Goan I-league clubs to oppose team caps
Panaji: Goa’s I-league clubs have decided to fight against the unfriendly resolutions taken by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), including a cap on the number of clubs from a particular city. Owners of all four I-league clubs, Shrinivas Dempo, Peter Vaz (Sporting Clube de Goa), Shivanand Salgaocar (Salgaocar FC) and Churchill Alemao (Churchill Brothers), met for the first time at a city hotel on Monday and resolved to oppose several initiatives that the AIFF is to force on the clubs. The conference model set to be adopted for this year’s I-league on the lines of the United States’ Major league Soccer (MlS) where teams are divided into two groups based on zones, has found no acceptance among the Goan clubs. The AIFF emergency committee has decided to put a cap on the number of teams from any particular city in the I-league and 2nd Division put together. If additional teams from Goa and Kolkata qualify in subsequent editions, those particular teams have to relocate and play in a different venue subject to approval of the AIFF. The club owners said they would instruct their representatives to put their views across to the AIFF when they meet with the clubs in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Churchill signs Portuguese duo
Panaji: I-league champions Churchill Brothers have signed Portuguese duo - defender Euripedes Amoreirinha and midfielder Hugo Machado - for the coming season. Amoreirinha, 28, played for Benfica between 2004 and 2007 and last represented Portuguese Ist division side Vitoria Setubal, while 30-year-old Machado is a product of the Sporting lisbon Academy. Machado is also believed to have played with Real Madrid Portuguese star footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and the likes of Quaresma, Carlos Martins and Moutinho.
Cameroon striker signs for Shillong lajong
Shillong: Shillong lajong FC announced on Tuesday the signing of Cameroon International Charles Edoa Nga for the upcoming I-league season. Edoa, 23, played for the U-17 national football team in 2006 and the U-20 national football team in 2008, SlFC stated in a release. The young striker joined Union Douala in 2008 which competes in the Cameroon domestic league - MTN Elite One. During his first season at the top level, he went on to score two goals and was the top scorer of the club in 2011. He has gained immense exposure and experience from playing in the 2009 CAF Confederations Cup and has also impressed observers with his pace and strength.
East Bengal yet to get Fed Cup prize money
New Delhi: It’s been eight months since East Bengal triumphed in the Federation Cup but the age-old Kolkata club is yet to get the prize money for winning the tournament, thanks to dilly dallying on part of the All India Football Federation (AIFF). East Bengal won the last edition of the prestigious tournament when they defeated Goan giants Dempo Sports Club 3-2 in the title clash last October. In this regard, the club has approached the federation many times, but to no avail. “We have brought this matter up with the AIFF quite a few times but every time they say they would give it. But the fact is they are yet to give us the prize money,” an official said. The winners’ prize money is Rs 25 lakh.
Shankar Das takes first round lead at PGTI
Pune: Shankar Das of Kolkata posted a gallant five-under-67 in difficult weather conditions to grab the first round lead at the PGTI Players Championship being played at the Oxford Golf and Country Club here on Tuesday. Md Zamal Hossain Mollah of Bangladesh is two strokes off the lead in second place. The scoring conditions were tough as the day witnessed light rain accompanied by a gentle breeze. As a result it turned out to be a high-scoring day. Shankar produced six birdies against a lone bogey in his opening round of 67. PNS/Agencies