S'pore coaches work wonders From relegation candidates to I-League champions in a year, Chennai City proved there are more to football miracles than just Leicester City's stunning English Premier League triumph in 2016. In achieving the improbable, head coach Akbar Nawas and his assistant K. Balagumaran also showed that Singaporean trainers are capable of producing such magical moments after leading the Indian club to the league title on Saturday. The duo are believed to be the first local coaches to win a professional football league outside South-east Asia. Former Tampines Rovers coach Akbar told The Straits Times yesterday: "There is great satisfaction after accepting the challenge of taking over a relegation-threatened team, and then winning the league within a year." When the 43-year-old took over the reins last year, Chennai had three games to stave off relegation from the I-League. They beat Churchill Brothers 3-1, lost 7-1 to East Bengal, before securing safety with a 2-1 win over Minerva Punjab in their final match. A year later, the remarkable turnaround was completed in front of 8,000 fans at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu on Saturday with a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Minerva as both club and head coach clinched their first league title. For Balagumaran, this is his second league title as assistant to V. Sundram Moorthy after winning the 2013 Malaysian Super League title with the LionsXII.
A SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT There is great satisfaction after accepting the challenge of taking over a relegation-threatened team, and then winning the league within a year. AKBAR NAWAS, Chennai City head coach, on the I-League side's dream season.
With 13 wins, four draws and three defeats, Chennai amassed 43 points, one more than second-placed East Bengal. And they did it in style, scoring 48 goals in 20 matches, and never relinquishing their place at the top of the 11-team league from the third match week. The Times of India summarised their triumph as "befitting their dominant campaign, the fulcrum of which was a sustained possession-based football". Akbar said: "Winning the title was the end result of good scouting, our attacking football philosophy, how we trained, prepared and executed our plans during the games. "The club gave me the freedom to impart this to the players despite initial scepticism about whether this will be successful in India. "I never lost sleep over the title race because we were focused and trusted our processes - there was great synergy among the owner, backroom staff and players. In fact, I lost sleep only after we won, with the many phone calls and text messages coming in!" Astutely building the team around five Spaniards from Europe's lower leagues and former S-League star Jozef Kaplan, Akbar also made room for local talents to shine.
PUTTING THE SHINE ON When we got here, the players we had were not from football academies, they were from the streets and so unpolished... now they have won their first professional league title. K. BALAGUMARAN, on the humble backgrounds of many of their players.
Incredibly, Chennai won the league without a single Indian international in their squad. Yet, the goals flowed from every department. Striker Pedro Manzi may be the league's joint-top scorer with 21 goals, but the winning goals against Minerva came from 20-year-old centre-back Gaurav Bora. Balagumaran said: "When we got here, the players we had were not from football academies, they were from the streets and so unpolished. "Many of them are playing in their first professional season and now they have won their first professional league title. "Credit has to go to Akbar for his attacking philosophy because defending was not our strength - we drew 3-3 with Neroca after blowing a 3-0 lead - and to the players for being open to his ideas. "This is definitely the highlight of my career, but I hope there is more to come." That could well be the case as Chennai are now eligible for the 2020 AFC Champions League qualifiers, while sources also told ST that the duo are now on the All India Football Federation's radar, with India's national coach position currently vacant. Representatives from Swiss club FC Basel, who have a 26 per cent equity stake in the Indian club, were at Chennai's coronation and are said to be impressed by the work of Akbar and Balagumaran. While Akbar declined to comment on speculation over his future as he has one more year left on his contract, Balagumaran said: "I hope this achievement shows there are good coaches from Singapore and opens the door for more Singaporean coaches to venture abroad. "If we can start from humble beginnings, work hard with what we have and still find success, there is no reason local coaches can't aim for a job in a professional league in Asia, or perhaps youth teams in Europe." Aguero penalty gives Man City 1-0 win over West Ham | Free
Man City's De Bruyne upbeat as he bids to put injuries behind him Premier League / 21 December 2018, 09:00am / Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne and teammates celebrate a goal against Leicester City. Man City's De Bruyne upbeat as he bids to put injuries behind
Madrid, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th May, 2019 ) :Madrid will deploy an unprecedented number of police and security personnel for Saturday's all-English Champions League final, and use a drone for the first time to monitor fan activity. Madrid plans 'robust' security for all-English Champions
LONDON (AP) — Norwich is returning to the English Premier League after a three-year absence, and Sheffield United is likely to be promoted, too. Norwich, from eastern England, clinched one of the two automatic promotion places from the second-tier League Championship by beating Blackburn 2-1 on Norwich and Sheffield United promoted : PremierLeague
Striker Olivier Giroud said on Wednesday he has been approached by other clubs to play for them next season, but he added he wanted to extend his stay Chelsea. The Frenchman however pointed out that staying at Stamford Bridge would depend on if manager Maurizio Sarri could offer him regular first Olivier Giroud demands important role at Chelsea FC next
Eden Hazard can leave Chelsea if he wants, says manager Maurizio Sarri Eden Hazard has been linked with a move to Spanish side Real Madrid in recent months and the Belgium international had said Eden Hazard should leave Chelsea if he wants, says Maurizio
Palace punish sloppy Arsenal in 3-2 win at the Emirates | Crystal Palace put a dent in Arsenal's Champions League qualification hopes after strikers Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha made the most of defens
