EPL Betting Preview - Everton vs Blackburn

Career Dynamics:Shaping futures(IITJEE AIEEE)

It has been a strange season for Everton but they are still in with a chance of claiming a top-six finish and look decent value to beat Blackburn on Saturday.

The Toffees started slowly under David Moyes this term, as has been the case in a number of recent campaigns under the Scot, and their lack of a prolific striker has once again hurt the Merseyside club.

No Toffee has bagged more than nine Premier League goals to date, Tim Cahill leads the way, but Everton remain tough to beat and haven't lost a top flight game at Goodison since November.

That defeat was a 4-1 reversal at the hands of West Brom when Everton were struggling but they have really picked up since the turn of the year and are now unbeaten in six Premier League matches. Only Arsenal lie ahead of Moyes' men in the form table and there was plenty to like about their 3-0 win at Wolves last time out.

Two stunning strikes, from the unusual sources of captain Phil Neville and Russian Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, were the highlights in that success at Molineux and all of a sudden the goals are flowing for Everton.

The signing of Jermaine Beckford from Leeds United in the summer was criticised by many but the striker notched again on the weekend and he has performed with credit when called upon in the continued absence of the crocked Louis Saha.

A win for Everton on Saturday would take them momentarily just one point adrift of rivals Liverpool and, with the Anfield club Emirates-bound 24 hours later, the battle for local bragging rights remains competitive entering the closing weeks of the season.

Europa League football next term looks unlikely for either but Moyes will be keen to finish on a high and a maximum haul against struggling Rovers is well within Everton's grasp.

Just three points above the relegation zone, Blackburn fans can be forgiven for lamenting the new owner's decision to replace Sam Allardyce with assistant Steve Kean in December and it is going to be a worrying few weeks for the Ewood Park faithful.

Three consecutive draws have steadied the ship somewhat for Kean but the loss this week of influential captain Ryan Nelsen for the remainder of the season through injury could prove crucial in their bid to beat the drop and the fact remains Blackburn have not won since mid-January.

Were that trend to continue then surely Championship football beckons in August and it is hard to see where the next three points are coming from for Saturday's visitors. Blackburn were dogged in a goalless draw at Arsenal in their penultimate fixture but they lack quality going forward and I don't see them troubling Tim Howard's goal too often.

The FA Cup semi-finals will hog the headlines this weekend, both are being staged at Wembley, but the pair look priced accordingly and Everton are the value. I have them closer to the 1/2 mark than the prices being quoted and VC Bet's 7/10 will do nicely.

Career Dynamics:Shaping futures(IITJEE AIEEE)

There can be no football in Asia without India – AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam

The Qatari, running for Fifa presidency, once again highlighted the importance of the nation and believes the performance at the recent Asian Cup was "encouraging"

Each time Mohamed Bin Hammam speaks in the capital of India, he is all praise for the potential the 146th ranked nation has in the world’s most popular sport.
The AFC President, who will be competing in the Fifa presidency elections come this June against Sepp Blatter, was speaking at a meeting of the AFC Ad-Hoc Committee for Indian Football, of which he is the chairman, in Delhi on Wednesday.
He said: “I believe that since we last met we have achieved a lot. I appreciate your commitment and dedication because without this no improvement can take place. In my capacity as AFC President, I am very much committed.
“Without India there can be no football in Asia. We will work hand in hand to achieve our goal,” said Bin Hammam.
He went on to praise the efforts of the Indian national team at the 2011 Asian Cup and highlighted that such appearances in major tournaments only go onto encourage the sport in the country.
Bin Hamman added: “Another evidence was the participation of the Indian team in the Asian Cup in Doha.
“We were happy to see the progress of the team and though we need a lot more, the appearance at the Asian Cup was not a bad one. It was an encouraging one. It made the people think of how much India is capable of giving to Asia."

