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."
Manchester City retained the Premier League title in style on Sunday, holding their nerve to come from behind against Brighton and see off a charging Liverpool after a thrilling campaign. Manchester City retain English Premier League title | News
More than just Ronaldo! Portugal could be ready to dominate after claiming first-ever Nations League. The Valencia man had swapped passes with Bernardo Silva to get into the position, with the Portugal fail to show they are more than just Ronaldo - Egypt
Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Huddersfield Town - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - February 23, 2019 Newcastle United's Salomon Rondon attempts an overhead kick Action I Football: Newcastle plunge 10-man Huddersfield closer to the drop
My buddies and I are big college football fans, and we love traveling to new places for games. We're working on a blog that gives tips to other football fans when they travel to away stadiums for games. I'm trying to review all the Big Ten schools, and I was hoping you'd indulge me on some questions about Penn State football games. National Football Development Plan
Saturday's lunchtime London derby from Tottenham Hotspur will be screened live in the UK by Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main event, and by the league's broadcast partners across the world, with kick-off at 12.30pm. Goals - The Learning code in London, Derby, Nottingham
Business is on a high for companies across the corporate landscape, with smaller firms keen to expand overseas while the big players reap ever higher profits.Th AFC Cup 2017 Review: Bengaluru strike late in Maldives; Al
FOOTBALL NEWS. News home page Juve foiled by Gervinho brace after leading 3-1. Daniele Rugani put Juventus 2-0 ahead in the 62nd minute after a series of Juventus foiled by Gervinho brace after leading 3-1, Sports
Ferland Mendy set for Real move, says France coach Deschamps Soccer Football France coach Didier Deschamps said on Monday that Olympique Lyonnais left back Ferland Mendy will join Real Ferland Mendy set for Real move, says France coach Deschamps
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was fined Sh5.8 million (£45,000, $59,000) by the Football Association on Thursday for suggesting referee Kevin Friend had favoured West Ham in his side's 1-1 draw Liverpool's Klopp fined over referee comments - Breitbart
I found this on an old VHS tape of Top of the Pops. It may interest Spurs Fans - as well as fans of Chas and Dave - since it features clips from the 1981 Cup Final. It also features the Top of the Spurs at Wembley - Home | Wembley Stadium
Madrid - An operation against several footballers, ex-players including former Spain international Raul Bravo and club executives accused of fixing matches in the first and second divisions was Spain football match-fixing probe: Police target current and
Win. Burnley (UK), March 2, 2019 (Reuters/NNN) Crystal Palace moved further away from the Premier League relegation zone with a 3-1 win at fellow strugglers Burnley on Saturday. The Londoners puklep the victory thanks to second half goals from Michy Batshuayi and Wilfried Zaha. Soccer: Palace climb away from trouble with 3-1 win at Burnley watch champions league live streaming crictime how to watch uefa champions league live streaming watch champions league live streaming match watch premier league live streaming vk watch coppa america live streaming crictime watch soccer online free streaming live hd watch champions league live streaming zee5 watch premier league live stream hd watch coppa america live streaming dailymotion watch premier league live in stream watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7 watch coppa america live streaming portugal watch coppa america live streaming usa watch soccer live streaming qatar watch english premier league live streaming online watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe cpl 2018 live streaming watch caribbean premier league t20 2018 watch champions league live streaming manchester united soccer tv live football streaming garuda select watch champions league live streaming live free watch coppa america live streaming xbox one watch soccer live streaming xbox one watch afghanistan premier league live stream watch coppa america live streaming vivo watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek watch coppa america live streaming match watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united watch champions league live stream gratis watch coppa america live streaming pc watch champions league live streaming cricfree watch soccer online free streaming live arabic watch coppa america live streaming juventus watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united watch coppa america live streaming hd free watch coppa america live streaming bein sport watch coppa america live streaming yify watch soccer live streaming reddit watch soccer live streaming hd watch champions league live streaming ptv sports watch soccer online free live streaming hd watch coppa america live streaming bt sport watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united watch barclays premier league online live streaming soccer tv live football streaming portugal watch coppa america live streaming hotstar watch coppa america live streaming cricfree watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal