Football: India
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India's international ranking
1947-2017
The Indian team has been ranked among the world's top 100 six times (May 05 2017 : The Times of India (Delhi)
1996, February
Fifa ranking: 94 (India's best achieved ever)
2015
Fifa ranking: 101
2015: Asian Football Confederation rankings
The Times of India, Sep 14 2015
AFC'S MARKING SYSTEM - India 22nd in technical ranking
A new technical ranking system of the Asian Football Confederation has placed India in 22nd spot among the continent's 46-member countries, the highest among South Asian nations. The technical ranking system released by the AFC recently takes into account the performance of the national team and clubs (at AFC competitions) of a particular country in the last four years and points are given accordingly. India has 18.636 points (11.951 for performance by national team + 9.318 for per formance by clubs) in the latest technical rankings. India lies 27th among AFC countries in the latest FIFA rankings (155th in the world). South Korea leads the technical rank ings chart with 88.354 points (63.326+25.028), followed by Saudi Arabia (84.666), Iran (79.435), Japan (71.191), UAE (68.261), Australia (65.395), China (61.229), Qatar (56.280), Uzbekistan (52.334) and Kuwait (43.635) in top 10.
2017
Fifa ranking: 100 (No. 100 spot shared with Nicaragua, Lithuania and Estonia)
World’s No. 101, Asia’s 11th
India rise to 101, ranked 11th in Asia, April 7, 2017: The Times of India
Indian football upswing is reflecting in the FIFA rankings with the senior national team achieving a ranking of 101, its best ever in over two decades. The ranking of 101elevated India to 11th ranked team in Asia, thus, inching closer towards realizing larger dreams.
The Stepehen Constantine-guided national team, in the last two years, has had 11 victories in 13 matches (including an unofficial match against Bhutan) scoring a total of 31 goals. National coach Constantine said: “It has been a difficult road. Bringing in new blood and creating competition for places in the team has been a process, and I'm pleased we are moving in the right direction.“ captain Sunil Chhetri said, “This change in ranking also pushes us up on the Asian circuit and working our way up further will give us favorable draws in continental competitions. Our biggest task now is to make it out of the Asian Cup qualifiers.
FIFA rankings, India amongst top 100
First time in two decades! India break into top 100, May 5, 2017: The Times of India
When Stephen Constantine took charge of the national team for the second time two years ago, one of his primary objectives was to help India break into the top 100 of Fifa rankings.
The widely-travelled British coach's wish was fulfilled as India jumped one place to be ranked No. 100 in the latest Fifa rankings released on Thursday . This is the first time in 21 years, and only the sixth occasion after Independence, that the Indian team has been ranked among the world's top 100.
Constantine's side shares the No. 100 spot with Nicaragua, Lithuania and Estonia. India's best Fifa ranking is 94, achieved in February 1996.
“As long as we keep heading up the ladder, I am happy . It means that we are heading in the right direction. There are major matches ahead and we cannot take things lightly. There's no place for complacency ,“ Constantine said in an All India Football Federation statement.
According to former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia, a progress in rankings reflects a “perception“ about a country's standard. “No doubt the national team has been doing well in recent times and it has been reflected in the latest Fifa rankings. Rankings are determined not just by a team's performance, but by many other factors. However, what it does is create a positive perception about a country's football,“ he said.
2017: ISL gets AFC berth, I-League on brink
Marcus Mergulhao, ISL gets AFC berth, I-League on brink, June 11, 2017: The Times of India Bengaluru, Possibly Tatas, To Sign Up; AIFF Moots Super Cup Format
The Indian Super League (ISL) has successfully managed to wean away Bengaluru FC from the I-League, reducing India's premier football competition to a secondary event much before anyone had predicted. Bengaluru FC will be among the two new ISL teams the other likely to be Tatas -which will be announced in the next 48 hours.
The Federation Cup champions have made it clear that they want to be part of a league that guarantees them a place in continental competitions AFC Cup and with AIFF now deciding to play both leagues simultaneously for six months, one AFC Cup slot will be handed over to the ISL champions.
