Photos: Team India in Training

Tomorrow the 2012 Nehru Cup starts for Team India with the opening match against Syria. For that coach Wim Koevermans and his wards have been training hard at the Jaypee Greens in Greater Noida and at the Bangalore Football Stadium. Here some photos from their training!

Photos Courtesy: AIFF Media

Sunil Chhetri to captain India in 2012 Nehru Cup

As expected new coach Wim Koevermans from the Netherlands has named striker Sunil Chhetri as the captain of the Indian national football team for the upcoming 2012 Nehru Cup, which kicks-off for India with a match against old rivals Syria at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Wednesday, August 22. Koevermans announced Chhetri's name after the evening practice session at the Jaypee Greens ground today.

Chhetri who presently plays for Portuguese giants Sporting Clube de Portugal said, "It's a huge honour to lead the country!"

"This edition of the Nehru Cup is a special one as it is being organized in the Platinum Jubilee Year of the AIFF. Captaining one's country, that too in the Capital City of your own Country is a huge prize for any player," Chhetri added.

"At the same time it's an extra burden as you cannot ever shy away from the responsibility," said the Delhi boy.

Chhetri has had some of his best moments in an India shirt in the capital, be it his breakthrough at the 2007 Nehru Cup, the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup final hattrick against Tajikistan and captaining India to the 2011 SAFF Cup title besides being the tournaments best player and highest scorer.

This is now a new challenge for Sunil Chhetri and his team to win the Nehru Cup for a third time in a row.

Meanwhile the light drizzle at the picturesque Jaypee Greens in Greater Noida seemed to lift up the spirits of the footballers who enjoyed the change from the usual humid conditions.

"It's up to us to keep the tradition alive in the Nehru Cup. The Coach has been working hard and pinning a lot of hopes on us. We cannot let him and our country down," Mehtab Hossain maintained later.

"This is a new generation. I've been lucky enough to have played and learnt a lot from the likes of Baichung, Mahesh, Deepak and Climax. But every step is a learning one and despite being a senior, you get to update yourself when a younger bunch pushes you on the field," former AIFF Player-of-the-Year Gouramangi Singh said.

"Every match will be a tough one for us. We need to keep up the momentum. The practice sessions have been informative," winger Clifford Miranda quipped.

Under-22 striker Manandeep Singh speaking about his first senior call-up said, "It's a dream come true for me!"

"When I was earlier in Goa with the age-group teams (from Under-14 onwards), we used to watch the Nehru Cup on television. Today, my hard work has paid off and I'm in the final squad. But I know, there's a lot of scope for improvement," Manandeep concluded.

Wim Koevermans names his final 20 Players for Nehru Cup

National Coach Wim Koevermans has named his 20-member final list for the upcoming 2012 Nehru Cup which kicks-off at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday, August 22. The Senior Team is presently camping at Jaypee Greens in Greater Noida.

"I'm confident in the abilities of my boys," Koevermans stressed. "The practice sessions have been good. It's nice to see the boys pushing each other," Wim added.

The final list of 20 also includes two India Under-22 boys – Alwyn George and Manandeep Singh, who did duty at the AFC Under-22 Championship qualifiers in Muscat. "It's a dream come true for me," Alwyn maintained. "The Camp sessions have been an education for me and I'm maturing fast as a player," the youngster added.

Manandeep who had made his Senior India debut earlier this year said, "This is a new challenge for me. As a player, one needs to flexible to adjust yourself in different situations. I'm trying my best and learning at every step."

The following seven players in Nallappan Mohanraj (Pune FC), Irungbam Khelemba Singh (Mohun Bagan AC), Joaquim Abranches (Dempo SC), Rocus Lamare (Salgaocar SC), Baldeep Singh (Prayag United SC), Ongnam Milan Singh (Pailan Arrows) and Jeje Lalpekhlua (Pune FC) have been left out of the final squad. It is not known if anyone of the above is injured like Lalrindika Ralte, who therefore had to be left out.

For the East Bengal duo of Sanju Pradhan and Robin Singh it is the first call-up for the Senior India national team.

