COUNTDOWN - 6 : 123rd IFA SHIELD 2020 : GEORGE TELEGRAPH SC
123RD IFA SHIELD - GEORGE TELEGRAPH SC
08/12/2020 : Kolkata Based IFA League team George Telegraph will play in the 123rd historical IFA shield 2020. George Telegraph SC which founded in the year 1925 by Haripada Dutta just after 5 years of founding George Telegraph Training Institute .The team started plying professional Football in the 4th Division of IFA KOLKATA FOOTBALL LEAGUE from 1925. In 1946 George Telegraph earned berth in IFA CFL first Division (Ten top Tyre). They won Darjeeling Gold Cup in the year 1977. And in 1984 they stood Runners up in Sanjoy Gandhi Gold Cup. Their first participation in AIFF I-League 2nd Division was in 2008-09 season and then again In 2012-13.
Geroge Telegraph's IFA Shield Record : in the year 1955, 1957, and 1959 they went upto Quarter Final and in the year 1976 and 1978 they went upto Semi Finals of IFA Shield. THEY HAVE A RECORD MARGIN WIN IN THE YEAR 1978 QR FINALS OF IFA SHIELD WHEN THEY BEAT PUNJAB POLICE 7-0 MARGIN...GEORGE TELEGRAPH'S BIBHAS SARKAR SCORED A DOUBLE HATTRICK AND REST GOAL SCORED BY SIBABRATA NATH..........( STAT BY NARAYAN DASGUPTA)
The Giant killer team George Telegraph have so many records in the IFA CFL. Theyr very recent records in last season IFA CFL Premier-A when they beat Kolkata Giant East Bengal (1-0), Bhowanipore SC (2-0), Aryan (2-1), Kalighat MS (1-0), Rainbow AC (3-0) under coaching of AFC 'B' license coach Ranjan Bhattacharyya. The experienced Coach Ranjan Bhattacharyya also the Chief coach of Bengal team for Santosh Trophy National 2019-20.
Ranjan who have a good talent in Match reading told that they will first play against Indian Arrows which will be the their first meeting. So they are exited to play against young Indian brigade where there will be no Foreigh players. They have also most eperienced and young energitic boys in their squad and hope they will be fight every inch and moment of the Game for winning to reach in qr. finals. Below are the George Telegraph Squad.
Goalkeepers : Sourav Chakraborty, Suryash Jaiswal, Jonty Dessa
Defenders : Celestine Echezona Anyichie, Ashim Kumar Dey, Mohan Sarkar, Nabi Hossain Khan, Subhankar Adhikari, Krishanu Naskar, Sourish Lodh Chowdhury.
Midfielders : Bablu Oraon, Saddam Hossain Mondal, Promode Prodhan, Tanmoy Ghosh, Souvik Ghosal, Aaman Munshi.
Wingers : Dipendu Dowary, Rajib Ghorui, Gautam Das, Vivek Singh, Souvik Kar, Imtiaj Alam.
Strikers : Stanley Ifeanyi Eze, Sk Raja Ali, Faruk Sekh
COACH : Ranjan Bhattacharyya
Assistant coach: Kutubuddin Sepai
Goalkeeping coach: Dipak Biswas
Doctor: Palash Sarkar
Manager: Sabyasachi Sarkar
Assistant Manager: Debojyoti Karmakar
Executive Secrtary : Adhiraj Dutta
COUNTDOWN - 5 : GOKULAM KERALA -
123RD IFA SHIELD - GOKULAM KERALA - KERALA
05/12/2020 : Gokulam Kerala FC face United Sports Club in the 123 rd IFA Shield Football Tournament opener at Kalyani Stadium on Sunday. Gokulam Kerala FC are in Group ‘D’ along with United Sports Club and BSS Sporting Club and are all set to start their season on a high note.
“This is our first match in the season. I want my team to win the match. After long time, we are going to play matches. We had only friendly matches against each other. So tomorrow will be a bit strange for everybody,” said GKFC Head Coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese.
