WELCOME KAHN - TO THE CITY OF JOY
PIC :@KUMAR BASU of www.kolkatafootball.com
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Oliver Kahn seemed be in an upbeat mood even after a long flight from Bali. He waived to the waiting media persons and fans. The match against Mohun Bagan will be Oliver Kahn’s last competitive match. The Bayern Munich team consists of 18 players along with 5 officials. There are 8 under 18 players in the squad. In the first match of their Asia tour they thrashed Indonesia 5-1. So the signal is clear for Mohun Bagan, Bayern is not taking this tour Lightly. The team was then quickly taken to their hotel under heavy security in two luxury coaches followed by a convoy of media vehicles. |
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A Press conference was held at the ITC Sonar Bangla, which was attended by
Oliver Kahn himself, Uli Hoenes, the Bayern Munich Executive Board Chairman,
Ottmar Hitzfeld, Head Coach, Kumar Shankar Bagchi, Managing Director, Bengal
Peerless and the Secretary of the Indian Football Association, Mr. Utpal Kumar
Ganguly.
Oliver Kahn said “ I am looking forward to the match at the Saltlake Stadium.” Mr. Ganguly informed that there might be a slight change in the kick-off time of the match. It might be brought forward by 15 minutes.
The kick-off time of FC Bayern v/s Mohun Bagan match will be 6:15 instead of 6:30 Subhransu Roy :“Due to pact schedule and other reasons the FC Bayern official requested us to reschedule the kick off time of the match and considering all aspects we have decided to commence the game at 6:15 pm instead of 6:30”- This is the most important announcement made by Mr. Kumar Shankar Bagchi, MD, Bengal peerless group in press conference here in ITC Sonar Bangla Conference room. It was first official press meet of FC Bayern Munchen team after their arrival in the city at Sunday noon. Oliver Kahn the main attraction of the game, along with his team-mates and officials arrived at Netaji Subhas Chandra Airport about 12 past 10. At 12:35 Kahn and his fellow members came outside from airports cargo gate a pin drop silence was visible. When dressed in Black blazer and white sports shirt the legendary ,personality of modern football, Kahn just waved his hand the airport was full of noise ‘Kahn’ ‘Kahn’ everywhere. Bayern Munchen team members were greeted by boys of local Santoshpur based Ali S.K. Memorial Children Society .In press meet Oliver Kahn said” Although I have no idea about Indian football, I have great expectation from Kolkata.I heard that a huge number of people are tuning up to watch the match. Indeed its always a great pleasure playing in front of 1’20’000 people.” According to Kahn, Holland can be dark horse in forthcoming Euro 08. As far his post retirement plan Kahn yet to make his mind. After resting for a while he may join in TV as expert commentator. The conference was also attended by FC Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfield , for whom incidentally FC Bayern’s Kolkata match was really farewell match. Soon he is leaving his job in Beyern and taking responsibility Swedish national team. IFA secretary Utpal Ganguly , Exec. Director Bayern Minchen Uli Hoenb were other dignitaries present in the meet . After the conclusion of press meet Oliver Kahn and other FC Bayern officials rushed to Alipore Body Guard line to inaugurate the KOLKATA FIENDSHIP CUP organised by Kolkata police club.
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| After the press conference the team proceded towards the Body Guard Lines to be at the opening ceremony of the Kolkata Police Friendship Cup Football tournament, where a huge crowd welcomed them. Many city celebrities were also present during the function. Although claiming to be tired Kahn seemed to enjoy the adulation showered on him. |
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Then it was time for a bit of sight- seeing. Oliver Kahn along with his teammates
were taken on a steamer ride down the river Hooghly.Kahn seemed to be in a
pensive mood probably thinking about his long and illustrious career at a time
when he is about to retire. What a treat for the football fans in Kolkata.
The will get to see a legend in action for the very last time. It will definitely go
down into history books “Kahn played his last match in Kolkata”.
