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News18
2 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Mumbai City Pay Tribute To Departing Bipin Singh With Heartfelt Gesture
Last Updated: Mumbai City, winners of the 2023-24 Indian Super League, retire Bipin Singh Thounaojam's jersey number 29 as he departs after seven years. Mumbai City, winners of the 2023-24 Indian Super League, have decided to retire Bipin Singh Thounaojam's jersey number 29, as the winger departs the club after seven long years with the team. His contract expires on Saturday, May 31, and the club decided to honour his immense contribution. Bipin joined Mumbai City in 2018 after stints with Shillong Lajong and Atletico de Kolkata and went on to become one of the most important figures in the team's history. During his time with the club, Bipin won two ISL Cups and two ISL Shields, playing a crucial role for the team over the years gone by. 2️⃣9️⃣ ???????????????????????????? 🙌To honour his contributions and carrying forward his legacy, #MumbaiCity will retire his jersey number, '29", as a mark of respect for a true legend of the club 👏 #VivaBipinSingh #AamchiCity 🔵 — Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) May 31, 2025 Bipin was a key member of Mumbai City's historic 2020-21 campaign, where they became the first team to win both the Indian Super League Cup and Shield in the same season. Bipin's brilliant match-winning goal in the final against ATK Mohun Bagan remains one of the most memorable moments in Indian Super League history. He bagged his second Indian Super League Cup in the 2023-24 season, making a decisive impact in the final with a brilliant goal, having been part of the team that bagged the League Shield in 2022-23 as well. With 158 appearances and 28 goals, Bipin departs as the most capped player in the team's history. 'Bipin has been a pillar of our squad through the most historic moments in the club's timeline. He complemented this and his key goal contributions over the years with his positive team persona on and off the pitch," said Sujay Sharma, Director of Football, Mumbai City. According to reports, East Bengal has completed the signing of Bipin on a multi-year contract ahead of the 2025-26 season.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Mumbai City to retire Jersey No. 29 to honour departing Bipin Singh
Mumbai City will retire jersey number 29 in honour of Bipin Singh, who will leave the Indian Super League club when his contract expires on Saturday, the club announced. With 158 appearances and 28 goals, Bipin departs as the most capped player in Mumbai City history. The winger is set to join East Bengal ahead of the next season, as reported by Sportstar. 'It's hard to say goodbye, but I leave with nothing but gratitude in my heart,' Bipin said. 'Mumbai City has been my home for seven unforgettable years. This club has given me everything. To the fans, teammates, staff, and everyone who's been part of this journey, thank you for the love and belief. Mumbai City will always be a part of me.' The winger from Manipur joined the Islanders in 2018 after stints with Shillong Lajong and Atletico de Kolkata. During his time with Mumbai City, he won two Indian Super League Cups and two ISL Shields. Bipin played a crucial role in the club's historic 2020-21 season, when Mumbai became the first team to win both the ISL Cup and Shield in the same year. He also scored the match-winning goal in the final against ATK Mohun Bagan. He secured his second ISL Cup in the 2023-24 season, scoring the team's second goal in the final. He was also part of the squad that claimed the League Shield in 2022-23.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
Indian team call-up a proud moment for me and my family: Nikhil Prabhu
Nikhil shared his journey, experiences, and thoughts ahead of joining the camp with Business Standard, and he looks forward to transferring his decent form from the Indian Super League. Shashwat Nishant New Delhi Punjab FC midfielder Nikhil Prabhu was recently called up to the Indian national football team for the first time as India will be taking on Thailand in a friendly and Hong Kong in the AFC Asian cup qualifier on June 4 and 10 respectively. Nikhil shared his journey, experiences, and thoughts ahead of joining the camp with Business Standard as he looks forward to transfer his decent form in the Indian Super League onto the national scenario. Here are the excerpts from his conversation: Nikhil: I was in Bali when I got the news. I immediately called my parents and sister, this was a dream not just for me, but for my whole family. They always told me hard work pays off, and this call-up was a great moment of joy for us all. It's been about patience and perseverance. Q: You started as a central defender and transitioned to a defensive midfielder. How was that change for you? Nikhil: Initially, it was challenging because I hadn't played as a midfielder before. Coaches like Panos and Staikos supported me, helping me understand my new role, focusing mainly on defense and guiding the team from the middle. It involved more running and responsibilities, but I embraced it since I love leading and taking on challenges. Q: How do you plan to carry your form from Punjab FC to the international stage? Nikhil: I have worked closely with coach Manolo for over a year. He has been very supportive, communicating clearly about how I can improve as a CDM. It's motivating to have him as the national coach now. Representing the country is a huge responsibility but also a dream come true. Q: How was your season with Punjab FC? Nikhil: It was full of ups and downs, but overall a good season. Sometimes we lacked a bit of luck, conceding goals quickly. Still, we showed great performance, especially in the Super Cup until the last moments. Q: Have you met your national teammates yet? Nikhil: The camp starts on June 18, so I haven't met them yet. But I've received congratulatory messages from senior players like Nikhil Pujari and Rahul Bheke, which was encouraging. Q: Are you prepared for any initiation rituals in the national camp? Nikhil: I haven't prepared anything yet. It will be a special moment just wearing the national jersey and playing alongside legends like Sunil Chhetri. I look forward to supporting my teammates. Q: You're known for your intensity on the field. What are you like off the field? Nikhil: Off the field, I'm calm and kind. I'm always willing to help others and believe in fairness. If someone deserves recognition more than me, I'm happy to give it to them. Q: If you weren't a footballer, what else might you have pursued? Nikhil: Growing up in a sports-friendly community, I played various sports like swimming and table tennis. If not football, maybe I would have explored another sport, but football has always been my passion. Q: Do you have any pre-match superstitions? Nikhil: Before every match, I speak with my parents. That conversation pumps me up and fuels my aggression on the field, which is crucial for my role as a defensive midfielder.
