PARIS: NTT DATA, a global leader in digital business and technology services, today announced a strategic partnership with Paris FC for the 2025-2026 season. In 2025, shortly after the club was acquired by the Arnault family (owners of the LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE), Paris FC was promoted to Ligue 1, returning to the elite of French football.

This partnership adds to NTT DATA’s collaborations with prestigious clubs and sporting organizations such as Arsenal F.C. and INDYCAR, demonstrating its global expertise in sports and innovation.

Paris FC opens a new digital chapter

NTT DATA will support the development of an ambitious roadmap aimed at enriching supporter experience through new digital pathways, including deploying conversational agents and creating personalized content.

This will be an immersive, intelligent, and connected experience that transforms the relationship between fans and their club into a true engagement platform, opening new growth areas for Paris FC and its partners.

The partnership also aims to modernize and digitalize Paris FC’s technology infrastructure, focusing on connectivity, collaboration, innovation, and intelligent data exploitation.

“Paris FC’s promotion to Ligue 1, the arrival of a new shareholder, and our move to Jean Bouin mark a new era for the club. This partnership with NTT DATA is fully in line with this momentum: it enables us to accelerate our digital transformation to offer our supporters a modern, connected, and ambitious experience,” commented Pierre Ferracci, President of Paris FC.

A strategic partnership for a modern, connected, and engaged club

Beyond technology, Paris FC and NTT DATA have a shared vision using football as a means to achieve diversity and inclusion alongside digital transformation, bringing communities closer together and creating high-impact experiences for fans and partners. As well as promotion to Ligue 1, Paris FC has already qualified for the UEFA Women’s Champions League 2025/2026 and established Paris FC Handifoot, a dedicated program making football accessible to players with disabilities.

“This partnership with Paris FC embodies our mission at NTT DATA: to accelerate client success and positively impact society through responsible innovation,” added Olivier Posty, SVP France Luxembourg at NTT DATA.

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MUMBAI: Aston Villa FC and Punjab FC will kick off the Next Generation Cup 2024 at the Aston Villa FC Training Ground in Tamworth, UK on August 1. Three teams from India and one from South Africa will fly to the UK in the coming week and the town of Tamworth will host the tournament this year. (Premier League Next Generation Cup 2024 Schedule)

Matches are scheduled to take place at the Aston Villa FC Training Ground. The facility boasts more than eight football fields and many impressive amenities. The tournament will be held from August 1 to August 4 with the finals hosted at the Loughborough University Stadium. Premier League Next Gen Cup Announcement

August 1st – Thursday

The Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) champions Punjab FC will take on the host city team Aston Villa at 10:00 AM (2:30 PM IST). Simultaneously, Everton will face off with Muthoot FA, the third-placed team in the RFDL, on the other pitch. Muthoot FA opened a lot of eyes during the RFDL and the players will display their grit against the International opponents.

A few hours later, at 3:00 PM (7:30 PM IST), Crystal Palace takes on East Bengal FC, the RFDL runners-up, while the other pitch witnesses a clash between Stellenbosch FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC. Stellenbosch FC of South Africa won the Midlands group title in the 2022 Next Generation Cup while Spurs suffered a defeat that year in the London group finals as they lost 8-0 to West Ham United. They missed out on an appearance in the 2023 Next Generation Cup but will try to get the silverware home this season.

August 2nd – Friday

The second day of the tournament will kick off similarly at 10:00 AM (2:30 PM IST), with a matchup between Muthoot FA and Crystal Palace on one pitch while the other field hosts Aston Villa and Stellenbosch FC. A few hours later, at 3:00 PM (7:30 PM IST), East Bengal will try to prove their mettle against Everton while Tottenham Hotspur faces off with the RFDL champions Punjab FC.

Every team plays every day during this tournament so the players have to deal with a very quick turnaround regardless of the previous game’s outcome. Only time will tell which team will step up to the challenge.

August 3rd – Saturday

The third and final day of the group-stage games will begin with Tottenham Hotspur and Muthoot FA battling it out for a top spot in the leaderboard at 3:00 PM (7:00 PM IST). The top eight teams will enter a bracket and compete on the last day of the tournament. The first and second-placed teams on the table will play in the Grand Final and fight for the bragging rights of the 2024 Next Generation Cup.

Premier League sides and Indian teams will not face teams from their country during the span of these group-stage games. The aim is to promote international exposure and development of young players and they are set to receive that courtesy of the high-intensity matches that they’ll be a part of in the coming week.

Crystal Palace and Stellenbosch FC will kick off alongside the game between Tottenham Hotspur and Muthoot FA at 3:00 PM (7:30 PM IST). At 6:00 PM (10:30 PM IST), hosts Aston Villa welcome East Bengal FC on the field while Everton and Punjab FC clash on the other pitch to wrap up the group stages.

The stakes will be at an all-time high as teams try to move up the ladder on the final day of the group-stage games. As mentioned earlier, the last day’s fixtures will be determined by the standings.

