 | |||
| Association | Football Association of Panjab | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Confederation | ConIFA | ||
| Head coach | Manraj Singh Sucha | ||
| Most caps | Amarvir Singh Sandhu (18) | ||
| Top scorer | Amar Singh Purewal (10) | ||
| Home stadium | Hadley Stadium, Smethwick | ||
| |||
| First international | |||
 Ellan Vannin 8–1 Panjab  (Douglas, Isle of Man; 30 May, 2015) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
Panjab 9–1 Alderney  (Douglas, Isle of Man; 31 May, 2015) Panjab 8–0 Kabylia  (Slough, England; 31 May 2018) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
| Ellan Vannin 8–1 Panjab (Douglas, Isle of Man; 30 May, 2015) | |||
| ConIFA World Football Cup | |||
| Appearances | 2 (first in 2016) | ||
| Best result | Runners-Up 2016 | ||
| Website | Panjab Football Association | ||
The Panjab Football Team is a representative football team formed in 2014 in the United Kingdom to represent the Punjabi diaspora. The team is governed by the Football Association of Panjab, this is not to be confused with the Punjab Football Association, which is the state governing body of football in the Punjab state of India.
Background
The Panjab FA was founded in 2014 with the primary aim of establishing a team to represent the community of the Punjab across the world.[1] The Punjab region is an area that stretches across parts of eastern Pakistan and northern India, and the association has aligned itself within the boundaries of this area, as represented by the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the 19th century.[2] To this end, the association applied for membership of the Confederation of Independent Football Associations (ConIFA), an international body designed to allow nations, unrecognised states, minorities, stateless peoples and others ineligible to join FIFA to take part in competitive international football. The Panjab FA joined ConIFA on 7 April 2014.[3]
Following the establishment of the association and the confirmation of its membership of ConIFA, a series of trials was held in order to select the initial squad selection.[4] The first of these took place in December 2014,[5] with subsequent trials into 2015. On 22 December 2014, the first match organised by the Panjab FA saw a team of trialists take on the Sealand national "B" team, in which the Panjab XI won 4–1.[6][7]
In early 2015, the association continued the development of its structures, with the recruitment of coaches and scouts, and the first full training session of the initial national squad. In May 2015, it was announced that the team would participate in its first full international fixtures when it was invited to take part in the Niamh Challenge Cup in the Isle of Man, a four team tournament that would not only provide the first international opposition for the team, but also provide a route to qualify for the 2016 ConIFA World Football Cup. The team was also due to participate in a second friendly tournament, the Benedikt Fontana Cup, held in Raetia, and which would provide a second opportunity to qualify for the WFC.[8] However, they subsequently pulled out of this tournament, to be replaced by the Chagos Islands,[9] the team will compete at the 2016 ConIFA World Football Cup.
2016 ConIFA World Football Cup
Panjab was selected as one of the twelve participants in the 2016 ConIFA World Football Cup in January 2016.[10] At the subsequent draw, the team was placed in Group D alongside Sápmi and Somaliland. The team finished top of the group, before playing Western Armenia in the quarter-final, and Padania in the semi-final. Victory saw them face the hosts, Abkhazia in the final, where they led until the 88th minute before losing on penalties.[11]
2018 ConIFA World Football Cup
The team also competed at the 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup, managed by Reuben Hazell.[12]
Matches
2014
| 22 December 2014 Friendly | Panjab XI | 4–1 |  Sealand "B" | Hadley Stadium, Smethwick |
| 14:00 GMT | Aaron Singh Dhillon  33'Tarlochan Singh 41'Sukhraj Singh Nijjar 52'Amarvir Singh Sandhu 72' |
Report | 62' Dan Hughes |
2015
| 30 May 2015 Niamh Challenge Cup | Ellan Vannin | 8–1 | Panjab | The Bowl, Douglas |
| 15:00 BST | Sean Quaye 11', 37' Ciaran McNulty 15'Conor Doyle 44'Frank Jones 50', 55'Furo Davies 67'Liam Doyle 75' |
