Bino George likely to continue; wants to introduce a new potential batch for East Bengal this season
Bino George wants to introduce a new batch of potential young footballers for East Bengal this season. The experienced coach has plans to bring a new batch of potential footballers for the red-and-gold brigade this season for the development leagues. While speaking to Parallel Sports on Sunday, Bino explained, “When I joined East Bengal three years ago, the present-generation footballers of Aman, Jesin, Vishnu-all were young. They have grown up. Now, my next target is to bring a new batch of potential footballers for the team who will be participating in all the development football leagues across the country.” Bino’s four-year contract with East Bengal is scheduled to expire this season. The Kerala Pro-licensed coach also revealed that he has offers from more than a couple of teams, even from an ISL team and a Kolkata team. “But East Bengal top bosses have requested me verbally to continue for four years again. So, if I continue, then I will try to introduce a new batch,” added George. But at the same time, the experienced coach lamented, saying, “Despite showing promise in the development leagues and the CFL Premier Division, the least number of footballers are getting offers from the senior team. The club builds up the senior team, spending such a huge amount of transfer fees for the outstation and foreign footballers that these promising footballers are being ignored.” However, Bino did not seem very elated with the season’s first Kolkata derby triumph on Saturday at Kalyani Stadium. Rather, he cited statistics saying, “In the last three years, I have played seven Kolkata derby matches and we lost twice only. So, it was good to win another derby.”
Indomitable Rishabh Pant will again step in with his bat on the fifth day for the country!
India’s batting coach Sitangshu Kotak has confirmed after the end of the fourth day of the ongoing Test at Old Trafford, on Saturday, that India’s vice-captain Rishav Pant, though ruled out of the pitch for next six weeks, will again enter the pitch with his bat, risking again for the country on the fifth day on Sunday. When Rishabh Pant grimaced in pain and had to be carried off the field on the first Day of the Manchester Test, it could not be imagined that he would return to play any further part in the game. But the maverick wicketkeeper-batsman stunned the cricket fraternity on the very next day. He came on the pitch, delivered a much-needed 54 at a time when India were struggling for survival. If this wasn’t enough, India’s vice-captain is set to put himself at risk once again. According to India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, Pant will indeed pad up once again in his quest to save the fourth Test at Old Trafford. Pant will bat again in the fourth innings, despite him being certain to be unavailable for the fifth and final Test in London. The trouble began when Pant attempted a reverse sweep against Chris Woakes on the first day, only to be struck flush on the right foot. He collapsed in agony and had to be helped off, with initial scans confirming a fractured metatarsal. Reports came that the medical experts ruled him out for six weeks, at least. But Pant had other plans. On Day 2, ignoring medical advice and the pain, he walked out to bat after the fall of Shardul Thakur. Limping, yet fearless, he took on the English bowlers and smashed a counter-attacking half-century, delighting the Old Trafford crowd. It was a statement indeed. At stumps on the fourth day, India were 174 for the loss of two wickets in their second innings, still trailing England by 137 runs. Despite the early blows of losing openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul put on a defiant stand to steady the innings. Their partnership kept India in the game, but with a full day to go, the job is far from finished. That’s where Pant’s return becomes crucial. Without him, India would be effectively one batter short, something India cannot afford against a quality English attack on a deteriorating fifth-day pitch. “Rishabh will bat tomorrow,” Kotak confirmed to reporters after Day 4 of the Manchester Test.
SC Bengaluru’s appeal dismissed by AIFF; Still granted ‘interim relief’ from Appeal Committee!
Debutant in the elite I-League 2024-25, SC Bengaluru received a blow in their effort to avoid relegation from the League as the All India Football Federation (AIFF)’s appeals committee dismissed Bengaluru’s appeal for three points based on their complaint against Namdhari FC. SC Bengaluru finished 11th on the League table and are now staring at relegation alongside Delhi FC. The matter pertains to the case involving Namdhari FC player Cledson Da Silva, also known as De, who was used as an ineligible player during Namdhari’s 2-1 win over SC Bengaluru on March 30th of this year. SC Bengaluru had lodged an official complaint to the AIFF, where they alleged that Namdhari had played De in the game, even though the Brazilian ought to have been serving out a suspension. They pointed at the Namdhari player picking up seven yellow cards of the 2024-25 campaign before Namdhari’s 3-1 win over Gokulam Kerala on 17th March, with De also getting sent off against the Malabarians. Hence, SC Bengaluru claimed that De should’ve been serving a two-match suspension for the accumulated red card and yellow cards and should have been suspended for the game against them. However, the AIFF appeal committee has now come up with its verdict on the matter and dismissed SC Bengaluru’s complaint, giving Namdhari FC all three points for their win. In their verdict, the AIFF claims that Namdhari acted in ‘good faith’ and had also emailed the AIFF competitions department to verify the opportunity to play De against SC Bengaluru before the game. In their statement on the matter, the AIFF appeals committee stated, “The abovementioned facts establish that the club acted in good faith and served the suspensions by the regulations. However, the defendant club is warned that henceforth, the club is advised to exercise precautions by itself while fielding a player, and this decision shall not be taken as a precedent in any of the future cases.” It also claimed that the reason De was not in the squad for Namdhari’s final game of the I-League campaign against Aizawl FC and was the committee’s decision to uphold the red card that the Brazilian picked up against Gokulam Kerala. However, the AIFF Appeal Committee has still granted ‘interim relief’ from the relegation to both SC Bengaluru and Delhi FC after the Delhi-based club argued that key provisions under the AIFF Disciplinary Code and constitutional protections were ignored. The Appeals Committee acknowledged the club’s right to contest the decision and raised concerns over the lack of precedent and due process, especially given AIFF’s history of waiving relegation under special circumstances. The matter is set for further hearing, giving both clubs a fighting chance to retain their place in the I-League.
