Indian Football Team ::: Portugal Trip 2007

The National Team today visited SL Benfica Stadium – Estadio da Luz. The group led by Mr Pradeep Choudhury was welcomed at the mythic stadium by SL Benfica’s VP Mr Alcino Antonio. The tour of this magnificent football stadium was led by its manager Mr Jitesse Arquissandas. The tour covered the main entrance highlighted by the beautiful eagle, the Presidential box, the locker rooms and the pitch. The view from the pitch was definitely the best in the house, leaving the players excited about the possibility of one of these days representing the India NT on that surface. As a curiosity, they were the first players to step on that grass as it was laid just 4 days ago. SL Benfica’s PR officer Mr Joao Salgado said “i hope you blessed this ground and if Benfica wins the League i will be thinking of you”. The group then left for a quick shopping visit to one the largest European malls – Colombo Shopping Centre.

july 26th, 2007

India 3 - 2 AC Marinhense. Scorers: India- Sunil Chettri 37',Baichung Bhutia 51', 75' Scorers:Portugal- Yuran 10', 60' The National Team keeps improving by the day. The team is playing at a faster pace mixing players skills with Houghton’s tactical teachings in a combination that is pleasant to watch. Today at the beautiful Estadio Municipal Marinha Grande, the NT beat AC Marinhense 3-2 with Chetri and Bhutia in a league of their own. The local side is putting together a strong squad that will give them a fair shot at promotion for 2nd Div, but India NT was strong and smart enough to turn the tide after Yuran scored the 1-0 (10m) that gave Marinhense the lead until min 37. Sunil Chetri scored a nice goal at min 37 to tie the game, showing once again that he can easily be a successful export of Indian talent for the international football markets. In the second half Bhutia brought up his skill and experience to turn the events in favour of the NT with a goal at min 51. The game was played at a nice pace with ACM scoring the 2-2 at min 60 by Yuran. But India NT wasn’t going to relax and accept the result and fought for the win that came once again from Bhutia’s feet at min 75, in what was his 4th goal of this tour. Bobby Houghton was all very pleased with the progress that the team is showing and hopes that it will be kept next Sunday against GDR Monsanto. GDR Monsanto a 3rd Div side that finished last season 3rd, ahead of AC Marinhense was picked to replace Estoril FC. Coach Bobby Houghton and his technical staff have decided to play another 3rd Div side in order to maintain a steady standard of opponents. Their decision was based on the desire of keeping this camp as a training one f ocusing on building team spirit and improving NT’s game play style. The 4th and final game of this tour will take place on Sunday 29th at 5:00pm (local time) at Estadio Torres Novas against GDR Monsanto. Tomorrow Friday the NT will visit the mythic Estadio da Luz, home to SL Benfica. For the last 2 days the NT has been followed by a TV crew that is producing a 25 minute show for Portuguese sports channel SportTv.

