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Houghton looks
for six-footers
Woman coach beats up top NIS official
Zidane was provoked: Dasmunshi
Materazzi appears before FIFA panel
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Donadoni takes
up Italian job
Sachin’s fitness
test on July 19
India A win by three wickets
Indian spikers lose to France
India to host Asian Hopman Cup
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Houghton looks
for six-footers
New Delhi, July 14 His contention is that if India nurse the ambition of climbing the football ladder at the international level, then it is imperative to have taller players as has been conclusively established in the World Cup in Germany where the average height of the players was over six feet. All-India Football Federation (AIFF) President Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, who was present when Houghton addressed a chaotic press conference at the Ambedkar Stadium here today, interjected to say that in the present circumstances, the federation could do nothing about it except make available the best talent in the country at the disposal of the coach, though the federation would not interfere in the final selection of the team. Dasmunshi said players from the North-East, the football bowl of the country, did not measure more than 5’ 6”, though they were highly talented. And if the federation looks for six-feet-plus players, then the search would end in the northern belt of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, etc. “We will have to look for talent in this region and train them”, the AIFF President noted. But he said all possible means would be adopted to fulfil the criteria laid down by the foreign coach to cobble together a winning combination with taller players. And towards this end, the coach would be touring the country to spot talent. For his convenience, the country has been divided into six zones so that he can have a close look at the talent available, not in terms of height alone, but in other departments of the game as well. British coach Houghton, wearing a formal suit, was not amused when he was ushered into a cramped, steamy hall full of sweaty reporters and lensmen pushing for space. But the veteran coach kept his cool and explained his football philosophy calmly. “If you took note of the World Cup, you must have seen that most of the goals came from set-piece moves like free kicks and corners and you need some physical presence there.” “In the World Cup final, 6’5” Marco Materazzi scored a goal, while both Italy and France had at least seven players of a height above 182 cm. You just can’t dismiss the height factor.” But in the same breath, he clarified that he was certainly not looking for a “team of giants”. “But it’s good to have tall, technically sound players in the team who can run well from box to box”. The AIFF provided a list of 35 players to the coach, of which Houghton shortlisted 20. He then requested AIFF Secretary Alberto Colaco to look for some taller players and among those he picked Micky Fernandes and Freddie Mascarenhas, who will be travelling with the Indian team to Vancouver to play a four-team tournament. Regarding the omission of Baichung Bhutia from the Vancouver-bound squad, which will be led by S Venkatesh, the AIFF President said he would meet Bhutia tomorrow and try to convince him to defer his decision to retire from international football till the Doha Asian Games later this year. “Baichung met me and told me that he wants to hang his boots and pave way for others as he was also busy with his media commitments. A player has the freedom to decide when he wants to quit. But considering the national interest, I had asked him to defer his retirement plans till the Asian Games, and he has promised to consider that. I’ll get his view tomorrow,” he added. Houghton also wants Bhutia in the team at least till the Asian Games as “he is a key player who has played for so long”. “Hope he extends his career,” Houghton said. The British coach said he would also interact with club coaches of India as he felt that the clubs would play a decisive role in formulating a successful Indian team. “A club is where a player spends most of the time”, he added. Meanwhile, the Indian team’s first assignment under Houghton will be a four-nation tournament in Vancouver from July 19, which also involves Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Cardiff City FC and a Chinese under-20 team.
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Woman coach beats up top NIS official
Patiala, July 14 NIS Regional Director L.S. Ranawat admitted that the incident had taken place, adding that he had asked for a report from the administration and the security personnel. The NIS authorities have decided not to report the matter to the police. After the incident, watched by scores of employees, the official was whisked away to his residence by the security staff while the coach left for her residence on the institute’s premises. NIS sources said the AD had written in the file pertaining to the coach’s name change that she had misbehaved with him and that her case should be assigned to another officer. Reacting to this, the authorities had deputed a Deputy Director (Administration) to look into the case. The coach, after her marriage, had changed her name but she used to withdraw her salary in her maiden name. However, now she wanted to change her name again, to which the department had objected, saying that according to rules she could change her name only once. A senior NIS official, preferring anonymity, revealed that all files pertaining to the change of name of an employee were dealt by the SAI Corporate Office in New Delhi. “We don’t know what prompted the coach to take such action against the AD when he was no longer dealing with the case,” the official said.
