Wim Koevermans: We could have scored ten goals!

"We had aimed for three points and we have achieved it," National Coach Wim Koevermans pronounced at the post-match Press Conference after India's 4-0 win against Guam at the Yangon Training Centre earlier today.

"We could have scored more goals but it was Guam who had the first chance of the match when one of their shots hit the post and went out," he added. "That was a wake-up call for us."

"But after that, we took control and there was hardly any threat from our opponents. If you look back at the chances which we created, we could have scored more than 10 goals. But that's football," Wim maintained.

Referring to a question whether India can beat Myanmar, Koevermans quipped, "We are here to win. I feel every team is here to win too. It will be an interesting match for sure. But we have beaten higher-ranked teams in the recent past and we take inspiration from it."

"We gave away the ball a bit too easily at times," Wim maintained coming back to the Guam match. "There was pressure on the players as this was a must-win match for us. We had our chances but just couldn't score,” Wim reiterated.

In the end India won, while Myanmar were held to a surprise one-all draw by Chinese Taipei which leaves India at the top with six points.

2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers: India beat 4-0 against Guam

Team India won their second match in the Group A qualifiers for the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup, but India had to wait until the second half though in the end winning 4-0 against Guam at the Thuwanna Yangon Training Centre Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar. India now have six points from two matches.

Captain Sunil Chhetri opened the scoring in the 49th minute and scored another in injury-time, while Clifford Miranda and Jewel Raja Shaikh scored one apiece in the 68th and the 80th minute respectively.

After a goalless first half, Chhetri drew the first blood four minutes after resumption. He followed Lenny Rodrigues' through pass, beat the off-side trap and slotted it past the rival goalkeeper Douglas Herrick, much to the relief of all. And then the floodgates opened. The second one came in the 68th minute with Clifford Miranda blasting home his left-footer after being set up by Mehtab Hossain.

Jewel placed the third goal to perfection after being found unmarked inside the box by substitute C.K. Vineeth while Chhetri scored the fourth, heading in a Mehtab Hossain corner in the first minute of injurz time. Todaz's goals took Chhetri's tally of international goals to 40, two short of India's all-time record holder, former India Captain Baichung Bhutia.

It was a tactical display by the Indians against Guam, who at times looked ultra-defensive. Finding it difficult to break free among the crowd of legs, the Indians preferred to use the flanks in the second half and opened-up the rivals.

But one needs to mention that India were not off to the perfect start. Guam, physical, seized the early initiative and threatened to frustrate the Indians in the midfield. The plot worked for them and as early as the 8th minute, Jonahan Romero’s shot beat a diving Subrata Pal, hit the post and went out. It was the wake-up call for India.

India had their first chance in the 19th minute when Syed Rahim Nabi set up Jewel Raja Sheikh inside the box. Jewel trapped it, sidestepped Guam's central defender Travis Nicklaw but shot wide. Two minutes later, Chhetri, playing an one-two with Nabi entered the box but Herrick was up to the task.

The Indians laboured hard and halfway into the first half, they were omnipresent on the field. Guam, by the 35th minute itself, had fallen down to defend. At times, you could find all of their eleven players in their own half. Once around the box, it was hard to find the route, the jungle crowd of legs making it all the more difficult for India.

There were a series of corners which India earned but it didn't yield any result. In the 39th minute, a counter-attack saw Mehtab Hossain feed Chhetri inside the box but the fate didn't change as both teams went to the resumption with a clean slate.

Changing over, the urgency was visible right from the kick-off. In the 46th minute, Lenny set up Clifford Miranda inside the box but his powerful shot narrowly sailed over. And almost immediately, India surged ahead. Lenny split the rival defence which saw Chhetri beat the off-side trap and with all the time in the World at his disposal, slotting it past Herrick wasn't much of a task. It was a relief, a much-needed one for India.

