Zuber Desai is a well-known figure in Indian football, bringing with him a strong blend of professional playing experience and coaching expertise. As a player, he has represented clubs such as DSK Shivajians and Pune FC, and has also featured in the Santosh Trophy, representing Indian Railways and Central Railway Mumbai. He further represented India at the SGFI Under-18 level, gaining valuable exposure at the international stage.

On the coaching front, Desai holds an AFC ‘B’ Coaching Licence along with a Grassroots Licence, and has worked across senior and youth football structures. His coaching experience includes roles as Assistant Coach at PIFA Colaba, Head Coach of DK Pharma (Mumbai Elite Division), and Head Coach of CASA Football Academy (Madhya Pradesh). He is also a Founder Member of Desai Football Academy, underlining his long-term commitment to football development.

The appointment marks an important step for Andaman & Nicobar football as the association looks to strengthen its presence at the national level. With Desai’s experience in elite competitions and structured coaching environments, the team will aim to compete with greater organisation, discipline, and confidence at the Santosh Trophy.

The Andaman & Nicobar Football Association has expressed confidence in Desai’s leadership and vision as the team prepares for the championship. His focus will be on preparation, tactical clarity, and maximising the potential of the squad selected for the tournament.

As the countdown begins for the Santosh Trophy 2025–26, all eyes will be on Zuber Desai and the Andaman & Nicobar team as they gear up to face India’s best in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh.

Mumbai Super League Fixtures, Standings and News – Click Here

Mumbai Premier League News – Click Here

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest happenings in the world of Indian Football.

The post Zuber Desai Appointed Head Coach of Andaman & Nicobar for Santosh Trophy 2025–26 appeared first on Football Counter.

Back to 1997, Derrick Pereira and Venkatesh Shanmugam had been two of the pivotal members of the Salgaocar FC squad who won the Federation Cup overpowering East Bengal at their den, Salt Lake Stadium.

Fast forward 8 years, the same Venkatesh, who is fondly known as Venky was playing under the stewardship of the same Derrick Pereira in the star-studded Mahindra United club who had tasted every single silverware in India during their era. In 2008, they reunited once again in Pune FC before Venkatesh hung his boots in 2014.

“Venky was someone who had always contributed to the team and I really liked his style and game reading. He was an intelligent player throughout.”

Cut to 2019, these two football masterminds have joined hands together once again, but for a different purpose, for a different cause.

As the All India Football Federation has handed Derrick Pereira the daunting task of sailing India to their first-ever AFC U-23 Championship in history, no one could have been the most suitable football mind to share his acumen than the former National skipper Venkatesh Shanmugam.

“Now that both of us are together, we feel we’ll be complementing each other. Venky brings in a huge experience of working with Stephen Constantine which has helped him evolve as a coach with time. Given the circumstances, I’m sure we’ll enjoy the journey ahead”, Pereira stated.

“I still remember the Federation Cup win for Salgaocar FC, beating East Bengal in Kolkata was not easy and we felt like being at the top of the world. We have come a long way since then and now we have reunited once again”, Venkatesh commented.

Venkatesh added further, “Derrick Sir had accomplished a lot as a coach and as far as I know him, I feel it’ll be a great opportunity for these young boys to learn from this great football mind.”

On the other hand, goalkeeping coach Gumpe Rime had also plied his trade under Pereira in Vasco for a year (2000-01).

Pereira recalled, “Gumpe was a really tough goalkeeper and he was always eager to learn. Unfortunately, an injury cut short his time in Vasco and we brought in Rogerio Ramos. It’s great to work with him once again”.

Incidentally, Rogerio Ramos happened to be the former goalkeeping coach for India National Team for the last four years (2015-19).

“It’s my second stint with National Team setup and I am privileged to get this opportunity once again. Derrick Sir is someone who I always had high regards for and I can’t wait to start working with him as well as the young promising goalies”, Rime added too.

India are pitted against hosts Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Pakistan in the AFC U-23 Championship 2020 qualifiers which is scheduled at Tashkent between March 22 and 26, 2019.

AIFF MEDIA

Also Read: Indian U-17 World Cup star to train at English Championship side Blackburn Rovers

Also Read:INDIA U-23 NATIONAL TEAM CAMP KICKS-OFF IN GOA

The post Old brigade re-unite as India seek maiden AFC U-23 Championship berth appeared first on Football Counter.

The post Photo gallery: Pune FC vs Kenkre – U15 Youth League appeared first on Football Counter.

Bangaluru FC vs pune FC

Ashley Westwood’s Bengaluru FC played hosts to Karim Bencherifa’s men from Pune FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in the Garden city for their 2nd I- League match of the 2015 season.

