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Indian National Team: AIFF Decides Not To Approve The Games Against UAE Clubs
Rejected...
26-Aug-2010 5:48:00 AM
By Rahul Bali
As India prepare for the 2011 Asian Cup in January and are to play nine friendlies in the month of September and October for the same, the teams haven’t yet been zeroed upon along with the venue.
Goal.com had earlier mentioned that most teams ranked higher than India caught up in their own web of games, the only viable options were that of Turkmenistan and Vietnam whom the national coach Bob Houghton wouldn’t be too keen on playing having played the former back in 2008 and defeated them.
According to sources in the All India Football Federation (AIFF), there was a proposal from Houghton that the team could travel to United Arab Emirates (UAE) and possibly play against the club teams there.
However at the AIFF Emergency Committee meeting, the idea didn’t receive much backing and the decision to play against Gambia and Namibia was given the green signal as they are ranked higher than India.
Also the AIFF is contractually binded to play at least six friendly matches in each of the three years they have a deal with Panasonic.
“We have to check the strength of our team and hence we decided to play against Gambia and Namibia. The travel to UAE and playing against the club sides is an expensive affair,” said a member of the Emergency Committee.
Meanwhile, the AIFF are also exploring the option of playing an international game at Guwahati and Orissa after the venues will be inspected as Balewadi’s poor field continues to give headache to the concerned authorities.
Goal.com had earlier mentioned that most teams ranked higher than India caught up in their own web of games, the only viable options were that of Turkmenistan and Vietnam whom the national coach Bob Houghton wouldn’t be too keen on playing having played the former back in 2008 and defeated them.
According to sources in the All India Football Federation (AIFF), there was a proposal from Houghton that the team could travel to United Arab Emirates (UAE) and possibly play against the club teams there.
However at the AIFF Emergency Committee meeting, the idea didn’t receive much backing and the decision to play against Gambia and Namibia was given the green signal as they are ranked higher than India.
Also the AIFF is contractually binded to play at least six friendly matches in each of the three years they have a deal with Panasonic.
“We have to check the strength of our team and hence we decided to play against Gambia and Namibia. The travel to UAE and playing against the club sides is an expensive affair,” said a member of the Emergency Committee.
Meanwhile, the AIFF are also exploring the option of playing an international game at Guwahati and Orissa after the venues will be inspected as Balewadi’s poor field continues to give headache to the concerned authorities.
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