AC MARINHENSE TEAM Marco, Fale, Baresi, Duarte, Videira, Hugo Filipe, Darcio, Bruno Filipe, Heber, Yuri e Antero Extras Claudio, Ludovic, Fabio Gomes, Batista, Moita, Fabio Reis, Nunito, Pipo, Huginho , Caminho Coach: Jose Petana INDIA TEAM Standip Nandi, Surkumar Singh, Deepak Mondol, NS Manju, Samir Naik, Steevan Dias, Climax Lawrence, NP Pradeep, Renedy Singh, Sunil Chettri, Baichung Bhutia Extras SubhaSish, Syed Nabi, Merajuddin, Tariff Ahamed, Manjit Singh K.Ajayan Coach: Bobby Haughton 22nd July Recreativo Agueda Vs India 3rd Divn. - Serie 'C' 0 - 3 (Manjit Singh, Baichung Bhutia2) India NT played a nice game in Agueda with Baichung Bhutia as Man of the Match. This was a good opportunity for Bobby Houghton’s teachings to be successfully tested by a flowing and happy Indian squad. First half was balanced with 1-0 by Manjit Singh, being the right result for a team that had more ball possession and had more goal opportunities. Agueda hit the crossbar at minute 22, but it was their only true chance during the first 45 minutes. Sunil Chhetri showed a very good pace and good skills. Second half brought an even more exciting game with Baichung Bhutia pushing India forward. The pace was faster making the game even more exciting. Bhutia was the star with two great goals at min 63 and min 86. This was very interesting test for India ’s finest that left Bobby Houghton very pleased. The city of Agueda was very pleased to welcome India National team, in what was the second time a National team played at Estadio Municipal, after Portugal played Luxembourg in 2004. Afterwards Agueda’s Mayor hosted a dinner party for the entire group. India registered a convincing 3-0 win against Recreativo Agueda in their Second game of the exposure cum training tour of Portugal visit on Sunday ,22 July 2007. India led 1-0 at the half timemark through a goal scored by Manjit Singh in the 27th min.Bhaichung Bhutia who scored a brace (63rd & 86th min) in the second half made it 3-0 for India. The game will take place at the beautiful Agueda’s Estadio Municipal at 5:00pm Sunday July 22nd. Friday, July 20th After a interesting and competitive 1-1 challenge against 2nd League promotion hopefuls Odivelas FC, the India National Team will take on Recreativo Agueda. The National Team will be welcomed by the City Mayor and will be presented with a dinner party after the match. India National Team presence in Portugal have already attracted some media attention especially due to Coach Bobby Houghton´s prestige. Bobby Houghton almost became SL Benfica Coach in the 80’s when Sven Goran Eriksson appointed his name to lead the Portuguese powerhouse. Portuguese clubs are also following India NT presence, scouting some talent among India’s finest. The day when we will find an Indian player in the Portuguese leagues are now closer. The atmosphere among the group is great, especially today, after Football & Friends arranged for them to move to a beach front hotel at Praia da Vieira. Wednesday, July 19th News India National Team Portugal tour will be composed by the following games Date Portugal Team Status Result July 19th Odivelas FC Vs India 2nd Div 1 - 1 (Avisekh Yadav) July 22nd Recreativo Agueda Vs India 3rd Div 0 - 3 (Manjit Singh,Baichung Bhutia 2) July 26th AC Marinhense Vs India 3rd Div 2 - 3 (Baichung2,Sunil Chettri) July 29th GDR Monsanto Vs India 2nd League ? - ? Twesday July 18th News The group completed today its 5th session ahead of tomorrow’s game in Odivelas, in the outskirts of Lisbon. The weather is perfect, the facilities also good and the atmosphere surrounding the NT is very positive. In the meantime, SL Benfica’s President invited India NT to visit the magnificient Estadio da Luz (Stadium of Light) next week. This is the home of the mythical Portuguese powerhouse and recently home to the 7 Wonders of the World event, presented by Bipasha Basu that has revealed the TAJ MAHAL as one of the world’s 7 wonders. India NT visit to Portugal is just the second step taken by Football & Friends for a lasting partnership between the official football institutions of both countries. Football & Friends presented last November “Football Marketing & Youth Developments” Conference in Panjim, Goa. Report of the Odivelas FC game will be released late Thursday. Monday, July 16th India National Team will have this afternoon its 3rd training session in Portuguese soil. Pilado training ground’s perfect field has been home to the training sessions. It sits in the middle of Leiria’s Pine Forest and it is providing a very calm atmosphere, which the entire group has welcomed. The weather remains pleasant and the sessions have been productive. On Wednesday Portuguese and Indian media will be informed of the games schedule. July 14th 2007 , Portugal India National Team arrived in Lisbon in early afternoon to a beautiful summer day, with a temperature of 30º Celsius. India football’s finest travelled another 80 km North to Marinha Grande, where they will stay for the next 18 days. First practice will take place on Saturday afternoon at 5pm (local time). A final tour program will only be released early next week, due to ongoing negotiations for the broadcasting of the last game of the tour. The Tour organiser of India in Portugal Football & Friends of Linda Velha Chief Mr. Nuno Mousinho -Esteves told that Final games plan will be disclosed only after having a final decision from Zee Sports whether a game will be broadcast to India, or not 13.07.2007:Training Schedule 14th -21st July : Training in Portugal 22nd July : Friendly Match Vs Recreio Desportivo de Agueda at Marinha Ground 23rd to 25th July : Training in Portuugal 26th July : Friendly Match Vs AC Marinhense at 7 PM. 27th -28th July :Training in Portugal 29th July : Friendly Match (not yet fixed) The Indian Soccer Squad : Goalkeepers Subhashish Roy Choudhury ,Sandip Nandy ,Subrata Paul Defenders N. S.Manju ,Mahesh Gawli ,Deepak Kumar Mondal,Syed Rahim Nabi ,Samir Naik , Debabrata Roy, Surkumar Singh Midfielders Climax Lawrence ,N.P.Pradeep ,Steven Dias, K.Ajayan,Mehrajuddin Wadoo , P.Rennedy Singh ,Clifford Miranda ,Bungo Singh & Gouramangi Singh Forwards Manjit Singh ,Sunil Chhetri ,Anthony Pereira,Abhishek Yadav ,Tarif Ahmed & Bhaichung Bhutia (Captain) Coach: Bob Houghton Manager: Pradeep Chowdhury 29.06.2007: Today in a press meet Indian Football Team Chief Coach Bob Houghton expressed that the team will play three important tournaments this year about 15-16 matches, which will help to improve the current FIFA ranking.For this he thinks that this is a very important year for India team to increase it's ranking. He told that, The Team India will tour to PORTUGAL next month where they will play three games including one against a Premier League side.During this 18-day trip to Portugal the team may gather some experience of International Football. In coming August ONGC INTERNATIONAL CUP will be held in New Delhi, in which some of the best Football Countries like Syria, Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh, Pakistan ,Iran,Myanmar, Combodia likely to be joined with host India in that Tournament. So India will get a chance to improve their ranking by playing well in that. India also be played South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup, to be jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and Maldives in December and in March 2008, India will also take part in the AFC Challenge Trophy, alongwith top 15 other Countries in Asia In February 2008 India will India will play South Africa World Cup qualifier 2010 Training camp for Portugal Trip and other will start probably on Saturday (30.06.2007) at Devi Lal Sports Complex,Gurgaon Expected Indian Team for Portugal Tour Goalkeeper : Sandip Nandy, Subhashish Roy Chaudhuri, Arindam Bhattacharya, Subrata Paul Defender : Surkumar Singh,Deepak Mondal, Syed Rahim Nabi, Samir Naik, Mahesh Gawli, Sanjiv Maria, N.S.Manju Debabrata Roy Mid-fielders: Steven Dias, Mehrajuddin Wadoo,K. Ajayan, Climax Lawrence, N.P. Pradeep, Clifford Miranda, Rennedy Singh, Bungo Singh Gourmangi Singh Forward: Bhaichung Bhutia, Tarif Ahmed, Sunil Chetri, Abhishek Yadav, Manjit Singh,Anthony Perreira GO TO MAIN PAGE