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New Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
AIFF rejects Odisha FC licence, club & govt play blame game
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha FC, state's only professional Indian Super League (ISL) club, suffered a body blow after the AIFF refused to grant licence to it on Thursday. The Club Licensing Committee of AIFF concluded the evaluation process for the Premier 1 Licence for the 2025–26 season. The national body rejected the licence of Odisha FC due to multiple failures across A and B criteria. Odisha FC had a terrible Kalinga Super Cup 2025 season and faced relegation from the Indian Women's League (IWL) too. It was the runners-up in 2023-2024 but finished seventh this season. Odisha FC owner Rohan Sharma took to X to express his anguish over what he called lack of Odisha government support. 'I was aware that we were going to fail club licensing this season, Unfortunately, we have no letter from the Government granting us access to the stadium and practice ground this season,' his post stated. Sharma further said, 'Despite multiple requests both in person and letters to have a meeting to discuss the MoU, no one from the government has acknowledged or granted a meeting. I have personally went (sic) to Delhi to speak to very senior ministers to get this resolved... still nothing.' 'It feels like the government doesn't want us in Odisha which is quite sad. We have tried to be as polite and respectful to build is this perceived notion we are Pro-BJD when in reality we are so uninvolved in Indian politics. I'm an American citizen, our business is in Dubai we just have a football club in India that we are investing,' Sharma's X post stated. State Sports department sources said Odisha FC performed miserably in Kalinga Super Cup and the IWL season. To deflect criticism, the club was putting the blame on Odisha government, they said. 'Several meetings were held between Sports department and Odisha FC management for development of football ecosystem in Odisha. For the signing of MoU, the date of October 22, 2024 was fixed, but the Odisha FC management did not turn up,' department sources claimed. More than Rs 50 crore in support and all facilities were given to the club, a senior officer said adding, return on investment (ROI) was negligible. 'Not even one Odia player featured in the team,' the officer said.
India Gazette
14-05-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
Diego Mauricio bids farewell to Odisha FC after four memorable seasons
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], May 14 (ANI): Indian Super League (ISL) side Odisha FC (OFC) announced on Tuesday the departure of Brazilian forward Diego Mauricio. The striker spent four seasons with the club across two separate stints, leaving behind a legacy of commitment and memorable performances in the Odisha FC jersey, as per the official website of ISL. He featured in 86 ISL matches, scoring 44 goals and contributing 13 assists. Across all competitions, he scored more than 50 goals in Odisha FC colours. Mauricio first joined the Kalinga Warriors in the 2020-21 season and made an immediate impact, scoring 12 goals and providing two assists in his debut campaign in Indian football. He returned for a second spell in 2022 and took his game to the next level. That season, he again netted 12 goals in the league along with four assists, winning the Golden Boot and helping Odisha FC qualify for the ISL playoffs for the first time in their history. The season turned even more historic when Mauricio led the line in Odisha FC's triumphant Kalinga Super Cup campaign -- the club's first major trophy. He scored five goals and set up two more en route to the title. 'We'll always remember the electrifying moments you created, the stunning goals that brought us to our feet, and the unwavering commitment you showed. You weren't just a player; you became a part of our community, and your presence will be deeply missed both on and off the field,' the club wrote in a heartfelt message on social media, as quoted from the official website of ISL. In the 2023-24 season, following their Super Cup triumph, Odisha FC made their debut in continental football and reached the AFC Cup Inter-Zonal semi-finals. Mauricio played a key role once again, scoring three goals and assisting three more. He remained a consistent goal threat, netting ten times in the 2023-24 ISL season and adding another nine goals in the recently concluded 2024-25 campaign. Mauricio's departure brings down the curtain on a memorable chapter defined by consistency, charisma, and goals that lit up Odisha FC's faithful. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
HT Kick Off: 'Super' FC Goa's deserved a trophy
Dejan Dražić dragged Ashutosh Mehta out of position and found Aakash Sangwan with a first-time flick. And with that deft touch, Dražić had carved open Jamshedpur FC leading to the first goal of the Kalinga Super Cup final. It was Carl McHugh who had set the move going and it was fitting that the industrious Irishman would then help Dražić score with a pass that cut through two lines. So dominant were FC Goa that a national trophy after four seasons and a return to Asia were never in doubt in the last top tier match of 2024-25. It happened with a squad FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez said comprised friends rather than teammates. In the comeback against Punjab FC, equalising two minutes from time and finding a winner, FC Goa showed the character needed to thrive in a knockout tournament. In the way Borja Herrera scored the final's second, they showed class. This was