The transition between competitions that are very different from one another CAN BE TOUGH. The AFC Cup was about two legs at a time, then two more and then the one-off final as opposed to the ISL, where the fixtures are a lot tighter.
November has been a rollercoaster of a month,and I would like to do are wind of sorts. Through my last few columns, I have had the chance to take you aboard Bengaluru FC’s amazing journey in the AFC Cup. We defied the odds and battled our way through to a place where no Indian club has been before — the final of a continental competition.
We squared off against Iraq’s Air Force Club (Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya) and I have no qualms in admitting that we fell short on the day and were beaten by a better team. However, we threw everything we had at them. And as disappointed as we are, the effort or the lack of it was never the reason we lost. That said, it was surreal to see the way the nation rallied around us right from the semifinal. We had so many messages, tweets, banners and posts wishing us the best. And our defeat in the final didn’t change the kind of pride these people felt after we made it to the title round. Bengaluru’s AFC Cup run will always be special and I am confident that it will spark a strong revival of Indian football.
Denne historien er fra December 10, 2016-utgaven av Sportstar.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 10, 2016-utgaven av Sportstar.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Tokyo Marathon Cancelled For Amateurs On Coronavirus Fears
Organisers in Japan cancelled the amateur portion of the Tokyo marathon, affecting around 38,000 runners, on fears about the spread of the new coronavirus in Japan.
Right Criteria To Pick The Tennis GOAT
What should the criteria be? What weight should be attached to each criterion? And what should not be considered as valid criteria?
The making of a batting behemoth
If Steve Smith dominated the Ashes in England in a dramatic, blockbuster fashion then his like for like a replacement, Marnus Labuschagne, is the Next Big Thing after an exciting summer of run-glut.
WHEN ACES WERE REWARDED...
It was an evening of nostalgia and celebration when the Sportstar Aces awards were given away in Mumbai.
A question of recognition
After a week of awards, one wonders if it’s only a departed player that one will be named after.
Thinking straight, thinking right!
“A lot depends on when I am bowling and what is required from me. That’s something I do when I play for India and I try to follow the same thing in the domestic circuit,” says Yuzvendra Chahal.
The Big Three and the Next Gen
Though the Big Three are very unlikely to retire during the same year, Judy Murray, mother of Andy, echoed the sentiments of many fans worried about the impact of their departures.
WAKING UP TO MENTAL HEALTH
Sport at large and cricket specifically has taken an inordinately long time to address the elephant in the room — the dark abyss of depression.
Like sunshine in a gloomy dressing room
Bangladesh quick Abu Jayed Rahi is new in the red-ball arena, but his swing brings back old memories — of James Anderson on green tops.
The league of the masses
With traditional clubs locking horns with the hard-working nurseries of the game, the I-League will continue to keep the beating heart of Indian football alive despite official apathy.