Defending Nehru Cup champions India take on old rivals Syria in the opening match of the tournament on Wednesday, August 22 at 19.00 IST.


INDIA

Goalkeepers
Subrata Pal (Prayag United SC), Subhasish Roy Chowdhury (Dempo SC), Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar SC)

Defenders
Nirmal Chettri (Mohun Bagan AC), Denzil Franco (Churchill Brothers SC), Raju Eknath Gaikwad (East Bengal Club), Syed Rahim Nabi (Mohun Bagan AC), Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh (Prayag United SC), Gurwinder Singh (East Bengal Club)

Midfielders
Francis Fernandes (Salgaocar SC), Alwyn George (Pailan Arrows), Mehtab Hossain (East Bengal Club), Clifford Miranda (Dempo SC), Anthony Pereira (Dempo SC), Sanju Pradhan (East Bengal Club), Lenny Rodrigues (Churchill Brothers SC), Jewel Raja Sheikh (Mohun Bagan AC),

Forwards
Sunil Chhetri (Sporting Clube de Portugal 'B'), Manandeep Singh (East Bengal Club), Robin Singh (East Bengal Club)

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

Team India held to goalless draw by Pailan Arrows

The Senior Indian national team played a friendly match against the Pailan Arrows at the Jaypee Greens in Greater Noida as part of their 2012 Nehru Cup preparations. The Seniors were held to a goalless draw by their juniors with Sunil Chhetri hitting the post off a penalty.

It wasn't about the result, but for both coaches Wim Koevermans and Arthur Papas to test their wards ahead of tougher assignments - the Nehru Cup for the seniors, while the Arrows will participate in the Durand Cup.

The new style of possession football, positional play, building from the back was tested by both teams with both coaches said to be happy what they saw.

"We are really working hard to do what the coach wants us to do. It is a new system and it will take time. But we are moving in the right direction," said Sunil Chhetri.

Sitting next to him Subrata Pal added, "It's surely a new system. The build-up starts from the goalkeeper an integral part. It feels nice to be at the National Camp after so long."

Chhetri was all praise for the young Pailan Arrows. "They are a very tough unit. It was a very competitive match. They were not overawed and matched us. We regrouped better in the second half," he quipped.

Chhetri who signed for Sporting Clube de Portugal a few weeks ago informed the Portuguese stint is helping him to mature further. "There are players from all over Europe in the squad and also from Africa. I am the eldest member in the squad and hence, the responsibility stays higher."

Subrata Pal, who has also been back from a trial-cum-training stint with RB Leipzig informed the football played "in Germany was much more direct. It was nice to be in an alien environment. They praised my work ethics and that means a lot to me."

Subrata played the entire 90 minutes while Chhetri was substituted after 45 minutes. If Koevermans stayed on his toes shouting instructions, Arthur Papas, India's Under-22 and Pailan Arrows coach, made the best use of the opportunity to test his new wards. The Senior Team pressed hard, closing down the gaps, hardly faltering. The Arrows sensed it fast, stretched it to the lines and tried to make inroads.

A competitive match for both sets of players

Team India get down to business on Jaypee Greens field!

"Top quality guys," that's what Senior Indian national team coach Wim Koevermans yelled almost all throughout the 90 minutes practice session ahead of the 2012 Nehru Cup at the Jaypee Greens today. This was his first practice session in Delhi/NCR after being based in Bangalore for close to a couple of weeks.

As the boys sweated it out, the Dutchman was in no mood to compromise. His attitude was infectious enough – from Syed Rahim Nabi to Subrata Pal to Gourmangi Singh to Sunil Chhetri to the Under-22 boys Milan Singh and Alwyn George amongst others, the boys stayed ever willing to give that extra bit on the lush green field.

"The boys are much better than what they think they are," Koevermans stated later. "We are on the right track and the atmosphere in the camp is good. Everyone is working hard," he maintained.

The Senior Team which had played a practice match against Bangalore XI during their Preparatory Camp in the Garden City will be taking on the AIFF's Developmental Team Pailan Arrows on Saturday. The kick-off is slated for 4pm.

The session on Friday was divided into sessions. If the boys started off with match related basics, the day ended with a practice match between the boys.