“The training is going on smoothly. We are preparing well with fitness trainer Garcia. We will do our best to win the three points from the match. We believe in hard and group work. We have to perform as a team then we will be able to win the match,” he added.
IFA Shield would be Malabarians’ first tournament this season. The team will play its second match against BSS Sporting Club on December 12. The team will continue at Kolkata to take part in the I-League to be held in January. “The tournament will be a good platform for us to prepare for I-League. Moreover, participating in a historic tournament like IFA Shield is a honor for us,” he said.
Gokulam Kerala have registered 24 players for the IFA Shield. There are ten Kerala players in Gokulam Kerala FC squad. This three players, Thahir Zaman, Emil Benny and Mohammed Jasim, have been promoted from the reserve squad.
IFA SHIELD SQUAD - GOKULAM KERALA
GOALKEEPER: CK Ubaid, Vigneshwaran Bhaskaran, PA Ajmal.
DEFENDER: Rowilson Rodrigues, Deepak Devrani, Mohammed Jasim, Jestin George, Naocha Singh, Zodingliana, Sebastian, Ashok Singh, Awal Mohammed.
MIDFIELDER: Muhammed Rashid, Shibil Muhammed, Muthu Irulandi Mayakkannan,Salman Kalliyath, Vincy Barretto, Thahir Zaman, MS Jithin.
FORWARD: Emil Benny, Saliou Guindo, Dennis Antwi Agyare, Ronald Singh, Lalromawia.
COUNTDOWN - 4 : INDIAN ARROWS - AIFF
123RD IFA SHIELD - INDIAN ARROWS - DELHI
05/12/2020 : The Indian Arrows are all set to get their 2020-21 season underway, as they prepare to face off against Southern Samity in their opening match of the IFA Shield Group C at the Mohun Bagan Ground at 1.30 pm IST on Sunday, December 6. Having arrived in Kolkata on December 3, the Indian Arrows have checked into their COVID-safety bubble, from where they have been continuing their pre-season training.
“This will be a crucial game for the boys. It’s a new batch of Indian Arrows that we are playing with, and this is the first competitive match where they will be playing against a senior side with foreign players as well,” said Indian Arrows head coach Venkatesh Shanmugam.
“It will be a good opportunity for the boys to get used to the pace of play at this level, and further improve their game for the years to come,” he continued. “Southern Samity are a club that has a lot of history especially in football played in Kolkata, and we will show them the same respect that we show all our opponents. However, we intend to play the game that we have planned.”
Aided by the Government of Odisha, the Indian Arrows had assembled in Bhubaneswar last month for a brief camp, before travelling to Kolkata ahead of the IFA Shield. Venkatesh, who is also the assistant coach of the Senior National Team, feels that the camp in Bhubaneswar, combined with the time spent in Kolkata will help the team get into shape for competitive matches of this level.
“It was very helpful to have spent time with the boys in Bhubaneswar before coming to Kolkata. We are thankful to the Odisha Government for opening up the facilities during such trying times. It gave us, the coaching staff, to analyse the players and formulate our plans for the season coming up ahead,” stated Venkatesh.
The former India captain went on to state that his charges are looking to build the momentum in the IFA Shield, which they intend to carry into the Hero I-League. “Winning is like any other good habit. Once you have a few wins under your belt, it gives you the confidence to carry on in the same tempo,” stated Venkatesh. “We want to pick up a win or two in the IFA Shield. That would give the boys a lot of confidence ahead of the Hero I-League.”
COUNTDOWN - 3 : ARYAN CLUB - KOLKATA
123RD IFA SHIELD - ARYAN CLUB OF KOLKATA
04/12/2020 : Aryan Football Club which is one of the oldest Football club of India founded in 1884 as Aryan Sports Club. Sir Dukhiram Majumdar was father figure of the club who started Aryan’s famous policy of bringing up unknown yet talented footballers. Aryan Club to play in the 123rd IFA Shield this year. Aryan Club won the IFA Shield for two times in their history ( 1940 to beat Mohun Bagan 4-1 and 1983 jointly with East Bengal) as well as they got Runners up honoyr in 1955 and 1956.
