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United News of India
a day ago
- Sport
- United News of India
Indian men's national Football team reaches Thailand for friendly match
Pathum Thani (Thailand), May 30 (UNI) The Indian men's national team will play a friendly match against Thailand on June 4 ahead of the crucial AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers Final Round match versus Hong Kong on June 10. After completing the Kolkata leg of their training camp, the Indian team landed in Thailand on Thursday. This is the third time the Indian senior men's team have visited the Land of Smiles in the past six years. India previously participated in the 2019 and 2023 King's Cup, winning the bronze medal in the former after beating Thailand 1-0, which was the last meeting between these two sides. While the King's Cups were held in Buriram and Chiang Mai, respectively, the upcoming friendly will take place at the Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani, a venue the Blue Tigers have never played in before. However, the Blue Colts have — as recently as 2023 in the AFC U17 Asian Cup. India drew 1-1 with Vietnam and lost 0-1 against Uzbekistan at the Thammasat Stadium. Midfielder Brandon Fernandes, who made his India debut at the 2019 King's Cup in Buriram against Curaçao, is up for the challenge in Pathum Thani. He also spent the last pre-season with his club Mumbai City FC in Thailand, so it's safe to say, he is quite familiar with the country, its weather, and playing conditions. "It's always different when you play away from home. We are familiar with Thailand because we played the King's Cup here. This one's going to be a different game — an international friendly. There will be more fans supporting the home team, and it's a challenge for us. We have to be ready for it and go there with a mindset to win the game," the 30-year-old said. Team India's hotel is situated in the heart of Pathum Thani, approximately 50 kilometres north of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport. Pathum Thani, one of Thailand's 76 provinces and part of the Bangkok metropolitan area, is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. The Thammasat Stadium, part of the Thammasat University campus, was built for the 1998 Asian Games. The Indian women's team also played two matches in the group stage of that Asiad. Right now, the Blue Tigers' primary aim is to qualify for the Asian Cup in 2027, and Fernandes feels that the preparations for the Hong Kong game are on the right track. "Everybody is looking fit after the camp in Kolkata. We also had a couple of practice games. We are in much better shape as we head into the Thailand leg of the camp. We'll have a few more training sessions here, and we'll be ready for the game. "Thailand will be a perfect challenge for us in order to prepare for the Hong Kong game. We have to put our best foot forward and look for a positive result. Everybody has put in the work, those hard yards, and yes — with the way we train and are putting in the shifts, I think we will get a good result," Fernandes said. UNI BM
Press and Journal
2 days ago
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Moreen Simpson: From childhood days at Pittodrie to parade day, fit a weekend to be an Aberdonian
Canna believe it's about 70 years since my dad – a lifelong Dons supporter – sometimes took me to Pittodrie. I've no memory of the matches. I wonder if Little Mo actually saw onything ava, surrounded by towering adults. We went again when I was a teenager and fair scunnert by the sight of mannies wie their backs to me tiddling against a fence. On to my student days when, to mark AFC being in a Scottish Cup semi-final, I covered masellie with beautiful red-and-white rosettes made by mum, a replica cup on my back courtesy of dad. However, while I was rattlin' ma tin at the Torcher, young footballs fans stripped me of the lot, including the cup. Dad was fumin'. Spookily appropriately, the Gothenberg triumph happened on my quine's sixth birthday; spooky because the Dons would go on to shape her adult life. As a teenager she and her friends joined a club attached to a bar, when going to matches home and away became hub of her social life. Sure enough, she fell for one of the gadgies who was a regular on the bus and the rest is their happy family history. A girl and boy on, almost inevitably their 11-year-old loon is as football mad as his mum and dad. Whenever he comes to my hoose, he's straight oot the back door, into the garden, to practise his penalties, free kicks and dribbling. He's bravely bounced back