Latest news with #NEUFC
Time of India
6 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
NEUFC begin preparations ahead of Durand Cup
The is in a limbo. But that has not deterred to start their preparations for the upcoming season, set to kick off with the Durand Cup on July 23. And defending champions NEUFC, who will play their opener against Malaysian Armed Forces on Aug 2, began their pre-season training at Arjuna Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex — formerly the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium — in Guwahati on Sunday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "It feels great to come back home and get ready for the upcoming season," head coach Juan Pedro Benali said at the club's media day event, after the first training session, on Sunday. "We are here to fight for Highlanders, we are here to fight for all eight states of the Northeast and fight for the badge." After a memorable season in which the Highlanders added their first silverware with Durand Cup and followed that up with an ISL campaign where they finished fourth in the league stage and earned a place in the knockouts, NEUFC have worked on building their squad for the upcoming sojourn. While they have been able to retain the services of ISL top-scorer Alaaeddine Ajaraie and also roped in the likes of Spaniards Andy Rodriguez, a Real Madrid Academy graduate, former Sevilla FC attacker Jairo Samperio and midfielder Chema Nunez. They have also signed two of I-League's young talents in Mizo players Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia and Lalbiakdika from Aizawl FC. And the excitement among the fans was evident at the training session which they attended in huge numbers and which began by everyone paying tribute to their star striker Ajaraie's late grandmother. "As defending champions of Durand Cup, we don't have any pressure. For us, the most important game is our first game of the tournament. We play for the Cup in the final, we need to win the final, but to reach the final, we need first to win our first game," Benali added at the press conference. Captain Michel Zabaco, who was joined by local favourite Parthib Gogoi and Redeem Tlang at the interaction, too, spoke of the importance of the three weeks of pre-season training in getting them ready for the title defence. "We have three weeks before we play our first game. We keep working hard to improve. We don't feel any pressure (as defending champions). There are other teams as well, but we will give 100 per cent to win the title," Zabaco said.
News18
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
John Abraham Wishes To See ‘A Messi Or Ronaldo' Rise From India, Says Jyotiraditya Scindia
John Abraham met Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia along with NorthEast United FC CEO Mandar Tamhane. Bollywood actor John Abraham is known for his intense love for football, with him also being the owner of NorthEast United FC (NEUFC). Extending his vision and roadmap for grassroots and youth football development across the Northeast, John recently met Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia. He was accompanied by the football club's CEO, Mandar Tamhane. Throughout the meeting, the actor spoke of the sporting potential of the Northeast and the growing football talent from the region. John also wished to see a Messi or Ronaldo 'rise" from the Northeastern soil. Taking to his X handle, Scindia hailed the Bollywood actor over his support for the young talent. 'Always a delight connecting with someone who also shares a deep passion for sports and a drive to scout, shape & support young talent, especially in the Northeast, which is rapidly emerging as India's sporting powerhouse. John's indomitable zeal for football and his dream of seeing a Messi or Ronaldo rise from our soil is truly inspiring. Wishing him and the team great success in taking Indian football to new heights," the minister wrote, alongside a picture with the actor and the NEUFC CEO. A pleasure to meet @TheJohnAbraham along with @MandarTamhane1, CEO of Northeast United a delight connecting with someone who also shares a deep passion for sports and a drive to scout, shape & support young talent, especially in the Northeast, which is rapidly… — Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) June 18, 2025 John reshared the picture on his X handle and expressed gratitude. He also promised to deliver a football star from India. 'Thank you for being so charming and dynamic. Looking forward to your support for our vision for the North East. I do promise a star in football from India," the actor wrote. Thank you for being so charming and dynamic. Looking forward to your support for our vision for the North East. I do promise a star in football from India The picture was also shared by the Instagram handle of the football club, stating that John Abraham, along with their CEO and the Union Minister, shared the club's vision for expanding in the northeastern part of the country. They also presented the minister with the club's jersey as a 'token of the club's commitment to the region's footballing future." The actor's meeting comes at a time when the club's promising midfielder, Bekey Oram, has signed a contract extension, committing until the end of the 2028 season. Since joining NEUFC ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, Bekey has made 18 appearances across the Indian Super League (ISL), Super Cup, and Durand Cup. What's On The Work Front For John Abraham? Besides being a promising owner of the football club, John Abraham has been active on the film front. He was last seen in The Diplomat, putting up a decent performance. Produced by John's JA Entertainment, the film is set against the backdrop of India-Pakistan relations. The Diplomat is streaming on Netflix. First Published: June 19, 2025, 18:50 IST
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Alaaeddine to stay at NEUFC for another season
Kolkata: Twenty nine goals in 32 the jaw-dropping stats that Alaaeddine Ajaraie produced in his first-ever season with NorthEast United FC . And to the delight of the Highlanders supporters, the ISL Golden Boot winner has decided to stay on with NEUFC for the 2025-26 season."NorthEast United FC are delighted to announce that Alaaeddine Ajaraie, the 2024-25 Indian Super League (ISL) Golden Boot and the Golden Ball winner, will stay with the club for the 2025-26 season," NEUFC announced in a statement on Moroccan striker had joined the ISL club at the start of the 2024-25 campaign on a contract that included an option for a second year, "contingent upon meeting specific performance criteria"."Following a stellar debut season in Indian football, the Moroccan forward fulfilled those requirements, automatically activating the contract extension. Ajaraie was also keen to continue his journey with the club and had expressed his desire to stay on and build on the momentum throughout the season," the club added in the 32-year-old scored on his debut for NEUFC in a Durand Cup match against BSF and continued his form throughout the tournament — including a crucial goal, an assist and a strike in the penalty shoot-out against Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the played a pivotal role in winning NEUFC their first silverware with the Durand Cup and delivered a record-breaking 23 goals and seven assists in 25 matches that earned him the ISL Golden Ball and Golden Moroccan capped off the season with his first hat-trick for NEUFC during a dominant 6-0 win over Mohammedan SC in Kalinga Super Cup."I am happy here. NorthEast feels like home now. My teammates and the staff played a crucial role in my successful first season and I am confident we can achieve even more together next season. I am eager to continue this journey and win significant titles with this fantastic club," Ajaraie a lot of interest from various ISL clubs, Ajaraie's decision to continue his journey with NEUFC has also delighted head coach Juan Pedro Benali."We are absolutely thrilled that Alaaeddine will continue with us. His impact, both on the field with his fantastic performances and off it with his exemplary character and support for his teammates, has been immense. He's a true role model for our young players and we eagerly anticipate another successful season together," Benali added.