Currently IFA CFL Premier A side Aryan Club is popular as they beat so many top sides often. AFC 'C' Licence holder RAJDEEP is the son of famous Kolkata Coach RAGHU NANDI (Who is the TD of aryan Club now).
The Head Coach of Aryan Club, Rajdeep Nandi have exclusive talk with us regarding 123rd IFA Shield Preparation. As a player Rajdeep Played for top clubs like George Telegraph and Aryan Club. 34 yrars old young Coach have a record to beat Mohun Bagan CLub (2-1) and IFA CFL Premier A champion Peerless SC (4-3) in last season of IFA CFL PREMIER LEAGUE. Aryan won Trades Cup in 1913 and Coochbihar Cup for 4 times (1932-34 and 1961) and Lakshmibilash Cup in 1961.
During his coaching journey, he started with Aikya Sammilani. In that year Aikya won CFL 2nd Division and was promoted to 1st Division. He also coached IFA CFL team Rajasthan Club, Milan Bithi before joining Aryan Club. He has been the head coach of Aryan Club since 2012. He even helped BSS SC to promote them during 2016-17. In 2015, Rajdeep won the Young Coach of Kolkata award.
"We have just started practice after a long gap. Real Kashmir FC have a good infrastructure and a very good team. Last year we beat Mohun Bagan club in CFL Premier A. We even beat Peerless SC last season. Both Real Kashmir FC and Peerless SC are good teams, we will give them a tough fight. We have top players like Pralhad Roy, Laltu, Prasenjit Chakraborty, Farid Ali, Snehasish Dutta with a combination of senior and junior players. We will go for the win in both the games. " - Rajdeep Said to Kolkatafootball.com
Head Coach: Rajdeep Nandi
Technical Director: Raghu Nandi
Assistant Coach: Biswajit Ghosh
Physio : Kuntal Chakraborty
Manager: Akash Das
COUNTDOWN - 2 : KIDDERPORE FC - KOLKATA
123RD IFA SHIELD - KIDDERPORE SC OF KOLKATA
03/12/2020 : 123rd historical IFA Shield conducted by INDIAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (IFA) which will start from 6th December. From 2015- 2018 it was for u-19 players but from this year it will be the senior football competition. Newly promoted CFL Premier A team Khidderpore FC will participate in the Tournament. Kidderpore SC, the Historical Football team of Kolkata was famous and strong in the decade 1970-80 with their quality footballers under legendary coach Achuyut Banerjee. So many famous footballers of then National Football team came from this club. We have an exclusive interview with their head coach Mr. Dilip Pal regarding their preparation in this tournament.
Dilip Pal played as goalkeeper in East Bengal during 1980-81 with the likes of Majid Bhaskar, Sudhir Karmakar, Manoranjan Bhattacharya, Jamshed Nassiri, Thomas Mathew. Premnath Philip, satyajit Mitra. During his playing career he represented India in Junior as well as Senior level. He also played for Bengal Santosh Trophy team.
He started his coaching career from Bidhannagar Municipality Academy along with Shymal Ghosh last 16 years where the team played in U-13, U-15, U-18 I-League. He also coached Bengal u18 in Rajib Gandhi Memorial Trophy where Bengal stood runners. Later he also joined Bengal junior team and in the last 2 year he joined Khidderpore FC. AIFF D Licence holder coach Dilip Pal won CFL Premier B last season to promote Kidderpore into IFA CFL Premier A. He has also his own Football coaching camp at Bansdroni - Kolkata.
In 123rd IFA Shield Kidderpore's opening match on 6th dec against Kolkata Giant Mohammedan SC and then Kalighat M.S. Regarding the preparation of the IFA Shield, Coach Dilip Pal said, "We have no foreign footballer in our list. Curently We are preparing ourselves for the last 2 weeks at Rangers Field at Kolkaa Maidan. We have retained some old players and added some new players. We will fight against Mohammedan Sporting till the end. I even told my players that this is the best opportunity to show your talent against a top club like Mohammedan Sporting."