“We have submitted our bid which means we want to play in the ISL. Our biggest concern has also been taken care of,“ said Bengaluru FC chief technical officer Mandar Tamhane, referring to the AFC Cup slot they had been seeking. Meanwhile, in Delhi, the meeting between I-League clubs and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) remained inconclusive as Mohun Bagan and East Bengal sought more time to decide. Both clubs are expected to revert to the AIFF on Tuesday.
The AIFF, however, proposed a Super Cup to be played immediately after the conclusion of the two leagues with the winner qualifying for the AFC Champions League play-off and runner-up earning an AFC Cup slot. The Super Cup will be a contest between the four top teams each from both leagues.
Despite their recent assurances re garding the I-League, the AIFF had always made it clear that they wanted to make ISL, now into its fourth season, the top tier league and reduce national league to the second tier, or League One as it would be called. The plan understandably met with some early resistance; Goan clubs Dempo SC, Salgaocar FC and Sporting Clube de Goa pulled out in protest. The move, which has the blessings of Asian Football Confederation (AFC), is significant. It means the ISL is now no longer a glorified tournament, or a league only in name. Despite what the AIFF has to say , the ISL will be India's top-tier league, sooner rather than later. So where does that leave the I-League, or the likes of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal?
Even now, AFC simply laid out four routes for AIFF to follow, two of which, including one of maintaining status quo, were ruled out. The AIFF conveniently blamed shortage of time to run both leagues one after another like the last three years but as another club official pointed out, the AIFF were never in favour of that arrangement.
2015: India wins SAFF Cup
The Times of India Jan 05 2016
Bhaichung Bhutia
It has been a perfect start to the year for Indian foot ball. Not only have India have clinched the SAFF Suzuki Cup 2015, but also won the hearts of the country's football lovers.These are my ratings for the Indian team after the final: Gurpreet Sandhu (810) Stood up for the occasion with great responsibility .Augustine Fernandes (7.5 10) Played with good organization and was disciplined in his approach.Narayan Das (810) What stood was his ability to attack from the left.Pritam Kotal (710) He would have had a bigger impact had he played with greater attacking intent.Arnab Mondal (7.510) Made the most of his ISL experience and formed a good combination with Augustine. Rowlin Borges (8.5 10) Certainly someone who will play a key role in Indian football in the future.Eugeneson Lyngdoh (7.5 10) Made a good effort to stay upfront and make in roads.Bikash Jairu (810) Adapted extremely well with the 4-23-1 formation.Holicharan Narzary (8.5 10) Showed great skill with his feet, made plenty of attacking efforts.Jeje Lalpekhlua (810) With three goals in the tournament, Jeje was India's most valuable attacker and did his job wonderfully.Sunil Chhetri (910) In a game that went down to the wire, the skipper turned up.Captaining India to victory , Chhetri handled his responsibility perfectly. PMG
The best Indian teams
Form as in 2017
The Times of India, Jan 07 2017
A 10-TEAM AFFAIR
BENGALURU FC Best performance:
I-League champions (2014, 2016); Coach: Albert Roca; Skipper: Sunil Chhetri; Ground: Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru
MOHUN BAGAN Best performance:
National Football League champions (1998, 2000, 2002); I-League champions (2015); Coach: Sanjoy Sen; Skipper: Katsumi Yusa; Ground: Rabindra Sarobar Stadium, Kolkata
EAST BENGAL Best performance:
National Football League champions (2001, 2003, 2004); Coach: Trevor Morgan; Skipper: Mehtab Hossain; Ground: Barasat Stadium, Kolkata
MUMBAI FC Best performance:
Fifth (2016); Coach: Santosh Kashyap; Skipper: Steven Dias; Ground: Cooperage Stadium, Mumbai
SHILLONG LAJONG FC Best performance:
Sixth (2014, 2016) Coach: Thangboi Singto; Skipper: Chinglensana Singh; Ground: Nehru Stadium, Shillong
AIZAWL FC Best performance:
Eighth (2016); Coach: Khalid Jamil; Skipper: Rohmingthanga; Ground: Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Aizawl
DSK SHIVAJIANS Best performance:
Ninth (2016); Coach: Dave Rogers; Skipper: Subrata Paul; Ground: Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Pune
CHURCHILL BROTHERS Best performance:
I-League champions (2009, 2013); Coach: Joseph Afusi; Skipper: Keenan Almeida; Ground: Fatorda Stadium, Goa
MINERVA PUNJAB FC (DEBUTANTS) Best performance:
Debutants (2017); Coach: Surinder Singh; Skipper: Manandeep Singh; Ground: Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana
CHENNAI CITY FC Best performance:
Debutants (2017); Coach: Robin Charles Raja; Skipper: Dharmaraj Ravanan; Ground: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai
MAKING THEIR DEBUT....