hardly how a cup competition should be conducted but about this there was no doubt: FC Goa were the best team in it. FC Goa were less than two minutes from forcing extra-time in the ISL semi-final which, ironically, did not go that far because Dražić, who was otherwise superb that night against Bengaluru FC, played back when he could have done the opposite. Mohun Bagan Super Giant were an irresistible force – for them money is never a problem because of Mr Goenka, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said, speaking as a guest at an East Bengal event – but with significantly less resource, FC Goa finished second 10 points ahead of the rest. ISL's numbers are skewed because Mohun Bagan and East Bengal arrived late and teams have wound up or relocated but that FC Goa have made the most play-offs (8 in 11 editions) and scored the most goals show they have been doing something right. Actually, they have been doing a lot of things right. Signing Zico, who didn't shirk from giving Indian players a run out, taking a punt on Anwar Ali even if it meant training people to use defibrillators, running Little Gaurs League where 1225 matches across age-groups from under-6 to under-16 for boys and girls were played this time (that ended with a Super Cup as well, one day after the final in Bhubaneswar), and starting an award in honour of Ferran Corominas, FC Goa's growth as an institution has been one of ISL's success stories. But, for me, the biggest success story is FC Goa's investment in youth. Their development team have won the Goa Professional League and the Goa Police Cup. Brison Fernandes, adjudged Emerging Player of 2024-25 in ISL and by AIFF, joined the club's under-16 squad in 2016 worked his way through age-specific sides and the development team, played in the state league, the Police Cup and is now an international. Muhammed Nemil is another young player in whom FC Goa invested, signing him from the Reliance Foundation Young Champs on a long-term deal and then sending him to Spain to train. This term, Prachit Gaonkar became the first FC Goa player to have played for all their youth teams (under-13, under-15, under-17, under-19) and the development squad before making his ISL debut. It is a story similar to Vinith Venkatesh at Bengaluru FC and appropriate for a club that made stars out of local players Mandar Rao Dessai and Romeo Fernandes. Appropriate also for a state, which according to Goa Football Association (GFA) president Caitano Fernandes, has 6800 registered players excluding those who play inter-village and other private tournaments. GFA organised 1400 matches this season, Fernandes has said in a letter to AIFF seeking clarification on how the federation rewarded state associations for promoting the game this season. Given the massive financial stress running a football team in India is, it is understandable that youth development would be given the short shrift. Finding players through trials just before an age-specific I-League is the usual route for most clubs. Especially because there simply aren't enough games available to justify building a team for the season. That is what makes FC Goa's attempt to create an organic pathway for player development commendable. It helps you understand why Marquez, the club's most successful coach ever with 37 wins in 61 matches over two seasons, says that in terms of organisation, FC Goa is the best club in India. And why he could leave the India job for another season or two at FC Goa.
Hindustan Times
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Will Manolo Marquez stay with FC Goa, quit as India head coach?
Kolkata: When they lifted him in the air in pouring rain in Bhubaneswar, it felt like FC Goa were giving Manolo Marquez a fitting farewell. The Indian football season had ended with the Kalinga Super Cup final on Saturday meaning the Spaniard no longer had the dual responsibility of coaching club and country. Marquez, 56, is supposed to be in charge of only the India senior men's national team from June 1. It is not clear for how long though. His contract with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is till May 31, 2026, with provision for a one-year extension. But football officials are not sure he will see out the contract. 'I prefer not to speak before the Hong Kong tie,' said Marquez in a WhatsApp message to HT on Monday. AIFF said Marquez has not spoken about stepping down. After FC Goa beat Jamshedpur FC 3-0 in the Super Cup final, former AIFF secretary-general Shaji Prabhakaran, while congratulating the winners on X, ended his post saying: 'Will Manolo sign an extension with FC Goa?' The question about Marquez's future with the India team gathered momentum after the 0-0 draw against Bangladesh in Shillong on March 25, officials told HT. Visibly upset at the post-match media conference, Marquez had described the performance as 'very, very poor'. 'Let's say that was the tipping point,' said an ISL club official. 'I can tell you he is not going to stay,' said the president of a state association. 