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Confident Indian football team ready for Asian Cup test

Pooled in a virtual Group of Death — Australia being Asia’s No 1 team, Korea No 3 and Bahrain No 5 — for the Asian Cup to be held in Doha in January, the Indian team, which is ranked 142^nd in FIFA rankings, is getting ready for the tough battle with daily training sessions at the Al Wasl Club ground which will be followed by some friendlies in the UAE.

India coach Bob Houghton is confident of his troops giving the favourites a run for their money. “The Asian Cup is a big test for us. But we are looking forward to it. Only 16 best teams qualify for this tournament so it’s a commendable performance from our boys. Though we are in a very tough group, we are looking forward to the challenge,” Houghton told the media during a press conference in Dubai on Tuesday.

Houghton’s confidence has rubbed onto his players as emphasised by Sunil Chhetri. “Before Houghton took over, we would be wary of playing the big tournaments. But now no one is scared of the top teams. After playing in Doha, we will also know where we stand in the Asian context. So everyone’s is raring to go,” he added.

Another top Indian player Gourmangi Singh seconded Chhetri that the coach has boosted the team’s once-fragile confidence. “Houghton has helped us a lot in understanding the game better. We are now more confident and know what is our target now,” he said.

Houghton, though, understands how important the Asian Cup campaign is for his future as India coach. “I know that if we don’t get any point in the tournament, there will be a huge cry for my ouster,” he remarked.

However, Indian players can take heart from their performance in the friendly matches in the run up to the Asian Cup where they have shown themselves capable of playing hard and distinguishing themselves on the field. After a two-month training camp in Portugal, Indian footballers lost 0-1 to Thailand and 1-2 to Namibia before winning 3-1 against Vietnam. This was followed by a 1-0 win against Hong Kong and ended with a 3-6 defeat against Yemen. “This friendlies have done a world of good for the players’ morale. We scored goals against better teams and I think they will take this belief in the Asian Cup,” remarked assistant coach Savio Madeira.

Although India’s preparation has been hindered to some extent with slight injuries to captain Bhaichung Bhutia, Chetri, Sameer Naik and N S Manju, Madeira is optimistic of getting them fit for the friendly against UAE.

“The quartet were carrying slight injuries, but now they have almost recovered and will be match-fit in a couple of days,” he added.

Apart from the training schedule in Dubai, India footballers will also be involved in a number of friendlies in the UAE, courtesy Gulf International Promotions headed by Raul Fernandes, which have been organising UAE trips for the team from the subcontinent for the last five years. They take Iraq on November 11 at Al Shaab Stadium, Sharjah, at 6pm, Kuwait on November 14 in Abu Dhabi at 6pm, UAE on November 18 at Al Wasl Stadium at 6.45pm, Fujairah Sports Club on November 24 at Fujairah at 4.45pm and Hatta Sports Club on November 27 at 5pm.

Playing such top teams on a regular basis will help Indian football improve, according to Houghton. “We don’t get this opportunity of playing against good teams very often. I always believe that we must take on the top teams for our standard to improve,” he said.