The Indian senior men’s football team is intensifying its preparations for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup Qualifier against Bangladesh on March 25, with two solid training sessions completed in Shillong. Before that crucial encounter, the team will test its mettle against Maldives in a friendly on March 19.
Defender Rahul Bheke, who netted India’s last goal against Malaysia in November, expressed optimism about the team’s progress. “We’ve had a good start to the camp, with two solid training sessions. We still have two more days before our friendly, and that’s great preparation for the 25th game (against Bangladesh). I think Maldives will be a good test because they are a similar kind of side to what Bangladesh will be,” Bheke remarked.
Shillong has been a familiar battleground for Bheke, who has played there multiple times during his domestic career. The 34-year-old is eager to represent India in a stadium where he has experienced the passionate support of local fans. “I have played in Shillong before, during I-League, and recently came here with Bengaluru FC to play against NorthEast United. The weather was really cold last time, but now it’s pleasant for football. Everyone enjoyed training on the pitch here,” he added.
He also highlighted the potential atmosphere at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, anticipating a strong turnout. “We know that the atmosphere will be good and the support will be loud. We experienced that during the ISL. The stadium was packed. We hope that the same number of people, if not more, will be present during the India matches,” he said.
With India aiming for a strong performance in the qualifiers, the upcoming friendly against Maldives will serve as a crucial warm-up. Coach Igor Štimac’s men will look to fine-tune their strategies and build momentum before facing Bangladesh in a match that could significantly impact their qualification hopes.
Gokulam Kerala Defeats Nine-Man Namdhari in I-League Clash
Gokulam Kerala FC continued its impressive form in the 2024-25 I-League season with a commanding 3-1 victory over a nine-man Namdhari FC at the Namdhari Stadium on Monday. The win keeps Gokulam Kerala firmly in the title race, as they now sit fourth in the standings with 31 points from 19 matches, just three points behind league leader Churchill Brothers.
The match was a tale of two halves, with all four goals coming after the break. Thabiso Brown opened the scoring for Gokulam in the 57th minute, only for Namdhari to hit back through Manvir Singh six minutes later. However, the home side’s hopes were dashed after they were reduced to nine men, allowing Gokulam to capitalize. Adama Niane put the visitors ahead again in the 81st minute before Ignacio Abeledo sealed the win in stoppage time (90+2’).
The result was a major setback for Namdhari FC, whose title ambitions suffered a significant blow. Meanwhile, Gokulam Kerala remains in contention for the championship, needing to maintain its winning momentum in the final stretch of the season.
