Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin ReportBengaluru (India):-The Indian senior men's team will face Lebanon for the third time in little over a fortnight in the semi-final of the Bangabandhu SAFF Championship 2023, at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, on Saturday, July 1, 2023.After playing out a goalless draw in the group stage, the Blue Tigers secured a convincing 2-0 win over the Cedars to claim the Hero Intercontinental Cup title in Bhubaneswar. Igor Stimac's men then travelled to the south of India to take part in the 14th edition of the SAFF Championship, which is also the first to feature guest teams like Lebanon and Kuwait.India finished Group A in second spot, only trailing Kuwait on goals scored, with wins over Pakistan (4-0) and Nepal (2-0). The top spot was within the hosts' grasp as they led 1-0 against Kuwait just six minutes before the full-time whistle on Tuesday until Anwar Ali's own goal restored parity, leaving India to remain content with second place. The day after, Lebanon edged Maldives 1-0 to end their Group B campaign with a perfect nine points, adding to their wins over Bangladesh (2-0) and Bhutan (4-1).Stimac was shown his second red card of the tournament against Kuwait, leading to his suspension from the dugout for the crucial semi-final clash. However, captain Sunil Chhetri assured the team will do just fine under assistant coach Mahesh Gawali."A lot of preparation is done before the game day, where he (Stimac) will be involved. Of course, you want your leader to be on the sidelines. But whatever little we'll miss during the match, his main man (Gawali) will make sure we miss him less," said Chhetri.Gawali, who also took the reins during the 2-0 win against Nepal, is determined to repeat what the Blue Tigers did against Lebanon in Odisha. "Our boys are motivated, committed, and focused on the fight against Lebanon. We'll continue with the same attitude we've shown so far in the tournament," said the former India international."They had issues with the weather in Bhubaneswar, but they're playing better here. It will be a different match. They are a strong attacking side. Their number seven (captain Hassan Maatouk) is a very talented player," shared Gawali when asked for his thoughts on Lebanon.Adding to his former teammate's words, Chhetri said, "We know quite a lot about Lebanon as we've already played them twice. I'm sure they have the same feeling about us. They would also want a piece of us back because of what happened in the last two games."Sandesh Jhingan's second yellow card of the tournament against Kuwait meant that the sturdy central defender would also be unavailable for the semi-final. While acknowledging what a big blow it will be for India to not have the Hero of the Tournament from the Intercontinental Cup in tomorrow's line-up, Chhetri assured that his boots will be duly filled."Personally, I always want to play with Jhingan, whether in the national team, club or training ground. The number one reason for that is that he does not like to lose. I hope, after the game, I can tell you that we didn't miss him because whoever comes in his place will do justice and give his best, and I know that for a fact," said the skipper.Always fond of playing in front of his home fans at the Kanteerava, Chhetri cannot wait for more unconditional support from the stands tomorrow. "Me and a lot of boys are quite greedy when it comes to playing in Bengaluru. We've been treated to some outstanding support in the last three games. I'm pretty sure you will also turn up for the semi-finals because you all love football and it's a big game for us."Lebanon head coach Aleksandar Ilic is hoping to learn from their mistakes in Bhubaneswar and give the hosts a run for their money this time. The cooler weather in Bengaluru will work in their favour, according to the Serbian coach."Both teams know what they've got in front of them. There are no secrets between the teams anymore. We will try to build the best team with the choices we have for tomorrow. We are very motivated. It's psychologically important that we believe that we can succeed. The weather is more pleasant here. We will use those two games to build ourselves in a better way for tomorrow," said Ilic."For us, this game is very important. We've worked hard for the last two months and really want to prove ourselves. This will be our eighth game in India. Two of our players (Jihad Ayoub and Soony Saad) have returned to their clubs since this tournament isn't taking place during the FIFA international break. But we will adapt ourselves against a very strong team," added the Lebanon gaffer, who called up Mohamad Sadek and Ali Shaitou as replacements.