Minerva Punjab FC bring top-flight football back to Ludhiana and north India following JCT's pullout after the 2010-11 season. Down south, Chennai City FC are the second club from Tamil Nadu to play in the national league after Indian Bank during 2006-16
International matches won by India
Away
June 2005
In India’s first ever football series with Pakistan, India won on 16 June in Peshawar after a 1-0 win put the team a game ahead. India won the three-match series on goal-average.
March 2017
Mar 23 2017, The Times of India
The Indian football team broke the jinx of not having won an away international friendly since June 2005 when they beat Cambodia 3-2 at the Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium. Sunil Chhetri, Jeje Lalpekhlua and Sandesh Jhingan scored the goals.
The victory did come as a welcome relief for India who were playing their first match after mauling Puerto Rico in September 2016.
Second division I-League
2017: Neroca FC wins title
Manipur club wins 2nd div I-League title, May 23, 2017: The Times of India
Manipur's Neroca FC won the second division I-League beating Lonestar Kashmir FC 4-1to become the first team from any northeastern state to achieve the feat. The victory in Kashmir lifted Neroca to 23 points from 9 matches, 7 points clear of Kolkata's Southern Samity .
AIFF general secretary Kushal Das lavished praise on the champions saying: “After Aizawl FC's success we have another team from the North East who are keeping the flag flying high. I am sure their achievement will encourage more to take up the sport and spur off another social revolution, this time in Manipur.“
Following their sole loss in the zonal round to Mohammedan Sporting in Jan 2017, Neroca FC went on to continue an enviable unbeaten run of 12 matches including win against Lonestar Kashmir FC. In the final round, the Gift Raikhan-coached side conceded only three goals in eight matches while netting not less than fifteen.
2017: ISL gets AFC berth, I-League on brink
Marcus Mergulhao, ISL gets AFC berth, I-League on brink, June 11, 2017: The Times of India
Bengaluru, Possibly Tatas, To Sign Up; AIFF Moots Super Cup Format
The Indian Super League (ISL) has successfully managed to wean away Bengaluru FC from the I-League, reducing India's premier football competition to a secondary event much before anyone had predicted. Bengaluru FC will be among the two new ISL teams the other likely to be Tatas -which will be announced in the next 48 hours.
The Federation Cup champions have made it clear that they want to be part of a league that guarantees them a place in continental competitions AFC Cup and with AIFF now deciding to play both leagues simultaneously for six months, one AFC Cup slot will be handed over to the ISL champions.
“We have submitted our bid which means we want to play in the ISL. Our biggest concern has also been taken care of,“ said Bengaluru FC chief technical officer Mandar Tamhane, referring to the AFC Cup slot they had been seeking. Meanwhile, in Delhi, the meeting between I-League clubs and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) remained inconclusive as Mohun Bagan and East Bengal sought more time to decide. Both clubs are expected to revert to the AIFF on Tuesday.
The AIFF, however, proposed a Super Cup to be played immediately after the conclusion of the two leagues with the winner qualifying for the AFC Champions League play-off and runner-up earning an AFC Cup slot. The Super Cup will be a contest between the four top teams each from both leagues.
Despite their recent assurances re garding the I-League, the AIFF had always made it clear that they wanted to make ISL, now into its fourth season, the top tier league and reduce national league to the second tier, or League One as it would be called. The plan understandably met with some early resistance; Goan clubs Dempo SC, Salgaocar FC and Sporting Clube de Goa pulled out in protest. The move, which has the blessings of Asian Football Confederation (AFC), is significant. It means the ISL is now no longer a glorified tournament, or a league only in name. Despite what the AIFF has to say , the ISL will be India's top-tier league, sooner rather than later. So where does that leave the I-League, or the likes of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal?
