‘We will try best to win Santosh Trophy’

With 63rd Santosh Trophy Scheduled To Be Held In Tamil Nadu From May 23, JK Team Has Been Shortlisted And Is Presently Undergoing A Coaching Camp. The Final Team Would Be Announced Shortly.

Tahir Ahmad Ghulam

Position: Stopper Back

Age: 19

Teams Played: Kashmir Mughals, Maharaja Sports, Food and Supplies

Current Team: Food and Supplies

Tahir started his career after passing matriculation examination and without having any football background. His place in the JK Santosh Trophy squad speaks about his talent. He has not represented the state in any school national event but in junior tournaments organized by All India Football Federation. He played two under-16 level tournaments held at Uttranchal and Jammu. In Uttranchal, JK won the tile and qualified for the super league, which was held in Goa. In under-19 level tournaments, he has represented state once in Pune, Maharashtra.Last year Tahir along with two other players from J&K, Taufeeq and Rohit were selected for under-21 India team trials. 300 players from all over the India were selected for the trials. In first shortlist, which comprised of 40-players Tahir found place, but in second shortlist, which was of 30 players he was dropped. He has also represented the state in under-21 national tournament last year in Tamil Nadu. His experience of playing in Tamil Nadu just last year will help him to give his best for the state in Santosh Trophy.“As I’ve played last year in Tamil Nadu, experience would help me as well as the team,” Tahir told Greater Kashmir.In the league tournaments, Tahir started his stint with B-division club Kashmir Mughals and within short period was selected by Super-division club Maharaja Sports. After showing his class with Maharaja Sports in super division, he was recruited by Food and Supplies.Experts say that Tahir has got material of a good defender. He is tall, has got good physique, which are the essential part of defenders. The most important feature of Tahir’s game is his cool and calm nature. He never loses cool in tense situations. His temperament makes him special among all the defenders that JK has got and being young he can serve state football for years to come. About his and team’s performance in Santosh Trophy, he said, “I hope I would be selected for the final squad on May 17. J&K Football Association has taken bold step by selecting youngsters like me for the Santosh trophy. We will give our best to win the coveted trophy,” he hoped.


Apeared in Greater Kashmir on May 13 http://greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=13_5_2009&ItemID=10&cat=4

Marcos starts football academy at Bakshi Stadium

Srinagar, May 11: The International Sports Academy Trust (ISAT) football academy run by Brazilian football coach Juan Marcos commenced its activities at the Bakshi Stadium from Monday.J&K Football Association, President Zamir Ahmad Thakur inaugurated the academy with former footballers, JKFA officials and number of young footballers present on the occasion. J&K State Sports Council last month permitted Marcos to run activities of his academy in the Bakshi Stadium.ISAT Spain representative Bruce Sider was the chief guest on the occasion and JKFA presented him special memento for supporting the development of football activities in valley.Giving details about the academy and his plans for the development of valley’s football Marcos said, “I have come to valley for the development of football. I first started giving training at Polo Ground and then moved on to Amar Singh College and now I have got best place to impart training to young kids. Without support of JKFA and Sports Council I won’t have thought of starting the activities in stadium.”“The stadium is an ideal place for running the academy. Here we have got well maintained field, changing rooms, space for keeping equipments,” he said.About 150 boys in the age group of 8 to 16 years have registered for getting training in the academy. Marcos has selected 12 players for getting training in Malaga, Spain and among those he will send four this year and four next year.“This is an ambitious project whereby valley players will be trained in Spain. I will be sending the first group of four players there in September this year and another four in 2010,” he said.Marcos is running his activities in collaboration with J&K Football Association and it was because of JKFA efforts that Sports Council permitted him to run the academy in Bakshi Stadium.

Apeared in Greater Kashmir on May 12 : http://greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=12_5_2009&ItemID=20&cat=4

‘Experience we lack, talent we have’

HERE IS PROFILE OF ONE OF THE SHORTLISTED PLAYER:

SHAHNAWAZ BASHIR WANI

AGE: 21

POSITION: MIDFIELD

TEAMS: YOUNG MAHARAJA, JK FOREST, JK BANK

CURRENT TEAM: JK BANK

With 63rd Santosh Trophy scheduled to be held in Tamil Nadu from May 23, JK team has been shortlisted and is presently undergoing a coaching camp. The final team would be announced shortly.If football pundits say JK football has bright future, young players like Shahnawaz Bashir are the reason for it. He started his career at the age of 14, under the guidance of veteran football coach, Muhammad Abdullah. Shahnawaz is currently reckoned as one of the most talented footballers of the valley. At the age of 21, he plays for JK Bank football team. “I started playing at the age of 14. After four-years I played for Young Maharaja in the league tournaments,” Shahnawaz said. Within one year of starting playing in the league tournaments, Shahnawaz caught attention of managers and coaches of departmental teams. JK Forest did not waste time and recruited him. He played for Forest team for three years. In many classic and memorable clashes against the teams like JK Bank and JKSRTC, Shahnawaz gave his heart out and mesmerized football lover with quality play. His hard work and skill earned him place in JK Bank team this year. Shahnawaz has represented the state in national events from under-14 level. He represented state first in under-14 school national at Jammu in which JK qualified their pool. He was part of JK team in two Subroto Mukherjee School national tournaments. In that event he helped his team to qualify for quarterfinal. The most important role Shahnawaz played was in helping JK under-16 team to lift All Indian Football Federation under-16 football title. JK won it first time ever and Shahnawaz played important role. At under-19 level Shahnawaz has represented state on three occasions. Two times in school national tournaments and once in AIFF organized event. In all the events his and teams performance was satisfactory. Last year, he also represented Kashmir University in inter-university tournament at Gadwal University. In that event KU was able to qualify for quarterfinal stage. In 2008, Shahnawaz was selected by CL Bokaro Football Academy, Jharkhand but due to personal reasons he couldn’t join. Shahnawaz is a gifted player and has good physique. His dribbling skills make him special player in any team. In important matches, he plays his heart out and on most occasions’ scores important goals. On his selection in JK Santosh Trophy team, Shahnawaz is happy. “If we play like a team, we’ll be able to qualify for next round. Yes, experience matters but as all players are young and new in the team it helps in playing like a unit,” he said. About his performance, he says, “As it will be my debut Santosh trophy event, I’ll give my best. We have been placed in pool with Pudicherry, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram, I think among only Mizoram will be tough to beat.”

Apeared in Greater Kashmir on May 11: http://greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=11_5_2009&ItemID=6&cat=4

Don’t expect miracles from JK team: Coach

Srinagar, May 9: A day after he was appointed as coach of JK Santosh Trophy squad, Intikhab Aalam Saturday said that nobody should expect miracles from the team in the coveted event.“Most of the players in the squad are new faces and are inexperienced. Out of last year’s Santosh trophy squad, only two or three players are in the team and for rest the tournament will be a new experience,” he said.Aalam who is chief coach of JK Police team said that he was appointed at last moment and there is short time left for preparations.“I don’t expect miracles from the team and I suggest football fans of the Valley to stay calm. In eight days no coach can prepare a team and I’m no different. Players are talented, but lack exposure and experience for Santosh Trophy,” he said.Appreciating J&K Football Association for picking young talented faces in the squad, he said, “I appreciate JKFA for taking such a bold step, but they should have selected this team two months before.”“I’ll try to bring best out of the team. I’ve told the players not to keep anything in mind and play natural game. If they play with free mind, we will be able to achieve something,” he hoped. JK has been kept in Cluster III along with Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh and Pudicherry and they will play their all group matches at St Joseph College, Tiruchirappalli. In first match, they will lock horns with Madhya Pradesh on May 24 while on May 26 they will take on Pudicherry. In their last group match, JK will be against Mizoram.

Apeared in Greater Kashmir on May 10: http://greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=10_5_2009&ItemID=14&cat=4

Former players flay JKFA for selection

Santosh Trophy

ABID KHAN


Srinagar, May 8: The former football players of the Valley have flayed J&K Football Association for ignoring senior players and picking up mostly unknown faces in the JK Santosh Trophy squad for the 63rd edition of the coveted event to be held in Tamil Nadu from May 24 to June 14.
The JKFA on Wednesday announced the list of 26 players who will participate in the coaching camp prior to the final announcement of 20 players, which will be made on May 17.
Among the players in last year’s squad, only four could make it to the list. Even Shahnaz Iqbal, who was captain of the team last year, was dropped.
Though JKFA officials say that they gave preference to young lot keeping future in consideration, the former players blame internal bickering as main reason for ignoring seniors.
Former international footballer, Dr Zahoor Haroon, said, “Though internal bickering has always overwhelmed JKFA, it never affected any player and was kept up to administrative level only. But this time dropping almost all the experienced and picking unknown faces for the biggest national level football tournament of India speaks volumes about the functioning of the Association.”
“Last year our team reached to quarterfinal stage because of the experienced players and within one year they have been axed. If preferring young players is the reason, then Baichung Bhutia should have been out of Indian team,” he said, adding, inclusion of Ishfaq Ahmad and other national players would not be helpful for team as football is team game and individual performances hardly matter.
“Ishfaq alone can’t win you matches. He is in great form but what about the rest of players who have got no exposure and experience at all,” Zahoor added.
Another former footballer, Muhammad Amin questioned the overall selection process of the JKFA.
“I can’t understand how the players were shortlisted for the trials. Last year selection was done through open trails, but this time only 40 players were allowed to participate in trials. They had barred almost all the senior players from participating in trials including the talented lot of JK Bank,” he alleged.
Amin said that internal matters of JKFA shouldn’t have affected the players.
“It is unfortunate, as no one had expected it. When it looked that our state is getting back its place in Indian football on the basis of performance, the JKFA has put it at risk by selecting almost second strength team,” Amin said.
“Every Association has got loopholes and internal bickering is not that big thing. But the concern this time is that players have been affected” he added.
One of the JK Bank player who was not shortlisted for trials, said, “Without assessing the performance, JKFA shortlisted the players. Normally season would have kicked off 20 to 25 days back, but this year JKFA is yet to make announcement about the start. Without tournaments, I don’t know how they shortlisted and assessed performance of the players,” he said.
“Except three or four players no one among the selected players has represented state in any big national tournament” he added.