Akhil RawatBengaluru (India): Saturday night was the night of firsts for both 'Mahesh's in the Indian team. Naorem Mahesh Singh capped off a brilliant performance with his first goal for the Blue Tigers, while assistant coach Mahesh Gawli, stepping in place of Igor Stimac, serving a one-match suspension, led the team to victory on his first day on the touchline.After a hard-fought but eventually routine 2-0 win over Nepal, India sealed their spot in the Bangabandhu SAFF Championship 2023 semi-final with a game to spare. Gawli described it as a game of two halves, and rightfully so, as what was a blunt Indian attack in the first 45 minutes, transformed into a well-oiled offence after the break."I think in the first half, Nepal did not give us the chance to play. They were tough and strong in defence. In the second half, we were cooler and calmer with the ball," said Gawli."The situation in the dressing room was calm. We told the players to minimise errors. No special instructions," he shared. "And we saw the change in the second half. They followed the instructions clearly, did not give the ball away and maintained possession."It was a much sharper India side which appeared out of the tunnel after the break, similar to what happened in the Hero Intercontinental Cup Final against Lebanon last week when the hosts broke the deadlock inside the first minute of the restart. Here in Bengaluru, the tempo of the game went up a few gears, Nepal were forced to put all their men behind the ball, and India increasingly started maintaining possession deeper and deeper in the opposition half.India managed to unlock the Nepal defence in textbook style. Naorem Mahesh Singh played a terrific give-and-go with Sahal Abdul Samad to leave the defenders biting the dust and get a clear view of the six-yard box from the left wing. The return from Sahal was perfectly weighted, allowing Naorem to drill it in first time for the captain fantastic, who guided it home."Naorem’s cross was the turning point of the game," said Gawli. "Because after Chhetri’s finish, we dominated until the end. That goal brought back our confidence."While Naorem's first assist was a classic and a well-worked one, that wasn't exactly the case with his first goal for the Blue Tigers. Not that it matters anyway, because the goal and the win for India are all he cares about. Rather bizarrely, Chhetri's effort was saved by goalkeeper Limbu before the ball bounced twice on top of the crossbar and, fortunately, fell back in play, where Naorem was the quickest to react and hustled it in with a combination of his head and shoulder.This year has been an absolute dream for Naorem. While donning the national team colours is a massive privilege for anybody, doing so in your hometown is even more special. So, when the 24-year-old stepped onto the Khuman Lampak pitch in Imphal in the Hero Tri-Nation match against Imphal, it was already the biggest moment of his career. On Saturday, he topped it with his first goal contributions for India in Bengaluru."An excellent player. We're seeing a future star of Indian football," was the best Gawli could describe him.The former India international centre-back also shared his thoughts on the more proactive attacking football India have been playing recently, and also managing to rack up eight clean sheets in a row."We're very happy with our defence and want to keep that run going. We've got a talented bunch of players in every position. You can see that with the football that they’re playing and the kind of confidence they have. We always want to keep attacking and not fall back. Whether we're leading or not, we want them to be on their toes all the time and keep the intensity high," said Gawli.

Sports Bulletin ReportSydney (Australia): Over 4,000 football-loving fans joined a festival of football on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, celebrating 25 days to go until the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, as a giant Unity Jersey was revealed, reflecting the diverse spirit of the game and solidarity between the 32 participating nations.The iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge on Gadigal land was transformed into a festival of football in a celebration of culture, bringing together diverse people and communities to mark the 25-day countdown until the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023.Amidst the sparkling backdrop of the Sydney Harbour, over 4,000 fans kicked-off festivities on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and took part in this once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of the FIFA Women's World Cup ‘Unity Celebration’.Hosted by former Australia international and FIFA Women in Football Leadership participant, Amy Duggan, soaking up the buzzing festival atmosphere were grassroots football and multicultural communities, local and international football greats including FIFA Legend Joy Fawcett, NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism, John Graham, representatives from co-host Member Associations Football Australia and New Zealand Football, as well as FIFA officials.FIFA Council Member, Johanna Wood, said:“What a fabulous morning of football, culture and community coming together. We are committed to delivering an exceptional tournament and experience that will not only captivate the hearts and minds of football fans but also empower women in sport across the globe. We are ready to go Beyond Greatness and football, once again, has demonstrated how it unites the world.”NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism, John Graham, said:“Today we stand on one of Australia’s iconic structures, excited to host the world's best players and their passionate football fans in NSW. I am excited to have 11 matches scheduled here in NSW and welcoming all the world class football teams and their fans at what is set to be the biggest FIFA Women’s World Cup ever. “This tournament has the potential to be one of the biggest sporting events in Sydney since the 2000 Olympics and the NSW Government is happy to support the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.”Football Australia CEO, James Johnson, said:“Today marks three years to the day since we won the right to co-host the 2023 edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and what a fitting way to celebrate atop one of the most iconic and recognisable structures in the world. Today, the Sydney Harbour bridge was closed to celebrate football. This is a significant moment for our game and is something which the Australian football community should take pride in and savour – this is our time." 