In the 56th minute, Mehtab found Clifford on the left flank but Jewel failed to tap Clifford's centre from inside the box. It sailed over. A minute later, a build-up from the back had Guam chasing all quarters. It ended with Lenny Rodrigues' shot missing the upright narrowly. And then in the 58th minute, Chhetri's powerful header off a Raju Gaikwad throw-in narrowly sailed over again, the third one in three consecutive minutes. The trend continued - in the 67th minute, a Denzil floater found Jewel with only the goalkeeper to beat, he too tapped over. But it was not for long that Guam could hold on. The goal which was very much inevitable came in the 68th minute – this time Clifford Miranda blasting it home.

Substitute C.K. Vineeth had, perhaps, the best chance in the second half but he couldn't find the target with only Herrick to beat with what was his first touch on the ball.

It didn’t prove costly as Jewel scored India's third goal in the 80th minute, his second one in consecutive matches. But more was in store. A trademark Chhetri header found the back of the Guam net in the first minute of injury-time – India winning 4-0.

Team India in their final group match play hosts Myanmar on March 6.


MATCH STATS

INDIA 4-0 (0-0) Guam - Goals: 1-0,4-0 Sunil Chhetri (49',90+1'), 2-0 Clifford Miranda (68'), 3-0 Jewel Raja Shaikh (80')

1-Subrata Pal - 2-Denzil Franco, 19-Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh, 3-Raju Eknath Gaikwad, 31-Gurjinder Kumar Singh - 22-Syed Rahim Nabi (46' 10-Francis Fernandes), 6-Lenny Rodrigues (61' ?-Izumi Arata), 7-Mehtab Hossain, 15-Clifford Miranda (75' ?-C.K. Vineeth) - 23-Jewel Raja Sheikh - 11-Sunil Chhetri [C]

2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers: India want to keep momentum going against Guam

After their opening match 2-1 victory against Chinese Taipei, Team India is hoping to keep the momentum going against the Pacific islanders from Guam, who lost their opener 0-5 against hosts Myanmar.

The morning after the victory was supposed to be smiling; instead, you find toughened jaws. The breakfast table was supposed to be 'sunny side-up'; instead, you overhear football. The journey to the morning recovery session was supposed to be whistling; instead you could hear your own breath. Determination, Task at hand, be silent and look ahead.

"We needed three points in the first match," Captain Sunil Chhetri echoes. "That has set the ball rolling. We are prepared for the next challenge," he adds.

"There's no place for complacency," coach Wim Koevermans tells all. "Never underestimate your opponents. Never switch-off. If you do, you'll pay the price."

The boys listen. Somewhere down their heart, they know it more than anyone. 'Drastic seven minutes' had cost them the match against Palestine; two slip-ups had cost them the match against Singapore. Those ghosts of those two matches, nevertheless, stay buried.

"International Football is all about fighting for every inch," Mehtab Hossain seems to remind you of epic Mahabharata's famous dialogue. "As the Coach said, we can never be casual. At the same time, we need to get over the tendency to concede," he quips.

"Goals never come easy. You need to toil hard to score. And once when you have done it, we need to hold onto that and capitalise further. When we score, it's a team effort. Likewise, when we concede, it's a collected failure," he maintained.

"Against Myanmar, Guam conceded some soft goals too. We can never take them lightly. There are quite a few US-base players in their squad," he informs.

For the record, two players from the Guam squad play in the MLS while three of them play in the Philippines League. "We've had a week's training camp in Thailand to allow our foreign-based players acclimatise," Guam's English Coach Gary White, informs. "We are very positive and confident. We have done our homework prior to coming here."

"It's important to get back to winning ways," Goalkeeper Subrata Pal quips. "We kept on fighting for 95 minutes against Chinese Taipei and at no time gave it up. The win against Chinese Taipei motivates us to do better."

"We have been playing some good brand of football since the Nehru Cup. People may point to our international friendlies against Singapore and Palestine but we stayed dominant in both the matches," Clifford Miranda maintains. "Winning is a habit. We need to achieve it on a regular basis."

At the morning recovery session, the first XI which started against Taipei spends time with fitness trainer Pradip Datta, the others with Wim Koevermans.