Speaking on the sidelines of the first day’s practice, senior player Nabi stressed, "Wim has been insisting on building up from defence. I have been with the National Camp for long but some of the tips as far as positional sense is concerned have been an education for me."

Nabi also ushered lavish praise on Under-22 midfielder Alwyn George. "Mark my words, he is a special talent! He has it in himself to be one of the biggest stars of the future," he added.

Young Alwyn added, "I have been learning a lot. The U-22 stint in Muscat and my experience in the National Camp under Koevermans has helped me immensely."

One hopes that the new things that Team India is learning from Koevermans will help them at the Nehru Cup in a few days time.

India Camp for Nehru Cup returns to Greater Noida's Jaypee Greens

The 27-member Senior Indian National squad shifted base to Jaypee Greens in Greater Noida today for the final-leg of their preparatory camp ahead of the forthcoming 2012 Nehru Cup in New Delhi. The squad was earlier based in Bangalore where they have been training for close to a fortnight under new national coach Wim Koevermans.

The 2012 Nehru Cup will kick-off on Wednesday, August 22 with the hosts and defending champions India slated to play Syria in the opening match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at 19.00 IST.

"We have had a fruitful training session in Bangalore so far. The boys have been cooperative and have displayed great attitude," Wim Koevermans said on arrival in the National Capital Region.

"As we shift base to Delhi-NCR, we will be training at the Jaypee Greens in Greater Noida. Hopefully the weather stays good as the last week stays very crucial," The Dutchman added.

Torrential monsoon rains had forced Wim Koevermans to shift base to the KSFA Football Stadium's artificial turf after training for a day at the Jaypee Greens in early-August.


INDIA Probables

Goalkeepers
Subrata Pal (Prayag United SC), Subhasish Roy Chowdhury (Dempo SC), Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar SC)

Defenders
Nirmal Chettri (Mohun Bagan AC), Denzil Franco (Churchill Brothers SC), Raju Eknath Gaikwad (East Bengal Club), Nallappan Mohanraj (Pune FC), Syed Rahim Nabi (Mohun Bagan AC), Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh (Prayag United SC), Gurwinder Singh (East Bengal Club), Irungbam Khelemba Singh (Mohun Bagan AC)

Midfielders
Joaquim Abranches (Dempo SC), Francis Fernandes (Salgaocar SC), Alwyn George (Pailan Arrows), Mehtab Hossain (East Bengal Club), Rocus Lamare (Salgaocar SC), Clifford Miranda (Dempo SC), Gilbert Oliviera (Salgaocar SC), Anthony Pereira (Dempo SC), Sanju Pradhan (East Bengal Club), Jewel Raja Sheikh (Mohun Bagan AC), Baldeep Singh (Prayag United SC), Ongnam Milan Singh (Pailan Arrows)

Forwards
Sunil Chhetri (Sporting Clube de Portugal 'B'), Jeje Lalpekhlua (Pune FC), Manandeep Singh (East Bengal Club), Robin Singh (East Bengal Club)

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

Team India: Koevermans selects 27 players for final Nehru Cup camp

National Coach Wim Koevermans has named his list of 27 probables for the forthcoming 2012 Nehru Cup which kicks-off at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on August 22.

Koevermans has been in charge of the ongoing preparatory Camp at the KSFA Stadium's artificial turf in Bangalore from August 3. The Team will shift base to Jaypee Greens in Greater Noida in mid-August for the final preparation phase ahead of the Nehru Cup.

Among the 27 players, only striker Sunil Chhetri hasn't joined the Camp in Bangalore as yet. However, the AIFF has received written assurances from Chhetri's club side Sporting Clube de Portugal that he will be joining the Camp after August 12.

Koevermans had a detailed discussion with Chhetri's club coach and the player himself. "I'm happy that we got confirmation from his club on his release on August 12 and that leaves us get enough time to work with the player to prepare ourselves for the Nehru Cup," Wim Koevermans said.

