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{{Short description|Former Indian professional association football club}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Bharat FC
| image = Bharat FC Logo.png
| fullname = Kalyani Bharat Football Club<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/teams/india/bharat-fc/32521/|title=Kalyani Bharat FC of India: club profile and info|access-date=26 March 2021|website=Soccerway.com}}</ref>
| nickname = ''The Lions''
| founded = {{start date and years ago|2014|8|26|df=yes}}<ref>[http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/indiafound.html India - List of Foundation Dates] ''RSSSF''. Retrieved 17 August 2021</ref><ref name="Kalyani Group Bid">{{cite web|last1=Mazumdar|first1=Rakhi|title=Kalyani Group bags bid to launch team in I-league|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-08-26/news/53243827_1_kalyani-group-jsw-group-india-football-federation|website=Economic Times|access-date=3 January 2015}}</ref>
| dissolved = {{start date and years ago|2015}}<ref>{{cite news|title=I-League clubs Pune, Bharat FC planning to disband first team|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/i-league-clubs-pune-bharat-fc-planning-to-disband-first-team/|access-date=21 November 2015|work=The Indian Express|date=19 August 2015}}</ref>
| ground = [[Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex|Balewadi Sports Complex]]<br />[[Pune]], [[Maharashtra]]
| capacity = 12,000<ref name="ISL Stadium 2014">{{cite web|title=Pune ISL franchise unveils team jersey|url=http://zeenews.india.com/sports/football/pune-isl-franchise-unveils-team-jersey_794747.html|website=Zee News|access-date=3 January 2015}}</ref>
| owntitle = Owner
| owner = [[Kalyani Group]]
| chrtitle = Managing Director
| chairman = Amit Kalyani
| mgrtitle = Head Coach
| manager = [[Stuart Watkiss]]
| league = [[I-League]]
| season = [[2014–15 I-League|2014–15]]
| position = I-League, 11th
| website = http://www.bharatfc.com/
| current = 2014–15 Bharat FC season
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'''Bharat FC''' (also known as '''Kalyani Bharat FC'''), was an [[List of football clubs in India|Indian]] professional [[association football|football]] team based in [[Pune]], [[Maharashtra]] that competed in the [[I-League]], then top tier of [[Indian football league system]].<ref>[https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/bharat-fc/ Kalyani Bharat Football Club: profile and statistics] ''worldfootball.net''. Retrieved 26 March 2021</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/i-league/Rozario-to-assist-Watkiss-at-Kalyani-Groups-Football-Club/articleshow/45181835.cms|title=Rozario to assist Watkiss at Kalyani Group's Football Club – Times of India|website=The Times of India|access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref> The team was founded on 26 August 2014 by [[Kalyani Group]] as a direct-entry team into the I-League, making them the second direct-entry side in league history after [[Bengaluru FC]].<ref name="Kalyani Group Bid"/> The name of the team, as well as their home stadium, the [[Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex|Balewadi Sports Complex]], were officially announced on 23 November 2014.<ref name="Stadium Announced 2015">{{cite web|title=Kalyani Group names I-League team as 'Bharat FC'|url=http://zeenews.india.com/sports/football/kalyani-group-names-i-league-team-as-bharat-fc_1503681.html|website=Zee News|access-date=3 November 2015}}</ref> But after a disappointing season in I-league the club withdrew from 2015 to 2016 season of the tournament.<ref>{{cite web|title=I-League: Pune FC, Bharat FC have a week's time to appeal for exemption from club licensing criterion|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1064/i-league/2015/10/29/16773382/official-no-bharat-fc-pune-fc-in-i-league|website=goal.com|access-date=24 June 2016}}</ref>

