Ranti quits Dempo for European dreams

Who would have thought that someone would better Churchill Brothers’ Odafe Onyeka Okolie, the highest goal scorer every season in the last four years? This time Okolie finished a rare second, 25 goals, behind his countryman Ranti Martins who won the golden boot award for his 30 goals.

Martins, after serving Dempo for over seven years and finishing the highest goal scorer three times, has decided to quit the club to pursue his European dreams.

Joining the Goan club at the age of 17, Martins took Indian football by storm by being the highest goal scorer in his debut tournament, the 2004 Federation Cup.

He complemented coach Armando Colaco; and the synergy was such that Dempo won the title four times, which enabled them to qualify for the AFC Cup on five occasions. And that includes the historic semi-final finish in the 2008 AFC Cup.

“It’s a very tough decision for me but I want to achieve my European dreams. I always wanted to play there and I think I can make it. Dempo has been like a family to me.

The club supported me morally and financially all these years. I will like to say a big thank you for the kindness they showed towards me all these years,” said Martins after their 2-4 loss to HAL yesterday.

Ranti feels his partnership with Roberto Mendes Silva (popularly known as Beto) has been the best in Indian football.

“I can proudly say that we were the best striking pair in Indian football. We complemented each other really well, and it was a real treat to score so many goals with him,” he said.

He had words of praise for Colaco too. “I have learned a great deal from him. He should be credited with Dempo’s style of play. I am sure he will take India to great levels,” he said.

Dempo, known to give a long stint to its players, has decided to release all its foreign imports and start fresh from next season.

With Rs 2 crore Bagan deal, Odafa shatters transfer record

Kolkata: It had been a long and fruitful association, but Mohun Bagan finally managed to lure Okolie Odafa, the prolific I-League striker from Nigeria, away from Goan football and back to the maidans of Kolkata with a Rs 2 crore deal — the highest-ever in the history of Indian football.

And as the club unveiled their prize catch for the next season, they would be hoping the Nigerian manages to do for them what he managed for the Churchill Brothers all these years — taking them and then keeping them in top-flight I-League, making Churchill one of the strongest teams on the domestic circuit, all due to his prolific goal-scoring spree.


Odafa, the league's highest goal-scorer for three consecutive editions — from 2007-08 to 2009-10 — and on the verge of making it four before Ranty Martins' seven-goal burst against Air India pushed him to second spot, admitted it was tough for him to leave Churchill, a club that nurtured and stood by him when he was discarded by the footballing fraternity in Kolkata following a failed season for Mohammedan Sporting back in 2001-02. The only clincher seems to be the money, which sources said would be broken into a Rs 1.6 crore salary and the rest in perks.


"It's a great day in the club's history," Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra said during Wednesday's unveiling.
The Kolkata giants are desperate to improve their showing in the I-League, with the club management under pressure to make changes after a trophy-less season. Baganhad tried to get Odafa last year as well but cudn't match Churchill’s offer — who raised the stakes with a Rs 1.10 crore contract.


Many promises
Odafa, who would be paired up with Jose Barreto upfront, said that he was looking forward to forge a great partnership with the veteran. “I am honoured to play alongside Barretto. God willing, we would help the team win many trophies next season,” he said.


His inclusion might also prompt Team India's No. 1 striker Sunil Chhetri to return to his old club. “Odafa is a fantastic player and anybody would love to play in a strike force that has his quality,” Chhetri said.
The deal, however, has evoked a mixed response. While newly-crowned I-League champions Salgaocar's coach Karim Bencherifa believes the move will do the side good, former India captain and coach PK Banerjee slammed the sum being paid to Odafa. "Bagan have always spent big to rope in top players. Odafa is a great goal-getter, while Bagan is a huge club. They will profit from this association," Bencherifa said.


Critics sceptical
But Banerjee remains sceptical, saying no one is worth that much in Indian football.
"That money would have been better spent in nurturing a few local talents. The foreigners playing here are not even third grade by world standards. Spending Rs 2 crore for one of them is absolutely ridiculous," Banerjee said

Mohun Bagan net 'big-fish' Odafe

KOLKATA: Despite the concluding matches of the I-League spilling over, June 1 marks the beginning of a new season in Indian football, and on the very first day, Mohun Bagan netted a big 'fish'.

Efforts of Bagan officials bore fruit on Wednesday when they roped in the most prolific striker in Indian club football - Odafe Okolie. In what is undoubtedly the biggest transfer move of the season, the Nigerian signed on the dotted lines for the green and maroons on a one-year contract for an undisclosed amount. Sources indicated that it could be the most expensive buy in Indian football.