Even now, AFC simply laid out four routes for AIFF to follow, two of which, including one of maintaining status quo, were ruled out. The AIFF conveniently blamed shortage of time to run both leagues one after another like the last three years but as another club official pointed out, the AIFF were never in favour of that arrangement.
Goa
2017: the decline continues
Three years ago, Milagres Gonsalves was a hero. His winner for Kerala against his home state Goa in the Indian Super League saw him drawing praise from even Sachin Tendulkar. But three years down the line, Milagres has moved to England, not to play football but work for a courier company .
“There is nothing left for footballers in Goa anymore. The salaries on offer are meagre and nothing like what it used to be in the past,“ Milagres told TOI over phone.
Milagres isn't the only one to move abroad after hanging up his boots. Many promising footbal lers from the state have discarded their jerseys for a workman's clothes, some even trying their hand at local panchayat elections held here last month in the hope of pursuing an alternative profession.And those who have decided to fight it out, may be forced to look elsewhere if they don't get picked up at the ISL's domestic player draft in Mumbai on Sunday .
The tiniest state of the country, which was equally well known for its football as it was for its sun and sand, today hardly boasts of any of its legendary talent. From the six clubs that Goa had in the ILeague, India's premier football tournament, there is just one club representing the state at the national level. And with the decline of football--the state sport--the demand for players has come down too. From the heydays of Goan football when Clifford Miranda, Climax Lawrence, Samir Naik and Mahesh Gawli took home close to Rs 1 crore every year, to day most players have to settle for Rs 6 lakh.
Not too long ago, football was the most thriving industry in the state, rivalled only by mining and tourism. In 2012, the year Dempo SC became I-League champions for a record fifth time, the club spent approximately Rs 12 crore on player salaries alone, while rival clubs like Salgaocar FC, Churchill Brothers SC and Sporting Clube de Goa were not too far behind.
Outstation players had club coaches' numbers on speed dial and agents pestered club officials with CVs of top players from across the globe. Everyone wanted to come to Goa to make a living out of football and Goans themselves were reaping the benefits.
“You have to hold the AIFF responsible for all this. Had three top Goan clubs not opted out (last year) because of faulty AIFF policies, Goan footballers would have not faced any problems,“ said Goa Football Association president Elvis Gomes.
“We have decided to strengthen the Goa Pro League this season. Hopefully , the addition of a new team in the league will provide opportunities to several more footballers and a longer league would mean they will all have annual contracts. The money may not be as good as in the past, but I am sure they will all be able to earn decently ,“ said Gomes.
But Milagres isn't impressed.“I was in Goa last month and inquired with the clubs if there was an opening. The clubs need players but they are offering a pittance,“ he said, hoping the golden days of Goan football won't remain just in history books.
Year-wise performance
2015: India wins SAFF Cup
The Times of India Jan 05 2016
Bhaichung Bhutia
It has been a perfect start to the year for Indian foot ball. Not only have India have clinched the SAFF Suzuki Cup 2015, but also won the hearts of the country's football lovers.These are my ratings for the Indian team after the final: Gurpreet Sandhu (810) Stood up for the occasion with great responsibility .Augustine Fernandes (7.5 10) Played with good organization and was disciplined in his approach.Narayan Das (810) What stood was his ability to attack from the left.Pritam Kotal (710) He would have had a bigger impact had he played with greater attacking intent.Arnab Mondal (7.510) Made the most of his ISL experience and formed a good combination with Augustine. Rowlin Borges (8.5 10) Certainly someone who will play a key role in Indian football in the future.Eugeneson Lyngdoh (7.5 10) Made a good effort to stay upfront and make in roads.Bikash Jairu (810) Adapted extremely well with the 4-23-1 formation.Holicharan Narzary (8.5 10) Showed great skill with his feet, made plenty of attacking efforts.Jeje Lalpekhlua (810) With three goals in the tournament, Jeje was India's most valuable attacker and did his job wonderfully.Sunil Chhetri (910) In a game that went down to the wire, the skipper turned up.Captaining India to victory , Chhetri handled his responsibility perfectly. PMG
2017: ISL gets AFC berth, I-League on brink
Marcus Mergulhao, ISL gets AFC berth, I-League on brink, June 11, 2017: The Times of India
Bengaluru, Possibly Tatas, To Sign Up; AIFF Moots Super Cup Format
The Indian Super League (ISL) has successfully managed to wean away Bengaluru FC from the I-League, reducing India's premier football competition to a secondary event much before anyone had predicted. Bengaluru FC will be among the two new ISL teams the other likely to be Tatas -which will be announced in the next 48 hours.