The follow 10 players have been released from the original list of 37 probables: Arindam Bhattacharya (Mohun Bagan AC), Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (East Bengal Club), Nicolau Colaco (Salgaocar SC), Souvik Ghosh (Pailan Arrows), Rowilson Rodrigues (Dempo SC), Gurjinder Kumar Singh (Pune FC), Denson Devadas (Mohun Bagan AC), Adil Ahmed Khan (Sporting Clube de Goa), Lalrindika Ralte (East Bengal Club) and Sushil Kumar Singh (Shillong Lajong FC).

The Coach will be selecting his final 20-member squad prior to the 2012 Nehru Cup.


INDIA Probables

Goalkeepers
Subrata Pal (Prayag United SC), Subhasish Roy Chowdhury (Dempo SC), Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar SC)

Defenders
Nirmal Chettri (Mohun Bagan AC), Denzil Franco (Churchill Brothers SC), Raju Eknath Gaikwad (East Bengal Club), Nallappan Mohanraj (Pune FC), Syed Rahim Nabi (Mohun Bagan AC), Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh (Prayag United SC), Gurwinder Singh (East Bengal Club), Irungbam Khelemba Singh (Mohun Bagan AC)

Midfielders
Joaquim Abranches (Dempo SC), Francis Fernandes (Salgaocar SC), Alwyn George (Pailan Arrows), Mehtab Hossain (East Bengal Club), Rocus Lamare (Salgaocar SC), Clifford Miranda (Dempo SC), Gilbert Oliviera (Salgaocar SC), Anthony Pereira (Dempo SC), Sanju Pradhan (East Bengal Club), Jewel Raja Sheikh (Mohun Bagan AC), Baldeep Singh (Prayag United SC), Ongnam Milan Singh (Pailan Arrows)

Forwards
Sunil Chhetri (Sporting Clube de Portugal 'B'), Jeje Lalpekhlua (Pune FC), Manandeep Singh (East Bengal Club), Robin Singh (East Bengal Club)

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

India camp for Nehru Cup to relocate to Jaypee Greens by mid-August

The All India Football Federation had partnered Jaypee Greens Atlantis - The club in Greater Noida to utilise their high class international facilities for the preparatory camp of the senior Indian national Football for the 2012 Nehru Cup.

The AIFF is also considering utilising these facilities for the next three years for residential training camps for the senior Indian national team and the India Under-23 team, as and when the team would be in the Delhi/National Capital Region.

The India camp for the Nehru Cup had kicked-off on Wednesday, August 1 but due to unusual torrential downpour and an unfavourable weather forecast for the coming week, the scheduled routine was likely to be disturbed.

Hence, it was in the best interest of both parties to safeguard the training field from the predicted heavy downpour in the next few days, a mutual decision was taken to relocate the India camp to the Bangalore Football Stadium's artificial turf jointly owned by the Karnataka State FA and the AIFF.

The Indian national team is expected to be back at the Jaypee Greens in the middle of August for continuing their practice for the 2012 Nehru Cup which is slated to begin on August 22.

India Camp for Nehru Cup shifted to Bangalore

The Indian national team camp for the Platinum Jubilee Nehru Cup never kicked-off at the Jaypee Greens Atlantis - The Club in Greater Noida as planned. The players did gather in Noida on Wednesday, but today they shifted to Bangalore due to the wet conditions and also further power problems in the north of India.

The AIFF had considered Bangalore as an alternative camp destination, but the artificial turf at the Bangalore Football Stadium was not to the liking of new national coach Wim Koevermans and the costs involved of flying the whole contingent to Bangalore and back to New Delhi were all considered as surplus and unnecessary. Left with no alternatives the AIFF is now forced to spend even more due to the last minute chances which have been forced on them.


The 2012 Nehru Cup is set for an August 22 kick-off with the final slated to be held on September 2.


