Author: Webdesk

Rahul Giri from Jamshedpur A packed fortress awaits Mohun Bagan Super Giants for the first leg of the ISL semi-final. Excitement is soaring as Jamshedpur FC gear up to face the ISL Shield winners. The match has received overwhelming response, with 17,000 tickets sold in just 24 hours. A packed stadium is expected to welcome the visitors, and the hosts will look to ride on the energy of their supporters as they aim for a favourable result before heading to Kolkata, where Mohun Bagan are unbeaten so far this season. For the first time in ISL history, Jamshedpur will host…

Mohun Bagan Super Giants will travel to Jamshedpur, with nothing but a win in mind, in the first leg of the ISL semi-final against Jamshedpur FC on April 3. However, two of Mohun Bagan’s starting XI players — Manvir Singh and Apuia (Lalengmawia Ralte) — are doubtful for the match. “They are trying to be fit, but they are still not at 100%. We will see in the last two training sessions whether they can make it to the playing XI or not,” Mohun Bagan head coach Jose Molina stated at the pre-match press conference. Both players picked up injuries…

All eyes will be on NorthEast United forward Alaaeddine Ajaraie when the Highlanders host Jamshedpur FC in a crucial playoff clash in Shillong, with a semi-final spot against Mohun Bagan at stake. The Moroccan attacker has been in outstanding form, scoring four goals in just two ISL games against Jamshedpur FC. Another brace would make him only the third player in the league history to score twice in a match three times against the same opponent, joining Bartholomew Ogbeche (vs Odisha FC) and Roy Krishna (vs Jamshedpur FC). Ajaraie has enjoyed one of the finest seasons in the ISL history,…

The first knockout of the ISL Playoffs is set for a gripping encounter between Bengaluru FC and Mumbai City FC. The rivalry between the two teams intensified after Rahul Bheke, Alberto Noguera, and Jorge Pereyra Díaz switched allegiances from Mumbai to Bengaluru in the summer transfer window. Bengaluru started the season with a bang, remaining unbeaten in their first six games. However, they lost their rhythm midway through the campaign. Despite the setback, they regained their form to secure a playoff spot with 38 points from 24 games, thanks to 11 victories and five draws. Meanwhile, the Islanders earned their…

Mohun Bagan and their bad luck with the national team’s fixtures haven’t improved. During the Igor Stimac era, both Sahal Abdul Samad and Ashique Kuruniyan were sidelined for lengthy periods after sustaining injuries in the national team camp. This time around, it just got a bit worse, as six footballers from the Green and Maroon Brigade side joined the Blue Tigers camp in Shillong for the crucial AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers match against Bangladesh. Manvir Singh returned before India’s friendly against the Maldives on March 19, after picking up a waist injury, while Lalengmawia Ralte (Apuia), the player of the…

Rahul Giri in Shillong Being a football reporter and an Indian football faithful, it was disappointing to witness India’s frustrating goalless draw against Bangladesh. In their last 14 matches, India has now managed only two wins, showing hardly any progress. What adds to the disappointment is that Sunil Chhetri and Co. couldn’t test Bangladesh’s goalkeeper even once with a challenging attempt, despite Bangladesh being ranked 59 places lower in the FIFA rankings. However, amidst the frustration, one moment of solace came from witnessing the Premier League midfielder Hamza Choudhury’s astute display on the pitch. Currently playing for Sheffield United in…

Rahul Giri in Shillong As the referee blew the whistle to kick off the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers match between India and Bangladesh, it marked the first-ever official competitive international fixture at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong. The atmosphere was electric, with a near-capacity crowd of 14,952, and almost half of them donning blue jerseys in support of the hosts. A vibrant local traditional performance set the stage for a special moment. The teams lined up for their national anthems and Amar Shonar Bangla and Jana Gana Mana were played. Rabindranath Tagore’s oeuvre offered the connection. Once the game…

Rahul Giri in Shillong Hamza Choudhury’s inclusion in the Bangladesh national football squad marked a historic moment for the country. Two decades after Zesh Rehman, who went on to play for Pakistan, a high-profile footballer who has played in the English Premier League (EPL), will turn out for a SAARC nation. Choudhury is currently on loan at Sheffield United from Leicester City, with whom he won the FA Cup in 2021. It’s a moment of immense pride for all Bangladeshis, but no one is prouder than Hamza’s parents. “Of course, it’s a great feeling,” said Hamza’s mother, Rafiath Choudhury, with…

Rahul Giri in Shillong Shillong’s picturesque hills were draped in clouds on Sunday, as the sun and drizzle played a constant game of hide-and-seek. The chill in the air was unmistakable, but the city’s residents are well accustomed to its mystical weather. Amidst this, the Indian Football Team seemed to be playing its own game of hide-and-seek, this time with the media. With Team Bangladesh’s arrival on 20th March and over 30 media personnel from the neighboring country in town, India has taken a strict approach, shutting its training sessions off entirely from the press. In contrast, Bangladesh has allowed…

Rahul Giri in Shillong The rivalry between India and Bangladesh is already heating up in Shillong ahead of their AFC Asian Cup qualifier opening game on March 25. Bangladesh have raised concerns over the condition of the practice ground provided to them, with head coach Javier Cabrera expressing his disappointment, calling the surface “sub-par”. As a result, the team opted for a light training session on Friday, a day after arriving in the Meghalaya capital. According to sources from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Meghalaya Football Association, the hosts were only obligated to provide practice facilities to…