India To Face Lebanon In Nehru Cup Opener
The (All India Football Federation)AIFF decided to make the Nehru Cup a five team tournament after Thailand was sending a junior side while their replacement Palestine was going to send a club side.
So now the competition will be played on a league format with the top two teams facing off in the final.
All the Fixtures :
Match No 1 : Wednesday :19.08.09 :India Vs Lebanon :Kick off at 6.30 PM
Match No 2 : Thursday :20.08.09 :Kyrygstan Vs Syria : Kick off at 6.30 PM
Match No 3 : Friday :21.08.09 Srilanka Vs Lebanon :Kick off at 6.30 PM
Match No 4 : Saturday :22.08.09 :India Vs Kyrygstan :Kick off at 6.30 PM
Match No 5 : Sunday : 23.08.09 :Syria Vs Sri Lanka:Kick off at 6.30 PM
Match No 6 : Monday :24.08.09 :Kyrygystan Vs Lebanon :Kick off at 6.30 PM
Match No 7 : Tuesday :25.08.09 :India Vs Sri Lanka :Kick off at 6.30 PM
Match No 8 : Wednesday :26.08.09 :Syria Vs Lebanon :Kick off at 6.30 PM
Match No 9 : Thursday : 27.08.09 : Sri Lanka Vs Kyrygstan :Kick off at 6.30 PM
Match No 10 : Friday :28.08.09 :India Vs Syria :Kick off at 6.30 PM
Match No 11 : Monday :31.08.09 : Final :Kick off at 6.30 PM
Speaking to the media at AIFF Football House on Friday, India’s coach Bob Houghton said that Syria start favorites based on their FIFA Ranking but all other teams will be competitive in the tournament.
The Englishman feels that it will be interesting to see how India play against Syria and Kyrygzstan who were also part of the competition in 2007. Sri Lanka who did well in the 2007 SAFF Cup will also prove to be a test for the Indians, according to the former China and Uzbekistan coach.
He said “Our preparation has been excellent with the training tours abroad. We brought the players to a good level of fitness in Dubai.
“We also conducted training sessions in Barcelona where we played four practice games which helped to raise the confidence level of the team as we did not lose any game.”
When asked about Sunil Chhetri’s fitness he said “We have to wait a little longer to decide about Sunil .He will not play if we have doubts about his fitness.
“Samir Naik and Sushil are recovering quickly from their injuries and are back in training.
“Subhash Singh is a good player who did well last season in the I-league.”
Houghton also said that BCCI’s 25 crore grant to the AIFF for the 2011 Asian Cup will help the senior team to prepare for that tournament by organizing more camps and matches.
AIFF General Secretary Alberto Colaco furher added “ We are happy that BCCI has responded positively .The modalities and exact form of execution will be worked out after discussions.”
Goal.com India
The (All India Football Federation)AIFF decided to make the Nehru Cup a five team tournament after Thailand was sending a junior side while their replacement Palestine was going to send a club side.
So now the competition will be played on a league format with the top two teams facing off in the final.
All the Fixtures :
Match No 1 : Wednesday :19.08.09 :India Vs Lebanon :Kick off at 6.30 PM
Match No 2 : Thursday :20.08.09 :Kyrygstan Vs Syria : Kick off at 6.30 PM
Match No 3 : Friday :21.08.09 Srilanka Vs Lebanon :Kick off at 6.30 PM
Match No 4 : Saturday :22.08.09 :India Vs Kyrygstan :Kick off at 6.30 PM
Match No 5 : Sunday : 23.08.09 :Syria Vs Sri Lanka:Kick off at 6.30 PM
Match No 6 : Monday :24.08.09 :Kyrygystan Vs Lebanon :Kick off at 6.30 PM
Match No 7 : Tuesday :25.08.09 :India Vs Sri Lanka :Kick off at 6.30 PM
Match No 8 : Wednesday :26.08.09 :Syria Vs Lebanon :Kick off at 6.30 PM
Match No 9 : Thursday : 27.08.09 : Sri Lanka Vs Kyrygstan :Kick off at 6.30 PM
Match No 10 : Friday :28.08.09 :India Vs Syria :Kick off at 6.30 PM
Match No 11 : Monday :31.08.09 : Final :Kick off at 6.30 PM
Speaking to the media at AIFF Football House on Friday, India’s coach Bob Houghton said that Syria start favorites based on their FIFA Ranking but all other teams will be competitive in the tournament.
The Englishman feels that it will be interesting to see how India play against Syria and Kyrygzstan who were also part of the competition in 2007. Sri Lanka who did well in the 2007 SAFF Cup will also prove to be a test for the Indians, according to the former China and Uzbekistan coach.
He said “Our preparation has been excellent with the training tours abroad. We brought the players to a good level of fitness in Dubai.
“We also conducted training sessions in Barcelona where we played four practice games which helped to raise the confidence level of the team as we did not lose any game.”
When asked about Sunil Chhetri’s fitness he said “We have to wait a little longer to decide about Sunil .He will not play if we have doubts about his fitness.
“Samir Naik and Sushil are recovering quickly from their injuries and are back in training.
“Subhash Singh is a good player who did well last season in the I-league.”
Houghton also said that BCCI’s 25 crore grant to the AIFF for the 2011 Asian Cup will help the senior team to prepare for that tournament by organizing more camps and matches.
AIFF General Secretary Alberto Colaco furher added “ We are happy that BCCI has responded positively .The modalities and exact form of execution will be worked out after discussions.”
Goal.com India
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