Once Kidderpore Goalkeeper in his playing career and current Coach of Kidderpur Club, Dilip Paul added - "We have a good football team, with some talented young players. So we shall play for winning. We will not play defensive against Mohammedan Sporting or others. We will play our normal game with attacking and defensive both". We must have to win one match to reach in qr. Final.
COACH : Dilip Paul
PHYSIO : Dipesh Bhattacharyya
COUNTDOWN - 1 : PEERLESS SC - KOLKATA
123RD IFA SHIELD - PEERLESS SC OF KOLKATA
03/12/2020 : Peerless Sposts club, who began playing in the CFL since 1993. After Eastern Railway in 1958, Peerless is the 2nd team of Kolkata other than East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting which won the IFA CFL top tire ( CFL Pemier-A) after a big gap of 60 years. Before title winning in 2019 season, they got Runners Up honour in IFA CFL Premier - A League in 2018 season.
AFC "A" License Coach Bastab Roy is the current head coach of CFL Premier A champion team Peerless SC. In hsi football playing career, Bastab Roy played for Kolkata League top teams like - Calcutta Customs, Mohun Bagan, Mohammedan SC and Tollygunge Agragami. In his coaching career, he started coaching with Calcutta Customs. He was the coach of IFA CFL 1st Divn team ATK Junior. He also coached ATK Senior team of ISL as assistant coach. Later he joined East Bengal as chief coach and even worked as assistant coach also.
Regarding the preparation of the upcoming 123rd IFA Shield, Bastab said - “We are trying to enrich physical fitness as much as possible. As we have very short time, our main target is to make them match fit. “
Peerless is in Group B with Real Kashmir FC and Aryan FC and will play their first match at 6th December. Regarding I-League side Real Kashmir FC, he said – “All the teams are unknown. We will plan our strategy according to the progress of the match. We are not disclosing our strategy. “
“We have retained players like Kromah, Pankaj Moula. Few players also left the squad last season like Jiten Murmu, Abhinava Bag. We will play our best against Aryan FC.” - Though Peerless lost to Aryan 4-3 in the last season of IFA CFL Premier - 'A' League being the Champion. On the way to Winner of the League Peerless SC beat Mohun Bagan 3-0, beat East Bengal 1-0 but Lost to Mohammedan SC 0-2 under coaching of Jahar Das.
09.09.2019 : EAST BENGAL 0-1 PEERLESS SC (FT)
PER : ANSUMANA KROMAH -PEN-(65')
MOM : Kallon ( PEERLESS)
05.08.2019 : MOHUN BAGAN 0-3 PEERLESS (FT.)
PER : Kromah 21' 78', Lakshmikanta Mandi 77'.
MOM : Kromah - (PEERLESS)
Regarding upcoming IFA shield matches newly recruited coach Bastab feels, the team will play their best on the match day and will win the match, no matter what was the previous record.
Head Coach – Bastab Roy
Assistant Coach – Akhil Rajbangshi
Physical Trainer – Rudra Pratim Roy.
Ghanaian national team player Mohammed Awal will lead Gokulam Kerala FC in the upcoming season
30.11.2020: Ghanaian national team player Mohammed Awal will lead Gokulam Kerala FC in the upcoming season. Goalkeeper CK Ubaid, who is from Kannur in Kerala, will be the vice-captain. Awal and Ubaid were selected by the players by voting for their respective roles. Mohammed Awal has experience in playing for Ghana national team and is a veteran defender. The 33-year-old defender has reached India and joined the ongoing pre-season camp at EMS Corporation Stadium.
Meanwhile, Ubaid has been with Malabarians since last season. The goal-keeper was the first-choice keeper last year and played a pivotal role to help Malabarians’ win the Durand Cup. “I congratulate both Awal and Ubaid. Awal is the most experienced player in the county. He has a strong personality and everybody in the team wanted him to the captain. I believe this is the right choice by the players,” said Vincenzo Alberto Annese, the head coach of Gokulam Kerala FC.
“It is an honour to lead Malabarians in the upcoming season. I will do my job sincerely and the squad has already the belief that they can bring the title home,” said Mohammed Awal. Malabarians are all set to play in the IFA Shield set to start on December 6. The team will leave for Kolkata on December 2 and will continue in Kolkata for the I-League.