AFC to professionalize football in India

Career Dynamics:Shaping futures(IITJEE AIEEE)

New Delhi, Apr 14 (IBNS) The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Ad-hoc Committee for Indian Professional Football met here under the chairmanship of AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam and made several proposals to further the professionalisation of the game.

Attending the fourth meeting of this committee, which has been set up with the aim of professionalising football in the country, were the All India Football Federation (AIFF) chief Praful Patel, who is the Deputy Chairman, along with FIFA Executive Committee member Manilal Fernando, prominent Indian club owners and officials.

The key proposals, which were deliberated upon and recommended to the AIFF, were: composition of the I-League, timeline to set up the I-League 2011-2012 season, the registration of I-League clubs and the I-League organisation.

At the outset, Bin Hammam said the commitment of the members and the AIFF was spurring professional football in India.

“I believe that since we last met we have achieved a lot,” said Bin Hammam. “I appreciate your commitment and dedication because without this no improvement can take place. In my capacity as AFC President, I am very much committed.

“Without India there can be no football in Asia. We will work hand in hand to achieve our goal.”

The AFC chief also referred to India’s participation in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011.

“Another evidence was the participation of the Indian team in the AFC Asian Cup in Doha,” said Bin Hammam.

“We were happy to see the progress of the team and though we need a lot more the appearance of the Asian Cup was not a bad one. It was an encouraging one. It made the people think of how much India is capable of giving to Asia.”

A thorough and wide-ranging inspection of all I-League clubs was conducted last year by an AFC Professional Football Project Special Mission Team, and the members, after discussing the report presented to them, approved the composition of the I-League first division with 10 clubs that have met the criteria and decided to give a waiver to four clubs, which have failed to meet the requirements.

The 10 clubs, which complied with the I-League criteria, are: 1. McDowell Mohun Bagan (Salt Lake Stadium), 2. Kingfisher East Bengal (Salt Lake Stadium), 3. Chirag United SC (Barasat Stadium - To improve the stadium facilities by July), 4. Viva Kerala(Jawahar Stadium- to improve the stadium facilities by July), 5. Mumbai FC (Cooperage Football Stadium - to improve the stadium facilities by July), 6. JCT Mills FC(Guru Nanak Stadium), 7. Pune FC (Ballewadi Stadium), 8. Churchill Brothers SC (Nehru Stadium), 9. Dempo SC (Nehru Stadium), 10. Salgaocar SC (Nehru Stadium).

The members also recommended that three clubs - ONGC (Cooperage Football Stadium), Air India (Cooperage Football Stadium) and HAL Bangalore (Karnataka FA Stadium) – who failed to meet the ‘commercial entity’ criteria, and also AIFF XI (Ambedkar Stadium) be given a grace period of one season in the first division on the condition that if any one of them wins the I-League or finishes second or third, they will not be eligible to represent India in the AFC Champions League.

It was further suggested that the top two second division teams would be eligible for promotion to the first division only if they satisfied the professional league criteria. In case they fail to meet the criteria then there would be no relegation of any club from the first division, which would continue with the same 14 teams.

The members agreed to a proposal that the deadline for the clubs to improve their stadiums would be July 2011, following which another inspection of the clubs would be undertaken in July-September 2011. Thereafter, the I-League’s 2011 season would kick off on September 2011.

The committee proposed that the I-League Regulations should be revised to ban the registration and participation of I-League clubs in other leagues other than the I-League and that I-League club players should not be allowed to register with any other club other than I-League clubs.

With all the matches at present being organised by the local football association, the committee proposed that the clubs should start implementing the home match operations, including and not limited to ticket sales, match operations, and security.