"Syed Rahim Nabi and Robin Singh made the difference against Taipei. We did have possession and were definitely the better time but time was running out. Looking back, we should have settled it earlier," Chhetri pronounces.

The duo didn't care for anything else other than hitting the target during the morning session. One overheard goalkeeper Sandip Nandy asking Nabi in a jocular tone as to what did he have for breakfast. "You can hit the bird of the eye," Nandy added, as Nabi, by then, had perfected hitting at the two top corners of the net.

You walk up to Nabi. "Jeet-te hobey, jeet-te hobey," he repeats in Bengali (We need to win)."

"Come over boys," whistles Koevermans and then it starts again. Nabi by then was bulging the top-corners with the same consistency. Others clapped, whistled too.

Koevermans hasn't yet announced his final XI as yet. The kick-off against Guam at the Yangon Training Centre tomorrow is at 4pm local time (3pm IST).

(Report & Photo courtesy AIFF Media)

Guam Squad for 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers

Guam have finalised their squad for the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup Group A qualifiers in which they would face India, Chinese Taipei and Guam.

The pacific islanders are considered the minnows in the group, but under coach Gary John White they have improved a lot and have brought in player of Guam origin to strengthen the squad.


GUAM

Goalkeepers
Doug Herrick (Seattle Sounders FC U-23, USA), Dallas Jaye (United States University of South Florida, USA)

Defenders
Dominic Gadia (Cars Plus, Guam), Mark Chargualaf (Table 35 Espada, Guam), Scott Leon Guerrero (Quality Distributors, Guam), Micah Paulino (Niagara University, USA), Christian Schweizer (Table 35 Espada, Guam), Jonahan Romero (Kaya, Philippines), Shawn Nicklaw (HB Køge, Denmark)

Midfielders
Jason Cunliffe (Captain | Pachanga, Philippines), Ian Mariano (Pachanga, Philippines), Dylan Naputi (Table 35 Espada, Guam), Ian Adamos (SoCal Elite, USA), Marcus Lopez (Guam Shipyard, Guam), Ryan Guy (New England Revolution, USA), Thaddeus Atalig (Table 35 Espad, Guam), Travis Nicklaw (San Diego State University, USA), John Matkin (United Sikkim FC, India)

Strikers
Zachary DeVille (California State University, Northridge, USA), Sean Navarro, David Nussbaum, Jorge Valenzo

Officials
Gary John White (Head Coach)

Myanmar Squad for 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers

The hosts Myanmar of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup Group A qualifiers have finalised their squad for the tournament in which they would face India, Chinese Taipei and Guam.

The hosts hope to take advantage of playing at home and moving into the final round of the tournament in the Maldives next year.


MYANMAR

Goalkeepers
Thiha Si Thu (Yadanarbon), Kyaw Zin Phyo (Magwe), Pyae Phyo Aung (Southern Myanmar)

Defenders
Yan Aung Win (Yadanarbon), Zaw Min Htun (Yadanarbon), Thet Naing (Yadanarbon), Ye Zaw Htet Aung (Yadanarbon), Zaw Zaw Oo (Ayeyawady), Moe Win(Naypyidaw), Thein Than Win (Kanbawza), Aung Hein Kyaw (Zeyar Shwe Myay)

Midfielders
Phyo Ko Ko Thein (Ayeyarwady), Nyi Nyi Min (Ayeyarwady), Naing Lin Oo (Ayeyarwady), Yan Aung Kyaw (Yangon), Yar Zar Win Thein (Yangon), Kyi Lin (Yangon), David Htan (Yangon), Khin Maung Lwin (Yangon), Myo Zaw Oo (Myanmar Magway)

Strikers
Kyaw Ko Ko (Yangon), Kaung Si Thu (Yadanarbon), Kyaw Zeyar Win (Kanbawza), Soe Min Oo (Kanbawza), Paing Soe (Yadanarbon)

Officials
Park Sung Wha (Coach)

Sunil Chhetri: I'll carry on doing my job!