watch indian premier league live streaming watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube watch soccer online free streaming live app watch coppa america live streaming mexico watch champions league live streaming vf apps to watch live streaming soccer watch coppa america live streaming philippines watch coppa america live streaming qatar watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel where to watch premier league live streaming live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com watch coppa america live streaming video watch coppa america live streaming uk watch soccer online free streaming live uk watch english premier league live streaming watch champions league draw live stream total sportek watch premier league matches live streaming watch soccer aid live stream watch soccer online free streaming live tv soccer live stream sky watch live soccer streaming on android watch champions league live streaming juventus watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe watch barclays premier league live streaming online free watch champions league live streaming mobile watch coppa america live streaming zip watch champions league live streaming bola watch coppa america live streaming online watch coppa america live streaming indonesia super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia watch soccer online free streaming live without registration watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free watch coppa america live streaming ufc watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free watch coppa america live streaming rcti where to watch free live soccer streaming online watch coppa america live streaming barcelona watch champions league live streaming xbox one watch coppa america live streaming manchester united watch champions league live streaming pakistan watch epl live streaming on iphone watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo 7 watch champions league live streaming bt sport watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league watch soccer am live stream watch coppa america live streaming youtube watch coppa america live streaming nz watch premier league live streaming xbox watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online watch coppa america live streaming canada watch us soccer live stream watch premier league live streaming xbox one watch coppa america live streaming espn watch usa soccer live stream online watch soccer game live espn watch coppa america live streaming live free watch usa soccer live stream watch coppa america live streaming xbox watch champions league live streaming canada watch coppa america live streaming direct watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net watch soccer online free streaming live english watch tamil nadu premier league live streaming watch champions league live streaming kenya watch premier league live streaming zee tv watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid watch live streaming soccer world cup watch coppa america live streaming live watch premier league live streaming juventus watch soccer live streaming qatar vs philippines watch soccer online free streaming live in english watch coppa america live streaming online free watch coppa america live streaming total sportek watch champions league final live streaming watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online watch live english premier league online free streaming watch soccer online free streaming live youtube watch soccer live streaming kenya watch champions league live streaming zee tv watch live streaming of premier league football watch premier league live streaming yify watch champions league soccer live streaming watch bangladesh premier league live streaming watch soccer online free streaming live world cup watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online watch the champions league live stream watch hd soccer live streaming free watch premier league live streaming online watch coppa america live streaming hd watch the premier league live stream watch premier league darts live stream watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india watch live streaming soccer manchester united watch coppa america live streaming twitch watch soccer live stream apk watch premier league live streaming xfinity watch champions league live streaming malaysia #petercrouch #Barca #soccer #MSport #juventus #goal #Fcb #freekick #cr7 #soccermemes #comics #henderson #copaamerica #nationsleague #freekicks #footballmeme #league2 #gunners #coutinho #arsenalfantv #pagani #chocolate #nikesoccer #panini #footballstreaming #commento #liverpool #paulmcartney #cappucino #transfernews #footballfans #firmino #vandijk #liverpool #romania #satira #oudmehta #klopp #realmadridcf #Vip45 #bayern #lovefootball #coys #leicestercity #sixtimes #manchesterunited #bayervshoffenheim #midnight #barcelona #villarealcf #calciatoribrutti #neymar #golf #bundesliga #MyDubai #oasisofficial #Celtic #roadtrip #livesports #premierleague #nutmeg #rugby #cristianoronaldo #Sunday #24x7 #soccerbible #liverpoolfc #americanfootball #leomessi #afcnews #boxing #manchestercity #bayernmunich #zidane #manunited #alissonbecker #valcea #oasisandbeatles #portsmouthfc #ignoranza #realmadrid #comico #vip #livestreams #footballschedule #mancityvsliverpool #realmadrid #insegreto
No comments:
Post a Comment