Panjab football team

Panjab
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	[[]]
First colours	Second colours
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

Panjab football team flag

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 (2014-12-22) 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 (2015-05-30) 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'

31 May 2015 (2015-05-31) Friendly	Panjab	9–1	Alderney	The Bowl, Douglas
	? ,		?

20 December 2015 (2015-12-20) International Friendly	Panjab	4–1	Chagos Islands	Central Ground, Sutton Coldfield
15:00 BST

2016

20 February 2016 (2016-02-20) Friendly	Leicester City FC International Academy	2–2	Panjab	Belvoir Drive, Leicester
12:00 BST

20 March 2016 (2016-03-20) Friendly	Manchester International Academy	1–9	Panjab	Salford Sports Village, Salford
13:00 BST

24 April 2016 (2016-04-24) 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 (2017-03-04) Friendly	Leicester City FC International Academy	4–3	Panjab	Belvoir Drive, Leicester
13:00 GMT

23 April 2017 (2017-04-23) International Friendly	Jersey	0–2	Panjab	Springfield Stadium, Saint Helier
12:45 BST

28 May 2017 (2017-05-28) 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

19 May 2018 Friendly	Panjab	1–1	Jersey	Arbour Park, Slough
	G. Singh 88' (p)	Report	Curtis 72'

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	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

18 November 2018 International Friendly	Yorkshire	5–4	Panjab	Ingfield Stadium, Ossett
16:00 GMT

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	1GK	Raajan Singh Gill	(1993-08-15) 15 August 1993 (age 31)	12	0	Newcastle Town
1	1GK	Yousuf Butt	(1989-10-18) 18 October 1989 (age 35)	3	0	Ishøj IF

6	2DF	Jaskaran Singh Basi	(1993-03-21) 21 March 1993 (age 31)	14	0	Eccleshill United
3	2DF	Jhai Singh Dhillon	(1995-04-02) 2 April 1995 (age 29)	11	0	Chesham United
5	2DF	Arun Singh Purewal	(1989-10-28) 28 October 1989 (age 35)	11	0	Consett
15	2DF	Glen Hayer	(1998-02-02) 2 February 1998 (age 26)	6	0	Clevedon Town
18	2DF	Sufyan Zia	(1997-05-10) 10 May 1997 (age 27)	4	0	Bilston Town

11	3MF	Amarvir Singh Sandhu	(1995-12-10) 10 December 1995 (age 28)	18	3	Leicester Road
2	3MF	Umar Riaz	(1991-04-25) 25 April 1991 (age 33)	15	2	Burnham
8	3MF	Aaron Minhas	(1994-01-08) 8 January 1994 (age 30)	12	1	Beaconsfield Town
16	3MF	Terlochan Singh	(1989-10-20) 20 October 1989 (age 35)	11	1	Glebe
10	3MF	Rajpal Singh Virk	(1994-04-08) 8 April 1994 (age 30)	10	4	Unattached
4	3MF	Camen Singh Bhandal	(1994-04-15) 15 April 1994 (age 30)	6	1	Punjab United
20	3MF	Arjun Jung	(1994-04-12) 12 April 1994 (age 30)	4	0	Kings Langley
17	3MF	Taimoor Hussain	(1992-06-21) 21 June 1992 (age 32)	3	0	Unattached

9	4FW	Amar Singh Purewal	(1989-10-28) 28 October 1989 (age 35)	11	10	West Auckland Town
14	4FW	Gurjit Singh	(1991-02-09) 9 February 1991 (age 33)	11	7	Rushall Olympic
7	4FW	Nathan Minhas	(1997-09-16) 16 September 1997 (age 27)	5	0	Maidenhead United
19	4FW	Nikinder Uppal	(1995-04-18) 18 April 1995 (age 29)	3	2	Barnt Green Spartak
13	4FW	Kamaljit Singh	(1994-09-03) 3 September 1994 (age 30)	7	6	Eintracht Nordhorn

Managers

Manager	Period	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Win %
Reuben Hazel	2014–2018	26	12	5	9	046.2
Manraj Singh Sucha	2018–present	4	1	2	1	025.0
Totals		30	13	7	10	43.33

Honours

Non-FIFA competitions

CONIFA World Football Cup
- Runners-up (1): 2016

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.

External links

Panjab FA

[mission-1] "Mission Statement". Panjab FA. Panjab Football Association. Retrieved 28 May 2015.

[2] "Background". Panjab FA. Panjab Football Association. Retrieved 28 May 2015.

[3] "Panjab FA accepted as member of Conifa". Panjab FA. Panjab Football Association. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2015.

[4] "National Team Trials". Panjab FA. Panjab Football Association. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2015.

[5] "1st ever trial day for Panjab national football team". Twitter. Panjab Football Association. 14 December 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2015.

[6] "PANJAB FA TRIALIST XI 4–1 SEALAND FA "B"". Panjab FA. Panjab Football Association. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2015.

[7] PANJAB FA (22 December 2014). "Panjab national football team 4 - 1 Sealand national football team". Retrieved 19 November 2018 – via YouTube.

[8] "CONIFA Summer 2015". ConIFA. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2015.

[9] "Chagos ersetzt Panjab". FA Raetia (in German). 22 May 2015. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.

[10] "#Abkhazia2016 participants". ConIFA. 17 January 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.

[11] "#Abkhazia2016 Match Summaries – Day 8". ConIFA. 5 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.

[12] "Conifa: Panjab FA target World Football Cup glory on 'home soil'". 28 May 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.

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