India in injury abyss
The Bangladesh bound Indian national football team, already without star man Baichung Bhutia, suffered more injury blows as three potential first team members pulled out from their camp in Kolkata for the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship on Thursday.
The three are central defenders Dipak Mandal and Mahesh Gauly and midfielder Tomba Singh.
According to Internet reports, the Indian football coach Stephen Constantine, already in dire starits after losing the four key players who were instrumental in recording two wins in the Busan Asian Games last September, called up defenders Arun Malhotra of East Bengal and Covan Lawrence of Goa Salgaoker and midfielder Basudev Mandal of East Bengal replacements. Basudev has joined the camp last Friday but the others were yet to report because of club commitments.
The Indian camp for the SAFF Championship started last week without their prolific striker Bhutia who is yet to recover from a muscle injury he suffered while playing in the Indian National League last month.
Veteran striker IM Vijayan has replaced Bhutia for the eight-nation SAFF tournament that begins at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka from January 10 to 20.
Placed in Group A for the first round, India, the defending champions, will face their bitter rivals Pakistan in the opening match at 4:45 pm on Friday.
Meanhwile, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday has named Mahindra United stopper Debjit Ghosh as India's captain for the upcoming SAFF tournament in the absence of regular captain Bhutia.
Comments