published in greater kashmir on June 9 http://greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=9_5_2009&ItemID=7&cat=4

JKFA never wanted me in team: Wadoo

ABID KHAN


Srinagar, May 8: Valley’s international footballer, Mehraj-ud-Din Wadoo Friday said that J&K Football Association never wanted him in the Santosh Trophy squad and had kept his name only for formality.
“The JKFA was never serious to include me in the team. They called me on the day when trials started. If they had been serious then they would have informed me in advance like they did with other players. I told them not to include my name in squad as I had groin injury,” Wadoo told Greater Kashmir.
“Despite injury, I would have loved to interact with the players in the camp and share my experience, but the JKFA officials never approached me. Doctors have advised me to stay away from playing, but I could perfom warm up and cardio exercises,” he said.
The current Indian international player was also critical of JKFA on sidelining senior talented players and including almost all new faces in the squad.
“I don’t know what criteria they have employed in selecting the squad. All the talented senior players have been sidelined and kept away from trials. Even if I along with Ishfaq would be in the squad, it still will not make any difference. Football is a team game and individual performances doesn’t matter much,” Wadoo said.
Meanwhile, Wadoo has been included in the national camp. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Thursday announced squad of 27 players that would attend the national camp at Delhi from June 22 to July 7. The camp will be held in order to prepare players for the team’s tour to Portugal. The squad has three goalkeepers, ten defenders, ten midfielders and four forwards.
Goalkeepers: Arindam Bhattacharya, Subrata Paul, Subhashish Roy Choudhary
Defenders: Govin Singh, Gouramangi Singh, Mahesh Gawli, Samir Naik, Surkumar Singh, Anwar, Deepak Mondal, NS Manju, Mohanraj, Rakesh Masih.
Midfielders: Anthony Pereira, Clifford Miranda, Climax Lawrence, Meharjuddin Wadoo, Syed Rahim Nabi, Renedy Singh, Baldip Singh, Jagpreet Singh, NP Pradeep, Steven Dias.
Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Sushil Singh, Baichung Bhutia, Abhishek Yadav.


published in greater kashmir on June 9 : http://greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=9_5_2009&ItemID=6&cat=4

JKFA selector dissociates from association

Srinagar, May 4: Jammu Kashmir Football Association senior selector Nazir Ahmad Andrabi has disassociated himself from the association on grounds that he faced embarrassment after being appointed as a mediator between the warring factions within the association.
“The president and the other office bearers of the association assigned me the job of resolving the matter with the Jammu wing. After discussions with some members of Jammu wing, they agreed to settle the issues amicably. However, general secretary and another official at Jammu did not resolve the issue,” said Andrabi.
Andrabi said that instead of resolving the issue with Jammu wing members ahead of its elections, the association chose to conduct election in the region unconstitutionally.
“The association conducted fake election in Jammu without taking into confidence the members who had differences. The election was conducted in a local school with the help of some self appointed members. The election is unconstitutional and illegal,” Andrabi said.
Pertinently, JKFA started a three-day trial for selecting its team for Santosh trophy football tournament from Sunday.
“I was not informed about the trials despite being senior selector. I dissociated myself from the association on Sunday and they should have informed me about trials before it. They never wanted me to be present during trials that is why they did not inform me,” he said.
When asked, JKFA, general secretary, S A Hameed said: “These are all baseless allegations. Jammu wing elections were conducted according to constitution of association and 42 members were present out of 57. The elections were held under proper observation of JKFA.”
About the selector not being informed about trial dates he said, “We had informed him well in advance and we always wanted him to be present during trials.”


published in gretaer kashmir on june 5-2009 :http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3512127761264568751