Kuwait stun Pakistan 4-0 to move into the semifinals, India to meet Kuwait on June 27 to fix top team of Pool ASports Bulletin ReportBengaluru (India):-Hosts India outclassed Nepal 2-0 in the Bengaluru South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, and confirmed their berth in the top-four stage of the 8-national fixture.With this victory, India extended their unbeaten run on home turf to 12 matches. Ever since September 5, 2019, when India lost to Nepal, no other international team could leave the pitch in India by tasting victory against the hosts. After a first half where the Blue Tigers were left frustrated by the stubborn Nepal defence, goals from captain Sunil Chhetri and Naorem Mahesh Singh after the break bagged the three points for the hosts, who had assistant coach Mahesh Gawli on the touchline in place of the suspended Igor Stimac.Kuwait beat Pakistan 4-0 earlier in the day and will join India in the semi-final from Group A. Nepal, finalists of the previous edition, are eliminated.There were as many as eight changes to the India side that cruised past Pakistan 4-0 in the opener. Only hat-trick hero Sunil Chhetri, Anirudh Thapa and Sahal Abdul Samad were retained in the eleven. In the entirely-new backline, Rahul Bheke was handed his first start of the month.The game started at a lighter pace than the one three days earlier. India, expectedly, did see plenty of possession in the starting stages and most of their attacks came from the left wing, with Akash Mishra, Naorem Mahesh Singh and Sahal, who occasionally drifted wide.The latter spurned the first big chance of the game in the 16th minute when Akash cut the ball back from the by-line but he could only side-foot it wide.In the very next minute, Nepal lodged their first shot on target as Mehtab Singh's clearance fell for Arik Bista, whose first-time volley was well-saved by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.Nepal had Manish Dangi causing India trouble from the right flank. On one such occasion, his low cross was met with a vital interception by Rohit Kumar, allowing the hosts to move forward on the counter-attack. In a three-on-three situation, Sahal took a bit too much time to pick out a pass and was dispossessed by the visitors.India came out a much more rejuvenated side after the break, and after Mahesh’s snapshot from distance flashed just wide, the deadlock was broken in classic fashion in the 61st minute.Sahal and Mahesh combined well before the latter sent an inch-perfect low cross into the middle for Sunil Chhetri to tap in his 91st international goal with the simplest of touches.India were finally getting in the groove and less than 10 minutes later, the lead was doubled after a rather bizarre first India goal for Mahesh. As Sahal sent Chhetri clean through, the skipper took his time before releasing his left-footed shot. The effort was deflected, by goalkeeper Kiran Kumar Limbu, bounced twice on the crossbar before Mahesh bundled it in from point-blank range.Limbu was called into action soon again and prevented the fiery Indian offence from registering more goals. He made two strong saves in quick succession to first keep out substitute Lallianzuala Chhangte’s shot from a narrow-angle before holding firm to Bheke's header from the resulting corner.India XI: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK), Nikhil Poojary (Pritam Kotal 73'), Rahul Bheke, Mehtab Singh, Akash Mishra, Rohit Kumar (Jeakson Singh Thounaojam 63'), Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad (Rahim Ali 82'), Naorem Mahesh Singh, Sunil Chhetri (C), Udanta Singh (Lallianzuala Chhangte 63').

