KOLKATA: A veteran Englishman is infusing optimism in the Indian footballers. This is the only weapon that the senior National team has against the redoubtable Saudi Arabians — its opposition in Wednesday's group `A' league qualifying match of the AFC Asian Cup 2007. The person shepherding the Indian hopes is the new chief national coach Bob Houghton.

The first task that Houghton undertook following his appointment in June was to motivate the players. Having inherited a demoralised squad battered by repeated international defeats, the new Indian coach had little over two months to reform the side.

The match against the Saudis will thus be the first test of the rebuilding process set out by Houghton.

India, at the bottom of the four-team league table with successive loses against Japan and Yemen, would be aiming for at least a draw against the Saudis.

Pragmatic coach

Houghton had a pragmatic way of putting things. He said his team would play a positive game as being "defensive does not lead us to any where.'' The coach said the task will be difficult but "we will have to apply the tactics we have been practicing.''

The team is rejuvenated by the reappointment of Baichung Bhutia. "I feel we can progress a long way under him. He can at least show us the way. Houghton is knowledgeable and different from the others," said Bhutia.

With a long list of injuries in the squad limiting his choices, Houghton said: "The approach thus will be to keep ourselves organised, keep morale high and make the right innovations at the right time.''

The Indians left out midfielder Bibiano Fernandes and defender Habibur Rehman Mondal in the final list of 20 players after the team's last practice on Tuesday evening.

Saudi cautious

On its part, Saudi Arabia too had enough reasons to be cautious. The city has been experiencing spells of heavy rain for the last few days and that is a cause of concern for the "desert warriors,''

Its Brazilian Coach Marcos Paqueta, knowing his team's uneasiness in slushy conditions, said rain can cause difficulty for any team but added his team is prepared to play in any condition. "We know it will be a tough match. The Indians play with good velocity. But the most important thing is to get three points," the coach said.

The Saudis are also in the process of regrouping after two of their biggest stars — striker Sami Al Jaber and goalkeeper Mohammad Al-Deayea — announced their retirement.

The squads:

India (from): Sandip Nandy, Subhasish Roy Chaowdhury, Subrata Paul, Surkumar Singh, N.S. Manju, N.P. Pradeep, Deepak Mondal, Sanjeev Maria, Samir Naik, Anupam Sarkar, Narinder Singh, Shanmugam Venkatesh, Steven Dias, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Manjit Singh, Rennedy Singh, Baichung Bhutia (captain), Fredy Mascarenhas, Sunil Chhetri and Alvito D'Cunha. Coach: Bob Houghton.

Saudi Arabia (from): Zaid Mabrouk, Khoja M. Ibrahim, Malaeka Mustafa, Yasser Abdullah, Fahad Ahmed, Mohammad R. Fallatah, Mohammad Aziz, Omar Hussain Sulaimani (captain), Naif Al Qadi, Alghannam Abdullatief, Saud Ali Khariri, Mohammad Massad Al Mowallad, Omar Abdullal, Autef Abdoh Irahim, Jabir Taiser, Alla Ahmad Al Kwykbi, Haidar M. Ameen, Saeed Y. Kahtani, Mohammad Eysa, Bashar Saleh. Coach: Marcos Paqueta.

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