After a barren season, during which Bagan failed to win a single trophy, getting Odafa on board is a clever ploy by the officials to placate club's supporters. The 25-year-old goalpoacher par excellence certainly got a taste of the adulation when he showed up at the club tent where he was presented to the media. Bagan fans went berserk as Odafa arrived amid tight security. He will also be a touch-wary of the huge responsibility of guiding the club's fortunes in the new season.

Like a quintessential pro, Odafa spoke freely and frankly. "Thank you everyone. You all love me a lot. This year I am joining Mohun Bagan and I would like to tell you, we will win many trophies," he said, sending thousands of supporters into a delirium.

For the former Churchill Brothers player returns to the city after eight years, having played for theMohammedan Sporting Club in 2003-04 before being unceremoniously dumped. Odafa was not prepared to dwell on his bitter experience in Kolkata on an occasion like this, but made it clear that he had came to Bagan looking for a new challenge. "Churchill Brothers treated me like a son and kept me really happy. But, I decided to move on as we all need to look for new challenges. I also hope that Bagan officials will also keep me happy."

Odafa then switched to football matters. Asked whether he was looking forward to playing alongside Jose Ramirez Barreto, the Nigerian said. "Barreto has a lot of experience and his presence will give me a lot of confidence.

But, I want to state that I alone cannot do everything and need support from my teammates to score goals. Bagan officials have promised me that they will be signing up good players," said Odafa, who was presented with a green and maroons jersey which had no number on it. Asked whether he would prefer No 10, Odafa said in a lighter vein, "As Barreto wears No 10, I might wear No 101."

Bagan's general secretary Anjan Mitra thanked former Bagan striker Chima Okorie for helping them to get Odafa on board. "Odafa's induction is a big thing for Bagan. We wanted him, and we are grateful to Chima for helping us in bringing him into the fold," he said.

India's football structure needs total revamp: Nassiri

KOLKATA: India's football structure needs a total revamp for the sport to flourish and prosper, said former Iranian striker Jamshed Nassiri, who has made the city his home after coming to Kolkata to play for East Bengal in 1980.

"We need to overhaul the Indian football structure. I can't see any hope unless and until there is total revamp. Facilities should be created to tap young talent to provide them better training facilities, exposure and skill development programmes," Nassiri said on Monday.

"There is a whole lot of raw talent in India. If proper mechanism is created to work at the grassroots, then Indian football can be on the world map. The administration and management should focus on developing the football infrastructure. The training facilities here are outdated; there are not many grounds. Whatever grounds are there, they are not up to the mark," said Nassiri.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Arsenal Tata Tea Soccer Stars, (a football talent hunt programme), Nassiri also said Bob Houghton - the former coach of the Indian national football team - did a great job and more people like him are required for the game.

Kolkata and Pune firms in the race to own Indian Arrows

NEW DELHI: A day after an inspiring 5-4 win over Mohun Bagan, Indian Arrows received the happy news that at least two sponsors have approached the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to finance the squad.

Pune-based industrialist Vishwajeet Kadam, owner of deemed university Bharati Vidyapeeth University, and Kolkata's Pailan Group are keen on taking over the reins of the team. The offers have come just in time to beat the May 31 deadline set by the federation.

Indian Arrows, meanwhile, released the 15 players taken on lien from various clubs and states.

AIFF officials last week visited Kolkata and Pune to check the facilities and by this weekend the Arrows, formed to prepare the national team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, are expected to get a new owner.

A top AIFF official said that a final decision will be taken by later this week after president Praful Patel and secretary-general Kushal Das return from the FIFA Congress in Zurich.

"The chances of the Arrows playing under a corporate house jersey are bright," the official said.

"Though the team will be owned by an industrial house, the AIFF will provide the technical support like appointing coaches and other back-up staff. The team will be based either Pune or Kolkata depending on which corporate gets ht nod."

The Arrows, comprising mostly under-21 players, was formed last year to prepare them for the 2018 World Cup and as a first step they have been fielded in the elite I-League.

The AIFF was struggling to maintain the team within its Rs 7 crore annual budget as it shells out Rs 11 lakh a month as rent for the self-contained resort where the players are lodged in Gurgaon. And each player gets paid between Rs.20 lakh-Rs 25 lakh a year. Domestic carrier Indigo picks up tabs for air travel of the team for I-League matches.