Both the teams were coming into this match at the back of a draw from their first fixture. The stadium witnessed a decent crowd turn out and there was no dearth of support for The Blues, as Bengaluru are fondly called even as Sunil Chhetri did not feature in the starting 11.

The match started off with an initial attack from either side, while Bengaluru’s Thoi Singh shot off target in the 5th minute, Pune messed up an opportunity on the counter attack. The match was bustling with speed and skill.

The drama unfolded in the 9th minute, Bengaluru defence was caught up asking for an offside when Pune’s new recruit Darko Nikac got in a straight goal slotting it past goal keeper Ralte. Bengaluru were one goal down while Nikac logged in his very first I- League goal.

Pune had now started attacking from the wings since the goal, much to Ashley Westwood’s frustration who had been trying everything from the sidelines to urge his team to move forward.

Edgar Marcelino was having at a golden day at the office when in the 25th minute he delivered a curling cross on a free kick for Luciano Sabrosa to flick it in off a header into the top corner of the goal. There was nothing goalkeeper Ralte could have really done on this amazing finish. Pune FC were looking lethal after doubling their lead.

A forced change was made by Bengaluru on the 28th minute when Sunil Chhetri came on for Keegan Pereira. In the next couple of minutes, the Blues after a 2 goal deficit tried successive shots on goal only to be denied by the Pune goalkeeper Amrinder Singh.

Darko Nikac on the other side menacingly advanced to try for a goal again in the 31st minute but it just ran wide as the defence is caught napping.
Come the 40th minute, Chhetri who is in front of the box almost tries to get the ball in but once again sublime keeping from Amrinder saves the day for Pune.

Bengaluru then tried hard to get one in during the injury time but were unable to do so, with Rino giving in a good cross to Chhetri for a header which just brushed past the nets on the outside, inches close to scoring.

At half time the scoreline read Pune 2 and Bengaluru 0.

Robin Singh, was brought in by the Blues at the start of the second half and he made his presence felt in just a couple of minute even as the Red Lizards (Pune) captain Izumi is the real playmaker with important passes.

Haokip of Pune missed a header on a gifted chance in the 52nd minute right under the cross bar. It could have easily been 3-0 as a result of sloppy defending.

The next 10 minutes belonged to Bengaluru entirely as they were gradually creeping back into the game led by the trio of Rooney, Chhetri and Robin Singh. A hat trick of attempts were made on goal.. in the 60th, 61st and 63rd minute all to be saved by the stupendous positioning of Amrinder Singh who stood rock solid in front of his goal and the Bengaluru strikers.

In the 69th minute, a blatant foul by Pune was ignored by the referee and he further added to Bengaluru’s displeasure by giving a yellow card to Robin Singh in the 72nd minute.

Raju Yumnam helped set the the cherry atop the cake for Pune as Haokip scored an easy goal on his pass. It was a goal that did not even kiss the nets, just hit the crossbar and landed inside the goal line. Red Lizards were making most of their limited possession.

The last minute was when Lyngdoh pulled one back for Bengaluru, on a back pass from Rooney, he curled the ball in for the top right corner of the box, but it was a little too late.

5 minutes of added time was given but not much of fireworks were seen as the match ended with a 3-1 score line in favors of Pune FC.

While, Bengaluru rest on a single point after 2 matches at home, Pune FC boast of 4 points after defeating the defending champions.

The post Pune FC outplay Bengaluru FC on their home turf with a clinical, all round performance appeared first on Football Counter.

Pune FC U-19 came into the game knowing a win would seal their progress to the next round and having thrashed today’s hosts in the reverse fixture, Pune FC were the favorites to leave Mumbai with all three points. PIFA Colaba U-19 on the other hand were still looking for their first win of the competition, and only had pride to play for apart from avoiding the embarrassment of finishing last in the group.

The first half had a good tempo to it and the hosts were able to match their visitors for majority of the opening exchanges. Pune FC however began to take control of proceedings and putting pressure of PIFA Colaba who still had the wounds from last time’s meeting with Pune FC fresh.

As the game crossed the half hour mark, the hosts started believing in themselves and came close to taking the lead in the 30th minute through a set piece. But it was the visitors who ended the half on the front foot.

Arif Shaikh was played in on goal in the 40th minute, but he could only manage to send his shot wide. It was a great chance for the visitors to go in front. They nearly did so a minute later when they hit the crossbar.

