Pune FC
Encyclopedia
Pune Football Club is an India
n football club based in Pune
. The club was established in 2007, and gained promotion to the I-League
in the 2009-10 season. Pune F.C. one of the most professional football club in India is also known as one of the first football club to not follow the Institutional Football format that was seen more in I-League
. They also play the "Maha Derby" which takes place between Pune FC and Mumbai FC
. In the last two years though Pune FC fans have started to consider Kingfisher East Bengal FC as their main rivals.
Pune FC is one of the youngest clubs in the I-League
, having been established in August, 2007 by the Ashok Piramal Group. As their name suggests, they are based in Pune, Maharashtra, and play their home matches at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex
. The club was formed with the intention of putting the city of Pune on India’s footballing map.
Their first season in the I-League
was called a major success as Pune FC finished in 3rd place in the 2009-10 I-League season. But the 2010-11 I-League season was not as good as Pune FC dropped down the table to 5th place after starting the season with one win out of eleven which saw Pune FC in the relegation zone, but a good luck of form and the return of the India national football team
goalkeeper and Pune FC captain Subrata Pal
saw Pune FC climb back up the table and finish respectably. Following his successful loan period with the Indian Arrows
, Jeje Lalpekhlua
, one of the bright young Indian stars for the India national football team
had returned to Pune F.C. with his publicly announced intention of winning a trophy with the club. He would offset the loss of Edmar Figueira
, the Pune F.C. number 9 for the past two seasons who has jumped from the I-League to the Portugal Primeira Liga with C.D. Feirense. In September Pune FC resigned Pierre Djidjia Douhou
and Chika Wali
both of whom played an instrumental role in PFC's 3rd finish in the 2009-10 Season. Pune played against Premier League side Blackburn Rovers
at Balewadi Sports Complex on October 7, 2011. Blackburn Rovers won the match 3-0.
, Chhatrapati Shivaji's general, Tanaji Malusare
, used Yeshwanti (Shivaji's pet ghorpad) to scale the steep walls of Sinhagad Fort. Similarly, the ghorpad on the logo is meant to serve as an inspiration to the club, to overcome all obstacles and be successful in India and Asia. The colours used in the logo are red and gold. The red symbolises aggression, danger and passion and the gold symbolises success and victory.
as its venue for I-League
matches. All the I-League
matches are scheduled at 7:00 PM under floodlights. The club has built its own training pitches on the outskirts of Pune
at an area called Mamurdi, near where the Mumbai-Pune Express Highway ends.
known as Venky, Arata Izumi
, Lester Fernandez
, Subrata Paul and local boy Paresh Shivalkar
are the closest to PFC fans.
n Football clubs which are being promoted by different corporate groups. The Ashok Piramal Group, which has diverse business interests, established Pune FC in August 2007. The club was named after the city of its origin in keeping with the tradition of many international football clubs which are highly successful in drawing the crowds.
.
On the Pune F.C. website it said that In doing so [opening the academy] Pune F.C. will incorporate and sync the dire need of aspiring footballers go through a systemized youth development program, which eventually will lead to produce talent for both - the Indian market and Pune FC themselves.
The Academy will be headed by PFC Head of Youth Development, Ranjan Chowdhury, and will comprise of 30 footballers who will form make the first batch of the academy.
They also said that the two-year residential program shall have the academy players based at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Hotel, Balewadi and will travel to the Pune F.C. training ground based at Mamurdi to train.
Speaking about the academy, Pune F.C. Head of Operations Chirag Tanna, said, “PFC is confident of a full placement of the young footballers in the Division I and Division II of the I–League, given the 80 percent placement they have had for the previous batch of the U–19 talents in 2010-2011.”
Updated November 6th 2011
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 club based in Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
. The club was established in 2007, and gained promotion to the I-League
I-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...
in the 2009-10 season. Pune F.C. one of the most professional football club in India is also known as one of the first football club to not follow the Institutional Football format that was seen more in I-League
I-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...
. They also play the "Maha Derby" which takes place between Pune FC and Mumbai FC
Mumbai FC
Mumbai Football Club is an Indian football club based in Mumbai. The Club has many firsts to its credit and promises made have been duly fulfilled...
. In the last two years though Pune FC fans have started to consider Kingfisher East Bengal FC as their main rivals.
History
I-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...
, having been established in August, 2007 by the Ashok Piramal Group. As their name suggests, they are based in Pune, Maharashtra, and play their home matches at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex
Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex
Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi, Pune is an Indian sports complex. This complex is situated in Balewadi, Pune, about 14–15 km far from Pune downtown and 4–5 km from Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park, Hinjewadi, Pune...
