Bob Houghton Satisfied With Dubai Camp

In order to get high quality facilities Bob Houghton decided to hold the national camp in Dubai and at the end of it the Englishman was satisfied with the workout.  

"We've done well to get the boys together in training and I think we have achieved what we set out to do in such a camp," he told Gulf News.  

He added, "Yes, we've done very well during our training for nine days here during this preliminary camp and before we do some serious work in Barcelona for a month.  

"We've been here three times now and the facilities have been always good and we've had some steady weather. Definitely, it's been a good camp and it's been good to get the boys together."  

The Indian team is now in Barcelona where they will train and play four practice matches after which they will return to India to defend the Nehru Cup, which will take place at Delhi’s Ambedkar Stadium from August 18th-30th.  

Houghton is now looking forward to the trip to Barcelona and is hoping that everybody is in the best possible shape before the Nehru Cup. 

"It's been a good start for us here and we hope to carry on the good work that we've put in. Some boys had not played from the I-League while others were involved till the end of the Santosh Trophy.  

"I think we've done a good job here in bringing them on par to a common level of fitness before we start some serious work in Spain.  

"It's been a good ten days. Now it is time to prepare for the defence of our title.”  

However there have been a few injuries with striker Sunil Chhetri nursing a right ankle injury and defender Surkumar is also carrying an injury while midfielder Climax Lawrence joined the Dubai camp later after recovering from fever.  

Houghton said, “These boys are a bit behind in the fitness scheme, but on the whole Dubai has been a step in the right direction for us."

Goal.com India