Pune FC were beginning to string together some nice moves and the best of which nearly resulted in the opening goal for Pune FC when Myron Mendes broke free into the PIFA box after a beautifully crafted move from the visitors, but his shot was crucially saved by the PIFA Colaba goalkeeper, to ensure his side head into half time level.

It was the visitors who had the better of the first half, but hosts PIFA Colaba did have their moments especially as they got some joy from set piece situations.

Pune FC came storming out in the second half pegging PIFA Colaba deep into their half. Pune’s Arif Shaikh nearly gave them the lead when his header from a Prakash Sarkar cross went inches over the crossbar.

Three minutes later, Pune FC made the breakthrough after Farukh Choudhary did well to latch on to a long ball as he was through on goal to lob over the PIFA goalkeeper to put the visitors in front.

The goal seemed to have opened the floodgates as Pune doubled their advantage in the 63rd minute after they were awarded a penalty which was coolly converted by Myron Mendes.

Pune FC were peppering the PIFA Colaba goal as PIFA were hanging on to stay alive in the game. Pune FC had many chances to extend their lead but some wayward shooting form their front men meant the score remained 2-0 as we entered the final twenty minutes.
Pune FC though made their dominance count, adding a third goal in the 71st minute, thanks to a cracking effort from Altamesh Sayyad from twenty five yards. It was a brilliant finish from the Pune FC midfielder.

PIFA’s night turned from bad to worse as the PIFA goalkeeper rushed off his line, but failed to collect allowing Farukh Choudhary to get his second of the game as he put the ball in the empty net to make it 4-0 in the favor of the visitors just a minute later.

PIFA Colaba changed their goalkeeper and he was involved straight away as he came long way off his line to block a goal bound effort. The rebound fell kindly to a Pune FC offender whose shot was heroically blocked by the PIFA Colaba defender in the 80th minute.

Two minutes later Pune FC scored again with Altamesh Sayyad getting on the act again as Pune were among the goals yet again at Cooperage.

PIFA Colaba avoided further embarrassment as. they stopped a relentless Pune FC from adding another one as referee blew for full time.

Pune FC produced a brilliant second half display as PIFA Colaba failed to live with them. The win eliminates Kenkre FC and takes Pune FC to the top of the Maharshtra Qualifying Zone table of the U-19 I-League.

PIFA Colaba remain bottom after their fifth defeat of the competition.

The post Pune FC put on a second half show in a 5-0 drubbing of PIFA Colaba in the U-19 I-League appeared first on Football Counter.

Pune started off the attack with a bang and ventured near the penalty area thrice under 4 minutes. An anti-climax surfaced in the 6th minute, Pune had found the back of the net on an Anthony D’souza free kick but it was after the whistle had already gone for a hand ball objection. To make amends, they did win a penalty but it hit the pole even as Salgaocar goal keeper Subrata dived to the correct side.

The first 10 minutes were dominated by Pune and only in the 12th minute did Salgaocar have a chance when the Pune goalkeeper Amrinder made a mini blunder.

Post the 20 minute mark, numerous saves and stops were made by Pune’s Gonsalves and Ralte who were stopping even the rare intermittent appearances made by Salgaocar strikers.

Douhou of Salgaocar created a brilliant opportunity for Salgaocar by getting a nice ball in on the 28th minute for Thangjam but it all went haywire when it could have gone right upto the the keeper Singh.

The 30’s on the clock saw a couple of missed attempts.. Pune FC failed to make it 1-0 after Gonsalves nicked in a superb cross. While, Salgaocar failed to conquer an open goal when the keeper Amrinder was roughly 20 yards away.

Nearing the half time (44th minute), Pune’s Anthony took advantage of Francis Kasonde’s failure to clear the ball. A great left footed shot on a very acute angle gave Pune a 1-0 score line in their favor, it was a stunning finish.

Salgaocar tried to control the situation in the added time with a stinging right footer from Douhou however Amrinder read it perfectly and soon the referee blew the half time whistle.

The second half was underway under lights and Pune’s Haokip faltered at the last second on the 46th minute, it was his chance to add to the tally. The very next minute, Salgaocar tried to equalize as well but failed.

Gurjinder put in a powerful left footer for Salgaocar from a distance in the 58th minute but the ball shy of direction whizzed past wide of the top right corner. Another chance came in on the 60th Salgaocar’s way through Gilbert but the finish is pretty wayward. Rosario also tried in the 62nd minute but the ball landed over the cross bar. The Goan side was trying hard to convert the superiority in possession on the score sheet.

A complete stretched save was put in by Pune keeper Amrinder in the 75th minute to save a curling free kick from Douhou.

Douhou then set up the stage in the 79th minute when he created space and after an exchange of passes gave in the ball to Gilbert who put it behind the goal keeper in style for a goal that had been eluding them for long.

