Panjab football team

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.

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]

The team also competed at the 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup, managed by Reuben Hazell.^[12]

2014

Panjab XI v  Sealand "B"

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

Ellan Vannin  v  Panjab

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'

Panjab  v  Alderney

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

Panjab  v  Chagos Islands

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

2016

Leicester City FC International Academy v  Panjab

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

Manchester International Academy v  Panjab

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

Panjab  v  Jersey

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'

Sápmi  v  Panjab

30 May 2016 ConIFA WFC Group D	Sápmi	0–1	Panjab	Daur Akhvlediani Stadium, Gagra
15:00 GET		Report	8' Gurjit Singh

Somaliland  v  Panjab

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

Western Armenia  v  Panjab

2 June 2016 ConIFA WFC Quarter-Final	Western Armenia	2–3	Panjab	Dinamo Stadium, Sukhumi
20:00 GET

Padania  v  Panjab

4 June 2016 ConIFA WFC Semi-Final	Padania	0–1	Panjab	Dinamo Stadium, Sukhumi
15:00 GET

Abkhazia  v  Panjab

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

Leicester City FC International Academy v  Panjab

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

Jersey  v  Panjab

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

Panjab  v England "C"

28 May 2017 (2017-05-28) International Friendly	Panjab	1–2	England "C"	Aggborough Stadium, Kidderminster
15:00 BST

2018

Hashtag United F.C. v  Panjab

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

Ellan Vannin  v  Panjab

29 April 2018 International Friendly	Ellan Vannin	2–1	Panjab	Sandbach, England
				Stadium: Sandbach Community Football Centre

Liverpool F.C. Under 23 v  Panjab

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

Panjab  v  Jersey

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

Panjab  v Dhaka Akadash R.C.

27 May 2018 Friendly

Panjab

8–0

Dhaka Akadash R.C.

Arbour Park, Slough

Panjab  v  Kabylia

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

Panjab  v  Western Armenia

2 June 2018 ConIFA WFC Group D	Panjab	0–1	Western Armenia	Arbour Park, Slough
17:00 BST		Report	Militosyan 14'	Referee: Kristian Michel

Panjab  v  United Koreans in Japan

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

Padania  v  Panjab

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

Barawa  v  Panjab

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

Panjab  v  Cascadia

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

Yorkshire  v  Panjab

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

2019

Burton Albion F.C. Reserves v  Panjab

6 March 2019 Friendly	Burton Albion F.C. Reserves	2–2	Panjab	Lilleshall National Sports Centre, Lilyhurst
19:45 GMT

Barry Town United F.C. v  Panjab

15 June 2019 Friendly	Barry Town United F.C.	1–1	Panjab	Jenner Park Stadium, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan
19:45 GMT

Chagos Islands  v  Panjab

29 December 2019 Friendly	Chagos Islands	0–6	Panjab	Camping World Community Stadium, Horsham
12:00

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 30)	12	0	Newcastle Town
1	1GK	Yousuf Butt	(1989-10-18) 18 October 1989 (age 34)	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 34)	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 34)	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 31)	3	0	Unattached
9	4FW	Amar Singh Purewal	(1989-10-28) 28 October 1989 (age 34)	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 26)	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 29)	7	6	Eintracht Nordhorn

• Panjab FA