Kalinga Super Cup 2025: Punjab FC Beat Odisha FC 3-0 To Book Quarter-Final Spot
Goals from Asmir Suljic (14'), Norberto 'Pulga" Vidal (69') and Nihal Sudeesh (90') sealed the result for Punjab FC, who capitalised on Odisha's poor finishing and defensive lapses throughout the match.
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Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Not all players show interest in tactical aspects: Joy Gabriel
Joy and captain Sweety after India qualified for Women's Asian Cup Panaji: With Indian football embracing video analysis and tactical data, the role of performance analysts has become more prominent in recent times. Having worked with several clubs and the national teams, Joy Gabriel, currently head of analysis for the national team, and technical assistant with Odisha FC, shares insights on the evolving methods, whether data works, and what needs to change. Excerpts from an interview with TOI… Having worked with clubs and the national team, do you feel players today are more open to tactical feedback and video analysis than they were a few years ago? Years ago, feedback was less video and more verbal. Tactical feedback is only effective when you share precise information with the players. Video is the most effective way, but not all players show interest in tactical aspects. There are some (domestic) players who are technically and individually amazing, but do not have tactical awareness. Sometimes this can be an advantage too, because they are brave doing what they love doing; for example, wingers who are good in 1v1. They have qualities that tactically-sound players don't have, but need a coach who uses them the right way. In a country like India where players skip most of the basic ball mastery at the grassroots level, tactical video analysis comes secondary. Once the team has players who have football technique, then you could push further with tactical aspects. Teaching players the art of overlaps and crossing in the final third, without them understanding the technique to effective crossing and box awareness, is like buying a car without knowing how to drive one. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 3 casino games in Maesteg - No download needed Lounge 777 Play Game Undo Does the presence of foreign players at club level help improve domestic players tactically? The tactical understanding in club football seems easy because of the foreigners the clubs have. Foreigners make it easier for Indian players, because the key actions or moments of the game are decided by them. So, when the players arrive for national duty, they are not able to do the same because the decision making in the final third now has to be done by the Indian players itself. It's problematic because most players have not had effective quality grassroots. Why do players who do well in domestic competitions struggle in international games? The pace is not the same, which means faster decision-making near both goals (in international football), which is not possible without good technical abilities. With tactical feedback, players do enjoy video analysis both at club and international level, but it's not easy for them to improve without the willingness to learn, mostly because most of them are past their learning age. With huge paychecks in domestic football, sometimes you don't have the hunger and need to learn. What makes the coach-analyst relationship important in a football team, and does having a playing background help analysts work better with coaches? Coaches love analysts who normally have played football at least at a professional or semi-professional level. It's totally different to having an analyst who's never played, nor completed coaching licenses, to do clips or understand what the coaches want. Having the (playing) background helps analysts understand what the coaching staff wants, whether it's the head coach, assistant coach, goalkeepers coach or even the fitness coach. The relationship between the coach and analyst is key. Timely delivery is a must for an analyst. In your experience across top-tier clubs, how do coaches navigate the pressure to win and balance it with player development? In domestic football, the objective is clear; either the coach wins, or he loses his job. That pressure naturally shifts focus toward results over development. Normally, coaches are clear about their squad right at pre-season and they play around with 15-16 players, which means their trusted squad depth is eleven plus five players on the bench. The successful teams, though, are those where even the players from the squad of 23 or 25 contribute to the success of the team by training regularly, week in and out, at a good level, and are a good influence in the dressing room. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
India Today
5 days ago
- India Today
Goalkeeper Muheet Shabir's story: From valleys of Kashmir to heartland of Punjab