NDTV
5 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Suhail Ahmad Bhat Earns India Call-Up For Thailand Friendly, Anwar Ali Returns
Suhail Ahmad Bhat on Wednesday became the latest footballer from Jammu and Kashmir to earn an India call-up as head coach Manolo Marquez announced a 28-member squad for an international friendly against Thailand on June 4. The fixture in Thailand is part of India's preparations for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round, where the Blue Tigers will face Hong Kong on June 10 in Kowloon City. The 20-year-old central forward, who hails from the Bemnia region of Srinagar, was a key figure in Mohun Bagan Super Giant's triumphant Indian Super League campaign last season and is seen as a promising attacking talent. The squad announcement also marks the return of East Bengal's dependable central defender Anwar Ali, who had been sidelined since February due to a hamstring injury. He last featured in competitive action against Bengaluru FC in the ISL. The squad, which includes talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri, who came out of retirement in March to bolster a struggling side, had been camping in Kolkata for the past 10 days. In Kolkata, Marquez's men underwent six full days of training, with gym sessions in the mornings and on-pitch training in the evenings. The Blue Tigers played two practice matches on May 26 and 27. On Monday, they won 2-1 against Santosh Trophy champions Bengal, with Brandon Fernandes and Ashique Kuruniyan finding the net. They registered a 3-0 victory over North 24 Parganas as Chhetri, Chinglensana Singh Konsham and Udanta Singh Kumam scored the goals on Tuesday. India are placed in Group C of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Final Round Qualifiers alongside Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The group stage will follow a home-and-away round-robin format. "All 28 players participating in the ongoing camp in Kolkata will travel to Thailand for the FIFA friendly against the hosts, scheduled for June 4," the All India Football Federation said in a release on Wednesday. Before Suhail, midfielder Danish Farooq was the most recent Kashmiri to play for India, featuring in two friendlies against Bahrain and Belarus under Igor Stimac in 2022. Mehrajuddin Wadoo remains one of the most prominent names from the Valley, having earned 31 caps between 2005 and 2011. Wadoo, hailing from Srinagar's Rainawari area, famously scored the winning goal against Bangladesh in the 2005 SAFF Cup final in Karachi. He was also part of India's victorious campaigns in the 2007 and 2009 Nehru Cup and the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup. Before Wadoo, Mushir Ahmed represented India as a defender. He made his debut on April 9, 1985, against Thailand in a Pre-World Cup match in Kolkata. He played nine matches for the national team and was known for his solid presence at the back. Abdul Majid was one of the earliest footballers from Jammu and Kashmir to represent India. He made his debut on August 26, 1983, against China in the President's Gold Cup in Dhaka. He played 33 matches for the country, captaining the team in three of them and scoring one goal. Majid was a dependable defender and a respected leader on the field. India had a lacklustre showing at the AFC Asian Cup 2023, where they failed to earn a single point or score a goal in their group-stage matches against Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria. The current qualifying campaign also began on a shaky note, with a goalless draw against Bangladesh on March 25.
