Chp 308. Santosh Trophy 2010 – Unsung tourney

Alright ladies and gents, now that the World Cup is finally over, most of us are still recovering from the buzzing Vuvuzela noise and all the late nights spent cheering for our favorite team… which, for us Indians, was of course a foreign country.

Now it is time to focus back on India

Tomorrow Santosh Trophy kicks off!!! Whupididooo! And here’s the good news (at least for the smaller states) – Players in the National team (Seniors) are not allowed to represent their respective States and play in this tournament this year! New AIFF rule. Plus they are currently training in Portugal for the Asian Cup. More chance for Mizoram to win this coveted title!

Most Indians are actually not aware of India’s most prestigious football tournament. But then again, I don’t blame anyone. Most of us prefer to watch EPL, La Liga, Serie A etc rather than our own countrymen playing. And the governing body AIFF never makes any attempt to promote football. They of course blame the Indian Government for not allotting enough funds for this sport while cricket is treated like a pornstar rockstar. People blame the media for not properly covering Indian football events, but media blames the lack of sponsors. And the blame game continues.

Zee Sports and Ten Sports may not even broadcast the I-League and Federation Cup matches come this new season!

We live in difficult times, my football crazy friend.

Anyway, I will not become depressed by worrying about the future of Indian football. Hence changing the subject to happier thoughts - the 64th Santosh Trophy that will be held in Kolkata from tomorrow onwards. The question on everyone’s mind is, will the most successful State West Bengal with 29 titles finally be able to break their 11 years drought? Or will we see the likes of Goa, Punjab and Kerala winning the cup again?


Here is the group stage fixture:


Cluster 1: Karnataka | Meghalaya | Jharkhand

Cluster 2: Maharashtra | Chandigarh | Tripura | Andhra Pradesh

Cluster 3: Punjab | Pondicherry | Gujarat | Nagaland

Cluster 4: Manipur | Rajasthan | Jammu & Kashmir

Cluster 5: Delhi | Arunachal Pradesh | Madhya Pradesh | Uttar Pradesh

Cluster 6: Haryana | Sikkim | Chhattisgarh

Cluster 7: Kerala | Uttarakhand | Himachal Pradesh | Assam

Cluster 8: Mizoram | Bihar | Railways | Orissa

Already qualified: Goa (2009 winners), West Bengal (runners up), Services & Tamilnadu (semi-finalists)


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I have taken the fixtures from the AIFF website and rearranged it chronologically. I’ll try to update it every day (sounds like I’m utterly jobless, naw? But then, that’s what I am passionate about). So do keep visiting this page if you want to see updates (and hopefully interesting comments).

I am not going to use any HTML table tags to display the results or match below because I realized that although table makes everything neat and tidy, it is not mobile phone browser friendly at all. Hence I’ll just display it as simple as possible. Cheers everyone. All the best to your State


15-07-2010 Thursday

[Cluster 1] Karnataka [1] – [0] Meghalaya
[Cluster 2] Maharashtra [4] – [0] Chandigarh
[Cluster 2] Tripura [1] – [2] Andhra Pradesh


16-07-2010 Friday

[Cluster 3] Gujarat [0] – [4] Nagaland
[Cluster 4] Manipur [13] – [0] Rajasthan
[Cluster 3] Punjab [7] – [0] Pondicherry


17-07-2010 Saturday

[Cluster 2] Andhra Pradesh [1] – [4] Maharashtra
[Cluster 2] Chandigarh [1] – [1] Tripura
[Cluster 1] Meghalaya [5] – [0] Jharkhand


18-07-2010 Sunday

[Cluster 3] Nagaland [0] – [1] Punjab
[Cluster 3] Pondicherry [2] – [1] Gujarat
[Cluster 4] Rajasthan [1] – [0] Jammu and Kashmir


19-07-2010 Monday

[Cluster 2] Chandigarh [1] – Andhra Pradesh [2]
[Cluster 1] Jharkhand [1] – Karnataka [6]
[Cluster 2] Maharashtra [4] – Tripura [1]


20-07-2010 Tuesday

[Cluster 4] Jammu and Kashmir – Manipur
[Cluster 3] Pondicherry – Nagaland
[Cluster 3] Punjab – Gujarat


21-07-2010 Wednesday

[Cluster 5]Delhi – Arunachal Pradesh
[Cluster 6]Haryana – Sikkim
[Cluster 5] Madhya Pradesh – Uttar Pradesh


22-07-2010 Thursday

[Cluster 7] Assam – Himachal Pradesh
[Cluster 8] Bihar – Railways
[Cluster 7] Kerala – Uttarakhand
[Cluster 8] Mizoram – Orissa


23-07-2010 Friday

[Cluster 5] Arunachal Pradesh – Madhya Pradesh
[Cluster 6] Sikkim – Chhattisgarh
[Cluster 5] Uttar Pradesh – Delhi


24-07-2010 Saturday

[Cluster 7] Himachal Pradesh – Kerala
[Cluster 8] Mizoram – Bihar
[Cluster 8] Orissa – Railways
[Cluster 7] Uttarakhand – Assam


25-07-2010 Sunday

[Cluster 5] Arunachal Pradesh – Uttar Pradesh
[Cluster 6] Chhattisgarh – Haryana
[Cluster 5] Delhi – Madhya Pradesh


26-07-2010 Monday

[Cluster 7] Kerala – Assam
[Cluster 8] Orissa – Bihar
[Cluster 8] Railways – Mizoram
[Cluster 7] Uttarakhand – Himachal Pradesh



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One last addition: The Mizoram squad

Player’s name, followed by the current Football Club he’s playing at.
Source: hmingsanga @ misual.com

1. Beikhokhai - East Bengal
   
2. Robert Lalthlamuana - Churchill Brothers
   
3. Lalrinfela - Churchill Brothers
   
4. Vanlalrova - Churchill Brothers
   
5. Lalthuammawia - Lajong SC
   
6. Zohmingliana - Lajong SC
   
7. Ronald Lalthanzama - Lajong SC
   
8. Samson Ramengmawia - Lajong SC
   
9. Lallawmzuala - Lajong SC
   
10. Lalramluaha - Lajong SC
    
11. Lalhlimthara - Lajong SC
    
12. Lalchhuanmawia - JCT
    
13. Jerry Zirsanga - Chirag United
    
14. Lalmuanpuia - ONGC
    
15. Jonathan Lalsangzuala - ONGC
    
16. Lalruatfela - Chandigarh Football Academy
    
17. Sama Hnamte - 1st Bn MAP
    
18. F.Lalrinpuia - 1st Bn MAP
    
19. Laltuakliana - 1st Bn MAP
    
20. Lalhruaitluanga - M.R.P
    
21. R.Lalnundanga - Faria Striker, Goa
    
22. David Lalrinmuana - Faria Striker, Goa
    
23. Lalchhanchhuaha - Faria Striker, Goa
    
24. Zothansanga - Faria Striker, Goa
25. Lalthantluanga - Signal Corps, Goa

Coach : Benjamin Laldinpuia
Manager : Vanlalngheta


Comon Mizoram!

A goal dawn e! A goal dawn e! A goal dawn e!