from some of the heart-breaking games he's been to recently, so when the cup final started on Saturday, all I could think of was him there in the stand. When it looked like Celtic would keep their one-goal lead, I could imagine his bonnie, increasingly disappointed face. Then the dramatic turnaround. When Mitov saved that last penalty, someone a pucklie gardens from me let off a triumphant rocket as I and my peer hairtie leapt with joy for the wee man. Minties later, a text pinged through from my quine with the most wonderful pic of him revelling in the triumph. And guess fit? He was holding a replica silver cup on his head. The years rolled back and I could almost see my dad looking at the photie ower my shoulder, beaming for his great-grandson holding the cup. My quine texted: 'He says it's the best day of his life. His heart was beating out of his chest during the penalties!' Yes, I had a weepie to masellie. That feeling must have been exactly the same for all Dons supporters at the game or watching elsewhere; the ecstasy of winning and dear memories of beloved fans no longer with us. As for the mass turn-out at the parade the next day, in all my 77 years there's never been such an astounding show of people and pride in the city. The 100,000-plus crowds dwarfed even the turn-out for the Gothenberg heroes. I half-thought about going with the family, but reckoned I was just too al'. Regretted it when I saw a lovely, affa happy mannie being interviewed on the telly aged 85. Mind you, I did have a impromptu celebration. During my morning walk, on the other side of the road I passed a huge bus queue of red-bedecked adults and kids heading for the parade. I gave them a cheery thumbs-up and shouted: 'Enjoy.' Next thing, they broke into a rousing chorus of The Northern Lights. I was fair chuffed. And, yup, there was tear in my eye yet again. Fit a weekend to be an Aberdonian! Moreen Simpson is a former assistant editor of the Evening Express and The Press and Journal and started her journalism career in 1970.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Who are India facing in AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers?
India's Under-23 men's team was drawn into Group H of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers alongside Qatar, Bahrain, and Brunei. Qatar, the highest-seeded team, will host the matches from September 1-9, 2025. Out of 44 teams divided into 11 groups, group winners and the top four runners-up will join host Saudi Arabia in the January 2026 tournament. India, placed in Pot 3, appointed Naushad Moosa as head coach starting June 1. The team will train in Kolkata and play friendlies in Tajikistan to prepare for the qualifiers, using all FIFA windows for camps and exposure matches. AFC U-23 ASIAN CUP 2026 QUALIFIERS DRAW RESULT Group A: Jordan (H), Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei, Bhutan Group B: Japan, Kuwait, Myanmar (H), Afghanistan Group C: Vietnam (H), Yemen, Singapore, Bangladesh Group D: Australia, China (H), Timor-Leste, Northern Mariana Islands Group E: Uzbekistan, Palestine, Kyrgyz Republic (H), Sri Lanka Group F: Thailand (H), Malaysia, Lebanon, Mongolia Group G: Iraq, Cambodia (H), Oman, Pakistan Group H: Qatar (H), Bahrain, India, Brunei Darussalam Group I: United Arab Emirates (H), IR Iran, Hong Kong China, Guam Group J: Korea Republic, Indonesia (H), Laos, Macau Group K: Tajikistan, Syria, Philippines, Nepal
Observer
2 days ago
- Sport
- Observer
Oman in Group G in AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers
MUSCAT: Oman U-23 team will vie for an automatic ticket to the final as they will face Iraq, Pakistan and the hosts Cambodia in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers which will table place during September 1-9, 2025. The 44 Asian teams were distributed into eleven groups for the qualifiers and the toppers of each group and four best best-ranked runners-up will join the hosts Saudi Arabia, in the final finals which will take place earlier in 2026. The Asian event draw which took place in the headquarter of AFC in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, saw the hosts Jordan team in group A beside Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei and Bhutan. Japan, two-time champions, will take on Kuwait, Afghanistan and the hosts in Group B. Vietnam will host group C competitions and they will face Yemen, Singapore and Bangladesh. Australia will lead the Group D cast beside the hosts China PR, Timor-Leste and Northern Mariana Islands. Group E comprised from Uzbekistan 2018 winners, Palestine and Kyrgyzstan as the hosts. Sri