CHENNAI: The heat has truly begun for the round-one second-leg match in the World Cup football qualifier between Lebanon and India. Even before the kick-off at the floodlit Nehru Stadium on Sunday, enough has happened outside to up the tempo.
The Indian team landed at the practice venue on Saturday at the stipulated time only to find the Lebanon side already there.
The unexpected mix-up was something India’s chief coach Bob Houghton could not digest. After letting his displeasure known in no uncertain terms, he ensured that his team members remained in the bus itself until the rival side left the place. Yes, Houghton meant business and in his observations too, he has not given up India’s hopes.
“All we need to ensure is to be up 1-0 at the half-way stage. Things can change from there,” he said after the Indian team’s workout.
Messing it upHoughton felt the Indians had measured up well in the away match in Saida, where India lost. “Those 20 to 25 minutes of poor play in the first phase of the second half finished it all (Lebanon had scored three goals in that period).” As for Sunday, he said there were injury worries.
“We may bring in Ajayan for Rennedy Singh (nursing a sore ankle) and Sameer Naik for a sick N.S. Manju,” he said.
Nonetheless, to the Lebanon officials, India had strong credentials.
“The 1-4 scoreline in the first leg is not the true reflection of Indian football’s power. Indians are good players,” felt Emile Rustom, the Lebanese coach.
Another official, Hassan Choughari, said: “We have difficulties. We could come only with 17 players because one player (Roda Antar was not released by his German club FC Kohn) and two others have injuries. One more (midfielder Khodor Salame) sustained injury on coming here.”
But Choughari believes, “It will be a good match, beautiful for the crowd.”
Meanwhile, the organisers, the Tamil Nadu and Chennai football associations, remain concerned, thanks to the weather.
The monsoon has been active and rains have been coming in spells, even if not heavy. “But for now, the ground looks good. The worst case scenario, if it pours and the arena gets flooded, is postponement by a day. If that is not possible, then report to FIFA seeking fresh dates. Of course, it is the referee who takes the decision,” said Rendeni Gamini, the Match Commissioner from Sri Lanka.
The teams (from): India: Subrata Paul, Sandip Nandi, Subhasis Roy Choudhary, Surkumar Singh, Mahesh Gawli, Syed Rahim Nabi, saSamir Naik, N.S. Manju, Debarata Roy, Clifford Miranda, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, N.P. Pradeep, Steven Dias, Ajayan, Climax Lawrence, Gourmangi Singh, Baichung Bhutia, Sunil Chetri, Manjit Singh, Tarif Ahmed. Chief coach: Bob Houghton.
Lebanon: Lary Mehanna, Paul Rustom, Mootaz Bellah El Jounaidi, Hussein Amine, Hassan Moghnieh, Mohammed Ghaddar, Ali Al Saadi, Ramez Dayoub, Amer Khan, Khodor Salame, Mohamad Korhani, Faissal Antar, Mohamad Halawi, Ali Yaakoub, Abbas Ali Atwi, Mahmoud El Ali,Hossain Hemdane. Coach: Emile Rustom.
1 comment:
Good words.
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