Johhnny Murtagh rode Motivator again in the Derby, but only after successfully appealing a three-day riding ban which would have ruled him out of the race. Motivator was a well-supported 3/1 favourite for the Derby, ahead Gypsy King at 7/2 and Dubawi at 5/1. If you're not motivated for Spurs, there's no point in
LILLE, France (Reuters) - Paris St Germain's Ligue 1 title celebrations were delayed again when they suffered an embarrassing 5-1 defeat by second-placed Lille after being reduced to 10 men on Sunday. Ten-man PSG humiliated at Lille, made to wait for title - CNA
Jimenez , Jota slay United as Wolves reach FA Cup semis | Euronews WOLVERHAMPTON, England (Reuters) - Wolverhampton Wanderers reached the FA Cup semi -finals for the first time since 1998 by beating last year's runners-up Manchester United 2-1 with a Diogo Jota put the home side further ahead with a brilliant solo strike in the 76th, bursting through on the Jimenez, Jota slay United as Wolves reach FA Cup semis
Kevin De Bruyne's timely return to action for Manchester City is a major boost for Pep Guardiola as his team brace for a punishing programme over the festive period. The Belgium international, who Man City's De Bruyne upbeat as he bids to put injuries behind him
Mauricio Pochettino believes Tottenham can progress to the Champions League final if they play with bravery and a winning mentality against Ajax. Spurs travel to Amsterdam on Wednesday looking to Mauricio Pochettino - Wikipedia
Guardiola isn't thinking that far ahead just yet and he urged his players to take it one game at a time. "Liverpool and Man City have done incredible so far so deserve the credit. We will have 80 points with six games to play if we win next week," he said. "We are going to do everything to win. No matter the next competition, we will win the game." Guardiola salutes 'incredible' Manchester City pembrokeexpress.com/2019/04/02/guardiola-salutes-incredible-manchester-city/ Guardiola salutes 'incredible' Manchester City Posted April 02, 2019 "I just think that whereas City when they are one up can get the football, pop it about and keep it for fun if you want, I don't think Liverpool with the trio of midfield players that they have can do that as well". Pep Guardiola salutes gritty Manchester City | Football News Win over Watford more like draw: Ole, Football News & Top
Stadium switch poised to lift Spurs LONDON • Mauricio Pochettino has hailed Tottenham's newly opened stadium as "the best in the world" and that "the facilities would convince people to sign for the club". Spurs Fan Club Singapore - Best Fan ImageForms.Co watch soccer live streaming jamaica watch soccer online free streaming live liverpool watch champions league live streaming vf watch live streaming of premier league football watch soccer live streaming hd watch soccer online free streaming live hd watch soccer online free streaming live uk watch uefa champions league live streaming free online soccer tv live football streaming reddit watch premier league matches live streaming watch coppa america live streaming spain watch premier league live streaming video watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree watch coppa america live streaming indonesia apps to watch live streaming soccer watch coppa america live streaming total sportek watch live soccer streaming on android watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india watch coppa america live streaming juventus how to watch premier league live streaming watch coppa america live streaming free online watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7 watch premier league stream reddit watch premier league live streaming free watch coppa america live streaming game watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united watch premier league live streaming youtube www.watch premier league live stream.com watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming watch coppa america live streaming india vs england watch champions league draw live stream total sportek watch champions league live streaming bt sport watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream watch coppa america live streaming match watch sky sports premier league live stream watch coppa america live streaming youtube free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru watch soccer saturday live stream best site to watch live soccer streaming watch coppa america live streaming world watch premier league live streaming quality watch soccer online free streaming live first row watch soccer live streaming kenya watch premier league live streaming zee tv watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming watch premier league live streaming jamaica watch live streaming soccer online espn3 watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net watch tamil nadu premier league live streaming watch champions league live streaming xfinity watch premier league live streaming xbox one watch coppa america live streaming india watch coppa america live streaming online free watch coppa america live streaming in india watch live soccer streaming free android watch coppa america live streaming direct watch premier league live stream reddit watch coppa america live streaming bt sport watch afghanistan premier league live stream watch coppa america live streaming cricfree watch coppa america live streaming mexico watch english premier league live streaming online watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal watch coppa america live streaming live watch the champions league live stream watch english premier league live streaming watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia watch champions league live streaming bein sport watch usa soccer live stream online watch champions league live streaming malaysia watch soccer online free streaming live dracula watch champions league draw live streaming watch soccer online free streaming live app watch champions league live streaming espn watch premier league live streaming yify watch coppa america live streaming jamaica watch indian premier league live streaming watch live soccer game today watch premier league live streaming vk watch champions league live streaming jamaica watch champions league live streaming now tv watch soccer online free streaming live bbc watch premier league net live stream channel super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia #leicestercity #oudmehta #realmadridcf #oasisandbeatles #valcea #soccer #villarealcf #zinedinezidane #sumbertv #freekick #battuteepiche #MSport #liverpoolfans #sixtimes #bayervshoffenheim #serieatim #bayernmunich #tokyo #firmino #league2 #realmadrid #comics #championship #Sunday #crossfit #vandijk #england #beatifulgame #Liamgallagher #winner #gooners #transfernews #trollfootball #commento #boxing #satira #noelgallagher #realmadrid #mancity #lfc #risate #oasis #footballschedule #freekickerz #hotcoffee #afcnews #24x7 #seriea #mancityvsliverpool #4Series #juventus
No comments:
Post a Comment