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Zidane was provoked: Dasmunshi
New Delhi, July 14 Talking to UNI here today, Dasmunshi said, “In no way you can justify the filthy language Materazzi used to provoke Zidane. That was completely unbecoming of a gentleman,” he said. Dasmunshi, who officiated as match referee in two World Cup matches in Germany — the first Indian to be accorded the honour — however, felt that the linesman was at fault for not noticing the incident, which led to confusions. “I think the linesman might find himself in trouble, for he did not notice the incident and raise his flag,” Dasmunshi said. FIFA ordered a probe into the incident and later issued a statement which read, “The incident was directly observed by fourth official Luis Medina Cantalejo from his position at the pitchside, who informed the referee and his assistants via the communications system.” Cantalejo later told a Spanish radio station, “I saw it happen live, I didn’t invent anything. The ball was elsewhere and that was where the referee was looking, while the linesman was getting back into position.” For Dasmunshi, visiting Germany as a match referee was a “rare” experience. “Whatever I learnt in Germany, I’d try to apply it here in India,” he said. He also dismissed the notion that the World Cup saw some pro-active refereeing which impeded the flow of the game. “You can probably point out five out of the 32 matches to buttress your case but I think refereeing wasn’t bad at all,” he added.
— UNI
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Materazzi appears before FIFA panel
Zurich, July 14 The Italian defender met with officials at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich today, FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot said. Maingot refused to provide any details of the meeting, which came one day after FIFA’s governing body said it would open disciplinary proceedings against Materazzi. Materazzi is being investigated based on statements by Zidane.
— AP
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Rome, July 14 Donadoni, a quick winger and talented passer of the ball, was considered one of the best Italian players of the late 1980s and won 63 caps, scoring four goals. He was part of the Italian team, which finished third at the 1990 World Cup and played in the side, which lost the 1994 final to Brazil on a penalty shoot-out. Donadoni started his playing career at Atalanta before a highly successful move to Milan where he became one of Italy’s best ever wide-midfielders. After a spell in the USA with New York Metrostars, he took up coaching in 2001-02 when he was named as Lecco boss in the third division. He then moved to Livorno before an ill-fated move to Genoa where he lasted just three games. He returned to Livorno during the 2004-05 campaign but then left in February with his team in sixth place in the table.
— AFP
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London, July 14 England’s third century-maker Alastair Cook was out for 105 in the morning session after adding only four to his overnight total. Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria was the most successful of the Pakistan bowlers with three for 119 from 52 overs. Collingwood, who came to the crease with England precariously placed at 88 for three on the opening morning on Thursday, batted for more than seven hours and hit 23 fours in an epic demonstration of fierce concentration and astute shot selection before he was stumped off leg spinner Danish Kaneria. He gave only one chance, an edge to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal with his total on 79 yesterday, although Pakistan were convinced he had been caught behind off Mohammad Sami during today’s morning session with his score on 131. Umpire Simon Taufel did not share their belief although video replays indicated the ball had caught the outside edge. Collingwood, who scored his only other Test century against India in Nagpur this year, was again correct and composed after resuming on 107 in an overnight total of 309 for three. He scored freely through the leg side and took full toll of any short deliveries outside the off stump. He brought up his 150 from 236 before passing Tom Graveney’s 153 scored in 1962, the highest previous England innings against Pakistan at Lord’s. He then played the shot of the morning with a wristy drive through mid-wicket for four and played another sweet drive through the leg off Kaneria to bring up the 100 partnership. Bell reached his 50 after Collingwood’s dismissal with six boundaries from 105 balls. Scoreboard England (1st innings) Trescothick c Akmal b Gul 16 Strauss lbw Razzaq 30 Cook b Sami 105 Pietersen lbw Razzaq 21 Collingwood st Akmal Bell not out 100 Jones lbw Kaneria 18 Plunkett c Farhat b Kaneria 0 Hoggard lbw Afridi 13 Harmison run out 2 Panesar not out 0 Extras
(b-8, nb-14, w-15) 37 Total (9 wkts dec, Fall of wickets:
1-60, 2-60, 3-88, 4-321, 5-441, 6-469, 7-473, 8-515, 9-525. Bowling:
Sami 28-4-116-1, Gul 33-6-133-1, Razzaq 25-2-86-2, Kaneria 52-6-119-3, Afridi 19.3-0-63-1, Farhat 1-0-3-0. Pakistan (1st innings) Butt c Strauss b Harmison 10 Farhat b Plunkett 33 Iqbal c Collingwood b Harmison 0 Yousuf not out 20 Sami not out 0 Extras
(w-3) 3 Total (3 wkts, 19 overs) 66 Fall of wickets:
1-28, 2-28, 3-65. Bowling: Hoggard 7-1-27-0, Harmison 8-2-15-2, Panesar 2-0-10-0, Plunkett 2-0-14-1.
