National football coach Stephen Constantine may have ruled Michael Chopra out from representing India but the British PIO today said he's not lost hope and was waiting the 53-year-old's exit. Hitting out at the India coach, the Kerala Blasters forward said: "Stephen Constantine can say whatever he wants. Personally, it's not a problem for me. Well has he achieved anything in the game as a player? No." There had been reports that All India Football Federation may not be too keen to extend Constantine's contract that gets over in February, a month before the Asian Cup qualifiers begin.
Former Newcastle United striker Michael Chopra was picked by the Kerala Blasters, co-owned by cricketing great Sachin Tendulkar, in an international draft for the upcoming Indian Super League on Thursday.
Former Newcastle and Sunderland striker Michael Chopra says he has not given up on his ambition to represent India in international football. Chopra said in the past he is willing to surrender his British passport to represent India. The striker has represented England at the junior level but according to FIFA rules, he is eligible to represent India since his grandparents moved to England from Jalandhar in the 1950s.
The All India Football Federation is exploring the possibility of selecting Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) for the Indian football team.
Former Newcastle United striker Michael Chopra is ready to surrender his British passport to represent the country of his origin, India, and realise his dream of playing senior-level international soccer.
The Kolkata giants are hoping to rope in two of the best-known Indian origin football names in Europe for its National Football League campaign.
Michael Chopra scored his first goal in the Hero Indian Super League as Kerala Blasters notched up their first win of the season, beating Mumbai City FC 1-0 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Kochi, on Friday.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday reiterated that Michael Chopra will be eligible to represent India only if the Cardiff City striker surrenders his British passport for an Indian one.
Holders Chelsea eased into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a straightforward 4-1 home victory over Championship (second division) promotion challengers Cardiff City on Saturday.
India FA eye origin players for short-term solution
His agent Simon Bayliss said the 22-year-old striker is not interested in playing for India and is all set to pursue his career in England.
Former Italy defender Marco Materazzi has joined Chennai in the new Indian Super League (ISL) following in the footsteps of former national team mate Alessandro Del Piero.
Former Italy great Alessandro Del Piero will play for the Delhi franchise of the Indian Super League (ISL) and will also be the competition's brand ambassador, the ex-Juventus player has said.
Kerala Blasters secured their first point in the Hero Indian Super League after playing out a goalless draw at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Kochi, on Sunday.
Cedric Hengbart scored the fastest goal of the third edition of Indian Super League but that wasn't enough for the Kerala Blasters as they were held to a 1-1 draw by FC Pune City, in Pune, on Monday.
Hosts Kerala Blasters did themselves no good after playing a goalless draw against a 10-man NorthEast United FC in a hard-fought Indian Super League (ISL) game at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium on Thursday.
Former Hull City wing back Bernard Mendy scored through a stunning bicycle kick as hosts Chennaiyin FC beat Kerala Blasters 2-1 in a Hero Indian Super League match on Tuesday.
The Indian Super League trophy will go to the traditional home of Indian football as Atletico de Kolkata edged past Kerala Blasters 1-0 in the final.
Spanish striker Sergio Contreras Pardo's opportunistic first-half strike gave NorthEast FC a 1-0 victory over Sachin Tendulkar co-owned Kerala Blasters FC in the second match of the Hero Indian Super League, in Guwahati, on Monday night. The former Marseille frontman, popularly known as Koke, struck at the stroke of half-time with a snap angular right-footer from the top of the box, sending the ball past former England custodian David James's far right.
With big names on the roster and promising Indians getting a chance to display their flair, the Hero Indian Super League, halfway into its first season, finds its heroes - and its duds. Take a look.
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