The Tamil Eelam National Football Team (Tamil: தமிழீழத் தேசிய உதைபந்தாட்ட அணி) a representative football team for Tamil Eelam. The team, which consists of professional and semi-professional drawn from the Eelam Tamil diaspora community in Canada and Europe, was established in 2012 by the Tamileelam Football Association (TEFA).[1] TEFA is affiliated to the Confederation of Independent Football Associations, an umbrella association for entities unaffiliated with FIFA therefore cannot compete for the FIFA World Cup and the AFC Asian Cup since they are not affiliated with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). As of March 2020, the team was ranked 16th in the CONIFA World ranking.[2]
Association | Tamileelam Football Association | ||
---|---|---|---|
Confederation | ConIFA World Unity Football Alliance | ||
Head coach | Ragesh Nambiar | ||
Captain | Prashanth Ragavan | ||
Most caps | Gvinthan Navaneethakrishnan Prashanth Ragavan (15) | ||
Top scorer | Prashanth Ragavan (12) | ||
| |||
First international | |||
Raetia 1–0 Tamil Eelam (Erbil, Iraq; 5 June 2012) | |||
Biggest win | |||
Tamil Eelam 10–0 Darfur (Östersund, Sweden; 7 June 2014) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
Tamil Eelam 0–9 Kurdistan Region (Östersund, Sweden; 3 June 2014) | |||
ConIFA World Football Cup | |||
Appearances | 2 (first in 2014) | ||
Best result | 11th (2014) | ||
CONIFA Asia Cup | |||
Appearances | 1 (first in 2023) | ||
Best result | Champions (2023) | ||
Website | Tamileelam Football Association |
History
editThe Tamil Eelam Football Association was established by the Global Tamil Youth League on 8 April 2012.[3] The Tamil Eelam national football team made its international debut at the 2012 VIVA World Cup held in Iraqi Kurdistan, finishing in 7th place.[4][5] The team took part in the Tynwald Hill International Football Tournament History held on the Isle of Man in July 2013, finishing in 3rd place.[6][7][8] The team took part in the 2014 ConIFA World Football Cup held in the Sápmi region.[9][10]
Tournament record
editWorld Cup record
editYear | Position | P | W | D | L | F | A |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VIVA World Cup | |||||||
2006 | did not enter | ||||||
2008 | |||||||
2009 | |||||||
2010 | |||||||
2012 | 7th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 11 |
ConIFA World Football Cup | |||||||
2014 | 11th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 15 |
2016 | did not qualify | ||||||
2018 | 14th | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 22 |
2020 | Cancelled
| ||||||
2024 | Qualified
| ||||||
Total | Best: 7th | 14 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 20 | 48 |
World Cup History | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Date | Stadium | Score | Result | ||
VIVA World Cup | |||||||
2012[11] | |||||||
Round 1 (Group B) | 5 June 2012 | Franso Hariri Stadium, Erbil | Raetia | 1-0 | Tamil Eelam | Lose | |
Round 1 (Group B) | 6 June 2012 | Franso Hariri Stadium, Erbil | Tamil Eelam | 0-3 | Zanzibar | Lose | |
5th-8th Place Semi-Finals | 7 June 2012 | Franso Hariri Stadium, Erbil | Occitania | 7-0 | Tamil Eelam | Lose | |
7th Place Match | 9 June 2012 | Franso Hariri Stadium, Erbil | Tamil Eelam | 4-0 | Raetia | Win | |
ConIFA World Football Cup | |||||||
2014[12] | |||||||
Round 1 (Group A) | 2 June 2014 | Jämtkraft Arena, Östersund | Tamil Eelam | 0-2 | Arameans Suryoye | Lose | |
Round 1 (Group A) | 3 June 2014 | Jämtkraft Arena, Östersund | Tamil Eelam | 0-9 | Kurdistan Region | Lose | |
Placement Round 1 | 5 June 2014 | Jämtkraft Arena, Östersund | Tamil Eelam | 2-4 | Sápmi | Lose | |
Placement Round 2 | 7 June 2014 | Jämtkraft Arena, Östersund | Tamil Eelam | 10-0 | Darfur | Win | |
2018[13] | |||||||
Round 1 (Group A) | 31 May 2018 | Hayes Lane, Bromley | Barawa | 4-0 | Tamil Eelam | Lose | |
Round 1 (Group A) | 2 June 2018 | Colston Avenue, Carshalton | Ellan Vannin | 2-0 | Tamil Eelam | Lose | |
Round 1 (Group A) | 3 June 2018 | St Paul's Sports Ground, Rotherhithe | Tamil Eelam | 0-6 | Cascadia | Lose | |
Placement Round 9th-16th | 5 June 2018 | Parkside, Aveley | Abkhazia | 6-0 | Tamil Eelam | Lose | |
Placement Round 13th-16th | 7 June 2018 | Gander Green Lane, Sutton | Tamil Eelam | 4-3 | Tuvalu | Win | |
Placement Round 13th-14th | 9 June 2018 | Parkside, Aveley | Matabeleland | 1-0 | Tamil Eelam | Lose |
Asia Cup Record
editCONIFA Asia Cup | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Position | P | W | D | L | F | A |
2023 | 1st | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 |
Total | Best: 1st | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 |