. The club was formed with the intention of putting the city of Pune on India’s footballing map.
Their first season in the I-League
I-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...
was called a major success as Pune FC finished in 3rd place in the 2009-10 I-League season. But the 2010-11 I-League season was not as good as Pune FC dropped down the table to 5th place after starting the season with one win out of eleven which saw Pune FC in the relegation zone, but a good luck of form and the return of 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...
goalkeeper and Pune FC captain Subrata Pal
Subrata Pal
Subrata Pal , often known as Subrata Paul, is an Indian football player, currently the goalkeeper of India national football team and Pune FC...
saw Pune FC climb back up the table and finish respectably. Following his successful loan period with the Indian Arrows
Pailan Arrows
Pailan Arrows is a football club is based in Kolkata, India. Founded in 2010 under a different name, it is owned and managed by the All India Football Federation and Pailan Group...
, Jeje Lalpekhlua
Jeje Lalpekhlua
Jeje Lalpekhlua is an Indian footballer who currently plays for Pune F.C. in the I-League. He is being dubbed as the next Baichung Bhutia and is being dubbed as one of the brightest prospects for Indian football. He scored the only goal in a win against Afghanistan in the SAFF Cup group stage match...
, one of the bright young Indian stars for 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...
had returned to Pune F.C. with his publicly announced intention of winning a trophy with the club. He would offset the loss of Edmar Figueira
Edmar Figueira
Edmar Figueira is a Brazilian Footballer with EU Passport, Striker left-footed, currently playing in the Romanian First Division, Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt-Career:...
, the Pune F.C. number 9 for the past two seasons who has jumped from the I-League to the Portugal Primeira Liga with C.D. Feirense. In September Pune FC resigned Pierre Djidjia Douhou
Pierre Djidjia Douhou
Pierre Djidjia Douhou is an Ivorian football player who currently plays for Pune F.C. in the I-League.- Career :Douhou began his Asia career in Thailand with True Sport Arsenal FC and joined in January 2007 to Hoàng Anh Gia Lai who was one of the best Playmakers of the league...
and Chika Wali
Chika Wali
Chika Wali is an Nigerian football player who plays as a Defender for I-League team Pune.From the grounds of River State in Nigeria to Pune F.C, this solidly built Nigerian teenager has come some distance in every sense of the phrase....
both of whom played an instrumental role in PFC's 3rd finish in the 2009-10 Season. Pune played against Premier League side Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
at Balewadi Sports Complex on October 7, 2011. Blackburn Rovers won the match 3-0.
Crest
The Logo of the club is a shield with a Ghorpad (Monitor Lizard) engulfing a football. During the Battle of SinhagadBattle of Sinhagad
The Battle of Sinhagad was a night battle that took place on February 4, 1670 in the fort of Sinhagad, near the city of Pune, Maharashtra, India. It was fought between Tanaji Malusare, a commander of Maratha ruler Shivaji and Udaybhan Rathod, fortkeeper under Jai Singh I...
, Chhatrapati Shivaji's general, Tanaji Malusare
Tanaji Malusare
Tanaji Malusare , also known as Simha , was a warrior and military leader in the army of Shivaji, founder of the Maratha Empire in 17th century India. Tanaji was one of Shivaji's closest friends; the two had known each other since childhood....
, used Yeshwanti (Shivaji's pet ghorpad) to scale the steep walls of Sinhagad Fort. Similarly, the ghorpad on the logo is meant to serve as an inspiration to the club, to overcome all obstacles and be successful in India and Asia. The colours used in the logo are red and gold. The red symbolises aggression, danger and passion and the gold symbolises success and victory.
Stadium
Pune F.C. uses the small yet spectacular Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports ComplexShree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex
Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi, Pune is an Indian sports complex. This complex is situated in Balewadi, Pune, about 14–15 km far from Pune downtown and 4–5 km from Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park, Hinjewadi, Pune...
as its venue for I-League
I-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...
matches. All the I-League
I-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...
matches are scheduled at 7:00 PM under floodlights. The club has built its own training pitches on the outskirts of Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
at an area called Mamurdi, near where the Mumbai-Pune Express Highway ends.
