newsletter OCTOBER 31, 2016 #ShePower Page 5 PM unveils BRICS Cup Page 4 ISL kicks-off Page 3 BFC CREATES HISTORY Page 2
DATES REVLEADED, VENUES FINALISED From the GS Desk October was a dream month for Indian Football. Bengaluru FC became the first Indian Club to enter the AFC Cup Final. AIFF introduced the concept of direct entry some three years back based on certain criteria. There was a reason as much there was a vision for doing so. Congratulations BFC! You have made the entire Nation proud. The venues for the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 were also finalised as the FIFA delegation came visiting. The dates have also been marked the Tournament starts on October 6 to October 28, 2017. The National Team reached 137 in FIFA Rankings and that s our best ever ranking since August 2010. We eagerly wait for the draw for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019. #ShePower came to the forefront when the prelims of the inaugural edition of the planned Women s League were held in Cuttack. Congratulations Eastern Sporting Union and Rising Student FC for making it to the Final round. #ShePower was also evident as Uvena Fernandes became the first ever Indian Assistant Referee to officiate in the World Cup Final when she supervised the Women s U-17 World Cup in Jordan from the lines. She has set the benchmark for Referees in India Congratulations! The third edition of the Hero Indian Super League has also kicked-off and we hope to see an engrossing tournament. Festive wishes to all stakeholders. Warm regards, Kushal Das AT A GLANCE The first ever FIFA World Cup to be hosted by India, the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 will be held in six venues across the Nation from October 06, 2017 to October 28, 2017 namely Kochi, Navi Mumbai, New Delhi, Goa, Guwahati and Kolkata. The FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 India will kick-off on October 06, 2017 with 24 Teams from 6 different Confederations vying to win the coveted the Trophy in the Final on October 28, 2017. A thirteen member FIFA Delegation led by Tracy Lu, Project Lead FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 India, along-with the Local Organizing Committee of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 India inspected the six venues across the nation and ratified them for the mega event next year. The FIFA Delegation found the six stadias Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Delhi), Fatorda Stadium (Goa), Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium (Guwahati), D.Y Patil Stadium (Navi Mumbai), Dates: October 6, 2017 to October 28, 2017 Venues: Kochi, Goa, Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati. Salt Lake Stadium (Kolkata), Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium (Kochi) up to the mark to host the event. The FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 India aims to revolutionize Football in India, as the host nation will partake as participants for the first time in its history in any FIFA World Cup, thereby generating football frenzy amongst the young populace of the Nation. The mega event also ensures that no part of the Country is alienated from football as the six venues cover the length and breadth of the Nation, also providing world-class infrastructure for years to come, leaving behind a legacy. 24 Teams from 6 different confederations will be participating in the mega event and while India qualified for the first time for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 India by virtue of hosts, Iran, Iraq, Japan and DPR Korea booked their places after reaching the semi-finals of the AFC U-16 Championships. 1
HISTORY SCRIPTED AT KANTEERAVA Bengaluru FC become 1st Indian Club to enter AFC Cup Final JSW Bengaluru FC added another feather in their cap by a sealing a berth in the coveted AFC Cup Final 2016 becoming the first-ever Indian Club to achieve this feat till date. The reigning Hero I-League Champions will take on Air Force FC in the much-anticipated AFC Cup Final at the Qatar Sports Club Football Stadium in Doha on November 5, 2016. The IT city-based Club under their new coach Albert Roca, got past Tampines Rovers in the quarterfinals -- courtesy a goal scored by CK Vineeth at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium before holding the Singapore-based club in a goalless stalemate in the away fixture, as the Indian Club booked a semi-final date with defending champions Johor Darul Ta zim. Johor Darul Ta zim went on to scoring their first goal against Bengaluru FC in the first leg, but the prolific game maker Eugeneson Lyngdoh hammered an equaliser to clinch an important away draw before taking them at the Fortress, Sree Kanteerava Stadium. The Malaysian outfit who hit the pitch sans their two frontline strikers drew the first blood on 11 minutes when