When goalkeeper Muheet Shabir stands between the posts for Punjab FC, he carries more than just the weight of his gloves - he carries the spirit of the Kashmir valley with him. The 23-year-old goalkeeper from Srinagar swapped the snow-dusted mountains for the flat, fertile plains of Punjab when he joined the club last year from Real Kashmir. With that move, he stepped out of his comfort zone in search of growth, challenge, and the force behind Punjab FC, has played a pivotal role in Muheet's journey. Through elite-level coaching, world-class training facilities, and a professional environment built for continuous improvement, Roundglass has given him the tools to grow both as a player and as a FC's youth development programme, powered by the Roundglass philosophy of holistic development, is now among the most respected in India. From grassroots football to the national stage, it has produced players who have gone on to represent the country at both senior and junior levels. For players like Muheet, who came from a completely different footballing environment, the structured academy system in Mohali and modern training methodology have been transformative."It is inspiring to see how Roundglass is giving players like me, who have come to Mohali from different parts of India, a chance to grow," says Muheet. "The way they invest in our development on and off the pitch makes you believe you can achieve something big no matter where you come coaches and players here have given me a lot of love and support. It feels like home here too. They have made me part of something bigger - a team with ambition, passion, and heart."Beyond the pitch, the support system at Punjab FC has helped Muheet adapt to life away from home by offering mentorship, medical care, and constant guidance so he can focus entirely on his game."It was very comfortable playing in Kashmir because it was home," he says, his voice carrying both warmth and quiet determination. "But I wanted to challenge myself. Playing away from home tests you in ways the pitch alone cannot."The decision led him from Kashmir to Mohali. The move was not just about learning new tactics or adjusting to training schedules - it was also about embracing a new culture, climate, and pace of there is one part of home that no amount of camaraderie can replace - the laughs as he admits: "Kashmiri cuisine is kind of similar to Punjabi food since both are from North India, but nothing beats the food from the valley."For now, the taste of home will have to wait. Muheet's focus is firmly on the present - honing his skills, protecting the net, and making his mark in Indian journey from the valleys of Kashmir to the heartland of Punjab is not just about geography. It is about pushing personal boundaries, embracing change, and proving that sometimes the boldest step forward is the surest path to growth. And while the food of the valley might be unmatched, Muheet is discovering that the bonds forged in the heat of competition can be just as nourishing.- Ends
India Today
6 days ago
- India Today
Muhammad Suhail's 2,761 km journey to becoming Punjab FC's young star
Till last season, Muhammad Suhail was known only to followers of Punjab FC. That changed in 2023–24 when the club won the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) title, beating East Bengal in the final. Suhail, just 17 then, was named the tournament's best player — a breakthrough that led to his promotion to the senior first taste of top-level football came in the Durand Cup 2025, a competition he remembers fondly. 'It was the first time I played senior football,' he says. 'I understood where I was as a player and what I needed to do to consistently play at this level.'advertisementReaching the Indian top-flight was not easy. Suhail joined Punjab FC's academy at the age of 13, leaving his home in Olavakkode, a railway town in Kerala's Palakkad district, for Mohali — 2,761 kilometres away. On the advice of his elder brother, Muhammad Sulaiman, he attended Punjab FC's trials in Coimbatore, where he was selected despite having no district-level experience. Life at the academy was a shock. 'It was very tough at the beginning. Everything was new — the culture, the professional setup. I was crying the whole time. I didn't have friends and I was the only player from Kerala then,' he parents told him he could return if he was unhappy, but his brother pushed him to stay. Friends from his boyhood club, Marhaba FC, also encouraged him to Position SwitchSuhail joined the academy as a centre-back, but was shifted to a forward role in the Under-17s — a change that transformed his game. 'That was when I realised my true game,' he says. 'It opened up my chances in the senior team.'After impressing in the Premier League Next Generation Cup in England, head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis called him up to the first team for the ISL 2024–25 season. 'I expected just a few minutes as a substitute, but I got to start several matches. I made full use of the chances I got,' he says. Suhail ended the season with 13 appearances, 11 of them From Durand CupPunjab FC's Durand Cup 2025 campaign ended early after a shock loss to Bodoland FC. Suhail, however, stood out with his pace and dribbling on the wings. 'The competition was very high and the opposition physical. It was more than we expected, but it was a learning experience,' he for his goals, the soon-to-be 19-year-old keeps it simple: 'I haven't thought about anything to be honest. I just want to keep playing, scoring and assisting. The rest will come.'From the mud grounds of Palakkad's railway colony to the ISL stage, Suhail's journey is a story of persistence, sacrifice, and seizing every opportunity — no matter how far from home it takes him.- Ends
