India eyes hat-trick win

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Indian football might still be nothing more than a spectator at the FIFA World Cup or the Olympics, but it is not the case with the SAFF Games or the Nehru Cup.

The national side coached by Dutch international Wim Koevermans will look to wrap up a hat-trick when the 2012 Nehru Cup starts in New Delhi on August 23.

Despite being second-favourites, India defeated a powerful Syria for the title in 2009. But it will be tougher than ever with six-time world cup qualifiers Cameroon set to play this year.

With a FIFA ranking of 59, Cameroon is far more powerful than the hosts ranked 163 and it will be nothing short of an Olympic or world cup qualification if India were to win the tourney.

The national camp for the platinum jubilee year cup started at Jaypee Greens Atlantis Club at Greater Noida on August 1.

“All India Football Federation has never compromised when it comes to providing facilities to its footballers.

We felt it best to organise our camp in India's finest International sporting arena,” says Kushal Das, general secretary of AIFF.

Koevermans has emphasised on how important it is for the country to defend the title though it will face African superpower Cameroon and Syria, whom it defeated for back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2009, under Bob Houghton’s coaching.

The other participating teams are Nepal and Maldives. The tournament will be held in round-robin format and the top two will play the final on September 2.

Three years ago, India had clinched a dramatic final on penalties. Renedy Singh broke the deadlock after a goalless regulation time play when he scored in the 114th minute, but Syria leveled in the dying moments of the game through centre back Ali Diab in the 123 minute.

Later, the hosts held their nerves to outsmart the West Asians 5-4 in penalties.

This national preparatory camp includes:

GOALKEEPERS: Subrata Pal, Subhasish Roychowdhury, Karanjeet Singh, Arindam Bhattacharya, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.

DEFENDERS: Nirmal Chhetri, Denzil Franco, Nicholas Colaco, Gourmangi Singh, Gurwinder Singh, Rowilson Rodriguez, Raju Gaikwad, Khelemba Meitei, Shouvik Ghosh, Gurjinder Singh, Syed Rahim Nabi, Mohan Raj.

MIDFIELDERS: Mehtab Hossain, Adil khan, Rocus Lamare, Milan Singh, Baldeep Singh, Denson Devdas, Lalrindika Ralte, Jewel Raja, Francis Fernandes, Alwyn George, Anthony Pereira, Gilbert Oliviera, Sanju Pradhan, Clifford Miranda, Joaquim Abranches.

FORWARDS: Robin Singh, Sunil Chhetri, Manandeep Singh, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Sushil Singh.