ISL diaries: Dhanarajan tribute and the sacking of Lobera

I-League club Gokulam Kerala handed over the ticket sales revenue, worth Rs. 5.60 lakh, from its home game against Churchill Brothers, to the late Dhanarajan’s family.

Expressing solidarity: Dhanarajan, 39, had played for Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan SC among other clubs. He died while playing a seven-a-side match for FC Perintalmanna in Perintalmanna, Kerala, after suffering a cardiac arrest.

 

Several Indian Super League (ISL) players offered solidarity to the late footballer Dhanarajan Radhakrishnan, who passed away in December while playing in Malapuram’s Sevens football tournament.

Dhanarajan, 39, had played for Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan SC among other clubs. He died while playing a seven-a-side match for FC Perintalmanna in Perintalmanna, Kerala, after a cardiac arrest.

Several ISL players supported I-League club Gokulam Kerala’s initiative of handing over around ₹ 5.60 lakh — the ticket sales revenue generated from the home game against Churchill Brothers — to his family.

Bengaluru FC skipper Sunil Chhetri (220 tickets), Kerala Blasters skipper Sandesh Jhingan (1000), Mumbai City FC goalkeeper Amrinder Singh (500) and Chennaiyin FC midfielder Dhanpal Ganesh had all purchased tickets for the game.

“To help Dhanaraj paaji’s family, I have bought 1,000 tickets for you. I can’t come to the stadium because of my injury. I would love for you all to get those tickets and go to the stadium and support Dhanaraj bhai’s family. Please come in large numbers,” said Jhingan.

Two time ISL champion Chennaiyin FC, too, brought 1,00 tickets.

Gokulam had extended invitations to Dhanarajan’s wife, Archana, and daughter, Shivani, for the game and it handed over the cheque to them at the EMS Stadium, Kozhikode.

Coyle weaves his magic at Chennaiyin

Owen Coyle’s first season in India has gotten off to a cracking start as the Scotsman has guided Chennaiyin FC to five wins in eight matches, three more than what his predecessor John Gregory managed all of last season. The two-time ISL champion has gone from strength to strength, netting 15 goals in four successive wins, and now sits fifth on the table with a strong chance of making it to the playoffs. Chennaiyin’s star striker Nerijus Valskis also leads the race for the Golden Boot with 12 goals to his name.

FC Goa shockingly sacks Lobera

Troubled times: FC Goa has sacked its head coach Sergio Lobera ahead of the ISL playoffs.

 

Berating referees

On the attack: On the eve of the match against Odisha, Brengaluru FC coach Carles Cuadrat went on a nearly 10-minute monologue on referees and had to reminded by a scribe that the initial question was not really about refereeing.

 

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