? 28' |
| 20 December 2015 International Friendly | Panjab | 4–1 |  Chagos Islands | Central Ground, Sutton Coldfield |
| 15:00 BST |
2016
| 20 February 2016 Friendly | Leicester City FC International Academy | 2–2 | Panjab | Belvoir Drive, Leicester |
| 12:00 BST |
| 20 March 2016 Friendly | Manchester International Academy | 1–9 | Panjab | Salford Sports Village, Salford |
| 13:00 BST |
| 24 April 2016 International Friendly | Panjab | 0–2 |  Jersey | Aggborough Stadium, Kidderminster |
| 15:00 BST | Report | Luke Watson 49' Karl Hinds 80' |
| 30 May 2016 ConIFA WFC Group D | Sápmi  | 0–1 | Panjab | Daur Akhvlediani Stadium, Gagra |
| 15:00 GET | Report | 8' Gurjit Singh |
| 31 May 2016 ConIFA WFC Group D | Somaliland  | 0–5 | Panjab | Daur Akhvlediani Stadium, Gagra |
| 15:00 GET | 30', 67', 80' Amar Purewal 38' Arjun Purewal 74' Gurjit Singh |
| 2 June 2016 ConIFA WFC Quarter-Final | Western Armenia  | 2–3 | Panjab | Dinamo Stadium, Sukhumi |
| 20:00 GET |
| 4 June 2016 ConIFA WFC Semi-Final | Padania  | 0–1 | Panjab | Dinamo Stadium, Sukhumi |
| 15:00 GET |
| 5 June 2016 ConIFA WFC Final | Abkhazia  | 1–1 (6–5 p) | Panjab | Dinamo Stadium, Sukhumi |
| 20:00 GET | Ruslan Shoniya 88' |
57' Amar Purewal |
||
| Penalties | ||||
Anri Khagba  Anri Khagush  Dmitriy Akhba Tarash Khagba Ruslan Shoniya Alan Khugaev Shabat Logua Vladimir Argun |
Amar Purewal Radjpal Virk Terlochan Singh Karum Shanker Jhai Dhillon Aran Basi Amarvir Sandhu Aaron Minhas |
|||
2017
| 4 March 2017 Friendly | Leicester City FC International Academy | 4–3 | Panjab | Belvoir Drive, Leicester |
| 13:00 GMT |
| 23 April 2017 International Friendly | Jersey | 0–2 | Panjab | Springfield Stadium, Saint Helier |
| 12:45 BST |
| 28 May 2017 International Friendly | Panjab | 1–2 |  England "C" | Aggborough Stadium, Kidderminster |
| 15:00 BST |
2018
| 8 April 2018 Friendly | Hashtag United F.C. | 2–1 | Panjab | London, England |
| Rich Beck 4' George Vallentyne 75' |
29' |
Stadium: White Hart Lane Community Sports Centre Attendance: 20 |
| 29 April 2018 International Friendly | Ellan Vannin | 2–1 | Panjab | Sandbach, England |
| Stadium: Sandbach Community Football Centre |
| 14 May 2018 Friendly | Liverpool F.C. Under 23 | 4–1 | Panjab | Kirkby, Liverpool |
| Lewis 24' Ángel 31'Kane 75'Adekanye 84' |
Report | Bhandel 19' |
Stadium: Kirkby Academy Complex |
| 27 May 2018 Friendly | Panjab | 8–0 |  Dhaka Akadash R.C. | Arbour Park, Slough |
| 31 May 2018 ConIFA WFC Group D | Panjab | 8–0 | Kabylia | Arbour Park, Slough |
| 15:00 BST | Sandhu 24', 53' Purewal 45', 62'G. Singh 51' (pen.), 90+3'K. Singh 75', 82' |
Report |
| 2 June 2018 ConIFA WFC Group D | Panjab | 0–1 | Western Armenia | Arbour Park, Slough |
| 17:00 BST | Report | Militosyan 14' |
Referee: Kristian Michel |
| 3 June 2018 ConIFA WFC Group D | Panjab | 1–1 |  United Koreans in Japan | Arbour Park, Slough |
| 18:00 BST | Purewal 77' (pen.) |
Report | Mun 90+4' |
Referee: David Murphy |
| 5 June 2018 ConIFA WFC Quarter-Final | Padania | 2–0 | Panjab | Larges Lane, Bracknell |
| 15:00 BST | Innocenti 59' (pen.) Pavan 90' |
Report | Referee: Vitalii Mazin |
| 7 June 2018 ConIFA WFC Placement Round 2 | Barawa .svg.png.webp){kind=small} | 0–5 | Panjab | Gander Green Lane, Sutton |
| 15:00 BST | Report | K. Singh 8', 65', 72', 90+2' Minhas 46' |
Referee: David Murphy |
| 9 June 2018 ConIFA WFC Placement Round 3 | Panjab | 3–3 (4–3 p) |  Cascadia | St Paul's Sports Ground, Rotherhithe |
| 15:00 BST | Virk 18' Minhas 24', 34' |
Report | Morales 45' Ferguson 54', 60' |
Referee: Mariano Sasso |
| Penalties | ||||
| Purewal Zia Virk Dhillon K. Singh Jung |
Riley Gregory J. Wilson Oldham Haddadi Levock |
|||
2019
| 6 March 2019 Friendly | Burton Albion F.C. Reserves | 2–2 | Panjab | Lilleshall National Sports Centre, Lilyhurst |
| 19:45 GMT |
| 15 June 2019 Friendly | Barry Town United F.C. | 1–1 | Panjab | Jenner Park Stadium, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan |
| 19:45 GMT |
| 29 December 2019 Friendly | Chagos Islands | 0–6 | Panjab | Camping World Community Stadium, Horsham |
| 12:00 |
Current squad
The following players were called up for the 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup. Caps and goals correct as of 21 May after the game against Jersey.