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20.05.2008 : Suman Saha and Abhishek Bhattacharyya::Valerian soccer foundation which started off in 2007 organized a seminar last evening in Jadavpur campus regarding the arrival of Bayern Munich and its impact on Bengal football. The seminar started off with Mr. Aritra Chatterjee (Secretary) and Mr. Shubhrangshu Roy (President) , of the Valerian Soccer Foundation giving the introductory speech. |
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Valerion Soccer Foundation,India’s first football coaching clinic organized a seminar in Jadavpur University Campus on 20th May,2008 & Kolkatafootball.com,premier news site of football capital of India was the online partner.The subject of the Seminar was-Bayern Munich’s Kolkata match:Some thoughts & future.Since its inception in 2007,Valerion Soccer Foundation, a non-profit making organization has already started football clinics in four districts of West Bengal.The four places are Bakhrahat in 24 Parganas,Guskara in Burdhwan,Amta in Howrah & Haripal in Hoogly District. The seminar was inaugurated by Kshiti Goswami,Minister-in-charge, PWD,West Bengal.The Seminar kicked-off with the introductory speeches from Mr. Aritra Chatterjee (Secretary) and Mr. Shubhrangshu Roy (President) of the Valerian Soccer Foundation. Mr. Shanto Mitro(Ex- National Footballer and Editor of the IFA magazine Kick-Off) was the first speaker of the seminar.He said the lack of soccer coaching camps in the junior level was a one of the main reason why we are not able to produce talented players. According to him our football administration should take up more responsibilities if they want to produce talented players in near future.He was also unhappy with AIFF for not releasing the players from the national camp for the Bayern match. He also said that we need to be a bit more professional in order to succeed.He also spoke highly about a new upcoming talent “Sourav” & said his skills reminded him of the Late.Krishanu Dey & he believes that we need to do the needful to preserve this talent & give them the opportunity to grow up.He was also hopeful that with Bayern coming in India our football will be hugely boosted. His speech was followed by Hon'bel Minister Mr. Khiti Goswami’s speech who opined that the physical fitness of our players is far less than the international standards. The shield win in 1911 of a bare-footed Mohun Bagan was not a fluke and to get a more corporate look we need a more sponsors in football.He also said that we need to preserve football grounds in our local areas & need to encourage football in our own way.According to him in order to succeed you need to be love the game & need to be a complete freak & and declared that he is eagerly waiting for Bayern Munich vs Mohun Bagan match & was also proud to see asian players like Park Ji-Sung playing in Manchester United. Mr. Debasish Dutta, a renowned sports journalist revealed that the basic difference between the cricket and the football is the publicity and the amount of involvement it gets.If we get proper opportunity and mentality we can overcome the situation soon & said that our Football administration needs a change in management & its personnels.. Mr. Kaushik Banerjee, Sports Historian & Associated Editor Soccer & Society,London opined that we need to be positive in our approach in order to succeed & spoke highly about Bayern Munich. Mr. Kalyan Chaubey,Goalkeeper of the newly promoted I-league team Mumbai FC who conceded a single goal(in penalty) in this recently concluded Ongc 2nd division I-league, shared his experience with us as he bought out the difference of playing in Kolkata and Goa.He also shared his experience of visiting Germany in his early playing careers & being a part of TFA(TATA FOOTBALL ACADEMY).He said that we have been careless & have a tendency of mismanaging and until & unless we change this habits we can never improve. Mrs. Sohini Mitra Chaubey,Director(Marketing & Public Relations,Mohun Bagan-Sail Academy) she discussed with us the commercial side of the game & also the sponsors of Bayern Munich & a role played by Horst Dassler & his Company Addidas in the world of sport marketing & how our Indian clubs can also reap the benefits through Sports Marketing.She also thanked Bengal Peerless & its head honcho Kumar Shankar Bagchi for sponsoring the match between Bayern Munich & Mohun Bagan.Kumaresh Bhawal (Ex Footballer),Mr. Abani Roy (MP) & actor Chandan Sen also attended the seminar. Mr. Subrata Dutta (Vice President AIFF) was unable to be present in the seminer for a sudden urgent work but e-mailed his speech which was read by the organiser during the seminar & who hopes for a better future for Indian football with all the new upcoming projects of which one of them is “Win in India with India Project”. Valerion Soccer Foundation’s bi-lingual football journal 90 Minutes was also inaugurated in this seminar Valerian Soccer Foundation needed to applauded for giving us such an evening which is one of its kind. If this happens often,the Bengal football & more importantly Indian Soccer will be back and will be back with a bang.
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PRESS RELEASE
| Valerian Soccer Foundation is the first soccer study centre in India is going to organise a Seminar on " BAYERN MUNICHEN'S KOLKATA MATCH- SOME THOUGHTS & FUTURE " at Prof. Anita Banerjee Memorial Hall, Arts Faculty, Jadavpur University on 20th May 2008.The seminar will start at 4 p.m. The seminar will be inaugurated by Shri Khisti Goswami ,Minister In Charge,PWD, West Bengal. |
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The Speakers of the seminar are
1) Shri Subrata Dutta (Vice President, All India Football Federation) 2) Ms. Sohini Mitra Chaubey - Director ( Public relation ), Mohun Bagan Sail Football Academy 3) Shri Shanta Mitra (Former International Player & Editor Kickoff Soccer Magazine of IFA) 4) Prof. Kausik Bandyopadhay (Sports Historian & Associated Editor Soccer & Society,London) 5) Shri Kalyan Chaubey (International & Mumbai F.C Goalkeeper) All are cordially invited. |
| Up coming bollywood playback singer Keka Ghosal,actor Chandan Sen Eklobya's lead singer Dr, Parthosarathi and many Scholars professors and other intellectuals of the city will attend the seminar.India's First soccer Journal 90 Minutes will also be Inaugurated in the seminar .Kolkatafootball.com will be the online partner |
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Subhransu Roy : president :: Valerian Soccer Foundation :::: Aritra Chatterjee ::: Secretary :: Valerian Soccer
Foundation
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