We are the favourites: Koevermans

For coach Wim Koevermans, India begin as favourites for the Nehru Cup football tournament which kicks off at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Wednesday.

This is the Dutch coach’ first assignment with the Indian team and he wants his team to aim for victory despite being the lowest ranked at 164th.

Koevermans was satisfied the way the team has trained and felt they are capable of laying claim to the trophy.                    

“The boys have given their hundred percent in each and every training session.  I feel they have a lot of potential. Our aim is to win. We may be the underdogs, but if you ask me, we are the favourites. We won’t like to enter the tournament to lose,” said Koevermans on the eve of their opening tie against Syria.

“Syria is at another level but our boys are very, very capable.” The Dutch has laid a lot of importance on ball possession and said the boys are fast adapting to the style. “It is not rocket science. The boys are adapting to the style and they are coping well. Alongwith it, winning the ball is also important, the aggressive style in defending which is needed in an international game. We have been working on those aspects. 

Skipper Sunil Chhetri said the team, which has been training at Jaypee Greens, was doing its best to follow the strategy of the coach.

“The style of each coach is different but we have always given our 100 percent. We have been doing well at the training and that gives us a lot of confidence,” he said.