Month: September 2016

AIFF U-16 League: United SC beat 3-1 Mohammedan SC in Kolkata Zonal Round opener

KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club began their AIFF U16 League 2016/17 Kolkata Zonal Round campaign with a 1-3 defeat to United SC at the Mohammedan Sporting Club Ground on Saturday.

A brace from Suraj Rajbanshi (2nd & 17th) and a goal from Ram Hembram (79th) scripted a rather comfortable victory for the visitors. Surajuddin Munshi (32nd), meanwhile, pulled a goal back for the hosts.

United SC began the game in attacking mode and took the lead as early as the 2nd minute when Suraj converted a free-kick just outside the Mohammedan SC box.

Having conceded early on, Mohammedan SC began attacking with intensity through Debraj Rakshit and Surajuddin. While Mohammedan SC pressed high up, United SC, at the other end, doubled their advantage as Suraj slotted past Mohammedan SC custodian Aftab Alam after recieving the ball from the left side.

Both sides, thereafter, engaged in some end-to-end action and having gone close on a few occasions, Mohammedan SC managed to pull a goal back through Surajuddin, who converted from spot in the 32nd minute.

Mohammedan SC in the remainder continued to push up and create chances but lacked the finishing touch in the rival box as the first half ended 1-2.

After change of ends, both sides battled hard in the midfield. While Mohammedan SC had the better chances to equalize, United SC capitalised on a defensive error as Ram’s 79th minute strike virtually finished off the game.

The hosts battled hard towards the end, but United SC held on and denied Mohammedan SC any chance to stage a late comeback as the game ended 1-3.

United SC’s Suraj Rajbanshi was declared the Man of the Match. He recieved a trophy and Rs. 1000 from Mohammedan SC’s Football Secretary Iqbal Ahmed and senior team members Rana Gharami and Alexandre Tabillon.

Prior to the match a opening ceremony took place with former India international footballers in Dipendu Biswas and Prasanta Chakraborty inaugurating the Kolkata Zonal Round beside Mohammedan SC’s General Secretary Ghazal Zafar and Senior Team Manager Belal Ahmed Khan.

Mohammedan SC will play debutantes Southern Samity next on October 2 at Howrah Stadium.

AIFF U-16 League: Mohammedan SC to face United SC in Kolkata Zonal Round opener

KOLKATA: The semi-finalists of the inaugural AIFF U-15 Youth League, Mohammedan Sporting Club will start their Kolkata Zonal Round campaign of the 2016/17 AIFF U-16 League on Saturday against United Sports Club.

The league saw daylight as U-15 Youth League last season. However, has been repackaged as U-16 League this season – where over 50 teams from all over India would be participating – keeping in mind the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup to be held in India next year.

Previous season, Mohammedan SC had a remarkable run in the Kolkata Zonal Round finishing at second place with 19 points from 10 games. In the final round the youngsters topped their group after beating the likes of Pune FC and Salgaocar FC before losing to the eventual winners of the league Minerva Academy FC in the semi-finals.

This season a total number of six teams are participating in the league from Kolkata. The participating teams – Mohammedan SC, Southern Samity, United SC, SAI Kolkata, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal – will play against each other on a home-and-away basis (two legs), and top two teams will advance to the Final Round. Last year United SC and Mohammedan SC qualified for the Final Round from Kolkata Zone and both made it to the knock-out stages.

Mohammedan Sporting Club’s fixtures in the Kolkata Zonal Round is as follows:

24/9/2016 – Mohammedan SC vs United SC (Home).
2/10/2016 – Mohammedan SC vs Southern Samity (Away).
16/10/2016 – Mohammedan SC vs SAI Kolkata (Home).
23/10/2016 – Mohammedan SC vs East Bengal (Home).
6/11/2016 – Mohammedan SC vs SAI Kolkata (Away).
13/11/2016 – Mohammedan SC vs United SC (Away).
20/11/2016 – Mohammedan SC vs Southern Samity (Home).
26/11/2016 – Mohammedan SC vs Mohun Bagan (Away).
3/12/2016 – Mohammedan SC vs East Bengal (Away).
10/12/2016 – Mohammedan SC vs Mohun Bagan (Home).

Mohammedan Sporting Club will play their home games at Mohammedan Sporting Ground and kick-off at 2.30 pm.

Mohammedan SC management felicitates team for becoming runners in CFL

KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club had finished their 2016/17 Calcutta Football League campaign with a 1-0 Kolkata Derby win over Mohun Bagan on Sunday.

The Black Panthers, who accumulated 20 points from 10 games, were on the verge of securing the runners-up spot after yeserday’s victory. However, officially they were not announced as the runners-up as Tollygunge still had three games left with 11 points and could clinch the spot by winning all of them but luck favoured Mohammedan SC as Tollygunge and Army XI played out a 1-1 draw in their CFL encounter at Barasat this evening which secured the runners-up spot for Mohammedan SC.

