The Hindu : Sport / Football : Indian team ready to leave for Portugal

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Wednesday, Jul 02, 2008
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Indian team ready to leave for Portugal

NEW DELHI: Injuries to goalkeeper Sandeep Nandy and midfielder N.S. Manju may have come as minor setbacks on the eve of the departure but the Indian football team was in excellent spirits as it prepared to take off on a 12-day tour to Portugal.

The team, which leaves on Wednesday, will play three matches against different clubs before returning for a camp ahead of AFC Cup to be held in Hyderabad from July 30 to August 10.

Young midfielder Sampath Kumar Kuttimani and defender Rakesh Masih also miss out on the tour. According to chief coach Bob Houghton, Kuttimani did not possess a passport while Masih was considered too “young” to make the trip.

On the assignment, Houghton said he was happy the team was playing against clubs. “It allows me to have unlimited substitutions.” Houghton would be tempted to explore the Terry Venables theory of playing his best 11 and then looking for four more capable players to be able to have more options.

“I would like to use everybody on this tour because the supporting group should also get some matches,” confessed Houghton.

Houghton observed that it was better to tour than invite teams. “To host teams can be an expensive exercise and it also becomes difficult to organise matches. I prefer taking the team on such assignments.” — Special Correspondent

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