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE:-Pakistani current and former footballers and officials including men and women will be awarded scholarships in the United Kingdom (UK) to upgrade their knowledge and study abroad, as the initiative has been launched by Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) at a local hotel here on Monday.According to an official of PFF, the British High Commission in collaboration with Swindon Town Football Club will create a wonderful opportunity for both men and women football team players, current and former along with the coaches to get Scholarships in the United Kingdom.PFF NC Chairman Haroon Malik, Head of Internal Communications British High Commission Shehryar Mirza, Head of Lahore Office, Clara Strandhoj, and Chevening Alumni Engagement Officer, Reema Salman graced the occasion.Swindon Town Football Club UK's Chevening Scholarship will now feature Pakistani players, coaches, and professionals enrolling in a fully-funded Master-Degree Program in the UK. The selected players will get the opportunity to study with getting perks including fully-funded tuition fees, access to some of the best quality education in the world, exclusive networking opportunities, and the chance to explore the UK’s diverse culture.Haroon Malik said:"We are thankful to the British High Commission for this Swindon Town Football Club UK's Chevening Scholarship for our players, which is no doubt a good step towards the betterment of football on an academic level. Football is necessary and education should be mandatory for all players. Not only our current stars but former players, professionals and coaches will also be able to utilize the platform and benefit.Chevening Alumni Engagement Officer, Reema said:“The incentive offered by the Swindon Town Football Club will not only enhance the knowledge of players but also strengthen the ties between the two countries. Our aim is to further strengthen the ties between the British High Commission and Pakistan Football Federation through sports and education."

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE: TCL, a Global top 2 TV brand, has announced a new partnership with Arsenal Football Club. The collaboration will give Arsenal supporters in the UK, Middle East and Africa more opportunities to engage with the club, while also increasing TCL’s expanding footprint in sport by becoming the club’s Official Regional Consumer Electronics Partner in those markets. With a mission to Inspire Greatness, TCL understands the impact sport has on people around the world and the new partnership aims to engage supporters around their common passion for football. TCL will provide Arsenal supporters with exclusive club content and exciting deals on a product range including TVs, white goods and home appliances. Supporters will have the opportunity to participate in competitions and games with the lucky winners receiving official Arsenal gifts and merchandise. TCL will also invite its customers to watch live matches at Emirates Stadium as well as meet and greets with current players and legends. "We are thrilled to partner with Arsenal Football Club, one of the most prestigious football clubs in the world," said Sunny Yang, General Manager TCL Middle East and Africa. " This partnership will allow us to bring our innovative and high-quality products to Arsenal's passionate and loyal supporter base in the Middle East, Africa and the UK. Our values of progression, positivity and inspiration are aligned to those of Arsenal and we’re excited to work together to engage supporters around the world in their common love for football." Juliet Slot, Arsenal's Chief Commercial Officer, said: "We are delighted to welcome TCL to our family of partners. This partnership represents an exciting opportunity for both Arsenal and TCL to engage with our supporters in the Middle East, Africa and the UK. We look forward to working closely with TCL to bring the best viewing experience to our fans in the region."