INDIA Probables

Goalkeepers
Arindam Bhattacharya (Mohun Bagan AC), Subrata Pal (Prayag United SC), Subhasish Roy Chowdhury (Dempo SC), Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar SC), Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (East Bengal Club)

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

Midfielders
Joaquim Abranches (Dempo SC), Denson Devadas (Mohun Bagan AC), Francis Fernandes (Salgaocar SC), Alwyn George (Pailan Arrows), Mehtab Hossain (East Bengal Club), Adil Ahmed Khan (Sporting Clube de Goa), Rocus Lamare (Salgaocar SC), Clifford Miranda (Dempo SC), Gilbert Oliviera (Salgaocar SC), Anthony Pereira (Dempo SC), Sanju Pradhan (East Bengal Club), Jewel Raja Sheikh (Mohun Bagan AC), Lalrindika Ralte (East Bengal Club), Baldeep Singh (Prayag United SC), Ongnam Milan Singh (Pailan Arrows),

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

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

India Camp for Nehru Cup to be held at Jaypee Greens

The Indian national team camp for the Platinum Jubilee Nehru Cup will kick-off at the Jaypee Greens Atlantis - The Club in Greater Noida from tomorrow. The venue was finalised after a meeting between officials from Jaypee Greens and the AIFF at Football House.

Here is what I had written earlier: India Camp set to be held at Greater Noida's Jaypee Greens .

"All India Football Federation has never compromised when it comes to providing facilities to its footballers. National Coach Wim Koevermans had inspected the facilities himself and as the Campus provides excellent facilities which are conducive for good football, we felt it best to organise our Camp in India's finest international standards sporting arena at Jaypee Greens, Greater Noida,' AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das said.

"We are also looking at a long term association with them for future National Team camps," Kushal Das added.

Koevermans complemented Das when he said, "The facilities at Jaypee Greens are very good!"

Koevermans has already named 37 players for the preparatory-and-selection camp including seven players who did duty for India in the AFC Under-22 Championship qualifiers in Muscat, Oman.

The 2012 Nehru Cup kicks-off on August 22 and the final is slated to be held on September 2.


INDIA Probables

Goalkeepers
Arindam Bhattacharya (Mohun Bagan AC), Subrata Pal (Prayag United SC), Subhasish Roy Chowdhury (Dempo SC), Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar SC), Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (East Bengal Club)

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

Midfielders
Joaquim Abranches (Dempo SC), Denson Devadas (Mohun Bagan AC), Francis Fernandes (Salgaocar SC), Alwyn George (Pailan Arrows), Mehtab Hossain (East Bengal Club), Adil Ahmed Khan (Sporting Clube de Goa), Rocus Lamare (Salgaocar SC), Clifford Miranda (Dempo SC), Gilbert Oliviera (Salgaocar SC), Anthony Pereira (Dempo SC), Sanju Pradhan (East Bengal Club), Jewel Raja Sheikh (Mohun Bagan AC), Lalrindika Ralte (East Bengal Club), Baldeep Singh (Prayag United SC), Ongnam Milan Singh (Pailan Arrows),

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

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

India Camp set to be held at Greater Noida's Jaypee Greens

The 2012 edition of the Nehru Cup will kick-off in less then a month's time likely on August 22 at the Nehru Stadium in New Delhi and now the All India Football Federation seems to have finalised the preparations for Team India under new national coach Dutchman Wim Koevermans in both venue and dates.

The venue for the preparatory camp has been the most difficult issue for the AIFF to sort then the original plan was to use the Ambedkar Stadium which was not to the liking of Wim Koevermans, then the outside ground at the Nehru Stadium was shown to the Dutchman but that ground did not meet the expectations either. Then Bangalore's Football Stadium was considered as an alternative venue, but with the tournament in Delhi and the Bangalore ground being an artificial turf it was seen as unsuitable as well.

By this time Wim Koevermans was considering of holding a two week camp in Dubai before training the last few days in New Delhi, but that was not granted by the AIFF while the federation was looking for options in and around New Delhi. They finally found a suitable location in Greater Noida at Jaypee Greens Sports City, where the camp is now set to be held.

The India camp which was originally to kick-off on yesterday, July 27 will now kick-off on Wednesday, August 1 after the I-League clubs agreed to release their players for more then two weeks to give new coach Wim Koevermans the chance to work on his system with the players.

Goalkeeper Subrata Pal is set to join the camp on August 6 after he returns from a trial-cum-training stint in Germany, while if and when new Sporting Clube de Portugal 'B' striker Sunil Chhetri will join is unknown.