Lanka clubbed with the hosts Thailand, Malaysia, Lebanon and Mongolia in Group F. Qatar will host group H matches and it will feature Bahrain, India and Brunei Darussalam teams UAE team will eye for an automatic spot to the finals as they try to utilise the hosts advantage of group I matches and they will play against Iran, Hong Kong and Guam. Group J will see 2020 champions South Korea, Indonesia as hosts, Laos and Macau while Group K comprised from Tajikistan (hosts), Syria, Philippines and Nepal teams. Oman in Group G in AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers Oman Olympic U-23 team, coached by Badar al Maimani, are underway in their domestic camp in Muscat. The team played friendly match against Royal Court Affairs team on Wednesday night and ended for the latter by 2-1. The following warm up fixture for the Olympic team will be against Royal Navy Oman team on Thursday before heading off to Moscow on 1st June for the external camp. Oman team will meet Russia Olympic team in Moscow twice as part of the external preparatory camp which will take place in June. Oman team will eye to claim maximum technical output from the abroad camp in Moscow which will feature two friendly matches against Russia Olympic team and one more match against local Russian team. This camp in Russia will act as a key preparation stage for the team's preparations for the AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers which will begin in coming September. DRAW RESULT: Group A: Jordan (H), Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei, Bhutan Group B: Japan, Kuwait, Myanmar (H), Afghanistan Group C: Vietnam (H), Yemen, Singapore, Bangladesh Group D: Australia, China PR (H), Timor-Leste, Northern Mariana Islands Group E: Uzbekistan, Palestine, Kyrgyz Republic (H), Sri Lanka Group F: Thailand (H), Malaysia, Lebanon, Mongolia Group G: Iraq, Cambodia (H), Oman, Pakistan Group H: Qatar (H), Bahrain, India, Brunei Darussalam Group I: UAE (H), IR Iran, Hong Kong, China, Guam Group J: Korea Republic, Indonesia (H), Laos, Macau Group K: Tajikistan (H), Syria, Philippines, Nepal
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cincinnati Bearcats football non-conference kickoff times announced
University of Cincinnati Bearcats football fans now have kickoff times for the two non-conference games scheduled at Nippert Stadium in September. The Saturday, Sept. 6 game vs. Bowling Green State and the Saturday, Sept. 13 game vs. Northwestern State will both be at 3:30 p.m. Both games will be televised on ESPN+. Advertisement The Bearcats haven't played Bowling Green since Rick Minter's first coach year in 1994. The Falcons shut out UC 38-0 that night. Northwestern State last visited Nippert in Tommy Tuberville's first season in 2013 with UC prevailing 66-9. Fans hoping for a "Nipp at Night" experience will have to wait to see how the Big 12 season shakes out in terms of TV coverage. Last season, UC's only Nippert Stadium night game was the season finale 20-13 loss in the snow to TCU. Cincinnati Bearcats mascot leads the student section in a cheer in the second quarter of the game between UC and the Pittsburgh Panthers at Nippert Stadium last Sept. 7. UC's non-conference home kickoff times for 2025 were announced May 29. UC football season starts in Kansas City Before the Bearcats return to Nippert Stadium, they'll be at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium against Nebraska at 9 p.m. (Eastern) on ESPN. It will be a Thursday night primetime showdown between the Big 12 and Big 10. Military planes flyover as fireworks are fired before the first quarter during the AFC championship NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. UC is technically the home team in Kansas City even though Nebraska is considerably closer and will likely scoop up tickets. Either way, the Bearcats are slated to receive 75% of ticket sales with capacity at Arrowhead being 76, 416. Advertisement The game was brokered by an Arrowhead group who persuaded UC to move the game from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, paying the buyout fee. UC Chief Financial Officer and Senior Associate Athletic Director John Daniel said last fall the move allowed UC Athletics to essentially double their money with the financial move. And, UC will stay have seven home football games. Tickets for the Cincinnati Bearcats and Nebraska Cornhuskers in Kansas City can be purchased at For the rest of UC's schedule at Nippert Stadium go to This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Here are kickoff times for Cincinnati Bearcats non-conference games