==History==
In 2013, in a bid to increase the popularity of the [[I-League]] – India's top football league – the [[All India Football Federation]] approved the addition of teams into the league via bidding for a direct-entry slot.<ref name="AIFF 2013">{{cite web|title=AIFF clears two new teams for I-League|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/i-league/AIFF-clears-two-new-teams-for-I-League/articleshow/20298970.cms|website=Times of India|access-date=3 January 2015}}</ref> The first two teams to be allowed into the I-League via direct-entry were [[Bengaluru FC]] and [[Mumbai Tigers F.C.|Mumbai Tigers]] but only [[Bengaluru FC]] played in the [[2013–14 I-League|2013–14 season]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mumbai Tigers pull out of I-League|url=http://zeenews.india.com/sports/football/mumbai-tigers-pull-out-of-i-league_768144.html|website=Zee News|access-date=3 January 2015}}</ref> Despite the failure of Mumbai Tigers, Bengaluru FC proved to be an amazing success for the I-League as the [[Bangalore]] club managed to bring in full-houses to all their matches as well as even win the league in their very first season.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sarbajna|first1=Boudhayan|title=Bengaluru FC’ S Success Story Opens The Door For More Franchisee Clubs in I-League|url=http://www.thehardtackle.com/2014/bengeluru-fc-s-success-story-opens-the-door-for-more-franchisee-clubs-in-i-league/|website=The Hard Tackle|access-date=3 January 2015}}</ref> This thus made the AIFF announce that they would be accepting bids for new direct-entry teams for the [[2014–15 I-League|2014–15 season]].<ref>{{cite web|title=AIFF to invite bids for new I-League teams|url=http://www.theshillongtimes.com/2014/05/04/aiff-to-invite-bids-for-new-i-league-teams/|website=The Shillong Times|access-date=3 January 2015}}</ref> On 26 August 2014, after the AIFF reviewed the bidders, they announced that [[Kalyani Group]] had won the right to start a direct-entry club for the 2014–15 season.<ref name="Kalyani Group Bid"/>

After winning the bid for the team, in November 2014, Kalyani Group signed their first ever head coach for the football team in former [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] player [[Stuart Watkiss]].<ref name="First Coach">{{cite web|title=I-League: Kalyani Group appoints Stuart Watkiss as head coach|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ileague-kalyani-group-appoints-stuart-watkiss-as-head-coach/510586-5-21.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106212421/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ileague-kalyani-group-appoints-stuart-watkiss-as-head-coach/510586-5-21.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 November 2014|website=IBN Live|access-date=3 January 2015}}</ref> They also appointed [[Stanley Rozario]] as assistant coach.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bharat FC Launched – Shillong Lajong FC {{!}} Official Website|url=https://www.shillonglajong.com/bharat-fc-launched/|access-date=2020-06-30|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Stanly Rozario becomes Kalyani Group-owned Team's Asst Coach {{!}} Hero I-League|url=https://i-league.org/stanly-rozario-becomes-kalyani-group-owned-teams-asst-coach-2/|access-date=2020-07-01|language=en-US}}</ref> Kalyani Group then signed their first ever player on 10 November 2014 when [[New Zealand national football team|New Zealand]] international [[Kris Bright]] signed for the club,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mitra|first1=Atanu|title=Kalyani Group rope in Kris Bright|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1064/i-league/2014/11/09/5968231/kalyani-group-rope-in-kris-bright|website=Goal.com|access-date=3 January 2015}}</ref> who also represented [[New Zealand national football team|New Zealand]] at the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]].<ref name=Squad>{{cite web|title=SQUAD|url=http://www.bharatfc.com/squad.php|website=Bharat FC|accessdate=6 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106060836/http://www.bharatfc.com/squad.php|archive-date=6 January 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> After making their first signings, the Kalyani Group officially announced the name of the club on 23 November 2014 as Bharat FC.<ref name="Stadium Announced 2015"/>

