A dream start for PIFA in the I league 2nd division 2013

PIFA Sports FC made a dream start at the I league 2nd division football tournament organised by AIFF in Indore from 9 March 2013 onward.

The team won both its first 2 games to pick up 6 points and top the group B table. 

The group boasts of top teams from various city/states - Aizwal FC (Mizoram), Aryan Club (Kolkata), Bhowanipore Club (Kolkata), Green Valley SC (Guwahati), Josco FC (Kerala), Mohammedan Sporting Club (Kolkata), Royal Wahingdoh FC (Shillong) and Simla Youngs FC (Delhi).

PIFA Sports FC beat Simla Youngs 3-2 (Kevin, Sushil, Ketan) and beat Green Valley 2-1. (Emmanuel, Kevin)

PIFA SPORTS FC 

Goalkeepers
James Swamy, Neeraj Sharma

Field Players
Shabbir Ali, Aavesh Shaikh, Nihal Chandran,  Kunal K, Jacky Khaidem, Varin Mehta, Nagesh Swamy, Dashyanng Kachru, Akash Jain, Tushar Poojary, Priyo Kumar, Ravindra Tamatta, Ketan Kalgutkar, Neel Shah, Clifford Garette, Sushil Kawade, Kevin Patrick, Titus Uttankar, Vincent Asuquo (Nigeria), James Phiri (Zimbabwe), Emmanuel Okoye (Nigeria)

Officials
Faruk Ahmed (Coach), Nirvan Shah (CEO & Technical Director), Manish Dhabliya (Physio), Sudhakar Rane (Manager), Tejesh Sharma (Assistant Manager)

PIFA Sport FC, earlier known as PIFA Colaba FC, will be playing for the third time in the 2nd Division I-League. The team is being coached by UEFA A licensed coach Faruk Ahmed.

PIFA Colaba U-19 Runner Up of the BFRA FairPlay Tournament.

The annual BFRA Fairplay tournament was organised on the 26th of January at the St. Xaviers ground Parel. The 9 a-side tournament which is held annually on the Republic Day is an excellent opportunity for youngsters to showcase their talent and the PIFA Colaba FC U-19 team did just that. The team showed excellent character throughout the tournament which is a feature of all PIFA teams. The all day tournament was a real test of the strength and resolve of the boys as the team comprised of young and promising footballers of the future.


The first game saw PIFA up against the big guns; Air India U-19. The boys gave their best and won the game 3-4 in a dramatic penalty shootout. PIFA goalkeeper Pritam Jadhav pulled some excellent saves to help the team progress to the next round. The second game was against 'Mumbai Muslims' which PIFA won comfortably by 2 goals to nil. This result saw PIFA Colaba U-19 progress to the semi finals. The semi final was a close call with the game ending up with the game ending up 1-0. PIFA Colaba U-19 was through to the 2nd consecutive final of the BFRA Fairplay tournament.

PIFA faced 'Intellinet' in the finals. Unfortunately the PIFA Colaba U-19 boys lost by a seldom goal. To be fair to the U-19 team, the final was immediately after the semi final giving the boys very little time to recoup from the hard fought semi final.

It was a great result for a very young side that brought the 'BFRA Fairplay Runner-up trophy' back to PIFA. There were a lot of individual laurels by PIFA players as Pritam Jadhav bagged the "Best Goalkeeper Trophy' and Noel Rodrigues won the 'Upcoming Player' award. This young PIFA side has a lot of potential and a long way to go

PIFA Colaba FC to play AIFF i league 2nd division 2012

23 teams have been selected to play in AIFF's 2nd division of the I-League, which will start in the first week of February 2012. 23 teams divided into three groups. The matches will be played in Cuttack (Odhisa), New Delhi and Silchar (Assam)


Two teams from each group will qualify for the final rounds. The venue for the final round will be decided later.



Top two teams from final rounds will play in the I-League 2012-13 season.