The Federation Cup champions have made it clear that they want to be part of a league that guarantees them a place in continental competitions AFC Cup and with AIFF now deciding to play both leagues simultaneously for six months, one AFC Cup slot will be handed over to the ISL champions.
“We have submitted our bid which means we want to play in the ISL. Our biggest concern has also been taken care of,“ said Bengaluru FC chief technical officer Mandar Tamhane, referring to the AFC Cup slot they had been seeking. Meanwhile, in Delhi, the meeting between I-League clubs and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) remained inconclusive as Mohun Bagan and East Bengal sought more time to decide. Both clubs are expected to revert to the AIFF on Tuesday.
The AIFF, however, proposed a Super Cup to be played immediately after the conclusion of the two leagues with the winner qualifying for the AFC Champions League play-off and runner-up earning an AFC Cup slot. The Super Cup will be a contest between the four top teams each from both leagues.
Despite their recent assurances re garding the I-League, the AIFF had always made it clear that they wanted to make ISL, now into its fourth season, the top tier league and reduce national league to the second tier, or League One as it would be called. The plan understandably met with some early resistance; Goan clubs Dempo SC, Salgaocar FC and Sporting Clube de Goa pulled out in protest. The move, which has the blessings of Asian Football Confederation (AFC), is significant. It means the ISL is now no longer a glorified tournament, or a league only in name. Despite what the AIFF has to say , the ISL will be India's top-tier league, sooner rather than later. So where does that leave the I-League, or the likes of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal?
Even now, AFC simply laid out four routes for AIFF to follow, two of which, including one of maintaining status quo, were ruled out. The AIFF conveniently blamed shortage of time to run both leagues one after another like the last three years but as another club official pointed out, the AIFF were never in favour of that arrangement.
2017: Indian Team for U-17 World Cup
The Times of India, Oct 5, 2017
All eyes will be on the hosts as they try to negotiate through Group A against the quality opposition of Ghana, Colombia and the US. Here's a chance to get acquainted with our local heroes...
GOALKEEPERS
DHEERAJ SINGH
The first name on Luis Norton de Matos's team-sheet, Dheeraj Singh, is probably the most experienced player in the side with 42 international caps. He has been with the national team since 2013 and won the U-16 SAFF Championship that year. During the AFC U-16 Championship last year, Dheeraj kept India in the hunt by saving two penalties in as many matches and gave a wonderful account of himself when India held Chile 1-1 during the four nation tournament in Mexico. Born in Moirang in Manipur, Dheeraj had a fascination for badminton before he fell in love with football.
PRABHSUKHAN GILL
He could have so easily been the defender in this side. During the days of Nicolai Adam, Prabhsukhan was often tried as central defender and even made it to the substitute's bench for two international tournaments. He is settled now, though, as goalkeeper and should be playing at least one of the three group matches. A Punjabi boy, Gill took his lessons at the Chandigarh Football Academy and has clawed his way back into the team after being relegated to the reserves.
SUNNY DHALIWAL
There is a reason why Sunny Dhaliwal stands out in this Indian side. Nobody is quite as tall as him. The Canada-born goalkeeper is a late entrant in this team and probably worked the hardest to get here. Born to Indian parents, Sunny didn't have an Indian passport that would help him make the cut but with generous help from SAI, sports ministry and the AIFF, the Toronto FC Academy graduate could realise his dream. The AIFF got to know of this giant of a goalkeeper after his father uploaded a video on the overseas scouting portal.
DEFENDERS
BORIS SINGH
He was an athlete during his early school days -a sprinter, and it shows. When former coach Nicolai Adam conducted a lactic acid and endurance test in Germany, Boris left everyone else behind. The Manipur lad is inarguably India's fastest player with a ball at his feet.The right-back is suspended for the opening match but when he joins the team, India will definitely have a spring in their step.