August 4th – Sunday

The last day of the tournament will show each team’s grit and might. The 7th and 8th-placed teams will face off at 10:00 AM (2:30 PM IST) alongside the 5th and 6th-placed teams. At noon, there will be a showdown between the third and fourth-placed sides for the third place. Finally, the 2024 Next Generation Cup will conclude with the first and second-position teams locking horns at 4:00 PM (8:30 PM IST) for the much-awaited championship title.

Where to Watch?

The matches will be streamed live on the following platforms -:

Reliance Foundation Youth Sports: https://youtube.com/@RelianceFoundationYouthSports

Premier League: https://youtube.com/@premierleague

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KOLKATA: Mumbai City FC beat Mohun Bagan Super Giant 3-1 at the Salt Lake Stadium to emerge as the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 Cup Winners at the final in Kolkata tonight. The Islanders came from behind after Jason Cummings handed the Mariners a lead late in the first half. Second-half strikes by Jorge Pereyra Diaz, Bipin Singh, and Jakub Vojtus ensured that the Petr Kratky-coached side settled the scores against the home side in front of a capacity crowd to draw curtains on the landmark 10th season of the ISL.

In proceedings slightly identical to the final of ISL 2020-21, when both these teams had squared off in the summit clash, a similar hero came up, as Bipin Singh notched an 81st-minute strike to help his men avenge the loss that they succumbed to, in the title decider at this very venue. In the first-ever ISL grand finale held in Kolkata, Mumbai City FC returned the happier of the two teams winning their second ISL final, with both of them coming against the Mariners.

Both sides trod a cautious line in the opening half, focusing on holding their shape, playing to their strengths, and not giving away too much to work on for the opposition. However, Mohun Bagan Super Giant drew the first blood thanks to their fierce offensive duo of Dimitrios Petratos and Cummings.

Petratos hasn’t been afraid to test his luck from a distance often in this campaign. As the opening essay of the game was concluding, he unleashed a shot that caught Mumbai City FC goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa off-guard. The custodian fumbled the effort; with Cummings present right there like a fox in the box to bury the chance in the 44th minute and ensure that his team entered the break with a lead in hand.

The Islanders naturally decided to shake things up in the second half. They adopted newer courses of play, involving a long ball from Alberto Noguera to their Argentine striker Jorge Pereyra Diaz eight minutes into the second half. Diaz’s sharp offensive instincts were right there on display, calmly bringing the ball down, steering it near Vishal Kaith, and slotting the ball into the back of the net to equalize the scores.

For a brief passage of play, it appeared that the game might head into the extra time, but an unfortunate knock picked by Diaz in the 72nd minute opened the floodgates for the comeback by the visitors.

As the striker was taken off the field, Slovak striker Vojtus replaced him and was central to both the goals that Mumbai City FC scored after that. Bipin’s one came through a scrambled effort where Vikram Partap Singh squared up a pass for Lallianzuala Chhangte at the edge of the box. Chhangte’s attempt at goal took a nick off Vojtus’ foot, but amidst a crowded situation, Bipin hammered in the ball to get his side the lead in the game.

The Mariners desperately sought to level scores in the added time of the second half, but they ended up exposing large chunks of space in the backline. Vojtus capitalized on one of those loose balls, getting control over the ball on the right side of the box and demonstrating impeccable efficiency to net his team’s third goal of the night.

Key Performer of the Match

• Jorge Pereyra Diaz (Mumbai City FC)
• Diaz completed 15 out of his 19 attempted passes and was buzzing in and around the Mariners’ backline to search for a breakthrough. His goal oozed all class and was instrumental in laying the foundation of Mumbai City FC’s triumph in this game.

ISL 2023-24 Season Awards

• Golden Glove – Phurba Lachenpa (Mumbai City FC)
• Golden Boot – Dimitrios Diamantakos (Kerala Blasters FC)
• Emerging Player of the League – Vikram Partap Singh (Mumbai City FC)
• Player of the League – Dimitrios Petratos (Mohun Bagan Super Giant)

Brief Scores

• Mumbai City FC 3 (Jorge Pereyra Diaz 53’, Bipin Singh 81’, Jakub Vojtus 90+7’) – 1 Mohun Bagan Super Giant (Jason Cummings 44’)

The post Mumbai City FC Crowned ISL Cup Winners appeared first on NRI News.

The Uruguayan international was constantly teasing the East Bengal backline, finding opportunities that could help him create a chance out of nowhere. One such chance emerged in the 32nd minute, as Luna spotted a disoriented opposition defense and carved it open with a crafty pass for fellow teammate Daisuke Sakai.

The 26-year-old immediately rushed into the box, tricked Mohamad Rakip with quick footwork, and shot the ball past Prabhsukhan Singh Gill to hand his side the lead. Sakai thus became only the fourth Japanese player to score a goal in ISL history, after Cy Goddard, Katsumi Yusa, and Rei Tachikawa.

If Luna has been Kerala’s star in attack, young goalkeeper Sachin Suresh has come up as a surprise package at the back. His distribution has been commendable, recording a 57% passing success rate in six appearances so far. However, it is his shot-stopping that has made heads turn, as he saved a penalty in his second successive game tonight. Brazilian striker Cleiton Silva had a brilliant opportunity to draw scores level in the 85th minute, but Sachin dived to his right and saved the shot amidst joyous celebration from his teammates, becoming the first goalkeeper in ISL history to save penalties in consecutive matches.