Group 1 : Venue: Silchar, Assam


Teams: Green Valley SC (Guwahati), Eagles FC (Kochi), Southern Samity (Kolkata), Bhowanipore Club (Kolkata), United Sikkim FC (Gangtok), Ar-Hima FC (Shillong), Aizawl FC (Mizoram)


Group 2 : Venue: Cuttack, Orissa


Teams: Royal Wahingdoh SC (Shillong), Sesa Football Academy (Goa), Quartz SC (Kozhikode), Kalighat Milan Sangha (Kolkata), Techno Aryan Club (Kolkata), Guwahati Town Club (Assam), Kenkre FC (Mumbai), Samaleshwari FC (Orissa)


Group 3 : Venue: Delhi


Teams: Mohammedan Sporting Club (Kolkata), Vasco SC (Goa), Golden Threads FC (Kerala), Luangmual FC (Mizoram), Simla Youngs FC (Delhi), Langsning FC (Shillong), PIFA-Colaba FC (Mumbai), KGF Academy (Bangalore)


PIFA Colaba FC match schedule For 2nd division at Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi
1 Feb - Vasco SC
5 Feb - Golden Threads
8 Feb - Luangmual FC
10 Feb - Simla Youngs FC
14 Feb - Langsing FC
16 Feb - KGF Academy
20 Feb - Mohammedan SC

A Football tournament to save Colaba back garden.

Aadhar Pratisthan organised a children’s football tournament to help save the Colaba backgarden from redevelopment.

The Colaba backgarden has been the hub for South Mumbai and Indian football, it has produced top Club, National & International football players like International player Mr Bandya Kakade to the recent youth International player Harshad Meher, it is also home to FIFA referee Walter Pereira .

The garden is a grass root training facility for schools such as Campion, St Annes, Fort Convent, Holy Name, Scholar, Colaba Municipal School as well as  some clubs  the famous one being PIFA Colaba FC. It is place for children to come together, socialise and enjoy their play time in a safe and healthy environment.

The Colaba Junior Football Championship tournament which was supported by PIFA Colaba FC had over 1000 children either to participate or watch these 32 matches. Thirty two teams had registered for the 9 a side knock out format tournament. The sole purpose of this tournament was to bring about awareness of the potential threat of plans to build a swimming pool and parking lot in the only public football garden in Colaba area.

The final match was played between PIFA Colaba FC and Oscar Foundation had dignitaries such as Mr Bandiya Kakade, Mr Souter Vaz (WIFA – Hon Sec), Mr Surinder Karkera (Founder of Bipin Memorial), Mr Akhil Ansari, Mr Faroukh Ahmed, Arshad Hussain and Shabbirbhai all football personalities.

PIFA Colaba FC won the tournament beating Oscar Foundation 2-0. Campion lifted the third place.

Pratamesh Kasare from PIFA Colaba team was adjudged the Best Player of the tournament, he won a cycle. The other winners were Rahul Pandey – Best Defender, Akash Jadhav – Best Striker, Arjun Mehra – Best Midfielder, Virdhan Chavan – best Goal Keeper, all of them won a mobile phone.

Mr Krishan Pawle, President of Aadhar Pratistan and the organiser of the Colaba Junior Football Championship 2011 had this to say “The Colaba back garden is a community football centre for developing and nurturing young football players, many of them go onto play for the state and country and many make a livelihood playing for clubs.  It is the only public football ground in the Colaba area, we have to save the Colaba back garden”

PIFA Colaba FC outplay Central Railway in the Elite Mumbai league

Premier India Football Academy’s flagship team PIFA Colaba FC playing in the top most league in the Mumbai District Football Association namely the Elite Division make a fantastic start to the season 2010-2011.

PIFA Colaba FC coached by PIFA director Nirvan Shah (UEFA) made an impressive start in an Elite division league organised by the Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA).

The team set up in 2006 started off in the Senior Division earned promotion to Super Division in very first season, the following season it once again earned promotion from Super Division 2007 to Elite Division 2008. Since then the team has remained comfortably in the top most MDFA League.

Even thought the team is struggling to find a team sponsor , this low budget team has been able to beat three established football teams of Mumbai.

In the first outing, the team took on the bankers – Union Bank of India and handsomely brushed them a side with a 2-1 margin both goals were scored before half time. The goal scorers were Nasar Syed & Sam Cruz. The team conceded a goal in the dying minutes of the game.

The second game, the team was unfortunate to concede a goal in the very last minute of the game to Akbar Travels of India. (0-1)

The third match was played against Rashtriya Fertilizers & Chemical team (RCF) an easy outing the first goal was scored by George Udu just before half time and the 2^nd was scored by Sam Cruz immediately after half time. The team once again concede in the 87^th minute.

In the last match PIFA Colaba FC completely outplayed Central Railways (2-1) scoring 2 goals within 10 minutes after kick off. Goals were scored by by Souvaid Ansari & George Udu. The team had several opportunities to score. The team concede a goal just a minute before half time.

PIFA Colaba FC has 9 points from 4 games and is currently in 2^nd position. Mumbai FC is also on 9 points but is on top due to a better goal difference. The team hopes to play the Maha League organised by WIFA as well as the I league (2^nd Div) play offs organised by AIFF