Latest news with #Jhingan
India Gazette
12-07-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
The silent warrior: Odei Onaindia leaves FC Goa with a lasting imprint
New Delhi [India], July 12 (ANI): Football often celebrates the flamboyant. The scorers, the playmakers, the dramatic match winners. But sometimes, it's the quiet figures at the back, the ones holding the structure together, who make the lasting difference. Odei Onaindia was one such figure at FC Goa (FCG). The Spaniard brought calm and stability to a team that twice came close to the Shield under his watch, as per the Indian Super League (ISL) press release. His two seasons may not have ended without any league silverware, but his influence was unmistakable, both as a centre-back and as captain. Onaindia joined the Gaurs ahead of the 2023-24 season, following head coach Manolo Marquez from Hyderabad FC. For most players, a club switch requires a period of adjustment with a new system, new teammates and a new environment. But for Onaindia, the transition was seamless. Reunited with a tactical setup he already understood, he slotted in instantly. Even his experienced centre-back partner Jhingan was sidelined midway through the 2023-24 season, FC Goa could have crumbled. But Onaindia remained unmoved. He adapted to a new defensive partner in Nim Dorjee and the backline didn't miss a beat as the team made it to the playoffs after two seasons. Eight of the team's nine clean sheets in the 2023-24 season came with him on the pitch. The Gaurs finished third in the regular season, their best finish in four years. This was after they spent the most days at the top of the table in that campaign. But their run ended in the semi-finals against Mumbai City FC, a tie where they had once led 2-0 in the first leg before eventually falling to a comeback defeat. Onaindia captained the Gaurs on a few occasions in 2023-24 but when the following season began, he led the side after the departure of Brandon Fernandes, the press release added. The results reflected that leadership. FC Goa finished second in the league table, bettering their points tally from the season before. They ended with 48 points, the same as 2023-24 Shield winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant. Once again, their run ended in the semi-finals, this time against Bengaluru FC, who edged the Gaurs on aggregate thanks to a last-gasp goal despite a second-leg win for FC Goa. But throughout the season, Onaindia continued to lead the backline with composure and clarity, playing a key role in the team's defensive setup while mentoring younger players within the squad. Partnering with Jhingan over two seasons, Onaindia formed one of the most disciplined defensive duos in the league. The two brought out the best in each other. Jhingan with his aggression and leadership, and Onaindia with his positioning and composure. Together, they were almost unbeatable. Across 28 league matches in which both started, FC Goa lost only three times. They also kept 13 clean sheets in that period. For two campaigns, Odei Onaindia brought consistency and calmness to the team's backline, contributing to two top-three finishes in the league and successive semi-final appearances. He may not have made headlines often, but his presence was felt every time he stepped onto the pitch, serving a reminder that not all leaders need to be loud to be effective. (ANI)
Hans India
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
India not looking to rest on past laurels against Hong Kong, says Sandesh Jhingan
Kowloon (HK-China): As the Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong, China, gets closer, many on the Indian side of the continental football spectrum will be recalling the last match played between the two sides – a roaring 4-0 victory for the Blue Tigers in Kolkata, three years ago. For the Indian senior men's national team, however, that is ancient history. While the last meeting between India and Hong Kong-China was a resounding win for the former, things have changed since then. 'In football, you can never rest on the laurels of the past. I remember we played them (in 2022) and we won 4-0, but that's a thing of the past now,' said Jhingan, about the much-changed Hong Kong side now. 'We know how good a side they are, and how important this game is, and that's that.' The Indian senior men's team, ahead of Matchday 2 of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers, held their first training session in Hong Kong on Friday evening at the Jockey Club HKFA Football Training Centre in Tseung Kwan O. The Blue Tigers will train at the Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground on Saturday and Sunday, followed by an official training session at the newly constructed Kai Tak Stadium on matchday minus one (Monday). The Asian Cup qualifier on June 10 will be the first competitive football match at the 50,000-capacity venue. Still looking to recapture their form, the Blue Tigers have kept their heads up and are focusing on what needs to be done to turn their fortunes around, after a 0-2 loss against Thailand in a preparatory international friendly last week. Sandesh Jhingan, who had captained the side against Thailand on June 4, is focused on getting the best result against Hong Kong. 'When we arrived (in Hong Kong) just after the Thailand game, the focus for the team was on recovery. However, the main focus since we assembled for the camp in Kolkata (on May 18), has always been to get the maximum points against Hong Kong,' said Jhingan. 'It's all about preparing ourselves in the training sessions leading up to the game, so we can arrive at the match in the best way possible, both physically and mentally, and try to get maximum points,' he added. While the loss against Thailand was a bitter pill to swallow for the Blue Tigers, it did afford them insight into the areas that need to be improved upon. 'We need to be more decisive and clinical inside the boxes at both ends. First and foremost, we need to be more solid at the back. If the defence is good, we will have more chances going forward. And the other part, of course, is that we need to be more clinical in attack. 'There were both positives and negatives from that game, and we will analyse and build on them," he added.
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
We need to do well in all departments, says Sandesh Jhingan
A collective team effort can only bring back the winning rhythm and end Indian football's barren run in the continental stage, according to the national men's team central defender, Sandesh Jhingan. With India preparing for its second group league match of the AFC Asian Cup qualifier (final round) against Hong Kong on June 10 at the AIFF centre of excellence here, Jhingan said the team needs to find the right coordination between departments to regain its successful form. 'We are facing certain things which led to a dip in form. We (the players) feel worse, and so do our families. Sometimes we let the country down, but there are times when we came up with great performances. That's the life of a footballer. You have to keep trying to do better and focus on the future,' Jhingan said. India remained winless all through 2024 (in six matches) before finding its first success on March 19 this year against Maldives in an international friendly to end a winless streak of 489 days. The crisis returned as India played a goalless draw while hosting Bangladesh in the first match of the Asian Cup qualifier (on March 25) and lost the opportunity of picking up full points. Needing a win against Hong Kong to brighten its chances, India will have to regain its scoring efficiency, which Jhingan said will happen if everyone in the team does his job properly. 'The reason we are not scoring is that we at the back are not putting up the ball to the midfield. And the midfield is not putting good balls in the box, and that's why we're not scoring. To point out a single aspect is very unfair as it is a collective effort in the end,' he said.