Big time football returns to Nehru Stadium with I-League

New Delhi, April 15 (IANS) Big time football is all set to return to the showpiece Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main venue of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is planning to host I-League matches from the next season.
The sports ministry Thursday declared that the Nehru Stadium, built in 1982 for the Asian Games, will be made a hub for football.
All India Football Federation (AIFF) secretary general Kushal Das told IANS that the federation is now seriously thinking of hosting some I-League matches at the Nehru Stadium, which was renovated for the Commonwealth Games at a cost of Rs.961 cores. The stadium has a capacity of 60,000.
"After sports minister Ajay Maken announced that the Nehru Stadium will be developed as the hub for football, the AIFF is now seriously thinking of having some I-League matches there," said Das.
Das, however, ruled out having any international matches this year at the Nehru Stadium.
"There is no chance of having international matches at Nehru Stadium because the Olympic qualifiers will be held in Pune and the World Cup qualifiers in Chennai," he said.
Maken said Thursday that the Nehru Stadium will be the hub for football and also proposed that the Delhi-based Indian Arrows, run by AIFF, could shift their base from Gurgaon to the stadium.
"In the days to come the Nehru Stadium will be the most important stadium for football. Indian Arrows can shift their base here since the stadium will be used for residential purpose for the elite footballers as well. We are trying to build residential facilities for 150 sportsperson," said Maken.
The sports ministry said that Sports Authority of India (SAI) along with AIFF are trying to lay the main pitch and the practice pitches.
Das agreed that the turf at the Nehru Stadium is in poor shape.
"A lot of work needs to be done on the pitch and it will take some time to get everything in place before we start hosting I-League matches.

FIFA sanctions $2 million grant for Cooperage

In what can potentially be the answer to city’s infrastructural woes, FIFA has sanctioned $2 million for the renovation of Cooperage football ground, a top All India Football Federation official informed.

The amount has been granted as a part of FIFA’s Win in India with India programme, and Cooperage is the only ground from the country to receive the financial assistance. The decision was announced during a meeting of Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) Ad Hoc committee for Indian Professional Football in New Delhi on Wednesday. The meeting was presided by AFC president and FIFA presidential candidate Mohammad bin Hammam.

“Cooperage has a nostalgia attached to it, and it is a very important venue for football in the country. It is a known fact that the ground needs to be refurbished and that is the reason why we have decided to sanction the amount to Cooperage,” AIFF general secretary Kushal Das told DNA. “FIFA has allotted $2.5 million for stadium renovations. Out of that, $2 million is allotted to Cooperage and the rest of the amount will be divided among other venues. This grant does not include the cost FIFA is bearing for laying of the artificial turfs which are sanctioned by them,” Das added.

The Western India Football Association (WIFA) has already chalked out the plan to refurbish Cooperage. It is learnt that apart from new flood lights, temporary stands with proper seating facilities will be created, which can accommodate up to 6,500 people. The dressing rooms will also be renovated. “We all know that Mumbai desperately needs a good football ground and our aim is to provide that. It is very good news for us,” said CEO, WIFA, Henry Menezes.

The process to lay the artificial turf at Cooperage has already begun and is expected to take two to three months at least. But because of a High Court order, the WIFA cannot make physical changes to the ground. An AFC committee will inspect the progress at the venue in July.

Meanwhile, there was more good news in store for the city-based clubs as the AIFF eased its stand against the three clubs who were to be eliminated from the I-League. Air India, ONGC and Bangalore-based HAL have been given an extension of one year to meet the guidelines set by the AFC.

AIFF give Air India, ONGC a lifeline

While admitting that institutional clubs didn't comply with Asian Football Confederation (AFC) club norms, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Wednesday decided that — Indian Arrows, HAL, ONGC and Air India — would take part in the I League for the rest of this season.

Sitting alongside Mohammad bin Hammam, president of the AFC, at a press conference in New Delhi, Praful Patel, the president of the AIFF said the clubs had been given the extra time to comply with the the AFC's club licensing criteria.

The criteria the clubs failed to meet was for the clubs to be separate commercial entities. This was not the case in the case of Air India, HAL and ONGC, which were part of the parent Public Sector Units or the Indian Arrows, which is owned and managed by the AIFF. Arrows are currently 9th in the 14-team I League, while HAL, Air India and ONGC are ranked 10th , 13th and last on the table.