Head Coach: Manraj Singh Sucha
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | GK | Raajan Singh Gill | 15 August 1993 | 12 | 0 | Newcastle Town |
| 1 | GK | Yousuf Butt | 18 October 1989 | 3 | 0 |  Ishøj IF |
| 6 | DF | Jaskaran Singh Basi | 21 March 1993 | 14 | 0 | Eccleshill United |
| 3 | DF | Jhai Singh Dhillon | 2 April 1995 | 11 | 0 | Chesham United |
| 5 | DF | Arun Singh Purewal | 28 October 1989 | 11 | 0 | Consett |
| 15 | DF | Glen Hayer | 2 February 1998 | 6 | 0 | Clevedon Town |
| 18 | DF | Sufyan Zia | 10 May 1997 | 4 | 0 | Bilston Town |
| 11 | MF | Amarvir Singh Sandhu | 10 December 1995 | 18 | 3 | Leicester Road |
| 2 | MF | Umar Riaz | 25 April 1991 | 15 | 2 | Burnham |
| 8 | MF | Aaron Minhas | 8 January 1994 | 12 | 1 | Beaconsfield Town |
| 16 | MF | Terlochan Singh | 20 October 1989 | 11 | 1 | Glebe |
| 10 | MF | Rajpal Singh Virk | 8 April 1994 | 10 | 4 | Unattached |
| 4 | MF | Camen Singh Bhandal | 15 April 1994 | 6 | 1 | Punjab United |
| 20 | MF | Arjun Jung | 12 April 1994 | 4 | 0 | Kings Langley |
| 17 | MF | Taimoor Hussain | 21 June 1992 | 3 | 0 | Unattached |
| 9 | FW | Amar Singh Purewal | 28 October 1989 | 11 | 10 | West Auckland Town |
| 14 | FW | Gurjit Singh | 9 February 1991 | 11 | 7 | Rushall Olympic |
| 7 | FW | Nathan Minhas | 16 September 1997 | 5 | 0 | Maidenhead United |
| 19 | FW | Nikinder Uppal | 18 April 1995 | 3 | 2 | Barnt Green Spartak |
| 13 | FW | Kamaljit Singh | 3 September 1994 | 7 | 6 |  Eintracht Nordhorn |
Managers
| Manager | Period | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reuben Hazel |
2014–2018 | 26 | 12 | 5 | 9 | 46.2 |
| Manraj Singh Sucha |
2018–present | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 25.0 |
| Totals | 30 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 43.33 | |
References
- ↑ "Mission Statement". Panjab FA. Panjab Football Association. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ↑ "Background". Panjab FA. Panjab Football Association. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ↑ "Panjab FA accepted as member of Conifa". Panjab FA. Panjab Football Association. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ↑ "National Team Trials". Panjab FA. Panjab Football Association. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ↑ "1st ever trial day for Panjab national football team". Twitter. Panjab Football Association. 14 December 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ↑ "PANJAB FA TRIALIST XI 4–1 SEALAND FA "B"". Panjab FA. Panjab Football Association. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ↑ PANJAB FA (22 December 2014). "Panjab national football team 4 - 1 Sealand national football team". Retrieved 19 November 2018 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "CONIFA Summer 2015". ConIFA. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ↑ "Chagos ersetzt Panjab". FA Raetia (in German). 22 May 2015. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
- ↑ "#Abkhazia2016 participants". ConIFA. 17 January 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- ↑ "#Abkhazia2016 Match Summaries – Day 8". ConIFA. 5 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- ↑ "Conifa: Panjab FA target World Football Cup glory on 'home soil'". 28 May 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.