The Hindu : Sport / Football : Pradeep to lead India in AFC Challenge Cup

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 31, 2006

Sport

Sport - Football

Pradeep to lead India in AFC Challenge Cup

KOLKATA: In order to give adequate exposure for juniors, a young 20-member Indian team will participate in the AFC Challenge Cup to be held in Bangladesh from April 1 to 16.

N.P. Pradeep of SBT will lead the team while Xavier Vijay Kumar of HAL will be his deputy.

Interestingly, a big chunk of the team (10) hails from Jharkhand while football powerhouse Bengal is not represented at all and only two players made it form Goa.

"The participation in the AFC Challenge Cup was planned to give adequate exposure to junior players and with the sole aim to prepare for the AFC Youth Championship 2006 to be held in India from October 29 this year," said AIFF secretary Alberto Colaco.

"Except three, all the players are below 20 years. The seniors who made it are from second division NFL clubs and all of them are in the probables list for the Asian Games team," he said.

"The AIFF felt that by participating in this tournament, the U-20 players would gain experience at the international level. Junior teams from China, Korea and Japan regularly participate in senior tournaments. This gives them more exposure. We are trying something similar and this is the beginning of the experiments we need to do to push Indian soccer forward," Colaco added.

India is placed in Group A along with Afghanistan, Philippines and Chinese Taipei. India will take on Afghanistan on April 1, followed by Philippines on April 3 and Chinese Taipei two days later.

The team: Baldeep Singh (Punjab), Reisangmi Vashum (Manipur), Rakesh Masih (TFA), Ong Tshering Lepcha (Sikkim), Arindam Bhattacharja, Vimal Pariyar, Hirohito Elangbam, Lalramluaha, Rino Anto, Lalawampuia Pachuau, Khanthang Paite, Shilton Paul, Parwinder Singh, Warun Deep (all Jharkhand), Bungo Thokchom Singh (Goa), Zaidinmawia Hmar, Lalmalsawma Hamar (all Mizoram), Xavier Vijay Kumar (HAL), N.P. Pradeep (SBT), Shafeeq Pulparambil (Kerala).

Stand by: Malswamdawngliana (Mizoram), Lavino Fernandez (Goa), Shaji D'Silva (SSCB).

Officials: Islam Akhmedov (chief coach), K. Birbal Singh (asst coach), Hemanta Dora (goalkeeping coach), Borkynsai Diengdoh (manager) and Dr. Manabendra Bhattacharyya (doctor). — UNI

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