Kathmandu: India's hopes of winning the AFC Challenge Cup football tournament went up in smoke after they suffered a 0-2 defeat to Philippines here on Sunday. This was India's second defeat in the tournament - they lost to Tajikistan by a similar margin in their opening match on Friday. Philip James Younghusband, who was part of the Chelsea squad for three years from 2005, struck both the goals as India...
08:39 PM, Mar 11, 2012
Kathmandu: In their second match at the Dasarath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu, Maldives beat Nepal by a solitary goal scored by Mohammed Rasheed in the 51st minute to send the hosts packing out of AFC Challenge Cup. It was Mohammad Rasheed's first international goal for the island nation which dashed the hopes of the millions of Nepali people who thought home advantage would allow their team to spring a surprise...
08:51 PM, Mar 10, 2012
Kathmandu: Palestine and Turkmenistan remained locked in a stalemate in Saturday's Group A match of the Challenge Cup 2012 played at the Halchowk Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal. Ahmed Mahajna returned to the backline for Palestine, alongside Murad Said, after completing his one-match ban that saw him miss the match against Nepal. Both the keepers had to put in an extra effort to keep a clean sheet as Turkmenistan tormented the rival...
08:31 PM, Mar 10, 2012
Kathmandu: Indian football coach Savio Medeira is hoping that his boys will not repeat the past mistakes when they take on Philippines in the AFC Challenge Cup, here on Sunday. Philippines are expected to come hard against India having lost their first match to Korea. India too have lost to Tajikistan in their opening match. "At times you don't get the results which you strive for. But that won't deter...
06:19 PM, Mar 10, 2012
Kathmandu: DPR Korea defeated Philippines 2-0 in an enthralling Group B match of the Challenge Cup 2012 played at the Halchowk stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Friday. Pak Nam-Chol scored the opener by heading past Neil Etheridge in the 58th minute, while Jang Kuk-Chol (70) ensured three points with an opportunistic strike. Yun Jong-Su's men dominated the proceedings but were faced by some stout defending by the Azkals who were...
08:32 PM, Mar 09, 2012
Kathmandu: India made a disastrous start to their AFC Challenge Cup football tournament as they lost 0-2 to Tajikistan in their opening league match, here on Friday. After a barren but evenly contested first half, the Indians let in two goals after the hour mark with Akhtam Khamrakulov (60th minute) and Nuriddin Davronov (66th) finding the target for Tajikistan in the Group B match at Dasarath Deb Stadium. Incidentally, India...
07:01 PM, Mar 09, 2012
It is a tournament that has provided the national team with their best moment in recent times, and India will be raring to taste similar success when they kick off their 2012 AFC Challenge Cup campaign in Kathmandu on Friday. Coincidentally, the team they are up against first is Tajikistan, the same side they had drubbed 4-1 in the final of the 2008 edition to qualify for the prestigious Asia...
11:40 AM, Mar 09, 2012
Kathmandu: Palestine broke the hearts of thousands of Nepali fans in the Dashrath Rangasala stadium, as they romped to a 2-0 win against the hosts in a Group A encounter in Kathmandu. Alaa Atya put the Al-Fursan ahead as early as the 4th minute when Palestine were the first to react to a loose ball inside the box before Fahed Attal sealed the points in the 65th minute, taking full...
11:33 PM, Mar 08, 2012
Kathamandu: In the first encounter of the AFC Challenge Cup 2012 it was Maldives who took on Turkmenistan in a Group A encounter in Kathamandu, Nepal. Turkmenistan, in spite of going behind rather early in the encounter, came from behind and comfortably edged Maldives by putting three goals past them. The scoring was opened for Maldives by Hasan Adhuham who scored his first international goal for the island nation in...
09:08 PM, Mar 08, 2012
Kathmandu: The mood in the Indian camp is upbeat as the Sunil Chhetri-led side gets ready to begin its campaign against a higher ranked Tajikistan in the AFC Challenge Cup football tournament at the Dasarath Stadium here on Friday. India did not have a great outing in the two international friendlies against Azerbaijan and Oman, preceding the tournament, but coach Savio Medeira is confident that the team would come out...