The Hindu
27-04-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Jamshedpur FC beats NorthEast United in sudden death, enters Super Cup 2025 semifinals
Jamshedpur FC (JFC) made it two knockout wins in two against NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) after triumphing in sudden death in their Super Cup 2025 quarterfinal at the Kalinga Stadium here on Sunday. After the regulation time ended goalless, JFC edged NEUFC 6-4 in the penalty shootout, with defender Asheer Akhtar missing the decisive spot kick. Both teams made their attacking intent clear in the opening minutes, with NEUFC's Guillermo Fernández and JFC's Javier Siverio testing the goalkeepers with efforts from outside the box. But as the game progressed, the Highlanders had clearer sights at goal. Indian Super League's (ISL) top-scorer this season, Alaaeddine Ajaraie, who was kept quiet by the JFC's defence in their previous meeting, nearly opened the scoring with a free kick in the 14th minute. The Moroccan's shot floated over the wall and seemed to be heading into the side netting, until Albino Gomes scampered across the goalline to get his fingertips on the ball and push it onto the right post. At the other end, NEUFC's midfielders Mayakkannan and Mohammed Ali Bemammer stuck like glue to their counterparts Javi Hernández and Siverio, intercepting passes and giving them no space to breathe and create chances. Ajaraie, who was given the liberty to freely roam around the pitch, kept switching wings with Jithin MS in an attempt to shake things up. The plan almost bore fruit close to the half-hour mark, when Ajaraie played Jithin through into the box, where he lashed his left foot at the ball from a tight angle. Once again, Gomes kept his eye on the ball and stood his ground to punch the ball away from danger. Super Cup 2025: Chhangte winner helps Mumbai City beat Inter Kashi 1-0, enters semifinals The two combined again in the dying seconds of the first half, with Jithin turning provider this time. He curled the ball into the middle from the right, where Ajaraie rose the highest to meet it before sending it just wide of the top right corner. Jithin almost scored a stunner six minutes into the second half after a clearance from Rei Tachikawa dropped into his path. The winger caught the ball sweetly on the volley, but ended up sending it whizzing past the left post. JFC's best chance of the game came in the 73rd minute when Hernandez broke away from Mayakkannan on the right before putting in a teasing delivery into the six-yard box. Jordan Murray did well to reach the ball but failed to generate power in his header, allowing Gurmeet Singh to gather the ball easily. As the minutes ticked by, the game became a scrappy affair played in the middle of the pitch with neither team coming close to a winner. In the subsequent shootout, both teams missed two penalties each out of the designated five, sending the game into a sudden death where Asheer ended up skying his penalty to send JFC into a third consecutive Super Cup semifinal. The Men of Steel will take on Mumbai City FC in the final-four clash after it beat Inter Kashi 1-0 earlier in the day.
The Hindu
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Underdog Kashi will hope to spring another surprise; NEUFC faces JFC
Inter Kashi will look to cause another upset in the Super Cup 2025 when it takes on Mumbai City FC in their quarterfinal at the Kalinga Stadium here on Sunday. Kashi, the only I-League side remaining in the tournament, secured a spot after stunning Indian Super League Cup runner-up Bengaluru FC on penalties in the first round. Assistant coach Carlos Fonseca, who will be standing in for Antonio Lopez Habas, said that his side is enjoying being the underdog. 'When you are a favourite, there is an extra pressure to show something different. So, for us, it is better because we can play freely,' Fonseca said during the pre-match press conference. However, Kashi will be wary of a resurgent MCFC that rode on the back of captain Lallianzuala Chhangte's brace to beat Chennaiyin FC 4-0 in the round-of-16. NEUFC faces JFC In the evening showdown, NorthEast United FC will seek retribution when it takes on Jamshedpur FC in the final game of the quarterfinal stage, after it was denied an ISL semifinal spot last month following a 0-2 playoff loss to the same side. NEUFC hammered Mohammedan Sporting 6-0, while JFC beat Hyderabad FC 2-0 to book their spots in the final eight. NEUFC head coach Juan Pedro Benali, though, dismissed the idea of revenge and noted that the result will go down to the minor details. 'There is no revenge. This is another knock-out competition and has nothing to do with the ISL. We know how Jamshedpur plays, and they know how we play. So, in the end, it will be a matter of details,' Benali said.