The club started the season with two friendlies against [[Bombay Engineer Group]], which they won 3–0 and the second one 5–0, courtesy two goals from [[Steven Dias]] and a goal each from [[Subhash Singh]], [[Surojit Bose]] and [[Jayashelan Prasad]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bharatfc.com/news-detail.php?news_id=18|title=Bharat FC tackle Air India in final preseason friendly|date=16 Jan 2015|publisher=bharatfc.com|access-date=16 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122013844/http://www.bharatfc.com/news-detail.php?news_id=18|archive-date=22 January 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNUfpZa831s|title=Bharat FC vs BEG - 5-0 - all goals|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> In the last friendly before the season, Bharat FC played against [[Air India (football club)|Air India]] and managed a 2–2 draw with a goal each from [[Kris Bright]] and [[Gunashekar Vignesh]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bharatfc.com/news-detail.php?news_id=19|title=Bharat FC close preseason friendlies with 2-2 draw|date=16 January 2015|access-date=16 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001659/http://www.bharatfc.com/news-detail.php?news_id=19|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===2014–15 I-League===
The [[2014–15 I-League]] was their first and only top flight season, they ever competed. For their maiden season, ''The Lions'' signed experienced foreigners like Englishman [[Bobby Hassell]], New Zealander [[Kris Bright]]. They rope in Beninese [[Romuald Boco]] as Marquee player, who earned 50 caps for his country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/boco-joins-bharat-fc-as-marquee-player/article6805638.ece|title=Boco joins Bharat FC as marquee player|website=The Hindu|access-date=26 March 2021}}</ref><ref>[https://wap.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/bharat-fc-sign-boco-115012001068_1.html Bharat FC acquires Boco of Benin] ''Business Standard''. Retrieved 26 March 2021</ref> Palestinian [[Omar Jarun]] was also signed in March 2015 for an 18-month deal completing the club's Asian player quota.<ref>{{cite web|title=Palestine international Omar Jarun becomes Bharat FC's fourth foreign player |url=http://www.thesportscampus.com/2015031341341/news-bytes/palestine-international-omar-jarun-becomes-bharat-fcs-fourth-foreign-player|date=13 March 2015 |access-date=13 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Shah |first=Harsh |title=Bharat FC sign Palestine international Omar Jarun |url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/136/india/2015/03/14/9797172/bharat-fc-sign-palestine-international-omar-jarun?ICID=SP |work=Goal.com |date=13 March 2015 |access-date=14 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|user=BharatFC|author=Bharat FC|number=608148566607945728|date=9 June 2015|title=#BharatFC's Omar Jarun has announced his retirement from professional football! Thanks for everything BIG O! go well!}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-in/match/mumbai-v-bharat/f2esq8excdl6i4m8un4ucw7ah|title=Mumbai v Bharat Live Commentary & Result, 30/05/15, I-League | Goal.com|website=www.goal.com}}</ref>

In their first ever league match, the debutants held [[Dempo SC]] to a goalless draw.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Lions' debut ends in a stalemate|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/match/bharat-fc-vs-dempo/1980976/report|publisher=Goal|access-date=25 January 2015}}</ref> Later they defeated giants [[Mohun Bagan AC]] by 1–0.<ref>[https://www.india.com/sports/i-league-2014-15-bharat-fc-shock-mohun-bagan-1-0-373988/ Bharat FC shock Mohun Bagan AC in the I-League] ''india.com''. Retrieved 8 May 2021</ref> On 27 January 2015, Bright scored the first goal for his club, netting a 14th-minute goal against [[Royal Wahingdoh F.C.|Royal Wahingdoh]] but they lost the game by 1–2.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kashyap's side continue their perfect run|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/match/bharat-fc-vs-royal-wahingdoh/1980980/report|publisher=Goal|access-date=28 January 2015}}</ref> [[Kris Bright]] emerged as the top goalscorer for Bharat with 6 goals in the league.

