http://indiapost.com/article/sports/893/



Figured someone here might have the slightest interest. Congrats to the side

This is not a big victory as the opposing teams were not that brilliant but still beating Syria in the finals which is very much ahead in FIFA rankings is an achievement in itself. These types of victories are very rear in Indian soccer, hoping India will get back its former glory in coming years. Congrats to the Indian team.


Members of the Indian football team rejoice as they pose for photographers after defeating Syria in the final of the Nehru Cup football tournament in New Delhi on August 29, 2007. India defeated Syria 1-0 to win the cup. AP


Footballer Pradeep (L) and team captain Baichung Bhutia celebrate India's winning goal against Syria.


Indian footballer Pradeep celebrates after scoring a goal against Syria during the final match of the ONGC Nehru Cup.


Indian footballer Sunil Chetri (L) vies for the ball with Syrian player Wael Ayan during the final of The Nehru Cup in New Delhi.

thanks for the contribution Vaman

Saturday September 22, 06:24 PM
Danish beer maker Carlsberg mulls investing in Indian football

By Indo Asian News Service

New Delhi, Sep 22 (IANS) The growing interest in football in India after the national team's triumph in the Nehru Cup seems to have attracted the attention of famous Danish beer maker Carlsberg which wants to invest in the game here.

'Carlsberg always have an association with sports - specially football. It won't be any different in India as we have noticed there is a considerable amount of interest in football,' Jesper Madsen, vice-president Carlsberg Asia, told reporters during the India launch of the beer here Saturday.

Carlsberg is the sponsor of the European champions Liverpool Football Club and also of the English football team. The beer company is also one of the partners of the Football Association, the governing body of the sport in England. They are also the title sponsors of Euro 2009, which will be co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland.

'India is not a football-crazy country but it seems that people are getting hooked on to this sport. Everyone in this country is running after cricket but we would like to stick to football,' said Joakim Sande, marketing director of South Asia Breweries Private Limited (SABPL) - the firm through which Carlsberg will operate in India.

SABPL is a joint venture of Carlsberg Breweries, the Industrialisation Fund for Developing Countries (IFU), the financial arm of Danish government, and a group of investors.

Carlsberg Breweries holds 45 percent stake in it and IFU holds 10 percent, while the group of investors hold the remaining stake.

'We have seen that the game is immensely popular in places like Kolkata and Goa and we will also look to invest in football clubs or sponsor tournaments in these two places in future,' said Sande.

Carlsberg, if they put money in football, won't be the first liquor company to do so in India as Bangalore-based United Breweries has been sponsoring Kolkata giants East Bengal and Mohun Bagan for the past few years.

Source - http://in.sports.yahoo.com/070922/43/6l330.html

Tuesday October 16, 10:09 PM
Young India have to improve a lot: Brazilian legend Zico

By Indo Asian News Service

New Delhi, Oct 16 (IANS) Brazilian football legend Zico said the young Indian team had to improve a lot if they are 'to have ambitions in Asia'.

'The Indian national team is very young. They ran a lot but they were yet very innocent too, without quality. At any point of time, it was always easy for us (Japan) to control the match (in Kolkata),' Zico, who is now the coach of Turkish club Fenerbahce's, told All Sports Magazine in an interview.

Zico's comment on Indian football comes after India's 1-4 loss to Lebanon in an away World Cup qualifier Oct 8. The Brazilian is no stranger to Indian football as he was coach of the Japanese team, during the 2006 World Cup qualifiers.

Recalling his visit to Kolkata for the World Cup qualifier, the footballer said: 'My experience was fantastic, the (Salt Lake) stadium was very old, it reminded me of Maracana back home. The reception was incredible, there were a lot of Indians shouting my name, carrying Brazilian flags. It was really a very beautiful party, and we won the match.'

Source - http://in.sports.yahoo.com/071016/43/6m0pe.html

Zico's correct. Right now Indian football is still completely in it's infancy. The best start would be to try and gain further interest in the sport. The Nehru cup was the start and now the plans for a professional league is the next step, this in fact is essential. Next investing in the sport at grassroots level would be important in the development of young players, teaching them technical skills and tactical awareness. For this coaching must be improved, with some experienced and quality coaches brought in.

India has a lot of potential due to it's sheer size in population, but right now it's difficult to see the nation progressing like Japan and S.Korea have in the past decade.