News18
5 days ago
- Sport
- News18
'Have Not Forgotten The Football That I Play': Akash Mishra Opens Up On Mental Demons During Rehab
Last Updated: Akash Mishra recounts the mental battles during rehab after undergoing ACL surgery during the last year, Mumbai City FC's help and his plans for the upcoming season. Akash Mishra was forced to the sidelines for over a year after injuring his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) during the 2023-24 Indian Super League (ISL) playoff in April. The Mumbai City FC defender underwent ACL surgery in May and then began his long and arduous journey to recovery. 'It was not easy," Akash told News18 in an exclusive interview, stressing the gruelling mental aspect post-surgery. 'The pain of surgery is not as difficult as the journey. You have to do the same thing again and again, and again. When you are done after the surgery, after one month, all you have to do is just some little exercise on the bed. You can't move anywhere. You can't do things on your own. To lie down on a bed for one month, do nothing, actually it's more difficult mentally." The 23-year-old was quick to thank Mumbai City FC and head coach Petr Kratky for helping him on his road to recovery. advetisement 'I got injured in the (ISL playoff) semi-final. We played the second leg, then we played the final. I was with them then even after the season got finished. The physio team was with me in Mumbai. I was there doing my rehab, because you need some kind of strength before the surgery. I came home for a month. I operated in Bombay and the team physio was there all the time with me. It was off-season, everybody wanted to go home. But the physio team cancelled their holidays and they were there with me in Bombay during my rehab. So yeah, I think without them it would have been more difficult," he said. 'I still remember when I after my injury, I texted our director (of football) Sujay Sharma saying that only one year gone and I'm injured. I'll be out for a whole season. I know there are lot of expectations even I also want to do more for the club. But then he texted me in a very nice way saying that, see, Akash, you are more important. And for us, you take how much time it requires, how much time it takes. We are never going to push you," Akash recalled. Akash revealed that he was with the club during his rehab over the last year, attending MCFC's home matches and seeing the team train, but coach assured him to take his time and recover well. 'After the final last year when I got injured, he told me that Akash, 'all these things happen' because he said that 'I've seen I've seen much more football than you'. So I know all these things happen and I know mentally you will be like, 'Oh no, I want to come back faster'," Akash said. Learning From Chhetri And Chhangte The left-back had moved to the Marina Arena just ahead of the 2023-24 season and has missed out on a season's action already. Asked what he intends to do differently, given the possibility of the injury recurring, he said, 'From my point of view, I'm doing everything. Since my ACL, I have become a more knowledgeable athlete. Before in the national team we used to listen to Sunil (Chhetri) bhai. Even in our club, of course, Lallianzuala Chhangte is an idol for everyone. We know Chhangte takes care of his body, how he what he eats, how he works out when he does all those things." Advertisement 'So since my injury, like I had a lot of time to reflect on myself, my body, my habits, which I could have changed before but I did not. Yes, I accept all those are my fault. But now I know what to eat, when to eat, when to sleep. I sleep early, I wake up early. So all those small things, I think they will improve me as a player and most important it will improve my body and I feel if my body is much better from what it was before. I hope, I don't get any injury," he added. Mumbai did not have an 'ideal' season after winning the ISL league shield or the ISL cup in the two previous seasons, scraping through to the knockouts after finishing sixth. Akash said it was 'tough to watch' from the outside. 'I know why fans are frustrated. When we started the season, there were so many new players coming in. I think we took time to adjust. How they say in football, sometimes it's unfair. I've seen all the players throughout the season, every match day -2 and match day -1, they were trying, they were pushing, they were motivating each other. But it's just that sometimes in football, you don't get the result that you want," he said. advetisement As for his plans for the upcoming season, Akash said: 'For me as an individual is to come back, start the pre-season from day one fully fit. And we as a team, of course, we just want to keep the last season in the past and start afresh. Even before leaving, we had team meetings. Everybody knows what we expect from the next season." No Monolo Quota Missing out on football has also meant others have taken his place in the national set-up, but with his old coach Manolo Marquez at the helm now, Akash is not looking that far ahead. 'There is no quota, like – Aakash Mishra is fit, let's bring him back – because personally I know coach Manolo. There is nothing like this. If I perform well, then only I'll get a call-up," he said. top videos View All 'But of course, as a former player, I want to do well and try to be back as soon as possible. To be honest, I have not forgotten the football that I play. But yes, because of one year's injury, things have changed." 'Even the football has gone a little ahead. But I keep watching all the games. I watch Indian football, I watch Premier League, I watch Champions League, I watch all the games. I try to analyse like what are the things that I can improve. And honestly, when I was watching Mumbai City play or even any other team play. I got I got more ideas that what all things I can do because if I put myself in that position, what should I? So I think all those things also will help me to improve my game once I'm back," he added. News18 Sports brings you the latest updates, live commentary, and highlights from cricket, football, tennis, badmintion, wwe and more. Catch breaking news, live scores, and in-depth coverage. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : ACL Akash Mishra indian football isl mcfc mumbai city fc Location : Kolkata, India, India First Published: May 28, 2025, 07:57 IST News sports » football EXCLUSIVE | 'Have Not Forgotten The Football That I Play': Akash Mishra Opens Up On Mental Demons During Rehab