I-LEAGUE SIDE REAL KASHMIR TO PLAY 123RD IFA SHIELD
22.11.2020: I-League side Real Kashmir FC to play in 123rd IFA Shield in place of another I-League side Sudeva FC.
123rd IFA Shiled is going to start from 6th of December 2020. During fixture announcement there was 4 I-League teams(Mohammedan SC, Gokulam Kerala FC, Sudeva FC, Indian Arrows) along with 8 more Kolkata teams representatives are there on 18th Nov 2020. But today IFA announced that Real Kashmir FC will play instead of Delhi based side Sudeva FC in this tournament.
RESLUT LINK
123RD IFA SHIELD FIXTURE & IFA THEME SONG ANNOUNCED
18.11.2020 : After a successful organisation of I league qualifiers, IFA is now all set to start the prestigious 123rd edition of IFA Shield football tournament, which will kick off at Kolkata on 6th of December. The final match will be played on 19th December.
In a city Hotel at Kolkata IFA announced the groups and the fixture of the tournament in style in presence of IFA officials and dignitries. The two Kolkata giants SC East Bengal and ATK Mohun Bagan declared their inability to participate as they are busy in ISL.
Four I-LEAGUE playing clubs Mohammedan Sporting, Indian Arrows, Gokulam Kerala FC and Sudeva FC will participate. The other clubs from KOLKATA CFL to participate are Kalighat MS, Peerless Sports Club, Southern Samity, BSS Sports Club, George Telegraph, Aryan Club, United Sports Club, Kidderpore SC.
The winners of the tournament will receive an amount of 3 lacks, while the runner up will receive an amount of 2 lacks.
The 'Man of the Match' will receive an amount of RS 5000/- from quarter final on wards. The 'Man Of The Match' award will be presented by Top Tech. The best Coach of the tournament will receive a trophy named after legendary Late PRADIP KUMAR BANERJEE, while the best footballer trophy are also in the name of another legend, Late CHUNI GOSWAMI. These two awards will be given by Adamas University.
IFA launched the official theme song written by Arpan Chakraborty.
Twelve participating teams are divided into four groups. The four I league playing clubs are placed in four groups.
Group A : Kidderpur SC, Mohammadan Sporting, Kalighat MS
Group B : Sudeva FC, Peerless SC, Aryan Club
Group C : Indian Arrows, Southern Sanity, George Telegraph
Group D : United Sports, Gokulam Kerala FC, BSS Sports Club
Full Fixture ( Group Wise):
Group A : 6th December : Kidderpore SC vs Mohammadan Sporting 9th December : Kidderpore SC vs Kalighat MS 12th December: Mohammadan Sporting vs Kalighat MS Group B: 6th December: Sudeva FC vs Peerless SC 9th December: Sudeva FC vs Aryan Club 12th December: Peerless SC vs Aryan Club Group C: 6th December: Indian Arrows vs Southern Samity 9th December: Indian Arrows vs George Telegraph 12th December: Southern Samity vs George Telegraph Group D: 6th December: United SC vs Gokulam Kerala FC 9th December: United SC vs BSS SC 12th December: Gokulam Kerala FC vs BSS SC
6th December (Gr.A) : Kidderpore SC vs Mohammadan Sporting 6th December (Gr.B) : Sudeva FC vs Peerless SC 6th December (Gr.C) : Indian Arrows vs Southern Samity 6th December (Gr.D) : United SC vs Gokulam Kerala FC 9th December (Gr.A) : Kidderpore SC vs Kalighat MS 9th December (Gr.B) : Sudeva FC vs Aryan Club 9th December (Gr.C) : Indian Arrows vs George Telegraph 9th December (Gr.D) : United SC vs BSS SC 12th December(Gr.A) : Mohammadan Sporting vs Kalighat MS 12th December(Gr.B) : Peerless SC vs Aryan Club 12th December(Gr.C) : Southern Samity vs George Telegraph 12th December(Gr.D) : Gokulam Kerala FC vs BSS SC
