Panjab football team

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.

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]

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	12	0	Newcastle Town
1	1GK	Yousuf Butt	(1989-10-18) 18 October 1989	3	0	Greve Fodbold
6	2DF	Jaskaran Singh Basi	(1993-03-21) 21 March 1993	14	0	Eccleshill United
3	2DF	Jhai Singh Dhillon	(1995-04-02) 2 April 1995	11	0	Chesham United
5	2DF	Arun Singh Purewal	(1989-10-28) 28 October 1989	11	0	Consett
15	2DF	Glen Hayer	(1998-02-02) 2 February 1998	6	0	Clevedon Town
18	2DF	Sufyan Zia	(1997-05-10) 10 May 1997	4	0	Bilston Town
11	3MF	Amarvir Singh Sandhu	(1995-12-10) 10 December 1995	18	3	Leicester Road
2	3MF	Umar Riaz	(1991-04-25) 25 April 1991	15	2	Burnham
8	3MF	Aaron Minhas	(1994-01-08) 8 January 1994	12	1	Beaconsfield Town
16	3MF	Terlochan Singh	(1989-10-20) 20 October 1989	11	1	Glebe
10	3MF	Rajpal Singh Virk	(1994-04-08) 8 April 1994	10	4	Unattached
4	3MF	Camen Singh Bhandal	(1994-04-15) 15 April 1994	6	1	Punjab United
20	3MF	Arjun Jung	(1994-04-12) 12 April 1994	4	0	Kings Langley
17	3MF	Taimoor Hussain	(1992-06-21) 21 June 1992	3	0	Unattached
9	4FW	Amar Singh Purewal	(1989-10-28) 28 October 1989	11	10	West Auckland Town
14	4FW	Gurjit Singh	(1991-02-09) 9 February 1991	11	7	Rushall Olympic
7	4FW	Nathan Minhas	(1997-09-16) 16 September 1997	5	0	Maidenhead United
19	4FW	Nikinder Uppal	(1995-04-18) 18 April 1995	3	2	Barnt Green Spartak
13	4FW	Kamaljit Singh	(1994-09-03) 3 September 1994	7	6	Eintracht Nordhorn

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