Anwar Ali (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Anwar Ali is an India
n football player, currently playing as Defender
on the India national football team
and Mohun Bagan A.C.. He was discovered by JCT FC at very young age from a local Punjab
club.
Joga Singh, assistant coach of Punjab Police, recognized his potential to play as center back because of his height and strength in the air. From then on Anwar would start playing as a central defender and in 2005 he realized his dream of signing for JCT. The 2006-07 season would turn out to be a very important season in Anwar’s career as it was in this campaign that he really came into the limelight. First he was adjudged as the most promising footballer of the 2006 Durand Cup, where JCT reached the final and narrowly lost to Dempo. In the National League, Anwar was one of the best defenders and his performances played a crucial role in JCT’s runner-up finish.
Anwar continued to improve the following season and finally got a call up to the senior national team. His first tournament was the 2008 SAFF Cup but the AFC Challenge Cup can be considered as his major breakthrough tournament as it was in this competition that he established himself as a regular. Anwar formed a formidable partnership with Gouramangi Moirangthem at the heart of the central defence as India conceded only three goals in five matches.
The tall defender has been a first team regular ever since, helping India to retain the Nehru Cup title in 2009 and also featuring regularly in the international friendlies of 2010. At club level, he signed for Goan giants Dempo last season and helped them win their fourth league title and personally his first. Anwar’s strength in the air will be vital when India takes on the likes of Australia, Bahrain and South Korea in Qatar 2011.
. He was awarded the most promising defender during Durand Cup 2006 and from there onwards he has established himself as a key player for JCT.
club Mohun Bagan A.C.
coach Bobby Houghton
. He was part of the victorious Indian National team in the AFC Challenge Cup 2008. He was also in the squad of 23 selected for the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar
.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n football player, currently playing as Defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
on the India national football team
India national football team
The Indian national football team is the national football team of India and is governed by the All India Football Federation. It is a member of the Asian Football Confederation. Since 1948, the AIFF has been affiliated with FIFA, the international governing body for football. In 1954, AIFF became...
and Mohun Bagan A.C.. He was discovered by JCT FC at very young age from a local Punjab
Punjab (British India)
Punjab was a province of British India, it was one of the last areas of the Indian subcontinent to fall under British rule. With the end of British rule in 1947 the province was split between West Punjab, which went to Pakistan, and East Punjab, which went to India...
club.
Career
Anwar learnt his early football skills at Rurka Kala Academy of his village, which is 30 kilometers away from his village. He joined the Rurka Kala Academy when he was in school. Initially he used to play as a right back for his school DAV Jalandhar and also impressed in the 2002 Sub Junior Nationals. Anwar was part of the 2004 Punjab Santosh Trophy team that lost to Kerala in the final. That same year he joined Punjab Police.Joga Singh, assistant coach of Punjab Police, recognized his potential to play as center back because of his height and strength in the air. From then on Anwar would start playing as a central defender and in 2005 he realized his dream of signing for JCT. The 2006-07 season would turn out to be a very important season in Anwar’s career as it was in this campaign that he really came into the limelight. First he was adjudged as the most promising footballer of the 2006 Durand Cup, where JCT reached the final and narrowly lost to Dempo. In the National League, Anwar was one of the best defenders and his performances played a crucial role in JCT’s runner-up finish.
Anwar continued to improve the following season and finally got a call up to the senior national team. His first tournament was the 2008 SAFF Cup but the AFC Challenge Cup can be considered as his major breakthrough tournament as it was in this competition that he established himself as a regular. Anwar formed a formidable partnership with Gouramangi Moirangthem at the heart of the central defence as India conceded only three goals in five matches.
The tall defender has been a first team regular ever since, helping India to retain the Nehru Cup title in 2009 and also featuring regularly in the international friendlies of 2010. At club level, he signed for Goan giants Dempo last season and helped them win their fourth league title and personally his first. Anwar’s strength in the air will be vital when India takes on the likes of Australia, Bahrain and South Korea in Qatar 2011.
JCT FC
Anwar Ali played for JCT FC in the I-LeagueI-League
The I-League is an Indian football league for association football clubs. At the top of the Indian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 14 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation of two teams each year with the I-League 2nd Division...
. He was awarded the most promising defender during Durand Cup 2006 and from there onwards he has established himself as a key player for JCT.
Dempo SC
For the 2009-10 I-League season, Anwar Ali signed for Dempo SC but he did not stay long as he left after one season.Mohun Bagan A.C.
Before the 2010-11 I-League season and before the 2011 Asian Cup Ali signed with fellow I-LeagueI-League
The I-League is an Indian football league for association football clubs. At the top of the Indian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 14 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation of two teams each year with the I-League 2nd Division...
club Mohun Bagan A.C.
India National Football Team
Anwar Ali has eastablished himself as National team regular. His very huge personality and his brilliance in air and challenges has caught the eyes of India national football teamIndia national football team
The Indian national football team is the national football team of India and is governed by the All India Football Federation. It is a member of the Asian Football Confederation. Since 1948, the AIFF has been affiliated with FIFA, the international governing body for football. In 1954, AIFF became...
coach Bobby Houghton
Bobby Houghton
Robert Douglas Houghton , commonly known as either Bob Houghton or Bobby Houghton, is an English football manager and former player, Houghton was most recently the head coach of India. His career has spanned over 30 years and 10 different countries...
. He was part of the victorious Indian National team in the AFC Challenge Cup 2008. He was also in the squad of 23 selected for the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
.
External links
- http://the-aiff.com/pages/team/players.php?plyrId=189
- http://goal.com/en-india/people/india/21176/anwar-ali