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Valley’s top two International footballers, Mehrajuddin Wadoo and Ishfaq Ahmad would be featuring in the highly awaited two matches to be played between J&K-XI and well known football club of India Mohammedan Sporting Club Kolkatta here on July 15 and 17.
The names of two seasoned international level footballers feature in the probable list of 23 players that was handed over by J&K Football Association to the organisers of the matches, J&K State Sports council.
Since more than eight years Wadoo and Ishfaq have been associated with various national football clubs of the country and have hardly got time to play in State or feature in any match. In 2008, Ishfaq was able to lead JK team in front of home crowd while Wadoo missed that opportunity because of services for Indian national team. And in 2010 both played at Polo Ground in an unofficial exhibition match that was huge hit.
The JK team includes 23 players and it has mix of both experience and youth. Former skipper of Indian team, Abdul Majeed Kakaroo, has been appointed as coach while former general secretary of JKFA, Bashir Ahmad Malik, has been assigned the job of team manger. Dr Ashiq has been appointed as physiotherapist of team.
In the goalkeeping there are two keepers kept, one of Vikramjeet Singh of JK Bank and Reyaz Ahmad of JK Police. The dense include eight players which included top quality defenders like Waseem Feroze, Kanwaljeet Singh and Vinay Kumar. All the three have played or are playing for the outside national level clubs. The midfield will be lead by Wadoo who is known in Asian sub-continent and in Indian football arena for his antics in midfield. By his presence midfield would be strong and he can also shift his services for defence as he has played in that position also. Among others who will feature in midfield include rising star of JK football, Shahnawaz, Rohit Kumar and Sameer.
The forward line is lead by Ishfaq himself and by that we can be guaranteed of goal feast as he is known for his scoring abilities. Among others in forward line are Imran Manzoor Wangnoo and Taufeeq Ahmad.
About the team JKFA spokesperson said,” It is the initial list of 23 players and will reduce to 20 in final selection list. It is strong team and most talented players of State have been kept in it. We don’t think it will be a problem for a side like this to beat Mohammedan Sporting Club,” said JKFA spokesperson.
“It is great to see our two international players Wadoo and Ishfaq plating for State team together after a long gap. Team also includes national level players like Kanwaljeet, Shahnawaz and Vinay Kumar. Kakroo as coach is added boost us while Bashir Malik has got lot of experience as manager,” he added.
With the aim to promote JK football and make it once again football crazy State J&K Government has invited one of the oldest clubs of Mohammedan Sporting Club Kolkatta to play two matches in the State against J&K-XI. The team would be playing two matches one at Bakshi Stadium Srinagar on July 15 while second on July 18 at Leh.
Mohammedan Sporting Club, founded in 1891 at Kolkata, is one of the oldest and leading football clubs in India. The club currently plays in the second division of I-League and premier division of CFL.
Mohammedan Sporting is one of the most popular football clubs in India with a support base in all parts of the country. After their establishment in 1891, Mohammedan Sporting Club first tasted success when the won the Calcutta Football League in 1934 and then went on to create history by becoming the first Indian club to win the Calcutta Football League continuously for 5 years from 1934 to 1938. Again the club won the league in 1940 and 1941 along with the IFA Shield Championship. It was also the first Indian team to smash the monopoly of the British football teams in the Durand Cup, the oldest football tournament in India, when they became champions in the year 1941.
J&K-XI:
KEEPERS: Vikramjeet Singh (JK Bank) and Reyaz Ahmad (JK Police)
DEFENDERS: Waseem Feroze (JK Bank), Aman Thapa (JK Bank), Mansoor (JK Forest), Azhar (Forest), Ramesh (JK Police), Muhammad Yaseen (JK Police), Kanwaljeet (Mumbai FC) and Vinay Kumar (Police).
MIDFIELDERS: Mehrajuddin Wadooo (International), Rohit Kumar (JK Bank), Khalid Qayoonm (JK Bank), Rizwamn Shafi (JK Forest), Sameer Hussain (JK Forest), Asif Majeed (JK Police), Sandeep (JK Police) and Shahnawaz (AG Office).
FORWARD: Ishfaq Ahmad (International), Imran Manzoor Wangnoo (JK Forest), Taufeeq (JK Forest),Shahid Mushtaq (JK Forest) and Irfan JKPDC.
COACH: Abdul Majeed Kakroo
MANAGER: Bashir Ahmad Malik
Physiotherapist: Dr Ashiqui
