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ARA
Full nameAhmedabad Racquet Academy Football Club[1]
Nickname(s)The Alphas, Ahmedabad Alphas
Short nameARA
Founded2016; 8 years ago (2016)
GroundEKA Arena
Capacity20,000
OwnerVikram Patel
Head coachSalim Pathan
LeagueI-League 3
Gujarat SFA Club Championship
Websitehttps://www.racquetacademy.in/sports/football/
Departments of ARA FC
Football
(Men's) 		Football
(Women's) 		Football
(Reserves)

ARA Football Club is an Indian professional football club based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.[2][3][4] Founded in 2016, the club is nicknamed "Ahmedabad Alphas",[5] and previously competed in I-League 2nd Division.[6][7][8] ARA FC is the first professional team from Gujarat to compete in the nationwide league.[9][10] The club also competes in Gujarat SFA Club Championship.

Their reserve and youth teams play in both Hero Sub-Junior League and Hero Elite League, while women team is member of Indian Women's League.[11]

History

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Academy and early years

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Ahmedabad Racquet Academy (ARA) started its journey as a professional multi-sports academy in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, which mainly consists of racquet sports and has been running since 2011 and began participating in Ahmedabad Junior league.[12][13] The football club was among the newest projects established by the academy in recent times as an initiative by owner Vikram Patel.[14][15]

Formation of club

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The existing academy owned by Patel emerged as ARA FC in 2016 to ensure development of football in the Indian state of Gujarat.[15] On 19 July 2018, their academy were accredited and given two stars based on eligibility criteria, which allowed them to play in Youth League U18.[16] ARA as a club became affiliated with Gujarat State Football Association (GSFA) in 2017,[17] and began competing in the ADFA Premier Division League.[18][19]

2018–present

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On 20 November 2018, AIFF nominated ARA for proposed inclusion in the 2018–19 2nd Division League.[20][21] On 7 December, it was announced that ARA FC would be one of nine clubs to play that season.[22] Thus the Ahmedabad-based club became the only team from the state competing in a domestic tier league.[23]

In their maiden I-League 2nd Division in the 2018–19 season,[24] ARA finished on fourth place in Group A with 11 points in 8 matches as Lonestar Kashmir progressed to the final round.[25][26]

They were nominated for participating in the 2021 I-League Qualifiers, since emerging victorious in Gandhinagar Premier League.[27] They began their journey with a 1–1 draw against Corbett FC on 5 October at the Bangalore Football Stadium[28] but did not advanced to the final round.[29] In February–March 2023, the club participated in Stafford Challenge Cup in Bangalore.[30][31] In August 2023, ARA gained I-League 3 spot to compete in the inaugural edition.[32][33][34]

Home stadium

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EKA Arena by TransStadia, home ground of ARA

ARA FC plays its home matches at the EKA Arena, which has a capacity of 20,000 spectators.[35] The stadium is located in Kankaria Lake, Ahmedabad, and has additional 10,000 temporary seats on the pitch area.[36]

Panoramic view of the stadium

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

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Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2018–2021 SEVEN[37] Amul[38]
2021–present Decathlon Sports

Current squad

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As of 13 March 2023

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK India IND sangramjith Roy
2 DF India IND Daniel
3 DF India IND Surajit Seal
5 FW India IND Vivekananda Sagayaraj
6 MF India IND Hijam Lenin Singh
7 FW India IND Manvir Singh
8 MF India IND Rutig Ahirrao
9 FW India IND Fredsan Marshall
10 FW India IND
11 DF India IND Jacob John
12 DF India IND Shanid Valan
13 DF India IND Parnenda Singh Thakur
14 MF India IND D Sheltohn Paul
15 MF India IND Lalthankuma
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 MF India IND Pratik Swami
17 MF India IND Aditya Prathap
18 MF India IND Vedant Kharkrwal
19 MF India IND Prabin Tigga
20 FW India IND Lalruatmawia
21 GK India IND Vishal Rajkumar Dube
23 MF India IND Khaidem Vicky Meitei
24 DF India IND Rakesh Oram
25 FW India IND Jay Kanani
27 DF India IND Palash Barber
28 MF India IND Bikramjit Singh
30 DF India IND Jenishsinh Rana
31 GK India IND Ankit Bhuyan
33 MF India IND Yami Longvah

