DSK Shivajians F.C.

DSK Shivajians

Full name	DSK Shivajians Football Club
Nickname(s)	DSK Shivajians
Founded	1987 (1987); 29 years ago as Shivajians Sports Club
Ground	Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex
Capacity	11,900
Owner	DSK Group
Chairman	Shirish Kulkarni
Manager	Dave Rogers
League	I-League
2016–17	I-League, 7th
Website	Club website

DSK Shivajians Football Club, founded as Shivajians Sports Club ^[1] is an Indian football club based in Pune, Maharashtra. The club is owned by the DSK Group ^[2] and play in the I-League. ^[3]

The club was founded in 1987 in Shivajinagar, Pune by Ashok Vanjari, Manoj Walvekar, Emanuel Jeevan, Moreshwar Dhumal, Viju Deshmukh and Frank Norman as a platform for entertainment and community engagement for the residents of the locality. ^[1] The Club have played in the top tier of the Pune Football League since their formation in 1987, ^[1] and have played the I-League from the 2016. A direct entry into the League, ^[4] and therefore were immune to relegation until 2018. The club is known for its youth development policy, and was the first professional football club in India to have tied up with a major international football club in Liverpool FC ^[5] along with whom they run their academy.

The club play their home games at the Shree Shiv Chattrapati Sports Complex in Pune, ^[6] and train at the DSK Dream City Football Fields in Loni. ^[7]

History

The Early Years: 1987–1989

The Club was formed on 6 August 1987, under the name Shivajians Sports Club, by the Late. Ashok Vanjari, Manoj Walvekar, Emanuel Jeevan, Moreshwar (Appa) Dhumal, Viju Deshmukh and Frank Norman. A community club, it served as a platform for competition, entertainment and engagement for locals from the Shivajinagar area in Pune.

In 1987 itself, the club organized the first ever All India Floodlight Football Tournament, which was held in Pune in the memory of Shri B. B. Walvekar. Teams such as Central Railway – Bombay, Madras Tukes, Bank Of India – Bombay, Sesa Goa, State Bank Of India – Hyderabad, Salsete Goa, Kampti Colonies – Nagpur, Bangalore Eleven, Kerala Police and Cochin Customs which were forces to be reckoned with in the country at the time, all participated in the tournament. ^[1]

Two Decades of Local Dominence: 1990–2010

From 1990 til 2010, the club had dominated the Pune football scene. In this period, the club won all the prestigious tournaments held in Pune, including the Dr. Hedgewar Football Tournament, Raja Shiv Chhatrapati Football Tournament, Rupmay Chatterjee Football Tournament, Dada Saheb Chavan Memorial Cup and Guru Teg Bahadur Football Tournament. The club also won many state level and all India level football tournaments held in the nearby cities of Kolhapur, Gadhinglaj, Miraj, Indore and Akola.

Staying true to their goal of engaging the community, the Club organised many training programmes and provided scholarships to players from the economically weaker sections of society. ^[1]

Change Of Ownership and DSK Shivajians FC: 2010–Present

On 30 April 2010, Shirish Kulkarni, Executive Director of the DSK Group and former Shivajians SC player, was appointed as the president of the club. This was a prelude to the DSK Group's takeover of the club in 2013, which led to it being renamed as DSK Shivajians FC. ^[1]

The DSK Group has invested heavily in developing infrastructure for the Club at the DSK Dream City Football Fields in Pune, where they created a state-of-the-art fully residential training facility which also houses the DSK Shivajians FC Academy, ^[8] which is run in association with Liverpool FC. ^[9]

In 2013, the Club played the I-League 2nd Division under Coach Pradhyum Reddy, but missed out on the Final Round by a point. In 2015, the club got corporate entry into the I-League and under Derrick Perreira they played the 2015–2016 I-League Season where they finished 9th in the league.

