Football

Bhubaneswar; 17th October 2020: The Indian contingent of Odisha FC started training in groups adhering to all the health and safety norms laid out by the League on Saturday. The players under the guidance of Indian Assistant Coach and former international midfielder Mr. Steven Dias started training at their designated training pitch at Betalbatim, Goa. Meanwhile, the foreign players have also started arriving at the team hotel. Experienced Defender Steven Taylor and forward Diego Mauricio have already checked in earlier while Hero ISL

“The League championship is very important to us this season and our first goal is to win the title, so we are ready to compete for it. The international players are back with us after several days’ absence and we won the Ooredoo Cup,” said Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez ahead of their 2020-21 season QNB Stars League Week 4 match against Al Khor. “We are in good condition to face Al Khor which we know will be difficult because we will face

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), together with the Qatar Football Association (QFA), have today confirmed Doha, Qatar as the venue for this year’s AFC Champions League single-leg Final, which will be held on December 19, 2020. With the successful conclusion of the AFC Champions League 2020 (West) in Qatar recently, as well as the upcoming preparations to host the East region matches next month, the AFC noted that the QFA met all the necessary hosting capability and capacity and medical infrastructure to host

Garhwal FC looked set to sign off their Hero I-League Qualifiers 2020 campaign with a win but ended up having to share points with ARA FC despite the team from Gujarat missing a first-half penalty. Defender Neeraj Bhandari gave his team an early lead but a late penalty from Surajit Seal saw both teams walk off the field at the Kalyani Stadium with honours even on Friday (October 16th, 2020). Garhwal made three changes to the starting line-up from the previous game, chief

Mohammedan Sporting made sure of their place in the 2020-21 edition of the Hero I-League as they bested local rivals Bhawanipore FC in their Hero I-League Qualifiers 2020 match on Friday (October 16, 2020) at the Kalyani Stadium — returning to the competition after a gap of seven years. Goals from Vanlalbiaa Chhangte and Gani Nigam gave the Black Panthers a 2-0 win, which enables them to tie down first place in the competition despite one round of fixtures still to play. The

The Spanish defender is ready to deal with the new challenges. FC Goa’s new man at the back Ivan Gonzalez, is thrilled to have finally landed in Goa and can’t wait to start preparations as the Gaurs look to defend their ISL League Winners’ Shield.  “Finally, we are here. It has been a long wait,” remarked the defender whilst in quarantine. “We are happy to be in India and start the preseason.  “Preseason will be crucial this season. I am looking forward to

The AFC Champions League – West Zone matches, which were recently held in Qatar from 14 September to 3 October, marked the successful return of football in Asia following its suspension in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fifteen teams from Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan competed over 36 matches for a spot in the final of the continent’s most prestigious club competition. The matches were played across four venues, three of which will be used during the

Ali Adnan, one of Iraq’s most successful footballing exports, is no stranger to breaking new ground during his career. The attack-minded left-back became the first Iraqi player to play in Italy’s Serie A when he signed for Udinese in 2015. The 26-year-old then created more history when he moved to North America to play for Vancouver Whitecaps in 2019. By joining the Canadian outfit, Adnan became the first Iraqi-born player to appear in Major League Soccer. Having set these unique milestones, the Iraqi

As ARA FC and Garhwal FC prepare to face off against each other on Matchday 4 of the Hero I-League Qualifiers 2020 at the Kalyani Municipal Stadium on Friday, October 16 at 12.30 pm IST, both the sides will look to redeem their missed opportunities. Garhwal FC have been mathematically ruled out of the solitary promotion spot, as they sit at the bottom of the league table, having lost all of their three games so far. However, head coach Vikas Rawat is not

As we head into the fourth matchday of the Hero I-League Qualifiers 2020, two old foes prepare to face off in a game that could very well decide who will take their place in the Hero I-League 2020-21 season. Bhawanipore FC are all set to cross swords against Mohammedan SC, in what will be billed as the Kolkata Derby of the Hero I-League Qualifiers 2020. The match is set to kick-off at 4.30 PM IST at the Kalyani Municipal Stadium on Friday, October

Al Gharafa picked up full points while Al Arabi, Al Rayyan, Al Ahli and Umm Salal picked up a point each in 2020-21 season Ooredoo Cup on Wednesday. At the Al Duhail Stadium, Al Gharafa beat Al Kharaitiyat 3-1 in Round 3 (Group B). Al Kharaitiyat took the lead through Hassan Ali in the 30th minute, but Al Gharafa struck back through Ahmed Al Janahi (34th minute), Sofiane Hanni (45+2) and Almahdi Ali (90th minute). The result saw Al Gharafa move to nine

