INDIAN FOOTBALL-"The Future is here"

INDIAN FOOTBALL: The Timeline

Despite being ranked at 130's in the world, Indian football is on a role having qualified for the Asia Cup-2011 Qatar by defeating Tajikistan 4-1 in the finals of the AFC Challenger Cup 2008. Suddenly everything seems to be happening for Indian football. Lets have a look at what went well for Indian football since 1996....

Year 1996:

1. Launch of National Football League(NFL)
2. JCT-mills declared first NFL Champions led by Baichung Bhutia, Churchill Brothers were the runner ups

Year 1998:
1. After array of good performances Biachung got notticed from various top notch clubs
2. Baichung gave trials in clubs like Fulham, Aston Villa
3. Baichung Bhutia eventually was signed by third division club Bury FC- Became the first Indian player to play in England and the Second Indian player behind Mohammed Salim(Celtic) to ply his trade abroad.

Year 2000:
1. Bhutia creates History by scoring for Bury FC against Chesterfield thus becoming the first Asian born player to score a goal in Professional English Game.

Year 2002:
1. Bhutia returned to India
2. India grabbed LG Vietnam Cup defeating Vietnam in the finals

Year 2003:
1. Bhutia led East Bengal became the first ever Indian club to win an Asian level tournament after defeating ACL runners up BEC Tero Sasana.

Year 2004:
1. East Bengal announces link with Leicester City.

Year 2006:
1. English coach Bob Houghton named as India's National Coach

Year 2007:
1. NFL revamped and named as I-League
2. Sunil Chhetri named as best attacker and best player for the i-league.
3. India won Nehru Cup defeating Syria 1-0 in the finals thanks to N.P.Pradeep's lone goal

Year 2008:
1. India wins the AFC Challenger Cup,2008
2. India books automatic berth in Asia Cup 2011, Qatar after 24 years
3. JCT announce link with Wolverhampton

Year 2009:
1. India grab Nehru Cup 2009
2. Lajong FC and Pune FC-"The New faces in I-League"
3. U-23 team wins SAFF games, Bangladesh
4. Sunil Chhetri goes to Coventry City for Trials but does not succeed.

Year 2010:
1. East Bengal wins Fed Cup, Heroic perfomance by Lajong to reach the finals
2. Sunil Chhetri Called for trials at MLS club Kansas City Wizards and eventually gets signed by the MLS club, thus becoming the first Indian to play at MLS and only the third Indian to ply his trade outside India.
2. India grouped with South Korea, Australia and Baharain for Asia Cup 2011,Qatar
3. Mohammed Rafi- 14 goals in i-league. Promising youngster
4. Good show by Pune in i-league
5. Unsuccessful trials- Gourmangi Singh for Melbourne Hearts(Hyundai A-League) and Subrata Paul for Vancouver Whitecaps(will participate in MLS from 2011)
6. AIFF announces new team named "AIFF XI" comprising of selected U-21 players from the next season, former QPR coach Des Bulpin.

Indian football is definately going the right way with all good things happening. Lets support them and cheer them up for a better future.......

"JAI HIND!!"

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About Debraj Banerjee

Hi, I am Debraj Banerjee from Adra, West Bengal. A keen follower of Indian football and always an optimist that the game will get the recognition it truely deserves. What we ask from you is your support and one day the dream might turn true. Fingers crossed for Indian football. Cheers!

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