— Agencies
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Sachin’s fitness test on July 19
Vadodara, July 14 “He will undergo the test on the eve of the selection committee meeting on July 19,” Shah told PTI. The decision puts to rest speculation that Tendulkar would be allowed more time to regain match fitness since the tri-series, also involving South Africa, is slated to begin only on August 14.
— PTI
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India A win by three wickets
Melbourne, July 14 Chasing 206 for victory on the fourth and final day, the Indians were reduced to a precarious 44 for 4 before S Badrinath (76) and Tejinder Pal Singh (46) put on a 94-run partnership for the fifth wicket to stem the rot. However, both lost their wickets in quick succession to leave India needing 31 more runs with just three tailenders to come. Rohit Sharma (22) and Piyush Chawla (26) then stood to the task at hand, steering the team to victory in 68.4 overs. New Zealand’s Jeetan Patel accounted for three wickets, including that of prolific opener Shikhar Dhawan (15), while C S Martin, H K Bennett and M G Orchard picked one apiece. India A, who had conceded a 52-run first-innings lead to New Zealand after making 280 in their first essay, were off to a disastrous start, losing both openers with just 20 runs on the board. Cheteshwar Pujara was run out for 2, while Dhawan was trapped leg before off Patel. More shocks were in store for the Indians as Robin Uthappa (9) and skipper Parthiv Patel (8) were dismissed cheaply in the face of some spirited bowling.
— PTI
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Dubai, July 14 They finished the first set 25-14 with a dazzling display from Xavier Kapfer, Jean-Phillipe Sol, Junot Mstoco and Bertrand Carletti and also led in the second set. India hit form in the third set with Subba Rao, the tallest player in the tournament at 209 cm, Tom Joseph, Surjit Singh and Kapil Dev providing strong defence to pull off a win. But France recovered quickly in the fourth set. They advanced from the start 7-4, 13-8, 19-13 until they finished winners to clinch their first points. India next play Pakistan, who are high on confidence after beating hosts UAE 3-2 in their opener in the same group. Pakistan coach Strahil Pantchev hoped that they would make it to the semifinals. “Despite the win we made many mistakes. I hope my players will not repeat the mistakes when they meet India. If we beat India, we can qualify for the semifinals” he was quoted as saying by Gulf News. UAE coach Dragan Mehailovic said the loss reduced his team’s chances of reaching the semifinals. “France and India, whom we will meet in Group A, are tough opponents since their players have vast experience and talent. They also have tall players which is something very important in volleyball,” said the UAE coach. — PTI
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India to host Asian Hopman Cup
New Delhi, July 14 Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, India, Uzbekistan and China are being invited to compete in the week-long inaugural edition to be staged in New Delhi from November 13, an ATF statement said. The teams have been chosen on the basis of the rankings of the top male and female players from Asia. The Philippines would be the first reserve team.
— Reuters
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Randhawa tied 10th
Loch Lomond, July 14
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New Delhi, July 14
Former international star Roberto Donadoni was today named as the new coach of Italy, the Italian football federation said.
The 43-year-old Donadoni, who played for AC Milan and had been the coach of Livorno until he quit in February this year, takes over from Marcello Lippi who stood down after Italy’s World Cup final win against France.