Bharat FC has competed in 20 matches in the league season and managed to win only 3 matches alongside 10 draws and 7 defeats. Thus the club finished at the bottom of the league table with 18 points, behind [[Dempo SC]].<ref>[http://www.indiafooty.com/news-center/table/2014-15-i-league/ 2014-15 I-League fixtures and points table] indiafooty.com''. Retrieved 26 March 2021</ref> But they were not relegated as they had relegation immunity for two years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/match/east-bengal-vs-bharat-fc/1980997/preview|title=East Bengal - Bharat FC Preview: Lions' pride travel in search of first win of the season|website=Goal.com|access-date=26 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thebridge.in/featured/look-back-dysfunctional-clubs-past-decade-indian-football/|title=A look back into the dysfunctional clubs in the past decade of Indian football|website=The Bridge|access-date=26 March 2021}}</ref>

==Colours and kits==
During the club's first ever kit launch event on 2 January 2015, it was announced that the club's colours would be based on the team's motto, ''"Together, Forever and Triumphant"'', which are [[blue]], [[red]], and [[white]].<ref name="Kit Launch 2014-15">{{cite web|title=New I-League side Bharat FC launches official kits|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/i-league/New-I-League-side-Bharat-FC-launches-official-kits/articleshow/45732253.cms|website=Times of India|access-date=5 January 2015}}</ref> The home kit was coloured in dark blue which stands for the "Peoples Football" while the away kit is predominantly red.<ref name="Kit Launch 2014-15"/> The club's third kit was coloured completely white with the colours blue and red running horizontally across the shirt. The red denotes "passion and vitality" while blue stands for "truth and loyalty".<ref name="Kit Launch 2014-15"/>

==Ownership==
Bharat FC was formed through an initiative by [[Kalyani Group]], a privately held industrial group, headquartered in [[Pune]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]], that is focused in four primary sectors, viz. Engineering Steel, Automotive & Non-Automotive Components, Renewable Energy & Infrastructure and Specialty Chemicals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/kalyani-group-to-set-up-missile-mro-in-hyderabad/article26554851.ece|title=Kalyani Group to set up Missile MRO in Hyderabad|last=Kumar|first=V. Rishi|website=@businessline|language=en|access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref> Amit Kalyani was the club's first and only managing director.<ref name="Kit Launch 2015">{{cite web|title=New I-League side Bharat FC launches official kits|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/i-league/New-I-League-side-Bharat-FC-launches-official-kits/articleshow/45732253.cms|website=Times of India|access-date=3 January 2015}}</ref>

==Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:center"
|-
!Period
!Kit manufacturer
!Shirt sponsor
|-
|2015
|[[Nivia Sports|Nivia]]<ref name="Launch Stadium">{{cite web|last1=Viswanath|first1=G|title=High hopes for Bharat FC|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/isl-is-behind-us-looking-forward-to-ileague-gouramangi/article6748585.ece|website=The Hindu|access-date=5 January 2015}}</ref>
|[[Kalyani Group]]<ref name="Launch Stadium"/>
|}

==Stadium==
{{Main|Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex}}
[[File:Balewadi Athletics Stadiums Interior.jpg|thumb|Shiv Chatrapati Sports Complex on a matchday]]
When Bharat FC's name was announced, the [[Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex|Balewadi Sports Complex]] was also announced as the first ever stadium to be used by the club.<ref name="Stadium Announced 2015"/> The stadium has a capacity of 12,000.<ref name="ISL Stadium 2014"/> The team has stated their intention to eventually construct their own football stadium with [[Manjri]] being the initial looked at location for the stadium.<ref name="Launch Stadium"/>

During the 2015 season, the team had their training group located in [[Manjri]].<ref name="Launch Stadium"/>

==Dysfunction==
The team was officially launched in November 2014,<ref>{{cite web|title=Kalyani Group names I-League team as 'Bharat FC'|url=http://zeenews.india.com/sports/football/kalyani-group-names-i-league-team-as-bharat-fc_1503681.html|website=Zee News|access-date=26 November 2014}}</ref> but despite investing heavily, Bharat FC just managed to gain only 18 points from 20 games in the [[2014–15 I-League]] season, finishing at the bottom. The return on investment being abysmal, the club didn’t see [[I-League]] as an economically viable investment anymore. With minimal activity ahead of their second season and several staff, including CEO Suvrat Thatte, resigning, the [[Pune]]-based club only played one season in the I-League.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thebridge.in/featured/look-back-dysfunctional-clubs-past-decade-indian-football/|title=A look back into the dysfunctional clubs in the past decade of Indian football|website=The Bridge|access-date=26 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/sports/pune-fc-and-bharat-fc-shutting-down-is-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-i-league-2397220.html/amp|title=Pune FC and Bharat FC closing down is the beginning of the end of I-League|website=First Post|access-date=26 March 2021}}</ref>