Sports Bulletin Report Melbourne/Naarm: The FIFA Women’s World Cup™ Trophy Tour Send-Off event took place in Melbourne / Naarm on Saturday, coinciding with the arrival of the Unity Pitch in the city. The Trophy Tour’s Skills Drills will inspire women and girls worldwide to get involved in the excitement and show support for their country ahead of FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ The stage is set for an extraordinary FIFA Women’s World Cup™ Trophy Tour after a special Send-Off event in Melbourne / Naarm on Saturday marked the start of a global journey that will inspire the next generation of female football stars. The celebration took place in the shadow of the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, which will host six matches during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™, ahead of the first official stop on the Trophy Tour in Japan on 25-26 February. The Send-Off event coincided with the arrival of the Unity Pitch, which was in Melbourne / Naarm for the day and will tour all nine Host Cities ahead of the start of the tournament. Female Football Freestyle world champion Lia Lewis was on hand to help open the Unity Pitch by inspiring dozens of youngsters in attendance with an astonishing display of her skills before passing on her tips.  “Before freestyle football, I was a ballet dancer. I did 18 years of ballet, five years ago, thinking back, I couldn’t kick a ball. Five years later, I can’t believe I’m here,” Lia Lewis said. “This Trophy Tour is all about Going Beyond, and through the Skills Drills, we are making football accessible, creative and fun. Skills Drills will showcase incredible women’s talent and, more importantly, inspire women and girls worldwide to take part in something inspirational.” USA national team legend Kristine Lilly, the most capped international footballer of all time, was also in attendance, engaging with the youngsters and sharing her Women’s World Cup experiences. Speaking in anticipation of the tournament, she said: “The growth of the women’s game and the support behind it has been incredible. To be at 32 teams in the World Cup is so great for so many reasons – for all these countries who haven’t had the opportunity but now they do, it’s incredible.” “The growth of the game and how many teams are going to be competing in this World Cup is going to create so much more hype and excitement and challenge those countries that have been there for a while. So, it’s going to be exciting to watch the games and you can get your tickets now, so please do, and support the women’s game.” The FIFA Women’s World Cup™ Trophy Tour will visit all 32 of the tournament’s participating nations, and will return to Melbourne / Naarm on 14-16 June, inspiring people across the globe ahead of the big kick-off on 20 July.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: FIFA has revealed that over half-a-million tickets have been sold to fans from more than 120 countries for the ninth edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, taking place this July and August in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The first-ever 32-team FIFA Women’s World Cup will be a truly global celebration of football and welcome teams qualified for the first time ever in their history from Morocco, Zambia, Philippines, Vietnam and the Republic of Ireland. FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura said: “Ticket sales for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 are off to a great start and it’s not just home fans in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand purchasing tickets! Fans residing in the United States of America, England, Qatar, Germany, China PR, Canada, the Republic of Ireland and France are the top 10 purchasers of FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 tickets so far. This highlights the fantastic pull of the female game and the passion it evokes among the global football fandom.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: The three times Asian Champions, Saudi Arabia will host the 2027 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Football Cup, as India withdrawn from his bit to get the rights of holding mega football event of the Asian nations. According to AFC statement, after All India Football Federation’s decision of withdrawal, Saudi Arabia remained single bidder of the said event, as AFC has awarded the tournament to Saudi Arabia to host the mega soccer fixture of the Asian countries. “The Asian Football Confederation has been officially notified by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) of their decision to withdraw their bid from the AFC Asian Cup 2027 host selection process,” the regional body said Monday without elaborating. Saudi Arabia defeated two times world champions Argentina 2-1 in their opening clash of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 at the different venues of Qatar.

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE: The South African FIFA-certified female referee Akhona Makalima has arrived here on Tuesday to conduct an international course on ‘women's leadership and career mentorship in sports’ on the invitation of Galaxy Sports Academy (GSA). Akhona Makalima, who is South Africa's first FIFA female referee and has honor of refereeing the FIFA U19 Women World Cup held in Costa Rica this year, has been conducting the course entitled as 'Career Mentorship in Women Sports and Football Refereeing’ at Government College University (GCU) Lahore till November 25 under the patronage of the US Department of State Global Sports Mentoring Program (GSMP).  International hockey player and Pakistan's first female Olympic volunteer Rabia Qadir, who is also an alumna of the GSMP class of 2016, invited Akhona Makalima for the second time to Pakistan to train and prepare the next generation for female mentors and sports leaders.  Currently, there is no Pakistani female referee on the FIFA panel. So during this course, Makalima will train 25 national and international athletes about how they move forward in life after their playing career and become mentors and leaders. She will also guide the participants about the pathway how to become a referee at the international level.  Government College University Vice Chancellor Dr. Asghar Zaidi has taken a keen interest in the course and provided local hospitality and world-class facilities for the FIFA-certified female referee. During this visit, Akhona Makalima will also participate in different events, where she will celebrate the FIFA World Cup, which is being hosted for the first time by an Islamic country.