Supporters
Pune F.C. are well supported by passionate and often very loud fans who come in numbers for every Pune FC game. In due course of time the slogan "Who are we... PFC!" has become a hit. Lots of kids turn out for a match which is a positive sign for football development in Pune.Fan's Players
Although the whole Pune squad is very close to the thousands of PFC's Supporters, Shanmugam VenkateshShanmugam Venkatesh
Shanmugham Venkatesh is an Indian football player from Bangalore.He has been playing international matches representing India since the year 1997 in various age group . He is one of the best midfield players in India...
known as Venky, Arata Izumi
Arata Izumi
is an Indian-Japanese football player, who currently plays attacking midfielder for Pune in the I-League.- Career :After graduating from high school, he joined Albirex Niigata FC of Singapore's S.League. He has played in India since he played in Japan Football League for one season.Arata wears the...
, Lester Fernandez
Lester Fernandez
Lester Fernandez is an Indian football player who plays as a Midfielder for I-League team Pune.-2010-11:Fernandez started the 2010-11 I-League with Pune F.C. after transferring from Salgaocar.-2011-12:...
, Subrata Paul and local boy Paresh Shivalkar
Paresh Shivalkar
Paresh Shivalkar is an Indian football player. He is currently playing for Pune FC in the I-League in India as a Midfielder.-2010-11 Season:Shivalkar started the 2010-11 I-League with Pune FC...
are the closest to PFC fans.
Ownership and Finances
Pune F.C. is one of the new generation of IndiaIndia
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 clubs which are being promoted by different corporate groups. The Ashok Piramal Group, which has diverse business interests, established Pune FC in August 2007. The club was named after the city of its origin in keeping with the tradition of many international football clubs which are highly successful in drawing the crowds.
Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
Pune FC sign two-year deal with InfosysInfosys
Infosys Limited, formerly Infosys Technologies Limited is a global technology services company headquartered in Bangalore, India. It is the second largest IT exporter in India with 133,560 employees as of March 2011. It has offices in 33 countries and development centers in India, China,...
.
Kit Sponsor
- 2007-2009: NikeNike, Inc.Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
- 2009–2011: Mazamba
- 2011–present: AdidasAdidasAdidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
PFC TV
PFC TV is an online TV channel created by Pune F.C. that allows fans to watch Pune F.C. match highlights, news shows, player interviews, and more. PFC TV can be watched on punefc.com or on their YouTube account PFCTVonline. Pune F.C. are known to be the first Indian football team in India to do this.First-team squad
Academy
Pune Football Club is set to launch the Peninsula Pune Football Club Academy (PPFCA) on July 18, 2011.On the Pune F.C. website it said that In doing so [opening the academy] Pune F.C. will incorporate and sync the dire need of aspiring footballers go through a systemized youth development program, which eventually will lead to produce talent for both - the Indian market and Pune FC themselves.
The Academy will be headed by PFC Head of Youth Development, Ranjan Chowdhury, and will comprise of 30 footballers who will form make the first batch of the academy.
They also said that the two-year residential program shall have the academy players based at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Hotel, Balewadi and will travel to the Pune F.C. training ground based at Mamurdi to train.
Speaking about the academy, Pune F.C. Head of Operations Chirag Tanna, said, “PFC is confident of a full placement of the young footballers in the Division I and Division II of the I–League, given the 80 percent placement they have had for the previous batch of the U–19 talents in 2010-2011.”
Current Technical Staff
- As of 18 June 2011.
Team Management Table Name Position 
Derrick PereiraDerrick PereiraDerrick Pereira, , is a Indian association football manager and former player, who has managed Indian I-League side Pune FC since 2009. He is currently the club's longest serving manager....Head Coach Ashok KumarGeneral Manager Norbert GonsalvesAssistant Coach Ranjan ChowdhuryHead of Youth Development Gift RaikhanCoach, Youth Development
Manager history
Team managers of Pune F.C. and their statistics in all tournamentsUpdated November 6th 2011
| Name | Nationality | From | |Honours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stewart Hall | September 2007 | February 2008 |
||
| Bernard McNally Bernard McNally Bernard Anthony McNally is a former Northern Ireland international footballer who played in midfield.... |
February 8, 2008 | May 8, 2008 |
||
| Stewart Hall | July 8, 2008 | May 9, 2009 |
||
| Derrick Pereira Derrick Pereira Derrick Pereira, , is a Indian association football manager and former player, who has managed Indian I-League side Pune FC since 2009. He is currently the club's longest serving manager.... |
June 9, 2009 | present |
Domestic
- I-League 2nd DivisionI-League 2nd DivisionThe I-League 2nd Division is the second highest division of football in India after the I-League....
- Runners-up (1): 2008I-League 2nd Division 2008The draw of the preliminary groups of the inaugural I-League Division 2 was carried out at Football House, Dwarka on 25 February 2008. The 12 participating teams have been drawn into two groups of six teams each to be played in Pune and Kolhapur...