==Team records==
===Overall records===
{{updated|5 January 2015}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Season
! colspan=8 class="unsortable" | [[I-League]]
! scope="col" rowspan=2 class="unsortable" | [[Federation Cup (India)|Federation Cup]]
! scope="col" rowspan=2 class="unsortable" | [[Durand Cup]]
! scope="col" rowspan=2 class="unsortable" | [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]]
! scope="col" colspan=3 class="unsortable" | Top Scorer
|-
!{{tooltip|P|Games played}}
!{{tooltip|W|Games won}}
!{{tooltip|L|Games lost}}
!{{tooltip|D|Games drawn}}
!{{tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!{{tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!{{tooltip|Pts|Points}}
!{{tooltip|Position|Position}}
! class="unsortable" | Player
! class="unsortable" | Goals
|-
|[[2014–15 Bharat FC season|2014–15]]
|20
|4
|6
|10
|13
|28
|18
|11th
|—
|—
|—
|[[Kris Bright]]
|6
|}

===Head Coach's Record===
{{updated|6 January 2015}}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center"
!Name!!Nationality!!From!!class="unsortable"|To!!P!!W!!D!!L!!GF!!GA!!Win%
|-
|scope=row style=text-align:left|[[Stuart Watkiss]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Bharat 2014–15: Fixtures & Results |url=http://www.bharatfc.com/fixtures-results-listing.php |publisher=Bharat F.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319111055/http://www.bharatfc.com/fixtures-results-listing.php |archive-date=19 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|align=left|{{ENG}}
|align=left|4 November 2014
|align=left|1 June 2015
{{WDL|20|4|6|10|for=13|against=28}}
|}
===Technical staffs===
{{updated|6 January 2015}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Position
! Name
|-
| Head Coach
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Stuart Watkiss]]
|-
| Assistant Coach
| {{flagicon|IND}} [[Stanley Rozario]]
|-
| Fitness coach
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Lindsay Davis<ref>{{cite tweet |author=Hero I-League |user=ILeagueOfficial |number=544432940768174081 |date=15 December 2014 |title=JUST IN: Englishman Lindsay Davis has been roped in as the fitness and conditioning coach of @BharatFC. #ILeague http://t.co/IUNDgyorUN |language=en |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Physiotherapist
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Ian Farmery<ref>{{cite tweet |author=Bharat FC |user=BharatFC |number=545172296999002112 |date=17 December 2014 |title=Ian Farmery joins #BharatFC as the first team's physiotherapist. Ian joins us from Barnsley FC. http://t.co/6mDqtVKaNG |language=en |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref>
|}
==Notable former players==
''For current and former notable Bharat FC players with a Wikipedia article see [[:Category:Bharat FC players|Bharat FC players]]''

==See also==
* [[List of football clubs in India|List of football clubs in Maharashtra]]
* [[:Category:Defunct football clubs in India|Defunct football clubs in India]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==

*[https://globalsportsarchive.com/team/soccer/kalyani-bharat-fc/21848/ Bharat FC team archive] at globalsportsarchive.com
* {{Official website|http://www.bharatfc.com/}}

{{Bharat FC}}
{{I-League}}
{{Football in India}}


[[Category:Bharat FC| ]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 2014]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Pune]]
[[Category:I-League clubs]]
[[Category:2014 establishments in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Defunct football clubs in India]]
[[Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 2015]]
[[Category:2015 disestablishments in India]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Maharashtra]]

Bharat FC - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 19:25, 13 August 2023