The Hindu : India takes on upbeat Rwanda

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2003

Sport

Sport - Asian Games

India takes on upbeat Rwanda

By S.R. Suryanarayan

A relaxed I.M. Vijayan chats with family members on the eve of India's Afro-Asian Games football campaign in Hyderabad on Tuesday. (Right): Rwanda coach Ratomir Dujkovic (left) has a word with skipper Eric Shimiyina. — Photos: Vino John

HYDERABAD OCT. 22. Whatever the hype till now, it is difficult to depict the Afro-Asian Games as a competition involving the best from the two continents. At least in football, it would be appropriate to describe the competition as the best of India against the representative teams of other countries, Asian and African.

This much is clear from the composition of the various teams that have arrived now. Barring India, nobody is here with the number one team. "We cannot get the professionals. At least eight of them — all regulars in the National team — are away playing in various European Clubs. The clubs will release them only for FIFA-specified tournaments, not this," said the chief coach of Rwanda, Ratomir Dujkovic of Yugoslovia.

Uzbekistan and Burkina Faso, on the other hand, are here with the junior squads while Malaysia has come with an experimental side from which the country hopes to decide on a few more players for strengthening the National squad currently busy with Asian Cup matches, and for the SEA Games ahead.

Ghana, which will be reaching late on Tuesday night, and Iran will be completing the list. With the arrival of Rwanda on Tuesday, one thing is assured: the football event will get underway at the Lal Bahadur stadium, no matter that the turf received another pounding in the wet spell that has gripped the city. India is scheduled to meet Rwanda in the inaugural match followed by the Malaysia-Ghana encounter.

Rwanda is in the midst of celebrations after the country beat Ghana and Uganda to qualify for the African Nations Cup 2004, its maiden entry to the prestigious event.

Dujkovic is naturally happy that he was the coach who made that dream possible. "President Kagami is a big supporter and we consider him our No. 12 player," he said with a chuckle.

Humour apart, Dujkovic said that these were changing times in Rwandan football and the aspirations have gone up.

"We have a bunch of local league players here but our aim is to watch for the best performers, keeping in view the pre-World Cup competitions ahead," he said.

Dujkovic has no idea of Indian football, but since it is the host it should do well, he said.

Mart Nooy, the Dutch coach of Burkina Faso, is clear. "We look to this tournament as a preparation for the Junior World Cup in the Emirates next month." The same reason Uzbek coach Victor Barisov cites for bringing his under-20 squad here. "We were also asked to bring the best Junior squad," he said.

"Watch out for a Dutch and African mix in our approach," said Mart, while Barisov remarked: "we will not disappoint you."

Be a good host!

Asked if India and Uzbekistan reached the final what the result would be, pat came his reply, "being such a good host, be generous and give it to us!"

Amidst the pleasant settings at the team hotel, the only discordant note ironically came from the host nation's English coach, Stephen Constantine, who steadfastly refused to entertain the media. His handling of mediamen and photographers has bordered so much on arrogance that sooner the AIFF decides to have a media officer, the better for the publicity of the game and the players.

The groupings:

Group A: India, Rwanda, Malaysia and Ghana; Group B: Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Iran and Uzbekistan.

The schedule: Oct. 22: India v Rwanda (3 p.m.); Ghana v Malaysia (6 p.m.), LB Stadium; Oct. 23: Zimbabwe v Burkina Faso and Iran v Uzbekistan (LB Stadium); Oct. 24: India v Malaysia (LB Stadium), Rwanda v Ghana (Goshamahal stadium), 3 p.m.; Oct. 25: Zimbabwe v Iran (LB Stadium), Burkina Faso v Uzbekistan (Goshamahal), 3 p.m.; Oct. 26: Ghana v India (Goshamahal), Rwanda v Malaysia (LB Stadium) 3 p.m.; Oct. 27: Uzbekistan v Zimbabwe (Goshamahal), Burkina Faso v Iran (LB stadium), 3 p.m.; Oct. 28: Rest day; Oct. 29: Semifinals (LB Stadium); Oct. 30: Rest day; Oct. 31: Final (LB Stadium).