Current technical staff

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As of 12 November 2019
Position Name
Team manager India Marmik Pandya
Head coach India Vivek Nagul
Assistant coach India Salim Pathan
Physio India Falgun Bhatt

Honours

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League

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  • Gujarat SFA Club Championship[39][40][41]
    • Champions (1): 2022
  • ADFA Ahmedabad District League 2nd Division
    • Champions (1): 2017[42]
  • ADFA Ahmedabad District League 1st Division
    • Champions (2): 2018,[42] 2021–22
  • Gandhinagar Premier League
    • Champions (1): 2020–21

Cup

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  • Heritage Cup Jaipur
    • Champions (1): 2020

Records

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Season Div. Tms. Pos. Attendance/G Federation Cup/Super Cup AFC Champions League AFC Cup
2018–19 IL2 16 G4th 650 DNP DNP DNP
2019–20 IL2 18 Final round 4th – DNP DNP DNP
Key
  • Tms. = Number of teams
  • Pos. = Position in league
  • Attendance/G = Average league attendance

Managerial record

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updated on 25 October 2020

Name Nationality From To P W D L GF GA Win%
Vivek Nagul[43]  India 2018 2021 19 7 4 8 28 29 036.84
Manuel Retamero Fraile  Spain 2021 0 0 0 0 0 0 !—

Notable players

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For current and former notable ARA FC players with a Wikipedia article, see: ARA FC players.

Other departments

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Women's team

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ARA FC has its women's football team that competes in the Indian Women's League, the highest division of Indian women's football.[44] Before the kick-off of 2021–22 Indian Women's League season, four teams including ARA Women from four states played each other once in April 2022, in the qualifying round at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi and they qualified for the final round after topping the group.[45]

Honours

Youth men's

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Youth men's team of ARA competes in the Ahmedabad Elite Youth Cup Ahmedabad.[47] Club's U17 team participated in "regional group stages" of 2022–23 U-17 Youth Cup.[48]

