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Indian Football Team ::: Portugal Trip 2007
News Courtesy : Football & Friends, Portugal
Sunday 29th : India 0 - 0 GDR Monsanto.
NO BHUTIA NO GOALS
India National Team ended its tour of Portugal on a very good note.
Despite a 0-0 draw today against a very competitive GDR Monsanto, the NT played a very positive, aggressive and exciting game.
The game started at 5pm at the beautiful City of Torres Novas , under a 37º temperature. India couldn’t count today with the help of Baichung Bhutia which scored 4 goals in the last two matches. Bhutia had a minor injury but that was enough to prevent him to play versus Monsanto.
During the first 45 minutes Monsanto had two good chances but Subrata Pal kept the NT nets empty with two very brave saves.
On the other side Tariff and Manjit almost scored for more than one time.
Sunil early departure from the game was also bad for India ’s hopes to win a 3rd in a row. Without Sunil and Baichung in the field the team kept a very strong pace.
Second half saw a couple of great strikes from Steven Dias and again Tariff and Manjit.
Monsanto didn’t really threaten the defence led by a solid Mahesh Gawli.
Coach Bobby Houghton was really pleased for this unbeaten run.
The goal was to allow the team to improve its ability to play together and to create a solid game play. That was achieved and some Indian talent was shown in Portuguese grounds.
The future is bright for Indian football as long as a steady path is followed.
As for the ONGC Cup the prospects are now optimistic.
Football & Friends, the Portuguese League and Federation hopes this was just the first step in a long and successful partnership.
The next steps for a long term strategy will now be discussed between the Portuguese and AIFF.
Nuno Mousinho-Esteves (Football & Friends)
“To all the members of the India NT, we wish to Thank for their professionalism, humility and joy.”
Carlos Pena (Football & Friends)
“It was a great honour and a great pleasure to welcome you to Portugal .
We sincerely hope to be starting a long journey together”
July 27th, 2007:ESTADIO DA LUZ WELCOMES INDIAN STARS
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.
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
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
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