It was at the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup that Sunil Chhetri announced his arrival in international football – his hattrick in the final earning India a ticket to 2011 AFC Asian Cup. Since then, he has been India's leading goal scorer and at the moment stays on 38 goals, four behind Baichung Bhutia's highest tally for an Indian at 42 goals. A day prior to India's first match in the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers, the India captain spoke to AIFF Media about India's challenge, the areas where the team is focusing, reaction from the fans, India's opponents in the forthcoming tournament and much more.


Sunil Chhetri, they say, is synonymous with the AFC Challenge Cup.

(Smiles, shrugs his shoulder and smiles again). I just hope I can live up to the expectations. As a player it never comes to my mind as to which Tournament or match I am playing. I have always had one aim – to do well for my Country. This is a very important Tournament for us and we, as a team, will give everything we have.


Do you believe the fans are becoming a bit impatient and are starting to forget what we did in the Nehru Cup?

I'd say it's a normal reaction. Fans expect us to win every match and I don't blame them at all. It's all about the mentality. I try not to be bothered by it and carry on doing my job. Success and failures and the reaction will come and go.


It was a tale of two contrasting halves against Palestine – what do we need to do to maintain the momentum?

It was a tale of seven drastic minutes and we have nobody to blame. The positive part stays that we were the better team in the first half. But at this level, there can't be any room for excuses. We need to ensure that such a phase never hits us again. It's past for us but at the same time have taught us a lesson. We are working hard on that.


You have played both against Myanmar and even Chinese Taipei. What do you expect from them?

Chinese Taipei and Myanmar are very good teams especially Myanmar, as they are playing at home. We need to remember they would be backed by a vociferous crowd.

But first things first, and at the moment, we are concentrating on our first match against Chinese Taipei. We need to take one match at a time.


How much valuable is it for you to be moving to I-League tile-contenders Churchill Brothers on loan?

It's good but at the same time, it's an added pressure. There will be expectations as we are in contention to win the I-League this season. I have played two matches for them and am looking forward to joining them after the campaign in the AFC Challenge Cup 2014 (qualifiers).

(Interview & Photo courtesy AIFF Media)

India Coach Wim Koevermans: We are here to win!

Indian National Coach Wim Koevermans said India are here to "win the Tournament" to make his intentions clear at the qualifiers for the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup. Koevermans said this at the Official Pre-Tournament Press Conference in Yangon today.

"We aim to win every match which we play and that's no different for the AFC Challenge Cup," Koevermans said. "We have had a good Preparatory Camp for the Tournament in Pune. We landed early in Yangon to acclimatise to the conditions and the boys have responded well," he added.

"There are a lot of young players in India who have the capability to play at the highest level. This is a test for them as much it's a chance for me to assess their performance and how they react."

"Indians are very proud when it comes to the National Team. We are expected to win every match. We have a huge responsibility," he pronounced.

If the Indians have had a preparatory camp for two weeks, then their rivals in the tournament opener, Chinese Taipei head in the competition after a '40-day Camp'.

Koevermans' rival counterpart, Chinese Taipei coach Chen Kuel Jen meanwhile siad, "We have had a Preparatory Camp for 40 days and we are satisfied with the sessions. All the teams are equally strong in the Tournament. We have also spent time to learn about each of them."

"We play to a different style nowadays," Jen continued. "There are a whole lot of new players from the lot which played in the EAFF Championship in December 2012," he added. "We will try our best to qualify."

Park Sung Wha, Myanmar's South Korean Coach felt there isn't much "difference between the teams".

"This will be a tough competition for sure. There’s isn’t much difference between the sides. All the teams are equally strong and have a chance for qualifying for the final phase of the AFC Challenge Cup in Maldives in 2014."

"It doesn't necessarily mean that Myanmar will be through just by virtue of being the hosts," he went on.

For the record, the Group-toppers get a direct entry into the final phase while the two best runners-up amongst the five groups also get a place in the final round next year.

Guam Coach Gary White said, "We have studied a lot about all our opponents. History may not be on our side but we have prepared well this time around," he warned.