Safiq headed his eigthth goal of the competition shutting the noisy Bengaluru crowd. The Stadium, however, came back to life again when Sunil Chhetri headed a long cross of Eugeneson Lyngdoh home in the 41st minute. In the 67th minute, having stunned the Johor defence, the talismanic striker volleyed from the top of the box to complete his brace. Juanan nailed the final one in Johor Darul Ta zim s coffin 14 minutes to the final whistle, having sent the 21 thousand-odd crowd to absolute delirium. AIFF congratulate JSW Bengaluru FC AIFF President Mr. Praful Patel congratulated JSW Bengaluru FC as the Bengaluru based Club became the first Indian Club to romp into the AFC Cup Final. Proud of you Bengaluru FC and Congrats to Sajjan and Parth Jindal for your contribution to #IndianFootball. @sajjanjindal59 @ParthJindal11 Mr. Patel tweeted from his Official account @praful_patel. Mr. Patel also praised Sunil Chhetri for his performance he further tweeted: Sunil Chhetri you still have all the fire in your belly. @chetrisunil11 @bengalurufc #AFCCup2016 National Coach Stephen Constantine also hailed Bengaluru FC s achievement. Congratulating BFC, Constantine tweeted: AWESOME RESULT Congratulations to @bengalurufc 2
Hero Indian Super League kicks-off The third edition of the Hero Indian Super League kicked-off amidst a glittering ceremony in Guwahati on October 1, 2016. As the eight teams battle for top honours, the slogan stays on the lips of all Let s Football. 3
Samba Magic enthral BRICS Cup The inaugural edition of the BRICS U-17 Football Tournament which was held in Goa from October 05-15,2016 was won by Brazil as the Samba boys pummelled South Africa 5-1 in the Finals. Hosts India finished at the bottom of the group below China and Russia. Nicolai Adam s boys started their campaign against Russia and despite the Indian colts dominating possession and having more shots on goal, Russia ran away eventual victors as an early goal proved to be the difference. Against South Africa and China, the story was more or less the same with India going down 0-1, the goals being scored much against the run of play. India faced Brazil in their final clash and despite Brazil being favourites, the boys gave a good account proving they were no pushovers. The colts even scored as Komal Thatal s thunderous strike equalized proceedings after Brazil had taken an early lead. Two goals in the second half led Brazil to a 3-1 win. 4
WOMEN S LEAGUE PRELIMS HELD IN CUTTACK The Indian Women s League Preliminary Round kicked-off in Cuttack, Odisha on October 17, 2016 in a quest to bolster the Football development in context to Women s Football. Two Teams from the Preliminary Round out of a pool of ten Eastern Sporting Union and Rising Student FC progressed to the Final Round which is to be held soon later. The League comes on the back of AIFF s initiative to extend the horizons of Women s Football in the nation by not only fostering interest amongst the young populace but also providing a platform for Girls to display their talent. The League furthermore helped in scouting Players for the Indian Women s National Teams by plucking World-class Players from the League and integrating them in the National Team setup. Most importantly the League gave the young girls take baby steps in Football a platform to aspire for, whilst motivating them to become better Players. The competition within the League was also a stark feature as to how the League will benefit Women s Football in India from bottom to top. With around 200 Players taking part in the Preliminary round, each Player aspired to highlight her best on the field of play, promoting healthy competition within the Team and the League. With AIFF committed to develop Women s Football in the Country, the Indian Women s League is just one-step to propagate and revolutionize Women s Football in the Nation. First Indian to officiate in a World Cup Final Days after Uvena Fernandes became the first Indian woman Assistant Referee to Officiate in a FIFA World Cup, Uvena etched her name in the history books when she became the first Indian ever to officiate in a World Cup Final match. She was chosen to as an Assistant Referee for the match between Japan versus DPR Korea. Lauding Uvena s achievement Mr. Kushal Das, General Secretary, AIFF said that the manner AIFF have focused on Refereeing development, it was on the cards. Development of Indian Referees stays on our priority list. It s nice to see Indian Referees get International recognition, that too, an appointment to officiate in a World Cup Final. Congratulations Uvena, he told www.the-aiff.com. AIFF Head of Referees Goutam Kar said: This is a historic moment for Indian Football. Her success at that level in refereeing is completely due to her own commitment, diligence and faith in herself. She is role model for the younger generation. 5