Mumbai Tigers FC
| Full name | Dodsal Football Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2012 |
| Owner | Dodsal Group |
| Chairman | Mohammad Omar |
| Manager | Bimal Ghosh |
| League | Mumbai Football League |
| 2012–13 | First Season |
Dodsal Football Club is an Indian football club located in Mumbai, Maharashtra.[1] They will compete in the Mumbai Football League.[1] The club is owned by Dodsal Group which is headquartered in the United Arab Emirates.[1]
History
Dodsal FC, funded by the Dodsal Group -- a company owned by the Kilachand family, that deals with trading , distribution, engineering and construction among a host of other businesses -- had got themselves registered with the Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) and wasted no time in getting their act together.
The buzz is not just about the new entrant that promises to give Mumbai and Indian football a major fillip financially and professionally alone. It also signals the return of the exiled, former Air India coach Bimal Ghosh.
Known for his vision and being a maverick, it is said that Ghosh who will be at the helm has already managed to get his scouts ink the signatures of some of the big names in Indian football. They include Churchill Brothers striker Mohammed Rafi, East Bengal 'keeper Sandip Nandy, Pune FC midfielder Paresh Shivalkar , NP Pradeep, Thoi Singh, Kali Aliuddin , Rahul Kumar (of Mohun Bagan) and Sunil Kumar (former Mahindra United and Pune FC player), to name a few. The club also has plans of hiring a foreign coach soon.
Chairman of Dodsal, Rajen Kilachand is said to be good friends with Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour and if the signings are anything to go by, the club is going to do more than just make the numbers. Company officials are expected to fly down soon to complete all the relevant paper-work.
It is reliably learnt that the team will travel to Dubai for a fortnight of practice matches after a pre-season training session with their base being the Fr Agnel's artificial turf and the Reliance complex where the players will be housed. Incidentally, the complex has a state of the art gym and swimming pool, the facilities which will come to good use in the team's preparation.
With the I-League qualification being an immediate target, Dodsal FC is said to be planning a senior and under-19 team with an eye on the future. The management staff which includes two doctors, assistant coach (Mahesh Lotlikar, former Dempo, Mahindra United and then Pune FC manager), fitness trainer and media PRO have almost been put in place.
The management will fly down four high class foreign players of their choice to lend the team a cutting edge. When contacted, Ghosh who has been a victim of the Air India management and forced into oblivion, said clubs have been contacting him but he will take a call when the time is ripe. He however, refused to talk on his association with the club, but said if true, will be the best thing to happen to Mumbai and Indian football.
Stadium
The club do not have an official stadium as of yet as the Mumbai Football League and the Durand Cup are played at neutral venues but the club has already set up a training ground at the Fr. Angel High School sports complex.[2] The Sports Complex is well known for its artificial turf field.[2] The Sports Complex is also known for its fitness gym and swimming pool.[1]
Players
First-team squad
- As of 19 August 2012[3]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Current technical staff
- As of 19 August 2012[3]
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Bimal Ghosh |
| Assistant Coach | Mahesh Lotlikar |
| Manager | Chandrakant Naik |
| Physio | Nivedita Vishwanathan |
| Youth team coach | Abdul Azim Siddique |
Administration Staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Chairman of Company |  Rajen Kilachand
|
| CEO |  Mohammad Omar[4]
|
References
- ^ a b c d Majgaonkar, Kunaal. "Multi-crore Dodsal Group to kick-start team in Mumbai". Times of India. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
- ^ a b Madaan, Sachin. "Dodsal FC – Money Is Finally Getting Pumped Into Indian Football". The Hard Tackle. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
- ^ a b "Indian Football Transfers – Live Updates, July 18th". The Hard Tackle. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
- ^ Upadhyay, Somesh. "Dodsal FC Gearing Up To Enter Indian Football In Style". Indian Football Network. Retrieved 19 August 2012.