JITENDRA SINGH
Quite unusual for a `short' player like him, Jitendra Singh's preferred position is central defender. The Bengal lad is not among the `giants' in the team but his positioning and football sense makes him the firstchoice player to partner Anwar Ali in defence. Son of a watchman, Jitu had to choose between cricket and football and he opted for the former.Nobody has regretted that decision.At the U-17 World Cup, despite the lack of height, Jitu is expected to measure up to the challenge.
ANWAR ALI
Born in the small town of Adampur, Punjab, Anwar is among the last players to join the squad but the only certainty to be in the starting eleven.A strapping central defender, Anwar started as a left-back with the Indian team but was dropped even before Nicolai Adam could have a look at him. His lack of consistency was held against him, and so was his height.Incredibly, Anwar is now among the tallest in the team and forced his way alongside those lads from Minerva who defeated India U-17 1-0.
SANJEEV STALIN
The quintessential modern full-back, Sanjeev Stalin attracted attention when he curled a free-kick straight into the top corner against UAE in the AFC U-16 championship last year. Since then, he has proved several times that he remains India's chief set-piece taker. The left-back from Bengaluru looks like a kid but plays like a seasoned professional.When the U-17 World Cup concludes and his contract with the AIFF ends, there will be a queue outside his residence for his signature.
HENDRY ANTONAY
You can call the Bengaluru lad the luckiest player in the team. He was first handpicked from among hundreds of players who turned up for trials in Mumbai but after more than a year with the team, coach Nicolai Adam thought the rightback was surplus to requirements.He was asked to pack his bags for home. But in a stunning development, Nicolai himself had to pack his bags. Hendry's abilities were never in question and the new coach took a liking to him.
NAMIT DESHPANDE
He is on the cusp of history. If coach Luis Norton de Matos sticks to his line-ups in international friendlies, Namit Deshpande should be the first NRI to represent India at the World Cup. It's been quite a journey. The Deshpandes Sandeep and Radhika, architects both moved from Dadar to New Jersey in 2006, taking sixyear-old Namit along. Now a strapping lad of 17, the central defender first trialled with the team in Brazil and later impressed de Matos when he took over.
MIDFIELDERS
SURESH SINGH
He is India's ice-cool defensive midfielder.
Captain of the Indian team for last year's AFC U-16 Championship in Goa, Suresh gave a wonderful account of himself, most notably when he kept his cool to slot home a 97th minute penalty and tie the match against Saudi Arabia, the only Asian side to win the U-17 World Cup.
Suresh is the heart of the midfield where he will partner captain Amarjit Singh. Son of a badminton player from Manipur, Suresh didn't take to football until he was 11 and two years later he found himself being spotted by Rob Baan, India's former technical director.
AMARJIT SINGH KIYAM
The real shining light of this India U-17 team, Amarjit Singh has always led by example. On the field, you wouldn't find anyone else more hardworking than him, and off the field, he would hardly put a foot wrong.
Among the quietest player in the side, and the most disciplined, Amarjit was voted as the captain by 26 of the 27 probables. He was the only one who didn't vote for himself. A central midfielder from Manipur, Amarjit remains incredibly efficient when moving forward and tends to pick the most likely goal scoring pass.
NINTHOINGANBA MEETEI
His dynamism and determination has been there for all to see. The Manipur winger saw his father pass away after losing the battle against thyroid cancer just two months ago, but three days later, Ninthoinganba was back at work, harassing markers and cutting his way from the right.
De Matos's best bet to create an opening in the second half, Ninthoi's speed is his biggest weapon. Nobody makes as many attempts on goal as this diminutive winger.
LALENGMAWIA
Mizoram is Indian football's flavour of the season. Aizawl FC won the I-League last year and Mizoram won the Santosh Trophy a few years earlier. It would have been a tragedy if the state didn't have any representative in the Indian squad for the U-17 World Cup. It almost happened, until Lalengmawia caught the selectors's eye during a friendly against India XI. Primarily a central midfielder, Lalengmawia is equally effective on the wings.