East Bengal was shaken for a bit after that event, and the Blasters immediately capitalized as Sandeep Singh’s delivery to Dimitrios Diamantakos met little resistance with the effort eventually being converted into a goal in the 88th minute. The Greek striker was shown his second yellow card soon afterward though, thus getting sent off in the 89th minute. That one-man advantage led to the home side earning a spot-kick in the ninth minute of added time, and Silva did convert the penalty this time around. Only, there weren’t enough minutes left for them to salvage an equalizer eventually.

Key Performer of the Match

Sachin Suresh (Kerala Blasters FC)

The 22-year-old became the eighth youngest goalkeeper in ISL history to save a spot-kick, and his ability to elevate his game at crucial junctures has helped the Blasters secure important points in two straight games now. There are a lot more impressive performances to come from this talented custodian in the coming matches of this campaign.

What’s next for both teams?

Both teams will now play in the league in a doubleheader on November 25. East Bengal FC will take on Chennaiyin FC on the home turf of the latter, whereas the Kerala Blasters FC will host Hyderabad FC.

Brief Scores

Kerala Blasters FC 2 (Daisuke Sakai 32’, Dimitrios Diamantakos 88’) – 1 (Cleiton Silva 99’) East Bengal FC

The post Matchweek 6: Kerala Blasters FC produce an all-round effort to pip East Bengal FC 2-1, in an edge-of-the-seat encounter appeared first on NRI News.

MUMBAI: FC Goa can confirm that the Club has completed the signing of one of Indian football’s most well-known names and the national team’s commander-in-chief in defense, Sandesh Jhingan. The 29-year-old center-back joins on a 3-year contract and will be the third Indian international to join the FC Goa ranks this summer, following the arrivals of Rowllin Borges and Udanta Singh.

“I am happy at the chance to represent what is a fantastic football club. FC Goa has, and keeps doing so many things consistently well, so to be able to contribute to that effort is something I am looking forward to,” Jhingan said after signing on the dotted line for the Gaurs.

“I am excited to link up with my new teammates, the coaching staff and learn from all of them. Needless to say, I’m excited about the prospect of playing in front of the fans of this football club, who always seem to bring a fantastic atmosphere with them to the games.“

Commenting on the signing, Ravi Puskur, FC Goa’s Director of Football stated, “We are delighted to welcome Sandesh Jhingan back to Goa, where he has previously passed through on his footballing journey. Since then, he has grown tremendously and established himself as one of the country’s top players in his position. He brings a wealth of qualities not only on the field but also in the dressing room.

Our search for players with a strong mentality and the ability to handle pressure led us to Sandesh. He is well-versed in navigating challenging situations, making him an invaluable asset. With his arrival, we aim to build a solid defensive unit, which forms the foundation of any successful team.

We are excited about the impact Sandesh will make, both on and off the pitch. His experience, expertise, and leadership will contribute significantly to our collective growth and success. As FC Goa moves forward with renewed determination, we eagerly anticipate the positive influence Sandesh will have.”

Gaurs continue to add quality

One of the first names on the team sheet for the Indian national team, Jhingan has been a part of the starting XI ever since his debut in a 2-0 win over Nepal in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in 2015.

The past weekend saw him add further laurels on the international stage as helped the national team get their hands on the 2023 Hero Intercontinental Cup where he helped India to the trophy, leading a perfect campaign at the back with the Blue Tigers not conceding once throughout the competition. The campaign also saw Jhingan earn his 50th cap for the national team.

A key figurehead in India’s 2019 AFC Asian Cup campaign, the defender also played a vital role in recent successes with the national team, with India winning the Tri-Nations Cup and the Intercontinental Cup with the Blue Tigers in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Jhingan has been a part of the Indian Super League since the league’s first-ever season, reaching the finals on four different occasions – in 2014, 2016, 2021, and 2023. And will be hungry to get his hands finally on the coveted trophy with FC Goa this season.

Hailing from Punjab, Jhingan kick-started his professional football career with United Sikkim in 2011. Following a short stint with Rangdajied United, the center-back emerged as one of the top picks by Kerala Blasters during the first-ever players’ draft of the ISL in 2014.

Over the next six seasons, the 29-year-old emerged as one of the most important names on the KBFC team sheet, eventually becoming the Club’s captain.

In 2020-21, the center-back moved to ATK Mohun Bagan, before earning an opportunity to ply his trade with HNK Sibenik in the Croatian top division the same season. The recently concluded 2022-23 season saw Sandesh Jhingan turn up for Bengaluru FC, with whom he won the Durand Cup last September.

The Blues followed that up with a remarkable campaign in the ISL, finishing as the runners-up. Leading the charts in interceptions and successful defensive challenges, Jhingan marshaled their defense and played an integral part in keeping six clean sheets, the second-best among all teams after Shield Winners Mumbai City.

FC Goa will now hope that the center-back will repeat his heroics from the last season.

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