Mohammedan SC Management toady organised a special lunch at the club tent in honour of the Team that achived the historical feat after eight years. The players and coaching staff were also felicitated with a custom made suit beside Rs. 2 lacs as bonous.

At the occasion were present Club’s Football Secretary Iqbal Ahmed, Working President Jameel Manzar, General Secretary Ghazal Zafar, Assistant General Secretary Ishtiaque Ahmed, Ground Secretary  Mohammed Qamaruddin and other executive committee members beside former India captain and Mr. Parsun Banerjee and Chairman of Club’s Football Sub-Commitee Dipendu Biswas, who was announced as the new Senior Vice President of the 125-year old club during the programme by Iqbal Ahmed.

CFL: Mohammedan SC finish campaign with Derby win over Mohun Bagan

KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club have finished their campaign in the ongoing Calcutta Football League with a 1-0 Derby win over Mohun Bagan on Sunday.

The all important goal came in the 61st minute through substitute Leonce Dodoz which eventually separated the teams in a evenly matched tie at Kalyani Stadium.

Going into the match Mohammedan SC coach Mridul Banerjee made four changes to the starting XI by handing starts to Sourav Chakraborty, Parminder Singh, Mohammad Saukat and Alexandre Tabillon at the expenses of  Rana Gharami, Atinder Mani, Mumtaz Akhtar and Dodoz.

Mohammedan SC began the game in attacking mode and created a couple of close chances early on. While Manvir Singh and Alexandre did well to get into spaces, the duo lacked the finish in the Bagan’s final third.

As the half progressed, Mohammedan SC started dominating the possession. On the other hand, Mohun Bagan defended deep and had their custodian Arnab Das Sarma to thank after he denied Manvir, Alexandre and Parminder on multiple occasions as both sides went into the breather tied at goalless.

The second half was a similar story as Mohammedan SC dominated majority of the proceedings and attacked with intensity looking for the breakthrough but once again the finishing was missing from the attackers.

However, Mohammedan SC’s persistence finally paid off as they pulled ahead just past the hour mark when Dodoz, who replaced Alexandre just at the stroke of half time, slotted the opener after being set up by Manvir.

Mohun Bagan, meanwhile, tried hard for the equalizer in the remainder of the game but thanks to keeper James Kithan, who pulled off some brilliant saves, Mohammedan SC managed to hold on to their slender advantage and walked out with all three points.

The win propelled to Mohammedan SC on the second spot with 20 points from 10 games and could finish as runners-up if  Tollygunge Agragami, who are on 11 points from 7 outings, drop points in any of their remaining games.

Mohammedan SC XI: James Kithan (GK); Nitesh Chhikara, Lancine Toure (c), Sourav Chakraborty, Pranit Lama; Parminder Singh (Sonam Bhutia – 86th), Mohammad Saukat (Mumtaz Akhtar – 59th), Dipankar Das, Dipendu Dowary; Manvir Singh, Alexandre Tabillon (Leonce Dodoz – 45th).

CFL: Mohammedan SC aim to end campaign with a win over Mohun Bagan

KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club will hope to end on a high when they take on Mohun Bagan in the last match of their 2016/17 Calcutta Football League campaign at the Kalyani Stadium on Sunday.

Currently on third with 17 points from 9 games, the Black Panthers would not settle for anything less than a victory against Mohun Bagan which could ensure the runners-up spot for them if Tollygunge Agragami, who are on 11 points from 7 outings, drop points in any of their remaining games.

“The journey so far has been a magnificent one. Though some doubted us at the beginning but we were confident and always played for a win. Boys showed tremendous heart in every game and I am proud of the team that we have reached this far,” Mohammedan SC head caoch Mridul Banerjee said reflecting back upon the team’s performance in the league.

Though Mohammedan SC lost 0-1 to East Bengal in their last game on Thursday but coach Banerjee beleives that there are some positives which his team can take from that game.

“Every match is different. We don’t want to think about what has happened in the past and just concentrate on the tomorrow’s game. I have said in the past that I only focus on one match at a time and here in Mohammedan SC my aim is to win every game, so even in the last game my team will be going all out for full three points,” coach Banerjee added.

On the team news front, Mohammedan SC will be missing the services of skipper Rana Gharami and winger Atinder Mani owing to their accumulation of yellow cards.

Going into the game, which will be CFL’s second and last Kolkata Derby, Mohammedan SC will be relying heavily on Leonce Dodoz and team’s top scorer Manvir Singh to get past a resolute Mohun Bagan defence that have conceded least number of goals in the league.

But in the absence of Rana the real test awaits for the defense. It promises to be a strenuous task for the Lancine Toure and company containing the of Darryl Fuffy and Daniel Bidemi, who have scored 6 goals each in the competion and will be looking to add to their tally.