Despite their inexperience, the club, coached by Englishman Desmond Bulpin, has done reasonably well in their debut season.

Salgaocar clinch I-League

New Delhi: It was a day of mixed feelings for the I-League clubs on Monday. While Salgaocar FC were jubilant after winning the I-League, there was confusion in the camps of three clubs under the threat of relegation. The clubs, all having 24 points, were in a fix and made frantic calls to All India Football Federation (AIFF) to know their fate.

There was a record, too, in the I-League on Monday as Dempo SC slammed 14 goals past hapless Air India in Margao. Although the result raised many eyebrows, Dempo are now firmly placed to take the runners-up spot.

Salgaocar won the title for the second time since tasting success in the 1998-99 season. On Monday, they made short work of JCT 2-0 in Ludhiana to finish at the top of the table on 56 points from 26 matches. Francis Fernandes gave Salgaocar the lead in the 13th minute while Yusif Yakubu added another in the 85th minute.

Salgaocar coach Karim Bencherifa said that his team has succeeded in providing a bunch of talented youngsters to Indian football. “Salgaocar’s success is a triumph of Indian football,” Karim said from Ludhiana.

“Before the start of the season, few people knew about Gilbert (Oliveira), Anthony (Barbosa) or Francis (Fernandes). Yet, these boys worked hard to develop an understanding between themselves and succeeded in realising their dream.

“These are young and talented boys, full of enthusiasm. Indian football has gained from our victory... We have succeeded in expanding the pool of players,” Karim said.

When Karim crossed over to Salgaocar from Mohun Bagan midway through the last season, the Goa team had only 10 points from 13 matches. He not only lifted the morale of the team but also added a whole lot of new faces to the side. He has gradually built the team and the coach said his job is not finished.

“My job is not yet finished,” said the coach. “We have already identified a pool of 30 players for the next season and the work will start at the right earnest. We are not losing many players as most of the footballers are on a two-year contract.”While there was no question about Salgaocar’s superiority, four teams are huddled in the relegation zone.

Air India, JCT and ONGC have 24 points each and HAL are at the bottom with 21 points. “The relegation rule is clear and there is no confusion about it,” said I-League Chief Executive Officer Sunando Dhar.

“Rule says if the points are same, the head to head results between the concerned teams would be taken into account. The final picture will only emerge after the Dempo-HAL match,” he said.

If HAL lose, then they will finish last. And the other team would be ONGC as they got minimum points in head to head battle against JCT and Air India. In case HAL put it across Dempo, then ONGC and JCT would be relegated.

14-0 score, it’s unbelievable

Panjim: Goa football fans expressed big shock and resentment at the big 14-0 victory that Dempo recorded against Air India in an I-League match at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, Monday.
“Disgrace for Indian football. It’s like match-fixing. It is unethical that for the first time in Indian Premier League such a score has been recorded first of alll,” stated a South Goa club official, who preferred to be anonymous.

“Everyone knew that with Salgaocar and Dempo equal on head-to-head count should the points be equal, the goal difference would come into play if Salgaocar had to lose today against JCT. So, Dempo registered the highest tally, ironically a record of sorts. Was it pre-determined? Is there corruption also in sports?”, remarked a football fan. These are  just doubts, but coming at this critical stage when the final placements are to be decided, these get a different connotation. And hence it becomes a very serious issue.

With news that Salgaocar had already talked to two JCT players as was admitted by JCT’s coach much before the final match and subsequent denial by Salgaocar that they had not signed the players, the trend looks unfair and totally unethical, another club member pointed out.

The news that four Sesa Football Academy defenders were also contacted by Salgaocar  when they were selected for the Goa football team for Santosh Nationals which failed to qualify for the semi-finals,  has also been termed as unsporting as well as unethical. 

Sesa’s coach Clifford was furious that his players had confided in him that Salgaocar had indeed contacted them and that the players had agreed to switch from Sesa.

“Initially, there were rumours that our players were going for Salgaocar. I did not believe in these, as the players had gone for practice matches against the Goa XI team. However, when they were selected, the rumours got confirmed and I was angry,” added Clifford who said that he had confronted the players in question and that the later had admitted to the move.

Then there were rumours doing the rounds in Margao that a club was trying to lure a player of an opposing team with an offer of Rs one and half lakh if the player agreed to commit a serious infringment in the penalty or goal area, leading to award of penalty. The authenticity, however, has to be verified.