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Time of India
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
NEUFC eye winning start to their Durand campaign
The last edition earned them their first silverware. And the 134th edition of Durand Cup will see them take their first step towards title defence when NorthEast United FC face off against Malaysian Armed Forces FT to kick off their season at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Saturday. While the Malaysian Armed Forces will be their first opponents, NEUFC will also be facing their other Group E rivals in two Shillong clubs in Shillong Lajong FC and Rangdajied United FC in their next matches. After an unbeaten run in the previous edition, Juan Pedro Benali's men will be eager to replicate that feat, starting with a win against the visitors, who were thrashed 6-0 by Shillong Lajong in their opener. "The team has been working diligently over the past three weeks, and we hope we're well-prepared and focused for our opening match against the Malaysian Armed Forces," Benali said at the pre-match press conference in Shillong on Friday. "It's the first final we have to play if we want to defend our title." Alaaeddine Ajaraie, last season's ISL Golden Boot and Golden Ball winner, will once again be crucial to NEUFC's fortunes, along with last season's Durand Cup Player of the Tournament, Jithin MS. The trio of new Spanish recruits — Jairo Samperio, Chema Nunez and Andy Rodriguez — will add to Benali's options in attack and midfield. Golden Glove winner last time, Gurmeet Singh, will hope to start with a cleansheet aided by a defence led by captain Michel Zabaco and the likes of Asheer Akhtar, Tondonba Singh, Buanthanglun Samte, Robin Yadav, Dinesh Singh, Redeem Tlang and Bekey Oram adding to the depth in the backline. The rest will depend on Spaniard Benali's tactical acumen as NEUFC will look to script an even better season for the Highlanders' fans.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Alaaeddine to stay at NEUFC for another season
Kolkata: Twenty nine goals in 32 the jaw-dropping stats that Alaaeddine Ajaraie produced in his first-ever season with NorthEast United FC . And to the delight of the Highlanders supporters, the ISL Golden Boot winner has decided to stay on with NEUFC for the 2025-26 season."NorthEast United FC are delighted to announce that Alaaeddine Ajaraie, the 2024-25 Indian Super League (ISL) Golden Boot and the Golden Ball winner, will stay with the club for the 2025-26 season," NEUFC announced in a statement on Moroccan striker had joined the ISL club at the start of the 2024-25 campaign on a contract that included an option for a second year, "contingent upon meeting specific performance criteria"."Following a stellar debut season in Indian football, the Moroccan forward fulfilled those requirements, automatically activating the contract extension. Ajaraie was also keen to continue his journey with the club and had expressed his desire to stay on and build on the momentum throughout the season," the club added in the 32-year-old scored on his debut for NEUFC in a Durand Cup match against BSF and continued his form throughout the tournament — including a crucial goal, an assist and a strike in the penalty shoot-out against Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the played a pivotal role in winning NEUFC their first silverware with the Durand Cup and delivered a record-breaking 23 goals and seven assists in 25 matches that earned him the ISL Golden Ball and Golden Moroccan capped off the season with his first hat-trick for NEUFC during a dominant 6-0 win over Mohammedan SC in Kalinga Super Cup."I am happy here. NorthEast feels like home now. My teammates and the staff played a crucial role in my successful first season and I am confident we can achieve even more together next season. I am eager to continue this journey and win significant titles with this fantastic club," Ajaraie a lot of interest from various ISL clubs, Ajaraie's decision to continue his journey with NEUFC has also delighted head coach Juan Pedro Benali."We are absolutely thrilled that Alaaeddine will continue with us. His impact, both on the field with his fantastic performances and off it with his exemplary character and support for his teammates, has been immense. He's a true role model for our young players and we eagerly anticipate another successful season together," Benali added.