For the record, Mohammedan SC are unbeaten against Mohun Bagan in their previous three CFL encounters, a record that will give a boost to Mohammedan SC’s confidence.

The match at Kalyani Stadium will kick off at 2.30 pm and will televised live on ETV News Bangla.

CFL: Mohammedan SC go down 1-0 to East Bengal

KALYANI: A wasteful Mohammedan Sporting Club went down 0-1 to East Bengal in their penultimate game of the Calcutta Football League on Thursday at Kalyani Stadium.

In a evenly matched Kolkata Derby, Do Dong Hyun’s goal from the spot in the 73rd minute did not only separated both teams but also ensured East Bengal’s seventh successive Calcutta Football League title after Mohun Bagan lost 0-1 to Tollygunge Agragami in a different fixture at Mohun Bagan Ground.

Going into the match Mohammedan SC coach Mridul Banerjee made three changes to the team that drew against United SC last week. While James Kithan replaced Sayan Roy under the bar, Atinder Mani and Pranit Lama Tamang came at the expenses of Mohammad Saukat and Kamran Farooque.

It was East Bengal who began the game aggressively and pushed up from the very beginning. Lalrindika Ralte was the first to go close when his effort narrowly missed the target in the 9th minute.

After soaking some pressure, Mohammedan SC began making inroads in the rival defense while Mohammedan SC push forward close chances fell for Leonce Dodoz, Manvir Singh and Dipankar Das but it was the lack of finishing that let them down as the first half ended goalless.

The second half was a similar story to the first as Mohammedan SC continued to dominate proceedings but attackes ran out of ideas on entering the penetrative zone of East Bengal.

While Mohammedan SC pressed high up, East Bengal managed to take the lead against the run of the play at the other end when Dong converetd a spot kick after Mohammedan SC custodian James Kithan fouled Lalrindika in prohibited area.

Mohammedan SC, afterwards, had numerous chances to equalise, but East Bengal managed to hold on with some solid defending as the game ended 1-0.

Mohammedan SC will play their final game in the competition on Sunday against Mohun Bagan, which will be another Derby, at Kalyani while East Bengal plays Aryan Club on the same day at Barasat.

Mohammedan SC XI – James Kaitan (GK); Nitesh Chikkaria, Lancing Toure, Rana Gharami (c), Pranit Lama Tamang; Atinder Mani (Sajeer KV – 61), Dipankar Das, Dipendu Dowary, Mumtaz Akhtar; Manvir Singh, Leonce Dodoz.

East Bengal XI – Dibyendu Sarkar (GK); Samad Ali Mallick (Koushik Sarkar – 93′), Arnab Mondal (c), Callum Angus, Narayan Das; Rahul Bheke, Mehtab Hossein, Mohammed Rafique (Bikash Jairu – 92′), Lalrindika Ralte; Do Dong Hyun (Abinash Ruidas-93′), Jiten Murmu.

CFL: Cracker on the cards as Mohammedan SC face East Bengal

KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club are looking to delay East Bengal’s title coronation when they face off in the Calcutta Football League on Thursday at the Kalyani Stadium.

The Black Panthers are coming into the game, billed as the Mini Derby, on the back of a 2-2 draw against United Sports Club last week which ended their title hopes. However, head coach Mridul Bannerjee believes that there is still plenty to play for and strictly advised players to concentrate on the task at hand.

“Overall we had a good season and I am happy about my team’s performance. Despite limited resources, boys put up a brilliant performance in all the matches. We want to continue the good work in our remaining matches and finish the league on high,” coach Bannerjee said.

The high voltage clash is crucial to both teams for distinct reasons. While a draw is enough for East Bengal to secure seventh successive league title, breaking their own record of six back-to-back triumphs, a positive result will brighten Mohammedan SC’s chances of finishing second after eight years.

“It will be an enticing affair and the team which can handle the pressure better will be able to prevail. East Bengal are a very good side and have shown how easily they can dominate teams. But we have shown that we are a team not to be taken lightly. We will go hard at them enforcing our own style of attacking flare and I am confident we will get a positivie result out of the game,” coach Bannerjee added.

Facing East Bengal, Mohammedan SC will rely on Ivorian Zikahi Leonce Dodoz along side club’s top-scorer Manvir Singh, who scored four goals, to lead the front-line with Mumtaz Akhtar, Dipendu Dowary and Atinder Mani all are capable enough in pumping blood through heart-line. Meanwhile, the much awaited club debut of Alexandre Tabillon is likely to happen tomorrow.

For the record, Mohammedan SC last defeated East Bengal in Calcutta Football League on August 10, 2014, since then East Bengal have never lost a single game in CFL and unbeaten in 26 straight games, a streak that the Black Panthers will be eager to end.

The match at Kalyani Stadium will kick off at 2.30 pm and will televised live on ETV News Bangla.