ConIFA Asia Cup | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Date | Stadium | Score | Result | ||
2023 | Group Stage | 5 August 2023 | Clube Olimpico Montijo | Tamil Eelam | 3-0 | Hmong FF | Win |
Group Stage | 7 August 2023 | Clube Olimpico Montijo | Tibet | 1-3 | Tamil Eelam | Win | |
Final | 9 August 2023 | Clube Olimpico Montijo | Tamil Eelam | 3-1 | Hmong FF | Win |
Tynwald Hill International Football Tournament
editTynwald Hill International Football Tournament | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Position | P | W | D | L | F | A |
2013 | 3rd | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 8 |
Total | Best: 3rd | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 8 |
Tynwald Hill International Football Tournament History | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Date | Stadium | Score | Result | ||
2013[14][15][16] | |||||||
Round 1 (Group 1) | 4 July 2013 | Mullen e Cloie, St John's | Sealand | 3 – 5 | Tamil Eelam | Win | |
Round 1 (Group 1) | 6 July 2013 | Mullen e Cloie, St John's | Occitania | 5 – 0 | Tamil Eelam | Lose | |
3rd/4th Place Match | 7 July 2013 | Mullen e Cloie, St John's | Raetia | 0 – 5 | Tamil Eelam | Win |
Recent results
edit2019
edit10 October 2019 WC Qualification Match | Yorkshire | 1–2 | Tamil Eelam | Yorkshire, England |
Stadium: Meadow Lane |
Current squad
editThe following players are members of the current squad. They have played in the recent CONIFA 2020 WFC qualification matches. The CONIFA 2020 World Football Cup has been cancelled due to the unprecedented disruption of the coronavirus pandemic.[17]
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | GK | Praveen Ahilan | 20 September 1992 | 2 | 0 | Canada |
12 | GK | Jerome Marusilin | 14 December 1994 | 1 | 0 | NUSC |
13 | DF | Ninon Paskarajesudasan | 15 September 1993 | 3 | 0 | France |
2 | DF | Keerthihan Kalaialagan | 13 October 1995 | 3 | 0 | France |
25 | DF | Thomas Thevasahayam | 9 June 1995 | 2 | 0 | France |
5 | DF | Sujeen Ravinchandran | 20 August 1993 | 2 | 1 | FC Bourget |
23 | DF | Jey Siva | 23 March 1988 | 3 | 0 | Harlow Town |
22 | DF | Majuran Panchalingam | 27 January 1987 | 1 | 0 | Switzerland |
16 | MF | Steven Sacayaradjy | 2 February 1995 | 3 | 1 | France |
8 | MF | Panushanth Kulenthiran | 26 July 1990 | 11 | 8 | AC Senna Gloria |
6 | MF | Mayooran Chelliah | 8 April 1991 | 9 | 1 | CS Eelavar |
17 | MF | Senthuran Uthayasuthan | 30 September 1992 | 3 | 6 | France |
15 | MF | Janothan Perananthan | 20 July 1994 | 6 | 1 | Surbiton Sports |
21 | MF | Shara Sivananthan | 17 January 1996 | 1 | 0 | UK |
19 | MF | Kisanthan Nagarasa | 28 December 1998 | 1 | 0 | Germany |
10 | FW | Gvinthan Navaneethakrishnan | 28 March 1990 | 15 | 8 | SV Kickers Büchig |
7 | FW | Prashanth Ragavan | 21 August 1991 | 15 | 12 | Drancy United |
9 | FW | Kasthuran Chelliah | 9 August 1990 | 6 | 2 | WDS'19 |
14 | FW | Kirushan Confucious | 16 June 1995 | 2 | 0 | France |
20 | FW | Agash Pathi | 25 January 1997 | 1 | 2 | Stovner |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Eezham Tamil football players take part in Viva World Cup for first time". TamilNet. 15 June 2012.
- ^ "CONIFA World Rankings".
- ^ "Tamil Eelam gets ready for VIVA World Cup". Tamil Guardian. 31 May 2012.
- ^ "Tamil Eelam makes international football debut". Tamil Guardian. 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Tamil Eelam at World Football Cup 2014". Tamil Guardian. 2 June 2014.
- ^ "Tournament attracts global media". Isle of Man Today. 26 June 2013.
- ^ "Tamil Eelam gets set for Tynwald Hill International Football Tournament". Tamil Guardian. 3 July 2013.
- ^ "Tamil Eelam celebrate 3rd place finish after stunning 5-0 victory". Tamil Guardian. 7 July 2013.
- ^ "Genocide survivors, stateless compete in non-FIFA World Cup". Gulf Times. Agence France-Presse. 7 June 2014.
- ^ "Tamil Eelam football team gets ready for ConIFA World Championship". Tamil Guardian. 27 April 2014.
- ^ "Calendar Results". 2012 VIVA World Cup. Archived from the original on 7 June 2012.
- ^ "Match Schedule". 2014 ConIFA World Football Cup.
- ^ "Stadium and ticketing information for CONIFA's 2018 Paddy Power World Football Cup". Confederation of Independent Football Associations.
- ^ "Tamil Eelam edge eight-goal Tynwald Tournament thriller with Sealand". Isle of Man Today. 5 July 2013.
- ^ "Tamil Eelam through to 3rd/4th place play-offs after losing to Occitania". Tamil Guardian. 6 July 2013.
- ^ "Occitania win Tynwald Hill International Football Tournament". Isle of Man Today. 8 July 2013.
- ^ "Announcement: CONIFA Sportsbet.io World Football Cup 2020 – CONIFA". www.conifa.org. Archived from the original on 23 March 2020.