Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: The regional training camps for the Boys Under-16 to commence on July 8 simultaneously in Quetta, Karachi, Islamabad, Kohat, and Khanewal, as a 26-man squad will be selected for the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U-16 championship.Sajjad Mehmood, the head coach of the Pakistan U-16 team, will oversee the performance of the players for the upcoming event. From the pool of talented participants, 50 players will be selected for the national U-16 training camp, set to begin on August 1 and conclude on August 30. Under the guidance of Sajjad Mehmood, the players will undergo practice sessions to further enhance their skills and receive expert coaching during the training.Following the training camp, a final squad comprising 26 members will be chosen. This selected team will represent Pakistan in the SAFF U-16 championship, taking place in Bhutan from September 1 to September 11. The championship will provide a valuable platform for the young players to compete against other national teams. The same team will participate in the AFC U-16 qualifiers next year. 

Over 700 young people across New Delhi and Goa take part in football tournaments Sports Bulletin ReportGoa (India): More than 700 young people across New Delhi and Goa took part in football tournaments and value-based workshops over the past couple of months, run by the Premier League and British Council, the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural exchange as part of the Premier League Primary Stars education programme. Premier League Primary Stars supports the holistic development of children aged between 5-11 years and leverages the popularity of the Premier League and professional football clubs, to help inspire children to learn, stay active and develop important life skills. The sessions encouraged the children to discuss the Premier League Primary Stars values of being ambitious, inspiring, connected and fair. The initiative was rolled-out in New Delhi between 1st and 6th May with the participation of 15 schools, each involving 30-40 children. Additionally in Goa, the programme engaged over 200 children between 21st and 24th June. Premier League Primary Stars launched in 2017 and is available to every primary school across England and Wales. Following the success of the programme domestically, the Premier League, in partnership with the British Council, launched Premier League Primary Stars India in 2019. Premier League Primary Stars The programme equips teachers with world-class coaching training, comprehensive learning resources and physical education activities, harnessing the power of sports to enable children to excel in various areas such as personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE), teamwork and Physical Education (PE). The workshops commenced with engaging value-based sessions that involved fun activities led by Premier League Primary Stars Champions and Leaders. These sessions not only focused on enhancing technical skills but also emphasised the programme values. The activity in both Goa and Delhi culminated with a Football Finale, a one-day tournament where 16 teams of eight players, comprising both boys and girls competed, promoting the value of sports for all. Moreover, the children demonstrated remarkable cognitive development as they displayed exceptional decision-making skills in challenging match situations. In New Delhi, the tournament was held at the Thyagraj Stadium, while in Goa, the tournament was held at Duler Stadium. Both tournaments concluded on a joyous note, with an awards ceremony hosted to motivate the children and celebrate their participation. 

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." 

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: A 5-day first Members Association (MA) Referee Instructor Course concluded on Sunday, which was taken place under the supervision of course instructor Mohamad Rodzali Yaqub at FOFA Football House Lahore under the banner of Pakistan Football Federation (PFF).According to an official of PFF, Mohamad Rodzali Yaqub, a FIFA Regional Development Officer from Malaysia, dedicated five days to sharing his expertise with a group of 16 ex-FIFA and national referees from Pakistan. The course was part of FIFA's 'Teach the Teachers program' by engaging in theoretical discussions and hands-on activities, he facilitated a comprehensive learning experience for the referees. Chairman NC Haroon Malik said: “I would like to thank Rodzali who came here to teach referees new things according to FIFA and AFC standards. He extended his best wishes to all the participants who not only acquired new knowledge but would also pass it on and officiate in future matches and reinforced the commitment to improving the refereeing landscape in Pakistan.”On the occasion, Mohamad Rodzali Yaqub expressed his gratitude to the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) for having him in Pakistan and to Khurram Shahzad, who is the referee manager for arranging the informative course for the referees. He expressed his satisfaction in sharing his experiences with the participants and hoped that the refereeing standard would improve. He acknowledged the participants' potential to acquire new knowledge and highlighted their remarkable dedication to approaching the course's practical and theoretical components. He commended their outstanding commitment and enthusiasm throughout the course.

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 ReportMumbai (India):-Mumbai City FC announced to launch of ‘Healthy Goals’, a new initiative to empower healthier lives for the youth of Mumbai through football, in partnership with OSCAR Foundation.Through the ’Healthy Goals’ initiative, Mumbai City FC and OSCAR Foundation will join forces to raise funds to support the developing and refurbishing community football pitches, as well as youth led football and leadership programmes uplifting the health of local young people.This unique initiative combines grant funding with community football training for young leaders in Mumbai, who will use football to improve the health of young local Mumbaikars by providing access to quality sports infrastructure. The pitch developed will be used to deliver regular football and life skills sessions and leadership trainings for youth from underserved communities.Combining OSCAR Foundation’s experience in fundraising with Mumbai City FC’s presence in the communities of Mumbai, the ‘Healthy Goals’ initiative will raise funds and awareness to amplify the impact. The ‘Healthy Goals’ initiative aims to create a lasting impact legacy and will measure it’s outcomes through participant surveys, coach reports and feedback from communities in Mumbai.Kandarp Chandra, CEO Mumbai City FC said:“Community development is one of our key beliefs at Mumbai City FC and we’re delighted to be able to partner with a true community leader in OSCAR Foundation. Through the ‘Healthy Goals’ program, we aim to deliver a meaningful and lasting impact in our city through healthy communities, grassroots development and sustainable social growth.”Ashok Rathod, Founder and CEO, OSCAR Foundation said:"The collaboration between OSCAR Foundation and Mumbai City FC for 'Healthy Goals' fills us with great enthusiasm. Together, we aspire to leverage the influence of football to uplift the lives of young individuals in Mumbai, build healthier communities in grassroots, and instill invaluable leadership attributes that will endure for years to come."*City Football Group Limited (CFG) will match donations to the Healthy Goals Programme made between February and September 2023, to a limit of £125k (INR 1.25 crore) for any single Club or a maximum of £500k (INR 5 crore) matched globally across all CFG Clubs participating in this round of funding. 

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE:-Chairman, Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Normalisation Committee (NC) Haroon Malik called on Arshad Nadeem Pakistan's Olympian javelin thrower at Football House Lahore on Wednesday. Dr. Asad Abbas, Chairman Pakistan Olympic Medical Commission was also present on the occasion.According to an official of PFF, sports relating issues came under discussion during the meeting. Chairman Haroon Malik appreciated the performance of Arshad Nadeem in the Commonwealth Games 2022 and his achievement of bagging a gold medal for the longest distance of 78.02m in the Javelin throw at the 34th National Games in Quetta. He also highlighted the importance of motivating athletes and providing support to them in various ways.Arshad Nadeem expressed his gratitude to Haroon Malik for inviting him and appreciated the respect he received. He said when athletes are appreciated for their hard work and accomplishments, it not only enhances their confidence but also inspires them to pursue even greater success. Such gestures can be fruitful for any sportsman, he added.

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."