'He will renew with FC Goa. They have paused their search for a coach,' said an official with another state association. None of the three wanted to be named given the sensitive nature of the issue. All of them said Marquez was not happy. The club official spoke of a tiff with team staff in Shillong over logistics. The state association official, who said Marquez was not keen on staying, mentioned 'the stress of phone calls regarding team selection.' At the press conference following the final in Bhubaneswar, Marquez was asked to comment on the improvement in Indian players. He said: 'In Spain, in the 1970s and 80s, only Spanish players played in the cup tournament. I would like one cup with only Indian players. I spoke about it but they (AIFF) did completely the opposite.' At that press conference, Marquez also said FC Goa were 'the best club in India in terms of organisation' and that it had been a 'dream to train a team like this'. Asked about FC Goa playing in Asia – they are eligible for the 2025-26 Asian Champions League qualifier and, if they cannot make the main round, the AFC Challenge League – he said: 'Continuity is very, very important…. To destroy this group would be a big mistake.' Having been part of the national team for nearly one year, Marquez has also told people close to him that he preferred the daily excitement that working at a club provides, said the club official. The officials quoted above said Marquez could step down this year, maybe even after the June 10 qualifier against Hong Kong. There is no FIFA window till September and India's next Asian Cup qualifier after that is against Singapore on October 9, so it will give AIFF time to get a replacement, the officials said speaking separately. 'I have not heard anything about this,' AIFF deputy secretary-general Satyanarayan M said over the phone from New Delhi on Monday when asked if Marquez could leave. 'We have not had any discussion on this. We are focusing on the June 10th game against Hong Kong and the friendly against Thailand in the lead-up to that match.' Satyanarayan, who is in charge of the national teams, said a preparatory camp under Marquez will start in Kolkata on May 18. Asked about Marquez being unhappy with how things were with the national team, Satyanarayan said: 'He is supposed to file a report on the camp and the match in Shillong.' FC Goa CEO Ravi Puskur said: 'Marquez has a contract only with the national team from June 1, 2025. And unless that contract is not active, our understanding is that he is not available.' Speaking over the phone from Goa on Monday, Puskur also said if Marquez was available, 'only a fool in this country would turn down the chance to have him as coach.' Marquez's contract with AIFF is worth approximately $407,000 (approx ₹3.7 crore now) but should he leave, it would be the second time in his career that he would be walking away from a top job. As Las Palmas head coach in La Liga in 2017-18 replacing Quique Setién (then at Real Betis, he would go on to head Barcelona and Villarreal) Marquez quit after six matches though his contract was for the season. This, when the rule in Spain was that he would not be allowed to coach in the country that season.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Jamil looks to the future as wait for second trophy continues
Bhubaneswar: A few days back he was on the stage collecting his award as AIFF's Men's Coach of the Year with a quiet appearance and quick departure to join his wards at the team hotel, on the eve of their crucial Kalinga Super Cup summit clash. And on Saturday, Khalid Jamil came to the press conference alone, following Jamshedpur FC 's 0-3 thrashing at the hands of champions FC Goa , giving his disappointed players a break and taking the responsibility for the defeat on himself, in the inimitable style that the 48-year-old has come to be known for. "Everyone of us was desperate to win this tournament and all of them are very sad right now. But I told them that everyone tried. We'll have to bounce back from this disappointment. But I don't have any doubt in the commitment from the players," Khalid said at the media interaction. It was also a frustrating end to Jamil's wait for his second trophy as a coach, having guided Aizawl FC to the historic I-League title in 2017. But even his counterpart in the final, Manolo Marquez, was quick to point out Jamil's stature as an Indian coach and the impossible things that he has achieved in his coaching journey so far. "The results are there for all to see. I don't even need to speak. He (Jamil) was champion with Aizawl in I-League. He played the ISL playoff with Northeast United. He played the playoff this season with Jamshedpur," explained the now full-time Indian national coach, whose FC Goa were beaten in both legs of ISL by Jamshedpur this season. "He has worked with teams that don't have too much and are without much budget. People can talk about liking or not liking his style of football. But the results are there at this moment. In terms of results, he is the best Indian coach, without any doubt," reiterated the former Goa coach. Breaking from his usual tactic of playing a lone striker, Jamil started Saturday's final with a 4-4-2 formation — with Jordan Murray joining Javier Siverio upfront and Javi Hernandez dropping a bit behind. He also gave Jamshedpur local boy Nikhil Barla a start and he did his job down the right flank. However, Borja Herrera's opener changed the tone of the summit clash. "That's why we substituted (at change of ends) and used Imran (Khan) and (Mohammed) Sanan for more crosses. Not just high crosses, but low crosses. Unfortunately, they scored the second goal from a lovely shot from Borja. And then the third goal from the counter," Jamil explained his tactics throughout the 90 minutes. "But we needed to be clinical. And today, you can say that it was not our day." However, the most decorated Indian coach in the country is not ready to cry over spilt milk and is already looking to find the best mix of players for the upcoming season. "Now, we must think about the next season. Which players should we keep, and who needs to be released. This is how we can rectify the mistakes of this season and build a good solid team for the next," the coach of the year signed off.
