India squad named for the Caribbean Tour

Team India are leaving tomorrow for their '+ONE India Caribbean Tour' to the Windies. India play in four international games, which will really test the strength of the Bhangra Boys.



The departure had been delayed due to the riots in London, but after things cooled down and the team could do a stopover in the English capital without any overnight stay the team is now ready to leave. Team India will fly from Delhi via Kolkata, Dubai and London-Gatwick to Barbados before flying on to St. Kitts for the first match.



AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das said, "It's great the Tour is happening. We wish the team the very best for the event!"



National Coach Armando Colaco lauded the AIFF for getting the tour arranged. "I must thank the administration of the AIFF. Getting an alternate travel arrangement for so many at the 11th hour is never an easy task," he commented.



However, a heavy downpour did rob the team of a practice session on Friday afternoon in the capital; the players staying content in gym sessions and spending time in the swimming pool. A proud Armando added, "This side has huge potential and needs to be groomed. It's necessary to expose them to play against stronger sides. I have never seen National Team players playing so well."



Striker Sunil Chhetri who has been named for this year Arjuna Award said everyone is raring to go. "It's not every day that one gets to play higher-ranked sides. The entire bunch is looking forward to the tour."



Missing from the final squad of 23 players are Denzil Franco, Lalkamal Bhowmick, Harmanjot Khabra, Jewel Raja Sheikh and Baljit Singh Sahni.



For further information go to the official Facebook page of the +ONE India Caribbean Tour 2011 .





INDIA



Goalkeepers

Subrata Pal (Pune FC), Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar SC), Laxmikant Kattimani (Dempo SC)



Defenders

Raju Eknath Gaikwad (East Bengal Club), Mahesh Gawli (Dempo SC), Robert Lalthlamuana (East Bengal Club), Sameer Subash Naik (Dempo SC), Valeriano Joseph Rebello (Dempo SC), Rowilson Rolando Rodrigues (Dempo SC), Debabrata Roy (Dempo SC), Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh (Churchill Brothers SC)



Midfielders

Peter Carvalho (Dempo SC), Steven Benedic Dias (Churchill Brothers SC), Mehtab Hossain (East Bengal Club), Rocus Lamare (Salgaocar SC), Climax Lawrence (Dempo SC), Clifford Rayes Miranda (Dempo SC), Syed Rahim Nabi (Mohun Bagan AC), Lalrindika Ralte (Churchill Brothers SC),



Forwards

Sunil Chhetri (Mohun Bagan AC), Jeje Lalpekhlua (Pune FC), Chongtham Sushil Kumar Singh (United Sikkim FC), C.S Sabeeth (Indian Arrows)



Officials

Armando Colaco (Chief Coach), Savio Medeira (Assistant Coach), Antonio Marcus Pacheco (Goalkeeping Coach), Suresh Babu (Physical Trainer), Sandeep Kumar (Doctor), Vishnu Krishnan Nair (Physio), Liaqat Ali (Masseur), Mandar Tamhane (Manager)