05:48 PM, Mar 08, 2012
Kathmandu: India football coach Savio Medeira was confident of a good show from the 2008 champions in the AFC Challenge Cup that starts here on Thursday. "The team has had a decent preparation in Dubai ahead of the AFC Challenge Cup. Though the results were not favourable in the two international friendlies but one needs to remember we couldn't field a full-strength side," he said Wednesday. Medeira said the morale...
09:33 PM, Mar 07, 2012
Kathmandu: Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri on Tuesday warned his players against complacency if they have to defend the AFC Challenge Cup which begins here on March 8. Chhetri, who had recently recovered from an injury, said that his side cannot bask on the past record and will have to play their best to win the tournament whose winner qualify for the 2015 Asian Cup. "You can never bask on...
05:28 PM, Mar 06, 2012
New Delhi: AIFF Player of the Year, Sunil Chhetri will lead India in the AFC Challenge Cup to be held in Kathmandu from March 8. Defender Syed Rahim Nabi will serve as Chhetri's deputy during the tournament. After decisions were taken in the team meeting on Monday, India coach Savio Medeira expressed confidence on the choice, saying both Sunil and Nabi are quality players. "Both Sunil and Nabi are quality...
05:38 PM, Mar 05, 2012
New Delhi: A 23-member Indian national football team left here for Kathmandu to participate in the AFC Challenge Cup which starts on March 8. India have been clubbed with North Korea, Philippines and Tajikistan in Group B, while Group A consists of hosts Nepal, Maldives, Palestine and Turkmenistan. The winner of the tournament will earn a ticket to play in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. India play their first match...
03:56 PM, Mar 04, 2012
New Delhi: Gurjinder Singh and Adil Khan are the two new faces in the 23-member squad announced by national football coach Savio Medeira on Friday for the upcoming AFC Challenge Cup, which begins in Kathmandu, Nepal on March 9. Defending champions India play their first match against Tajikistan on March 9. India have been grouped with World Cuppers North Korea, the Philippines and Tajikistan. Barring defender Gurjinder and Khan, who...
07:32 PM, Mar 02, 2012
New Delhi: Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia said his ex-colleagues Climax Lawrence and Mahesh Gawli took hasty decisions to retire from international football as he felt that the duo could have served the country for some more years. Indian football is in a transition period after the retirements of three stalwarts of the game in Bhutia, Climax and Gawli. While Bhutia quit the game last year, Climax and Gawli hung...
03:51 PM, Feb 25, 2012
New Delhi: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is set to write to Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken after Sports Authority of India (SAI) turned down its proposal to sponsor the national team's preparatory tour to Dubai ahead of the much-important AFC Challenge Cup. Moments after the SAI on Wednesday justified its refusal to bear Rs 50 lakh for the football team's preparatory tour, AIFF general secretary Kushal Das shot...
08:39 PM, Feb 15, 2012
Kolkata: The Indian football team will play two international friendlies in Oman and Azerbaijan later this month in the run-up to the AFC Challenge Cup in Kathmandu. India will take on Oman in Muscat on February 23 before flying to Dubai for the game against Azerbaijan on February 27, an All India Football Federation release said on Friday. Both Oman and Azerbaijan are ranked higher than India in the FIFA...
03:57 PM, Feb 03, 2012
New Delhi: India captain Climax Lawrence, who led the team to the SAFF Cup title in December, retired from international football on Tuesday after being unceremoniously dropped by coach Savio Medeira from the 30-probables for the AFC Challenge Cup in March. The Dempo midfielder told IANS from Pune that he was hurt with the way he was dropped from the national team. Lawrence said Savio called him on Monday to...
10:01 AM, Feb 01, 2012
New Delhi: Savio Medeira began his customary post-match conference by pointing out that he had achieved double success in the SAFF Cup. It feels great, he said after Indias 4-0 victory over Afghanistan in the final on Sunday. I am even more happy and proud because I have now won this tournament both as a player (in 1997 in Kathmandu) and as a coach. The irony was that he had...
10:43 PM, Dec 13, 2011