Guam come into the Competition with two of their players from the North American MLS while three of their players play in the Philippines League.

(Report & Photo courtesy AIFF Media)

Jeje Lalpekhlua: Koevermans has helped me improve my turning

Striker Jeje Lalpekhlua after over a year is back to 'where he belongs' - Team India. Since his ankle injury, Jeje, touted as the most exciting prospect in Indian Football, says he has seen the worst of times. In his first interview since getting a call back into the National squad, the Mizo striker speaks as length to AIFF Media about the phase which he wants to forgets fast, his immediate targets, his improvement under Wim Koevermans and much more.


How is it to be back in the National squad?

Every player sweats hard to be here. It feels nice and makes me more confident as a player that I am back in the National squad after more than a year. My ankle injury had kept me out of the AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal in March 2012 and since then it has been a battle, more within my own self to be back.

I see this as a new beginning and will work harder and wait for my chance.


How did you motivate yourself when you were hit by injury and simultaneously out of the Senior squad?

Football motivated me more than anything else. I just wanted to be back playing again for my club. More than the physical aspect, an injury hits you hard mentally as a player. You start thinking that you won't ever have the strength to be back. Serious doubts kept creeping in. But at the same time, it makes you tougher as a player as you have already seen the worst of times.


This is the first time you are in the squad under Wim Koevermans. How do you see him from close?

The first and foremost thing that will appeal to you is his nature. I'd say, as much he is a Coach, he is simultaneously a true gentleman and a very caring human being. That's an extraordinary and a very rare combination, I must say.

Technically, he has fine-tuned me a lot. He explained to me as to how I could be sharper with my turning and off-the-ball play. I like his style a lot.


What are your targets?

As a striker, I'd say to score as many goals as possible. But the AFC Challenge Cup 2014 (Qualifiers) stay the immediate target - not only for me but for the entire contingent. We are a good unit and need believe in ourselves.


You have played against Chinese Taipei and Myanmar in the recent past. What can we expect from them?

I made my Senior India debut against Chinese Taipei in the AFC Challenge Cup (qualifiers) in Malaysia in 2011. I remember scoring in the match as we won 2-1. Then, in the U-23 Olympic Qualifiers, I scored against Myanmar in Pune as we went on to win 2-1. I can tell you, both of the teams are very competitive ones and would pose a huge threat. And there's Guam too.

The Coach has shown us some videos and we need to stick to his plans!

(Interview & Photo courtesy AIFF Media)

Wim Koevermans: Acclimatising fast is very important!

Keeping in mind that in Asia 'you need to travel long', National Coach Wim Koevermans insisted on arriving early in Yangon for the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers. In an interview to AIFF Media, Koevermans talks about the intensity of his training sessions, challenges of acclimatisation, the couple of injuries in the Preparatory Camp, India's opening opponent in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers and much more.


Are you satisfied the manner the Preparatory Camp in Pune shaped up?

Very much! The boys worked hard and so did the staff. There was a reason for the Camp and we accomplished it. I need to thank the authorities in Pune for their cooperation and also the All India Football Federation for arranging for the Preparatory Camp. Things are working in the right direction and that's important.


What do you make of the players prior and after the Camp?

The players will always have to get used to the tempos of the training sessions. The sessions were of very high intensity and everyone adjusted well.

At the moment we are focusing on Chinese Taipei, our first opponent in the AFC Challenge Cup 2014 (Qualifiers). It's the first game of the Tournament and a really important one for us. We are providing them the information and they are learning about them.


How much have the couple of injuries (to Arnab Mondal and Sandesh Jhingan) in the Preparatory Camp affected your plans?

Unfortunately injuries are always a part of any training camp, anywhere in the World. They were freak ones but we need to move on. That's the reason we had called for a bigger group of players. Even after Sandesh (Jhingan) was ruled out, we called for an extra defender (Rowilson Rodrigues) to ensure we had enough quality players for the Tournament.


India are the first team to have landed in Yangon. How much is acclimatisation important in such a Tournament?

