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Nehru Cup: The Boys Deserved The Victory - Bob Houghton
India coach Bob Houghton attributed the win to the team spirit and added that they deserved the achievement of having won three trophies in as many years...
01-Sep-2009 12:43:50 AM
The Men in Blue won the hearts of the Indian crowd as they
retained the Nehru Cup in a dramatic victory over Syria in the penalty
shootout. Houghton stated that the group of boys he has is a matured lot who
can deliver in pressure situations.
“This is a matured group and are playing together for the last three years now. They play for each other and give everything for the team. Even after conceding the late equaliser and when Renedy and Mehraj missed the penalties, the team came back,” said Houghton.
The Englishman once again turned his attentions to Subrata Paul whom he often labels as “the best goalkeeper in India.”
“It’s a pity that we didn’t win after Renedy scored. It was a very nice free-kick. He was quite gutted for having missed the penalty. Subrata saved our day. He has had an outstanding tournament and was brilliant again for us,” said Houghton.
Commenting on the report which claimed that India were the worst side, the 61 year old wasn’t much flustered and believed that it’s the same case with his players as well.
“I do go through the paper but it doesn’t change anything with me or the players.”
While another report had quotes attributed to the Syrian coach claiming that he needs only seven of his men to beat India in the finals.
“I doubt whether the Syrian coach said that. I think he is a reasonable man. And you don’t say such things before the finals because it makes your team complacent and pump up the opposition. You don’t achieve anything by winning too as you haven’t given the opposition enough respect,” said Houghton.
The former China coach added that his team needs to play more often in the next 12 months and keep their preparations for the 2011 Asian Cup on the right track.
“We still have a lot to do before the 2011 Asian Cup. We need to play more games in the Ambedkar in the next 12 months. Then we’ll be in a better shape for the Asian Cup.”
Amoy Ghoshal.
“This is a matured group and are playing together for the last three years now. They play for each other and give everything for the team. Even after conceding the late equaliser and when Renedy and Mehraj missed the penalties, the team came back,” said Houghton.
The Englishman once again turned his attentions to Subrata Paul whom he often labels as “the best goalkeeper in India.”
“It’s a pity that we didn’t win after Renedy scored. It was a very nice free-kick. He was quite gutted for having missed the penalty. Subrata saved our day. He has had an outstanding tournament and was brilliant again for us,” said Houghton.
Commenting on the report which claimed that India were the worst side, the 61 year old wasn’t much flustered and believed that it’s the same case with his players as well.
“I do go through the paper but it doesn’t change anything with me or the players.”
While another report had quotes attributed to the Syrian coach claiming that he needs only seven of his men to beat India in the finals.
“I doubt whether the Syrian coach said that. I think he is a reasonable man. And you don’t say such things before the finals because it makes your team complacent and pump up the opposition. You don’t achieve anything by winning too as you haven’t given the opposition enough respect,” said Houghton.
The former China coach added that his team needs to play more often in the next 12 months and keep their preparations for the 2011 Asian Cup on the right track.
“We still have a lot to do before the 2011 Asian Cup. We need to play more games in the Ambedkar in the next 12 months. Then we’ll be in a better shape for the Asian Cup.”
Amoy Ghoshal.
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