As many as seven players from Bengaluru FC were included in the 24-man Indian team for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifier tie against Myanmar. India is due to play Myanmar in their opening game of the Asian Cup qualifier on March 28. The national side will play a friendly against Cambodia on Wednesday ahead of the qualifier.
The squad announced by the national team head coach Stephen Constantine includes Sunil Chhetri, CK Vineeth, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Udanta Singh, Daniel Lalhimpuia, Sandesh Jhingan and Nishu Kumar from the city side. This is the maiden call-up for the 19-year-old full-back Nishu. Apart from the Muzaffarnagar player, Milan Singh and Jerry Lanrinzuala are the other first-timers in the squad.
Dhanpal Ganesh and Robin Singh make a comeback into the side after missing out the whole of 2016 to injuries, Pritam Kotal, Rowllin Borges and Halicharan Narzary have been rewarded for their fine run in the ongoing I-League. Though Constantine has labelled Myanmar as ‘favourites at home’, he expressed hope of getting a positive result in the away match.
“I think we have a good opportunity. We need to win our home games. Myanmar will be a very difficult game. They are favourites at home. They went to the AFF Championship. India struggled against Myanmar in Myanmar. I would like to change that and we will go and give whatever we have, as we always do and hopefully we can get a result in Myanmar,” Constantine said.
Squad: Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, TP Rehneesh, Subrata Paul; Defenders: Pritam Kotal, Nishu Kumar, Sandesh Jhingan, Arnab Mondal, Anas Edathodika, Dhanpal Ganesh, Fulganco Cardozo, Narayan Das, Jerry Lanrinzuala; Midifielders: Jackichand Singh, Udanta Singh, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Milan Singh, Md. Rafique, Rowllin Borges, Halicharan Narzary, CK Vineeth; Forwards: Jeje Lelkephlua, Sunil Chhetri, Daniel Lalhimpuia, Robin Singh.
Published 18 March 2017, 19:07 IST