Football academy

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Football Academy of ARA FC gained 'elite category' accreditation by the All India Football Federation in December 2023.[49]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "AHMEDABAD RACQUET ACADEMY FC". int.soccerway.com. Soccerway. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  2. ^ "ARA FC official page". Facebook. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Mohammedan Sporting to take on ARA in the I-League qualifiers". indiatvnews.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  4. ^ Joshi, Rutvij (8 September 2019). "Exclusive: Slovakian third division side MFK Lokomotiva Zvolen sign Indian youngster Vinay Singh". www.khelnow.com. Khel Now. Archived from the original on 6 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  5. ^ Chowdhury, Aritra (3 October 2020). "ARA FC coach Nagul and captain Shoaib optimistic ahead of I-League qualifiers". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Kolkata: The Times of India. TNN. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  6. ^ "2nd Division League: Matchday 13 (30/03-06/04)". The Away End. Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  7. ^ "I-League Qualifiers: ARA FC 0-2 Bhawanipore FC – Goals & Highlights!". Arunfoot.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Eighteen teams, including 7 reserve sides of ISL clubs to contest in revamped 2017-18 Second Division league". First Post. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Football: How ARA FC became Gujarat's first second division I-League club". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  10. ^ "2nd Division League: Matchday 13 [30/03-06/04]". theawayend.co. The Away End. Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Summary – U18 League – India – Results, fixtures, tables and news". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  12. ^ ARA FC scripts stunning wins Archived 8 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine The Ahmedabad Mirror. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  13. ^ "Ahmedabad Baby League: Flory FC Wins 5-3 Against ARA FC". Ahmedabad Mirror. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  14. ^ "ARA FC in I-league could be a gamechanger in state". ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com. Archived from the original on 10 December 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  15. ^ a b "Football: How ARA FC became Gujarat's first second division I-League club". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  16. ^ "AIFF Academy accreditation for India results for 2018/19 season announced!". arunfoot.com. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  17. ^ "Dhanraj Nathwani unanimously elected president of GSFA". 7 August 2017. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  18. ^ ADFA 1st Division League: AFC On The Move Archived 4 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine Ahmedabad Mirror. Retrieved 4 October 2021
  19. ^ Ahmedabad District Senior Football League Gets Underway The Times of India. Retrieved 4 October 2021
  20. ^ Scroll Staff. "Football: State associations nominate 23 teams for second division of I-League". scroll.in. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  21. ^ "ARA vs Hindustan". i-league.org. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  22. ^ "Tentative decisions for 2nd Division League, Hero Super Cup announced". The Bridge. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  23. ^ "I-League 2nd Division 2018-19, prilimenary round summary". Soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 12 September 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  24. ^ "Hero 2nd Division League set to kick-off on January 12". i-league.org. Hero I-League. 9 January 2019. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  25. ^ "ARA FC of to a flier". Ahmedabad Mirror. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  26. ^ "I-League 2nd Division 2018–19 detailed statistics". us.soccerway.com. Soccerway. Archived from the original on 12 September 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  27. ^ "Overview: ARA FC — Formation History and Trophies". footballexpress.in. Football Express India. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  28. ^ "I-League Qualifiers 2021: ARA FC Strike Late to Hold Corbett FC to 1–1 Draw". News18.com. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  29. ^ "Hero I-League Qualifiers 2021". the-aiff.com. All India Football Federation. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  30. ^ "THE HISTORY: STAFFORD CHALLENGE CUP – KARNATAKA". ksfa.in. Bengaluru: Karnataka State Football Association. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  31. ^ "Stafford Challenge Cup: A Brief History of Time". theawayend.co. The Away End. 23 February 2023. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  32. ^ "Major AIFF Decisions: 15 Clubs Nominated In 3rd Division; Youth Quota In I League Teams". thefangarage.com. 22 August 2023. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  33. ^ "AIFF League Committee: Youth quota for I-League, State FAs nominate 3rd Division League clubs". The Away End. 22 August 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  34. ^ Lopes, Flavio (25 September 2023). "THIRD DIVISION: Dempo to play at home, Sporting away". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Panaji: The Times of India. TNN. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  35. ^ "ARA FC off to a flier". ahamedabadmirror.Indiatimes.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  36. ^ "TransStadia Pitch". transstadia.com. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  37. ^ Chowdhury, Aritra (3 October 2020). "ARA FC coach Nagul and captain Shoaib optimistic ahead of I-League qualifiers". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. The Times of India. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  38. ^ "Aiming to make Gujarat proud, ARA FC prepare for I-League Qualifiers challenge". devdiscourse.com. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  39. ^ "2nd year of GSFA Club Championship". Gujarat State Football Association. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  40. ^ "GSFA announces the first ever Gujarat State Club Football Championship". Desh Gujarat. 3 March 2022. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  41. ^ "GSFA Senior Club Championship". The Away End. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  42. ^ a b "Football: State associations nominate 23 teams for second division of I-League". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  43. ^ "HEARTBROKEN BUT UPBEAT: ARA FC HEAD COACH VIVEK NAGUL". Ahmadabad Mirror. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  44. ^ "Indian Women's League: ARA FC aim to be organised against dominant Sethu FC". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Bhubaneswar: The Times of India. Press Trust of India. 19 April 2022. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  45. ^ "ARA FC defeat YWC 4-3, qualify for Indian Women's League 2022". thebridge.in. The Bridge. Press Trust of India. 5 April 2022. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  46. ^ "Gujarat State Women's League — Overview". theawayend.co. The Away End Sports. Archived from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  47. ^ Banerjee, Ritabrata (2 January 2022). "Elite Youth Cup to kick-off in Ahmedabad on January 3". goal.com. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  48. ^ "49 teams to participate in AIFF Elite Youth League 2022–23". the-aiff.com. New Delhi: All India Football Federation. 7 December 2022. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  49. ^ Patra, Rahul (4 December 2023). "List of AIFF accredited 'Elite Category' academies for 2023–24 season". khelnow.com. Khel Now News. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.

Further reading

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