I'd say, most important! The idea stays to get enough rest to overcome and adjust after the hectic travel schedules. Travelling is tiring and takes its toll, especially if you travel to a different time zone; and one needs to remember that in Asia, you need to travel long. Hence, acclimatisation is important. We need to get it out of system. The boys have adjusted superbly so far and we even had a light practice session on the first afternoon.

However, having said that, the boys from Churchill Brothers and East Bengal couldn't arrive together with the Group, courtesy the AFC Cup schedule. They need to recover fast and stay fresh.


You have had a look at the Videos – what do you make of your opponents?

We take every opposition seriously. In a build-up to a match, we need to analyse our rival teams and stay 100 percent prepared. We need to see the players, their qualities, their strengths and weaknesses and prepare accordingly.

(Interview & Photo courtesy AIFF Media)

2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers: Chinese Taipei name squad

Chinese Taipei have named their 21 players squad for the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup Group A qualifiers to be played in Myanmar next month.

Chinese Taipei, who are taking a complete home-based squad to play the qualifiers, are the opening day opponent of Team India with hosts Myanmar and Guam the other teams in the group.


CHINESE TAIPEI

Goalkeepers
Lu Kun-Chi (Taiwan Power Company FC), Chiang Yung Hsuan (Taiwan Power Company FC), Yang Chun Kuang (Pingtung University of Education football team)

Defenders
Chen Shanfu (Taiwan Power Company FC), Lin Cheng-Yi (Taiwan Power Company FC), Lee Meng-Chian (Taiwan Power Company FC), Wei Pei Lun (National Sports Training Center), Tsai Sheng-An (Taiwan Power Company FC), Lee Tai-Lin (Taiwan Power Company FC), Yang Chao-Hsun (Shou University SC)

Midfielders
Jiang Minghan (Military Service of the National Training Center), Huang Kai-Jun (Taiwan Power Company FC), Feng Pao-Hsing (Taiwan Power Company FC), Chen Yi-Wei (Taiwan Power Company FC), Chang Fu-Hsiang (Tatung FC), Su De-Cai (National Sports Training Center), Chan Che-Yuan (National Sports Training Center), Huang Han-Sheng (TMNCK University FC)

Forwards
He Ming-Chan (Taiwan Power Company FC), Chiu I-Huan (National Sports Training Center), Tai Hung-Hsu (Taiwan Power Company FC)

Officials
Chiang Mu-Tsai (Head Coach)

India coach Koevermans names squad of 23 players for 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers

Indian national team coach Wim Koevermans has named his final 23 players squad ahead of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers to be played next month in Myanmar.

Team India have been drawn in Group A of the qualifiers alongside the hosts Myanmar, Chinese Taipei and Guam with Chinese Taipei the opponent in the first match on March 2.

The squad would be leaving Mumbai late on Monday, February 25 evening and reach Yangon the next day morning. However, the four Churchill Brothers players – Sandip Nandy, Denzil Franco, Lenny Rodrigues and Sunil Chhetri – who would be doing duty for their club in the AFC Cup would be joining the rest of squad on February 27; while the three East Bengal players - Raju Gaikwad, Mehtab Hossain and Robin Singh - would be joining the squad on February 28 in Yangon.

Those omitted from the final squad include Subhasish Roy Chowdhury (Dempo SC), Peter Carvalho (Dempo SC), Asif K. (Prayag United SC), Shylo Malswam Tulunga (Prayag United SC) and Sushil Kumar Singh (Shillong Lajong FC); while Sandesh Jhingan (United Sikkim FC), Arnab Mondal (East Bengal Club) and Joaquim Abranches (Dempo SC) had to leave the camp due to injury.

Meanwhile Karanjit Singh, Jeje Lalpekhlua and Rowilson Rodrigues make a comeback into the squad.