KOMAL THATAL
Not many players boast of scoring against mighty Brazil. Komal Thatal has that honour, and what a goal it was in the BRICS Cup. The Sikkim lad picked a through on the left flank and weaved his way past three Brazilians before surprising the goalkeeper with a snapshot that whizzed past him and settled into the corner at the second post.
Preferred on the left wing, Komal can also be quite effective as a No 10 and remains India's top-scorer with nine goals. Rarely has Indian football seen a player as skilful as him at this age.
JEAKSON SINGH
Jeakson must have been frustrated when repeated efforts to break into the team came to a nought but he never let anyone know. He knew his time would come.
With his talent, it was hard to ignore this central midfielder. He went unnoticed for long, though. During the Chandigarh trials, he was left out. Watched by the coach during the U-15 I-League final, he scored with a stunning free-kick, yet never made the cut. Finally, when Minerva Punjab upstaged India U-17 in a friendly, he was the one who shone the brightest.
ABHIJIT SARKAR
Abhijit has superb control over the ball when it is at his feet and will give coach de Matos options whenever needed. It wasn't always smooth going for the Bengal lad though. Under Nicolai Adam, whose penchant for quick, direct football is well known, Abhijit didn't play enough but his versatility has now made him an indispensable part of this Indian team. He has played several roles all with perfection with the Indian team and is now drafted in midfield. With a blend of raw pace and remarkable dribbling skill, Abhijit can prove more than a handful.
RAHUL KANNOLY PRAVEEN
Belonging to the oldest batch of players in this team, successive coaches have always had one thing to say about Rahul Kannoly Praveen: This boy has absolutely everything. You field him as a lone striker and he delivers. He defends brilliantly too if you push him at the back and offers a creative threat as a right winger. Hailing from Thrissur, the land that gave Indian football one of its biggest stars, I M Vijayan, Rahul is the lone player from Kerala in the Indian team and can use both feet to devastating effect.
MOHAMMAD SHAHJAHAN
Played out of position and not really comfortable with the set-up, Mohammad Shahjahan even thought of giving up on football until Nicolai Adam put his misery to end by dropping him from the side. He never seemed to be in Nicolai's mould, whose preference for sturdy players was never a secret. Shahjahan, however, didn't lose heart and trained just as vigorously with Minerva Punjab FC. A chance friendly against the India U-17s brought Shahjahan back into focus.
NONGDAMBA NAOREM
He was the one who scored the only goal that helped Minerva Punjab upset India U-17 in a friendly and facilitated the entry of four players into the Indian team. He was also the one who scored India's only goal against Chile, which helped secure a 1-1 draw, perhaps India's best result in recent times. A sound passer with unerring composure even when under pressure, the Manipur youngster is comfortable on both the flanks and quite often provides the incisive touch.
FORWARDS
RAHIM ALI
The India U-17 coaching staff jokingly tell him that he is a politician; always in the right place at the right place. Rahim Ali is one of the only two recognised strikers in the team and should be shouldering a majority of the scoring responsibilities. Hailing from Barrackpore in Bengal and a product of the Mohun Bagan youth team, which he joined in 2013, Rahim was demoted to the reserves but soon fought his way to the top. Leaving his inconsistency behind, Rahim is now the most effective attacking player for de Matos.
ANIKET JADHAV
Among the 10 players handpicked by former Germany great Paul Brietner to represent India at the FC Bayern Munich Youth Cup in 2014, Aniket Jadhav has since gone from strength to strength, quite literally. Coaches have discovered that Aniket can be quite effective in the later stages of the match when opposition legs are a bit tired and the Kolhapur lad can muscle his way through. Blessed with a dominating physique and blistering pace, Aniket has an astonishing scoring record at youth level.
COACH
LUIS NORTON DE MATOS is a much loved and respected man in the U-17 India side. After Nicolai Adam was sacked in February 2016, the boys needed a father figure to support them. The 63-year-old fitted the role perfectly. Once he started to enjoy the boys' confidence, it wasn't difficult for De Matos to implement his style and philosophy.Having worked intensely with the boys for the last six months, De Matos has ensured that the likes of Amarjit Singh Kiyam and Aniket Jadhav will give a tough fight to other teams.