With the lead neutralized, Salgaocar dominated right until the end of the match with Pune winning a rare corner and free kick in the 87th and 92nd minute respectively both of which were easily cleared.

Arata Izumi, captain of the Pune side was declared Hero of the Match for his brilliant efforts in the midfield and impeccable forward crosses.

The referee called it a day with the opening match going for a draw, a fascinating encounter- it was a match where both the teams played with a superb temperament.

The post Salgaocar come in from behind to draw the first I-league match against Pune FC appeared first on Football Counter.

Mumbai FC were looking for a second straight win in the Maharashtra Qualifying zone as they faced a strong Pune FC side which had got the better of today’s hosts in the reverse fixture last month.

Mumbai FC began well, as Prathamesh Rokade missed a great chance to put them in front in the 6th minute after being played in on goal by Girik Khosla’s long ball, but the Mumbai FC forward put his effort wide.

Mumbai FC were trying to expose the Pune FC backline, who were holding a high line, with a lot of direct stuff. The Mumbai FC strikers were having plenty of joy running behind the Pune FC defence in the opening ten minutes. But as the game went on, Pune FC started getting more and more into the game, as they forced a save out of the Mumbai FC goalkeeper Nishant Shetty from Chesterpoul Lyngdoh who was played in on goal by Arif Shaikh in the 18th minute.

The latter put Pune FC in front three minutes later as he brilliantly headed a cross from Asheer Akhtar from Pune’s right flank. It was a brilliant move from the visitors as the home side’s bright start went in vain.
The goal settled Pune FC as they gained complete control of proceedings around the half hour mark. Pune FC were probing at the Mumbai defence, as the hosts were struggling to cope with the growing pressure. In the 35th minute Prince Anandraj was guilty of giving the ball away but he got lucky as Pune FC striker Aniket Jadhav slipped just before unleashing a shot at the Mumbai goal.

Prince made up for his initial error as he made a brilliant clearance in the 38th minute, preventing Arif Shiakh to double Pune’s lead. But the visitors were not be denied in the 43rd minute when Farukh Choudhary played in Sannik Murmu who fired past Nishant Shetty to make it 2-0.
Pune FC were full value for that two goal lead, as they went into the break firmly in the driver’s seat.

The second half started in similar fashion as Pune FC dictated the play. But Mumbai FC managed to stem the flow of chances in the first ten minutes since the restart.

In the 58th minute, Chesterpoul Lyngdoh nutmeged the Mumbai FC left back to drive past him as the left back brought him down in the box with a clumsy tackle from behind as the referee had no hesitation in awarding the visitors a penalty.

Myron Mendes stepped up, but his effort was brilliantly saved by the Mumbai Fc goalkeeper Nishant Shetty. Pune FC eventually got their third goal four minutes later, as Arif Shaikh send a looping header over the covering defender and into the net after Mumbai FC failed to deal with a long ball and allowed it to bounce in the box.
With the game virtually in the bag, Pune FC turned on the style as Altamesh Sayyd’s effort was saved acrobatically by Nishant Shetty in the 67th minute.

Pune FC made it 4-0 in the 71st minute, as Asheer Akhtar unleashed an unstoppable drive, which flew into the top corner. It was to be the pick of the goals in the game.

Altamesh Sayyad was denied yet again seven minutes later as his dipping effort came off the crossbar from which Chesterpoul Lyngdoh’s effort too hit the crossbar. He got injured in the clash with the Mumbai FC goalkeeper and had to be stretched off with a check bone injury. It was a nasty blow the Pune FC No.10 had taken as he was rushed to a hospital

Mumbai FC pulled one back through Nachiket Palav in the 81st minute after he slotted home from close range after the ball fell in his path resulting from a confusion in the Pune FC defence.

But there was no further joy for the hosts as Pune FC restored their foul goal lead two minutes later with Arif Shaikh completing his hat-trick after pouncing on a howler from the Mumbai FC center back.

Pune FC capped a fantastic night with yet another goal in the first minute of added time as Dimple Bhagat drove into the box from defence to drill a low shot past the goalkeeper to make it 6-1 in Pune’s favor.

The referee blew the final whistle as Mumbai FC were humiliated on their own patch as a scintillating Pune FC side took them to the cleaners thanks to a fantastic hat-trick from Arif Shaikh.
This was Mumbai FC’s fifth defeat of the campaign as their hopes of qualifying were ended.

The post Sensational Pune FC hand Mumbai FC a 6-1 drubbing in the U-19 I-League appeared first on Football Counter.