The Hindu : Sport / Football : Lebanon football team excited about WC qualifier

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Saturday, Oct 27, 2007
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Lebanon football team excited about WC qualifier

S. R. Suryanarayan

— Photo: K. Pichumani

UNWINDING: The Lebanese players sharing a lighter moment at a hotel in Chennai on Friday.

CHENNAI: After the hugely successful ‘football awareness run’ at the Marina, the game is in focus again. This time for the 2010 World Cup qualifier, involving India and Lebanon, a flood-lit match is to be staged at the Nehru stadium on October 28.

Several international matches have been held in the city but this is the first time a World Cup qualifier is being held. That itself makes this event something special for the fans. Then again this is a contest, at least on paper and in terms of FIFA ranking, which promises a lot.

Lebanon is ranked 138 and India is listed at 145. India had gone down 1-4 in the first leg (the format is home and away basis) played in Saida in Lebanon on October 8 and only a 3-0 win here can help India look further.

For the moment however, the organisers, the Chennai FA and Tamil Nadu FA, are looking to the skies literally. The monsoon has set in and the sky is overcast. Spells of rain in the last few days have already done enough damage to the Nehru stadium turf, leaving it soft at several places. “More rains and we have a problem on hand,” said a worried C.R. Visswanathan, President, CFA and TFA, at a press briefing on Friday.

“We have not been able to take up the markings yet with the stipulated plastic emulsion paint because of the wet conditions and as of now, the pre-match practice routine on the match-turf for the two teams looks impossible,” he said, expressing concern on the organisational front.

Like for the pre-Olympic fixtures held here earlier when the teams were provided practice facilities at the American International school ground, a little away from the city, on this occasion also, the school authorities have come forward to offer help.

Roda not playing

Meanwhile, the Lebanon team was the first to arrive in the city in the early hours of Friday. The team list showed 17 players and conspicuous by his absence was Roda Antar, the side’s star player who plays in the German league for FC Kohn.

Antar had scored in Lebanon’s home match. Team officials have no reason for his absence except stating that he has gone to play in the German league.

Despite the long journey, the team members looked enthusiastic and excited for the contest ahead. Reflecting the mood was the team management’s decision for a practice session, hours ahead of Team India’s arrival.

The kick-off is at 6.30 p.m. and entry is by tickets (Rs. 20 each).

The match officials: Match Commissioner: Rendeni Gamini (Sri Lanka); Referee: Salem Mohmoud Mujghee, Assistant Referees: Fathi Arabati, Awni Hassouneh (all Jordan); Fourth official: Mohd. Yussof Mat Karim (Malaysia).