Showing posts with label Kolkata. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kolkata. Show all posts

Monday, August 31, 2009

Edu signs for Mohammedan Sporting

Come Sunday, August 30, Brazilian Eduardo Escober or popuarly Edu will don the black and white colors, and turn out for Mohammedan Sporting against Lajong F C, Shillong in the IFA Shield.

Edu played for JCT Mills, Ludhiana in the last two seasons. He was a goal machine for JCT Mills in his first season in the I-league 1st division, however, he failed to keep the same momentun in last season, and later released from JCT Mills.

Edu embarked in Kolkata two days ago and was waiting for his formal clearence from his previous club. He joined the practice session today and later completed the signing formalities in the IFA tent.

Edu exuded confidence in today’s practice session – be it converting goals from the dead ball situations or creating passes to his fellow strikers. He was quite satisfied with his own performance, but reckoned that it will take another month to reach to his prime form.

Coach, Shabbir Ali expressed his satisfaction in Edu’s form. In the IFA Shield, Mohammedan Sporting will go out to play with two foreigners, Brazillian Edu and Nigerian Peter Odafe.

Breather for Snehasis
The IFA, today reduced the penalty ammount of Snehasis from Rs. 200,000 to Rs. 50,000. He is now free to play for the Green and Maroon brigade. Earlier, in a highly debatable decision, the IFA Players’ Status Committee penalized the mid-fielder for forging his signature in the contract paper. Interestingly, Snehasis’ previous club, East Bangal was given a clean chit by the committee.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Practice match updates for the Kolkata clubs

East Bengal started their initial practice match on the soil of Myanmar on a spoilt note.

East Bengal lost to Yadanarbon FC by 2-1, the match was played on Sunday, August 16 at the Bahtoo Stadium, Mandalay. The visitors were leading by a goal from Harmanjot Khabra, however, they failed to hold the lead and went on conceding two goals at the later part of second half.

In their second practice match on Wednesday, August 19, East Bengal will play against Yangon United FC at the Aung San Stadium, Yangon. This team is the current runner-up of the Myanmar National League Cup 2009.

East Bengal fans would sincerely hope Subhas Bhowmik’s boys would put up much better show ahead of the long football season.

Mohun Bagan won their 4th practice match against a local team on August 15 in Burdwan, 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Kolkata.

Chiddi Edeh (2) and Suraj Mondal scored for Bagan. The local team compromised of few footballers who play in the Kolkata Premier League.

Meanwhile, Mohun Bagan might shift venue for the second phase of their pre-season camp. Earlier, they had planned for a 5-day camp at Durgapur, 182 kilometers (113 miles) from Kolkata. However, Bagan coach Karim was not impressed by the ground conditions at Durgapur and requested the club management for a location close to Kolkata, which provides better quality ground.

Team might opt to practice in Shantiniketan, 180 kilometers (112 miles) from Kolkata.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Injury scare for Barreto, to miss IFA Shield

Darling of the Mariners, Jose Ramirez Barreto's injury has forced himself to be out of the IFA Shield action.

Barreto had picked this calf-muscle injury on his right leg while he was in Brazil. At Kalimpong, during the pre-season he felt the pain again, didn’t want to aggrevate the injury, and refrained himself from practicing.

Coach Kareem does not want to take risk right at the start of the season and wants Barreto to take proper medical attention so that he will be fully fit for the long and exhaustive I-League.

Barreto returns to Calcutta today. He will go through a thorough medical test including few physiotherapy sessions.

Barreto is visibly upset about the entire incident, but he vouches that he will be back in action at the earliest for the sake of the team.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Du Talks

Out of the plethora of foreign football players playing in India, Eduardo Chacon Coelho Lacerda, popularly known as Du has been one of the few who has carved a niche among the football lovers in the country. His commitment towards the game is highly regarded he is a very popular figure amongst his colleagues.
Du is presently in Bangalore and representing Salgaonkar in the Federation Cup qualifiers. Bumped onto him for an informal chat and our discussion wend on for an hour.

Q: So, Du how has been the journey so far in India?
Du: It has been good. Around four years ago, in this city I started my football in India. Played for HAL for 3-months. Later joined Mohun Bagan, played for more than two seasons, got injured, was out o action for a year, returned to Brazil, got recuperated, played few exhibition matches there to be match fit, and finally returned this season in India, and joined Salgaokar, Goa.

