MBSG all set to sign Tekcham Abhishek Singh on a massive transfer fee!
Mohun Bagan Super Giants are all set to complete the blockbuster signing of Tekcham Abhishek Singh from Punjab FC, beating arch-rivals East Bengal and FC Goa to the dynamic full-back’s signature. According to Khel.com the total value of the deal is expected to exceed Rs. 8.1 crore, making it one of the most significant domestic transfers in Indian football. “Mohun Bagan will pay approximately ₹1.8 crore to Punjab FC. Over three years, Tekcham Abhishek Singh will earn an average of ₹2.1 crore per season for the first three seasons. The total deal value of this transfer exceeds ₹8.1 crore, excluding bonuses,” revealed the portal from a source on condition of anonymity. Singh made his India national team debut in March 2024 under Manolo Marquez in a friendly against the Maldives. Tekcham Abhishek Singh made his debut for Punjab FC in the I-League 2022-23. The Manipur-born defender became a mainstay in the club’s backline during their debut ISL season. In the 2024–25 campaign, he clocked 1,958 minutes under his belt in the ISL catching the attention of Indian national team head coach Manolo Marquez and interest from top clubs in the country. Kerala Blasters were the first ISL club to spot Singh’s potential while he was with Punjab’s reserve team. Despite early interest and significant offers, Punjab FC retained him at the time. With just one year left on his contract heading into the 2025 summer window, Punjab FC tried to extend his deal, but negotiations were turned down by Singh and his representatives, paving the way for a transfer. East Bengal made the first official move following the 2024–25 season with a bidding of Rs. 1.3 crore, That was rejected. MBSG offered Rs 1.5 crore as the transfer fee but that was also turned down. FC Goa joined the race but chose not to escalate the bidding. Eventually, both East Bengal and FC Goa pulled out due to the high transfer fee and increasing salary demands.
India face Kuwait, Australia, and Mongolia in the Futsal Asian Cup 2016 qualifiers
India has been placed in Group A of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia 2026 qualifiers, alongside hosts Kuwait, Australia, and Mongolia. The draw took place at the AFC House on Thursday. For the first time, the draw was conducted according to FIFA Futsal rankings, with 31 teams divided into eight groups—seven groups of four teams each and one group with three teams. The eight group winners and the seven best-ranked runners-up from the qualifiers will join hosts Indonesia in the 18th edition of the finals, scheduled from 27th January to 7th February. Ranked 135th globally, India is participating in their second qualification campaign for the AFC Futsal Asian Cup. They previously lost all three of their qualifying matches in 2023. India’s Group-A opponents—Kuwait, Australia, and Mongolia—are ranked 40th, 52nd, and 112th, respectively, in the FIFA rankings. The qualifiers will be held from September 20 to 24 in Kuwait City. Top seeds Thailand will face Korea Republic, Bahrain, and Brunei Darussalam in Group B. Four-time champions Japan lead Group C, which includes hosts Tajikistan, Macau, and Cambodia. Group D will see Iraq, hosts Saudi Arabia, Chinese Taipei, and Pakistan competing for the top spot.
‘Anger makes Messi more dangerous’: Mascherano
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano believes Lionel Messi could channel his emotions into a standout performance against his former club Paris St. Germain (PSG) in Sunday’s Club World Cup last-16 clash. He opined the Argentine can transcend when he has a point to prove. Messi, who joined PSG in 2021 after leaving Barcelona, spent two seasons in France, winning two Ligue 1 titles but failing to secure a Champions League trophy. His spell at the club was marked by a strained relationship with their fans, with Messi later admitting he had been “unhappy” in Paris. “For us, it will be better if Messi remembers his days with PSG,” Mascherano told ESPN. “He is one of those players who, when he has something stuck in his mind, gives a little extra.” Mascherano was part of Barcelona’s famous 6-1 comeback win over PSG in the 2017 Champions League last-16 when the Catalan side, which had lost the first leg 4-0 in Paris, was coached by PSG’s current boss Luis Enrique. Several Miami players took part in that epic encounter, with Jordi Alba staying on the bench, but Messi, Luis Suarez, and Sergio Busquets all starting. Discussing the reunion with Luis Enrique, Mascherano said, “Luis Enrique is my friend, beyond having had him as a coach for three years. “We have a very beautiful relationship. It will be an honor to face one of the best coaches I had in my career.”
For the first time, AICF launches Top National Players’ Stipend Scheme
The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has launched the Top National Players’ Stipend Scheme (TNPSS) which saw the national chess federation disburse stipends to deserving Indian players ranging from Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 1,50,000 per player. In all, the federation disbursed a total of Rs. 42,30,000 to deserving players across the Under 7 to Under 19 categories, both open and girls, based on their stellar performances in last year’s nationals. The AICF said that the TNPSS boasts an ambitious budgetary outlay of Rs. 6,15,60,000. A total of 42 top-ranked players, based on their last year’s performances at the national level, are the first beneficiaries of this scheme, representing the pinnacle of talent across the U-7, U-9, U-11, U-13, U-15, U-17, and U-19 age categories. The stipends are for the quarter ranging from the months of April to June of the current financial year. “For too long, financial constraints have cast a shadow over the aspirations of our chess players. The demands of travel, training, and international competition often force players to abandon their passion which is a profound loss for our nation,” AICF President Nitin Narang said in a statement while explaining the idea behind TNPSS. “TNPSS is our definitive answer to these challenges, a bold stride towards a player-centric policy that empowers our youth to focus solely on honing their skills and conquering the chessboard,” He added. “For the first time in our history, we are directly investing in the future of our ‘golden girls and boys’, providing them with the sustained financial bedrock they need to transform their talent into triumph. This is more than a token; it’s a demonstration of our profound support and a catalyst for their dreams,” Narang added. “One of the key objectives is to increase the importance of national tournaments, as they are the foundation for building a strong chess ecosystem in Bharat. It is at the nationals where we can identify and nurture talent,” concluded AICF president.
Barreto expects his son will also play in India in future
Jose Ramirez Barreto has an expectation that his son, John, will also play in India in the future. Now, the Brazilian striker’s son is 16 years old. While speaking to Parallel Sports, Barreto revealed, “He is playing at an academy in Porto Alegre. Now he is 16. He needs a couple of years more to gain the maturity to compete in club-level football in India. But, it will be my pleasure if he also decides to come to India and finds a place at Mohun Bagan.” Significantly, John also plays in an attacking position, as a winger The former Mohun Bagan footballer however when asked about the senior national team’s ongoing disaster, explained, “I feel the national team should take part in more preparatory matches. The number of matches should be enough and the opposition teams should be competitive. Otherwise, you cannot fight against the stronger teams at the international level.” At the same time, the Brazilian striker who worked as a coach at the Reliance Foundation Young Champs also mentioned saying, “The scouting and selection process of the senior national team should be accurate. I can say that there are several potential footballers, even in the Second Division I-League, who deserve a place alongside the probables in the preparatory camp. But are they scouted properly?” Barreto also did not sound positive on the issue that corporate bosses like Sanjiv Goenka, should be the ideal personalities who could salvage the pride of Indian football, sitting at the helm of affairs in the All India Football Federation (AIFF). “Sanjiv Goenka can be called the most successful franchise owner in ISL.” He continued, “The recent result of Mohun Bagan Super Giants is its reflection. But I believe running Indian football compared to running a club has a huge difference and corporate bosses like Goenka may not be successful there. You can run a franchise investing a lot of money but only investment will not help Indian football to develop,” concluded Barreto.
