Team India's growing worries

The closer the 2011 AFC Asian Cup is coming the worse the situation surrounding the Indian national team seems to be getting. Injury worries to key players, players having to drop out, international friendlies being called off, clubs not releasing players and then the manager leaving. It seems to be a never ending negative story at the moment surrounding Team India and their preparations for the tournament.

Matters reached their negative climax yesterday when manager Pradip Chowdhury left the camp after differences of opinion with national coach Bob Houghton. The manager cited personal and health reasons for the problems, but it is publically known that there was a difference of opinion between Bob and Pradipda. This incidence came at the worst possible moment with the tournament just a couple of weeks away and the players have heavily criticised the decision.

Then there is the issue of injuries. At one time up to 12 out of the 30 players were injured, even the two reserve goalkeepers Subhashish Roy Chowdhury and Arindam Bhattacharya with youngsters Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Jagroop Singh called up as back-up. Now Sunil Chhetri is regaining full fitness which is welcome news; but if Baichung Bhutia will be fit for the Asian Cup will have to be seen. Baichung had recently recovered fully from an injury suffered on September 15 against Namibia but he is again out, so he is flying in his own doctor to get himself treated. Baichung might have to miss the tournament altogether and this would be surely a big blow to India.

Now winger Anthony Pereira and keeper Arindam Bhattacharya have been ruled out of the tournament due to injuries, but Indian club are unwilling to release suitable replacements. With seasoned Sandip Nandy (East Bengal Club) and Asian Games Under-23 captain Joaquim Abranches (Dempo SC) the players of Bob's choice. East Bengal don't want to release Sandip, not to lose their current momentum; while Joaquim is injured, hasn't played in the I-League so far and Dempo don't want to release an injured player.

Then there are the called-off international friendlies. India were supposed to play Qatar on December 19 and then Syria on December 26, both matches to be played in Dubai. The first game was called-off as Qatar wanted the match to be shifted to Doha which Bob Houghton didn't agree to; while issues surrounding the Syria match aren't really clear, but rumours have it that cost factors have led to the match being called-off. Now India are set to go into the Asian Cup with no friendly international game since mid-November.

The AIFF will have to send the names of its final 23 player squad on Tuesday, December 28 to the Asian Football Confederation. And it will be interesting to see which 23 players will go on to represent India at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. As said things don't look good at the moment, but hopefully the boys will deliver.