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India s challenges ahead of World Cup qualifiers
The Croatian coach s biggest headache is to select and assemble a fully fit squad for the qualifiers. Except for FC Goa and Bengaluru FC players, who took part in the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup qualifiers respectively in April, most of the Indian players last played in February or March
As a result, instead of choosing the squad solely on merit, Stimac now has to make do with the fittest possible players available.
The Indian squad that will be selected will get limited practice sessions before taking the field against giants Qatar. As lockdown has been imposed in several parts of India, it is not possible for the AIFF to arrange for training sessions of the team in India before they travel.
New Delhi, May 12: The All India Football Federation on Wednesday said the national team cannot train in the country right now given the COVID-19 surge and it is considering foreign options for a camp ahead of the World Cup qualifying round matches in Qatar next month.
India is already out of reckoning for a 2022 FIFA World Cup berth but still in contention for a 2023 Asian Cup spot in the joint qualifiers. The remaining three matches against Qatar (June 3), Bangladesh (June 7) and Afghanistan (June 15) are crucial for Asian Cup qualification.
Qatar was picked by the Asian Football Confederation in March as the centralised venue to host the remaining Group E matches owing to the coronavirus-related travel and quarantine restrictions.
Savio Medeira joins hands to serve community during Covid
ANI
11 May 2021, 22:19 GMT+10
New Delhi [India], May 11 (ANI): Savio Medeira believes in giving. He has put in 17 years of uninterrupted trophy-laden service in the heart of the midfield for Goan giants Salgaocar FC; has coached the India men s senior national team to a major trophy triumph the 2011 SAFF Cup; and now, he is the Head of Coach Education at the All-India Football Federation (AIFF). Not to forget that he also represented the Blue Tigers at the international level in the late 90s.
The master educator, who has been busy lifting the standards of coach education in the country has now risen to the occasion to do his bit even as (in his own words), the situation is scary in Goa.
AFC President condoles the death of Fortunato Franco
ANI
11 May 2021, 13:37 GMT+10
New Delhi [India], May 11 (ANI): AFC President Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa extended his condolences for the demise of former India International Fortunato Franco on Monday.
In a letter addressed to AIFF President Praful Patel, the AFC President said, I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the former Asiad gold medallist Fortunato Franco. Franco was a part of the Indian team that won the Asiad gold in 1962 after defeating the Republic of Korea 2-1 in the final. Apart from that, he was also a part of the Indian team that took part in the 1960 Rome Olympics, and the 1964 Asian Cup, where the Blue Tigers finished second.