Highlanders assistant coach Jamil test positive undergoing treatment in Goa hospital Indian Super League side NorthEast United's assistant coach Khalid Jamil tested positive for coronavirus and is currently undergoing treatment for the same in a hospital in Goa, the club announced on Thursday. Jamil arrived in Goa along with along with a few players to begin the club's pre-season just like all the other ISL clubs. After keeping the positive test under wraps for more than a week the Highlanders have finally announced

Inside the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kolkata situated right beside the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan complex, certain guests are left perplexed as to the reason why a series of sections are cordoned off by queue-managers and security guards. A family of four unknowingly approaches one of the elevators that is cordoned off with a placard placed in front of it mentioning: ‘For Hero I-League Qualifiers 2020 Personnel Only.’ They are instantly stopped by one of these security guards, who ushers them to yet

Nike and Qatar Football Association revelead on Sunday the new 2020 Qatar Football National Team collection that will be the official kit for the team in the coming competitions. The new Home and Away collection fuses traditional colours with the latest Nike innovations to create a sophisticated and modern look. The customary maroon home kit pulses with national pride, alongside an elegant white away in a collection befitting a nation gripped by football fever. In two years, Qatar will host the world game’s

Two-time Indian Super League (ISL) champions Chennaiyin FC have completed the signing of Fatkhulo Fatkhulloev on a free transfer for the 2020-21 season. The 30-year-old winger who can operate on either flank, is all set for a first stint in India with tons of experience. Fatkhulloev is central Asian country Tajikistan’s most-capped international with 68 senior appearances so far, and he joins CFC after a spell at FK Khujand in the Tajik top flight. The ISL guidelines for the new season stipulate each

Kalyani, October 14, 2020: Gujarat-based ARA FC and FC Bengaluru United played out a pulsating 1-1 draw in the Hero I-League Qualifiers 2020 at the Kalyani Stadium on Wednesday (October 14, 2020). It seemed that forward Pratik Swami’s strike would prove to be the difference between the two sides but substitute Asrar Rehber successfully converted from the spot with the game’s last kick to rescue a point for Bengaluru United. Both teams came into the match on the back of contrasting results, with Bengaluru

Al Wakrah and Al Khor collected full points while Al Sadd and Al Sailiya share points in eight-goal thriller in the 2020-21 season Ooredoo Cup. At Al Duhail Stadium, Al Sailiya and Al Sadd played out a dramatic 4-4 draw in Round 3 (Group A) match. Striker Tiago Bezerra led Al Sailiya’s charge with a hat-trick (58th-min penalty, 74th and 78th-min-penalty). Mohanad Ali was their other scorer (72nd minute). Rami Sohail (13th minute), Nam Tae-Hee (19th-min penalty), Yousef Abdulrazaq (47th minute) and substitute

Kolkata, October 14, 2020: Goals from Philip Adjah and Pankaj Moula helped Bhawanipore FC withstand a late fightback from Garhwal FC and seal a 2-1 victory in the Hero I-League Qualifiers 2020 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Stadium in Kolkata on Wednesday (October 14, 2020). The team from Kolkata were very much the favourites, having picked up all three points in their opening game against FC Bengaluru United, while Garhwal entered the tie on the back of two defeats without having found the back

KOLKATA: The ‘new normal’ of football has set in with the Hero I-League Qualifiers 2020. Following the strict COVID safety guidelines, those operating in and around the tournament have already conducted four successful matches, two each in Kolkata and Kalyani respectively. While all the five teams – Garhwal FC, ARA FC, Bhawanipore FC, Mohammedan SC and FC Bengaluru United – have made their own adjustments to adapt to the new rules and regulations for their own safety, there is yet another team that is

The new season of the ISL is well and truly upon us and this week saw the arrival of FC Goa’s Spanish contingent. Head Coach Juan Ferrando was accompanied by Strength and Conditioning Coach Javier Gonzalez along with 5 players – Edu Bedia, Igor Angulo, Jorge Ortiz, Ivan Gonzalez and Alberto Noguera. The Spaniards will now head into a 14-day quarantine as per protocols. The Indian contingent will meanwhile continue to practice under the watchful eyes of Assistant Coach Clifford Miranda with Juan