INDIA

Goalkeepers
Sandip Nandy (Churchill Brothers SC), Subrata Pal (Prayag United SC), Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar FC)

Defenders
Nirmal Chettri (Mohun Bagan AC), Raju Eknath Gaikwad (East Bengal Club), Denzil Franco (Churchill Brothers SC), Souvik Ghosh (Pailan Arrows), Syed Rahim Nabi (Mohun Bagan AC), Rowilson Rodrigues (Dempo SC), Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh (Prayag United SC), Gurjinder Kumar Singh (Pune FC)

Midfielders
Izumi Arata (Pune FC), Lalkamal Bhowmick (Prayag United SC), Francis Fernandes (Salgaocar FC), Alwyn George (Pailan Arrows), Mehtab Hossain (East Bengal Club), Clifford Miranda (Dempo SC), Jewel Raja Sheikh (Mohun Bagan AC), Lenny Rodrigues (Churchill Brothers SC), C.K. Vineeth (Prayag United SC)

Forwards
Sunil Chhetri (Churchill Brothers SC), Jeje Lalpekhlua (Pune FC), Robin Singh (East Bengal Club)

Officials
Wim Koevermans (Head Coach), Savio Medeira (Assistant Coach), Marcus Pacheco (Goalkeeping Coach)

VIDEO: 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers | India, Myanmar, Chinese Taipei, Guam

Here a nicely made video of available footage from the participating teams of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup - Group A qualifiers in India, Chinese Taipei, Guam and hosts Myanmar next month.

Koevermans names 30 probables for AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers camp

Indian national coach Wim Koevermans has named 30 probables for the Preparatory Camp ahead of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers to be played next month in Myanmar. The Camp will kick-off at the Bharatiya Vidyapeeth premises in Pune from Tuesday, February 12.

All the selected players and support staff would be reporting to the Camp the previous day ahead of the camp.

Wim Koevermans has left out East Bengal striker Manandeep Singh, while calling-up Sandesh Jhingan (United Sikkim FC), Arnab Mondal (East Bengal Club), Peter Carvalho (Dempo SC), Asif K. (Prayag United SC), Shylo Malswam Tulunga (Prayag United SC), Jeje Lalpekhlua (Pune FC) and Robin Singh (East Bengal Club) to the camp.

A surprise omission remains an inform Lalrindika Ralte, who once under Koevermans does not find a place in the squad.

The team will be travelling to play the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers in Yangon in the last week of February. India play their first match against Chinese Taipei on March 2 followed by matches against Guam and hosts Myanmar on March 4 and 6 respectively.


INDIA

Goalkeepers
Sandip Nandy (Churchill Brothers SC), Subrata Pal (Prayag United SC), Subhasish Roy Chowdhury (Dempo SC), Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar FC)

Defenders
Nirmal Chettri (Mohun Bagan AC), Raju Eknath Gaikwad (East Bengal Club), Denzil Franco (Churchill Brothers SC), Souvik Ghosh (Pailan Arrows), Sandesh Jhingan (United Sikkim FC), Arnab Mondal (East Bengal Club), Syed Rahim Nabi (Mohun Bagan AC), Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh (Prayag United SC), Gurjinder Kumar Singh (Pune FC)

Midfielders
Izumi Arata (Pune FC), Lalkamal Bhowmick (Prayag United SC), Peter Carvalho (Dempo SC), Francis Fernandes (Salgaocar SC), Alwyn George (Pailan Arrows), Mehtab Hossain (East Bengal Club), Asif K. (Prayag United SC), Clifford Miranda (Dempo SC), Jewel Raja Sheikh (Mohun Bagan AC), Lenny Rodrigues (Churchill Brothers SC), Shylo Malswam Tulunga (Prayag United SC), C.K. Vineeth (Prayag United SC)

Forwards
Joaquim Abranches (Dempo SC), Sunil Chhetri (Sporting Clube de Portugal 'B'), Jeje Lalpekhlua (Pune FC), Robin Singh (East Bengal Club), Sushil Kumar Singh (Shillong Lajong FC)

Officials
Wim Koevermans (Head Coach), Savio Medeira (Assistant Coach), Marcus Pacheco (Goalkeeping Coach)