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Period	Kit manufacturer	Shirt sponsor
2015–	Nivia	DSK Group

Final Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 4 DF Saša Kolunija 5 DF Gouramangi Singh (on loan from Pune City) 6 MF Shane McFaul 7 FW Lallianzuala Chhangte 8 MF Jerry Mawihmingthanga 9 FW Kim Song-yong 10 MF Juan Quero 11 FW Holicharan Narzary 12 MF Sanju Pradhan (on loan from Pune City) 13 GK Abhishek Das 14 DF Jerry Lalrinzuala (on loan from Chennaiyin) 15 MF Rohit Kumar 16 FW Naro Hari Shrestha 17 MF K Lalthathanga 18 DF Lalnunsiama 19 DF Sairuat Kima 20 DF Mohammad Sajid Dhot

No. Position Player 21 MF Biaklian Paite 22 DF Amey Ranawade 23 MF Vanlalremkima 24 FW Lalawmpuia 25 MF Milan Singh 26 FW Sumeet Passi (on loan from NorthEast United) 27 GK Soram Anganba (on loan from NorthEast United) 29 MF Seityasen Singh (on loan from NorthEast United) 30 FW Pranjal Bhumij 38 DF Kamlesh Nadar 41 GK Rakshit Dagar 42 DF Maan Singh 43 MF Lalhriatpuia Changte — FW Arif Shaikh

Liverpool International Football Academy – DSK Shivajians U18

English club Liverpool announced a partnership with DSK Shivajians in India to start their international football academy, with the partnership pertinent in the academy setup only, with academy players trained by coaches representing Liverpool playing for DSK Shivajians U18s. ^[10] The DSK Shivajians U18 plays in the I-League U18, and the 2014–15 U19 I-League was the first time they were involved in national-level youth team football, partnering Liverpool, and played in the Maharashtra Zone of the league.

DSK Shivajians U18 Squad

As of 5 January 2017. ^[11]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Shubham Dhas 2 DF Amey Ranawade 3 DF Asraf Ali Mondal 4 DF {{{name}}} 5 DF Tapas Kumar Pal 6 MF K. Lalthathanga 7 FW Pratap Tamang 8 MF Marchstarfield Marbawiang 9 FW Lalawmpuia 10 MF Mebanshan Suting 11 FW SK Azaruddin 12 MF Zawnhmingthanga 15 MF Malsawmtluanga 16 DF Jonathan Cardozo

No. Position Player 17 DF Jordan Fernandes 18 MF Omkar More 19 FW Umair Saiyyad 20 GK Maharabam Romario 22 MF Sudipta Malakar 23 MF Denzil Kharshandi 24 DF Lalramchhuana 25 FW Laldawngkima 29 DF Guidingstar Malieh 30 MF Batskhem Nongsiej 36 DF Seikhohao Haokip 38 FW Lalremruata 39 MF Seigoumang Doungel

References

1. "Shivajians Sports Club".
2. "DSK Shivajians to play the I-League".
3. "DSK Shivajians all set to make debut in Hero I-League 2015–16". Zee News. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
4. "I-League - DSK Shivajians will fly the flag for Pune this season - Goal.com". Goal.com. 13 November 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
5. PTI. "DSK Shivajians tie up with Liverpool academy". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
6. "Venue | DSKShivajians.com". www.dskshivajians.com. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
7. "Facilities | DSKShivajians.com". www.dskshivajians.com. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
8. "DSK Sport City, Pune | DSK Dreamcity Integrated Township Pune". DSK Dream City – Best Integrated Residential Township in Pune near Hadapsar. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
9. "Shirish Kulkarni talks about Liverpool-DSK tie up, football in the country and more | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dna. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
10. "Liverpool launches football academy in India". The Hindu. 16 October 2013.
11. "I-League U18". DSK Shivajians. Retrieved 5 January 2017.

External links

• Official Website
• LFC International Football Academy – DSK Shivajians
• DSK Shivajians F.C. on Facebook