSK Dream City. With this we hope, that in our way we can help make our Country proud. Having the Indian National Football Team and Stephen endorsing the natural turf and our facilities is something very special. Mr. Constantine also congratulated the DSK Group for their willingness to help. I want to thank the DSK Group for putting Indian Football on their priority, he added. Mr. Dan White, Head of International Academies at Liverpool FC, added: It s great for us to see the unveiling of the natural turf pitch at the DSK Dream City venue. This enhances what is already a fantastic facility, and can only help with the development of the players that are fortunate enough to train and play there. When we were planning the LFC International Academy DSK Shivajians project we said that we wanted to provide the best facilities, an environment for the Players to thrive and an all-round Football education which would ensure that the Players develop both on and off the pitch. This is another key milestone towards accomplishing this. We re immensely proud of our partnership with DSK and look forward to building on the fantastic progress that has been made to date, he added. The DSK Shivajians Football Club was founded in 1987, as the Shivajians Sports Club, to provide a platform to budding footballers of the Shivajinagar Area in Pune. (Report and picture Courtesy: DSK Shivajians FC). 2
I-League Core Committee meets at FH The I-League core committee met at the AIFF Headquarters in Dwarka, New Delhi on August 24, 2015. The Vice-Chairman of the I-League committee, Ankur Dutta chaired the core committee meeting in attendance of the AIFF General Secretary, Mr. Kushal Das, I-League CEO, Sunando Dhar and AIFF s Technical Director Scott O Donell. Also present in the meeting were, AIFF Vice-Presidents Subrata Dutta and Shrinivas Dempo, Mandar Tamhane (Bengaluru FC), Debashish Dutta (Mohun Bagan), Nicholas Jyrwa (Royal Wahigdoh FC) and Adlear D Cruz (Salgaocar FC). The I-League core committee approved the 2nd Division League criteria. Tentatively 11 Clubs - LoneStar Kashmir FC, Guwahati FC, Mohammaden Sporting Club, DSK Shivajians FC, PIFA Sports, Kenkre Sports, Dempo SC, NEROCA FC, Fateh Hyderabad FC, Gangtok Himalayan SC and Minerva FAC - will participate in the 2nd Division League 2015-16, subject to fulfillment of the Club Licensing criteria. The committee also approved plans for the 2nd Division League 2015-16 to be played on a home and away basis. The Preliminary U-19 finish runners-up in SAFF Championship The Indian U-19 National Team finished runners-up in the SAFF U-19 2015 Championship on August 29, 2015 as they lost 5-4 on penalties against hosts Nepal, after a 1-1 draw at the end of ninety minutes, at the ANFA HQ in Satdobato, Nepal. India missed their first penalty of the shoot-out, while Nepal scored all five to earn the SAFF Championship. Coming off a win against Bangladesh in the semi-finals the Indian colts, albeit controlled the tempo of the match and attacked with sheer pace, failed to apply the finishing touch in much of their chances. A corner kick garnered by the Indian colts, after a splendid attack from the right flank, was headed inches wide of the post. Next, Lalramzuava s long ranger earned an uncanny save by the Nepali custodian as the Colts started to pull strings. The Indian contingent fell behind to a goal in the 20th minute, when a counter attack resulted in a corner-kick, which earned the dividends for the hosts as they headed home to take the lead. But even as Shahbaaz equalized from the spot in the dying minutes of the match, the Indian colts faltered in the shootout. Round will be played in a Conference system with the Teams being divided into Eastern and Western Conferences. Top three Teams from each Conference will qualify for the Final Round of the 2nd Division League 2015-16. Furthermore, in an attempt to efficiently widen the Indian Footballing scenario, the committee approved a qualifying round for the 2nd Division League 2016-17. Top two Teams of each state, excluding Hero I-League 2015-16 and 2nd Division League 2015-16 participants, will get to participate in the Qualifiers. U-19 Team to participate in Asian Champions Trophy 17 members were shortlisted for the Indian U-19 National Team squad, which will be participating in the FAM-FRENZ Asia Champions Trophy 2015. The Championship kicked-off on August 05, 2015. The Indian colts have been clubbed in Group A alongside Frenz United A, Felda United FC (both Malaysia) and Chonburi FC (Thailand). The Teams in the Group will play on a home and away basis and top two finishing Teams from the Group Stage will progress into the Knock-out Stages. The Indian contingent will clash swords against Felda United FC in their first game. 3
Aditi scripts history to become 1st to play in England Euphoria falls short to describe the motility. Her swagger-full tone, albeit elated, wavers as she recollects the moment. With an ingenious smile she pronounces what destiny and happiness feels like. I am excited and elated to be here. This is what happiness and the big stage feels like. The quality of Football is competitive here and I hope it helps me evolve as a Player, Aditi told www.the-aiff.com in an exclusive chat from England. Determined and tenacious she might be on the pitch, but in this moment, Aditi Chauhan who has also represented Indian Women s Senior National Team and recorded a stellar feat when she became the first Indian National to play for an English Club is emotional and to some extent, nervous. The spindly Goalkeeper has been an integral part of the Indian Women s Senior National Team setup having been part of the Gold medal winning Team in SAFF 2012 and has represented India in the AFC Qualifiers and in the U-19 age groups too. Aditi last represented the Indian Women s National Team in Asian Games 2014, which were held in Incheon, South Korea. The 23 year old wrote history on August 16, 2015 when she donned the Red of West Ham Ladies and played in the Hammer s first Team against Coventry City, in the third tier of Women s Football in England called as the FA Women s Premier League Southern Division. Not only that, Aditi also featured as a second half substitute in West Ham s 10-0 win over Shanklin LFC in their last pre-season friendly. Albeit the West Ham Ladies tasted a 5-0 defeat against Coventry City with a debutant Aditi in goal, the Indian shot-stopper sternly believes that, hard work along with preparation and a stable mind can open locked doors with an enticing future. Add to that, the fad; which saw Aditi Chauhan trend nation-wide on Twitter and Facebook, morphing a Delhi girl into a National icon. You mention it to her and the spindly lass busts out in laughter. This is unexpected and although I feel special, I want to thank everybody for supporting me all the way. This is like huge response which I did not even expect in my wildest dreams. Acknowledging the fact that it was the All India Football Federation which lay the path to her success, Aditi says, It is always a pleasure to represent India. And I want to thank the AIFF for helping me come on the International Stage by enabling me to participate in numerous International matches. 4