Q: Now the obvious question, you have played in both Kolkata and Goa, places where football is the most popular sports. What difference do you see?
Du: I knew this was coming (laughs). The most striking difference is pressure, which is enormous in Kolkata. When you play there, the officials, the supporters, everybody wants to win. When you go outside to play the exhibition matches, the officials would come and tell, “We must win this match”. Winning is good alright, and everybody wants to win. But, while doing this you are constant pressure for every moment and makes you very difficult to perform consistently.If you look at the present East Bengal team, they have so many national footballers in their rooster. Yet, they are not performing well, it is all because of pressure. We have to understand that we can't win each and every matches, there are good and bad days at the office. During bad times, you have to stay behind the players. I have nothing against the officials, they have always been good to me. It is high time that the Kolkata club officials/supporters change their mindset.
In Goa, though the people love and follow football, they don't come to the ground to cheer their team. We play in empty gallery for most of the matches. Exactly opposite in Kolkata, forget derby matches, even when a big team plays against a small team, the fans come in numbers.

Q: How is the Goa local league?
Du: Better, local club matches are competitive. There is not much difference between the I-League teams and the other teams. This Sesa team, who is also playing here in the Fed Cup qualifiers defeated many I-league teams in the local league.(Goa Football Association) GFA is professional. They delayed the local league from the middle to the end of the monsoon so that we get better grounds. Also, ground conditions are much better in Goa.

Q: You have played under several coaches in India, whom do you consider the best?
Du: It has to be Subhas Bhowmik, he is like a father figure! You will find him very strict at the ground, but when he is out of the pitch, he is just like any other friend. Joking, making fun, mixing freely with the players.Also, I cannot forget veteran Amol Dutta, he saved Mohun Bagan from difficult times.Other day I was reading a book written by a famous coach. He says about few basic thing that a coach is only successful when his players and the team is successful. And in order to achieve that coach must feel for the players and vice-versa. There should be no egoism here.

Q: Another aspect of you is your commitment towards the game. I can't forget the incident in the I-League 06 (that time NFL) away match against Salgaonkar, when you received marching orders but you stayed close to the field, you were not ready to head towards the players arena.
Du: Ohh, don't talk about the match, I wanted to go again to the field (laughs). I guess every Brazilians are committed towards the game and feels for the team. When you go inside, that's your life, you have to give your best shot.I am a professional footballer, I left my country, friends, relatives for the sake of money, I have to be committed towards my game.

Q: Who are the best Indian footballers to you?
Du: Forward: Sunil Chettri Midfielder: N P Pradeep Defender: Mahesh Gawli, though he is somewhat struggling due to injury. Also the other defender from Dempo is good. Goalkeeper: It was Subrata Pal sometime back, now I have to search for it! (laughs)

Q: What is up next?
Du: I like to take everything game-by-game. Presently, We need to play well in the Federation Cup and qualify for the main rounds.Hopefully, we will also play well and qualify for the 1st division I-League next year.I am with a 2-years contract with my present club, I would like to oblige that.Also, I am interested to go back to Kolkata should I get a good offer. Though there are many cons playing there, there are also many pros (laughs). I loved the fan following there, Whenever you go, people would recognize you, ask for autographs, take pictures, etc. That's an amazing experience, I will cherish for life! There's nothing like that in Goa, I've almost lost the touch for giving autographs here (laughs)!

Q: Du, thanks for talking to Indianfootball.com, wish you very best for your future endeavors!
Du: My pleasure and take care!

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Welcome to Chota Bristol - a bar for the serious drinkers

pricelist board
Continuing the bar hopping session. Three seasons later – same friend, same weather, same time, and most significantly same city.

Chota Bristol is located behind the Metro theatre and next to the (in)famous Metro lane. Wondering about the unique name Chota? Well that’s because our Chota Bristol is located within the premises of Bristol hotel and strategically just behind Bristol hotel. Ironically, Bristol hotel was ceased quite some time ago.

In a walking distance, you will find couple of famous print media houses. These media houses are very strong in the Eastern part of India. Also, it is rumored that the famous and inspiring editorials are drafted here with a peg of Whisky. And that's how the name serious drinkers bar originated.

Chota Bristol is probably the only bar where a price-list board would welcome you. Once you get past the entrance, you will find this huge board on your right side. On the left side is the Chota Bristol testimonials, Chota Bristol “in news type” paper cutouts - a la graffiti.

Seating arrangements are simple, no designer lights, no table-top candles,
snacks sold by a vendorno cozy chairs - just what a serious drinker want! Once you place your order, you need to look out for the snacks. Sorry, no freebies here. But no worries, the snack vendors would hawk around in your vicinity, take you pick, and pay him straightaway. Snacks are not added in the liquor bill as the vendors are outsourced, very unique! This procedure is practised much before the outsourcing boom hit the Indian subcontinent.

Chota Bristol is realistic, down to earth, and a character by itself. It's worth a visit of you want to capture the spirit of the city in a bar.