SAFF Suzuki Cup: Football: National Coach Stephen Constantine announces list of 40 probables

NEW DELHI: National Coach Stephen Constantine has announced his list of 40 probables for the forthcoming SAFF Suzuki Cup which is to be held in Trivandrum. The initial list of 28 probables would be assembling at a Preparatory Camp in Kochi on December 9, 2015 with practice commencing from next day.

Keeping in tune with his vision of selecting a Pan-Indian squad, Constantine’s selected 40 Probables includes Players from the Local Leagues, Players who are not part of the ongoing Hero Indian Super League and even members from AIFF U-19 Elite Academy.

This is perhaps the first time in recent times where three Players who haven’t ever even donned a jersey for any I-League Club have been summoned for the Camp -- two of them having played for Army XI while the other, a present Calcutta University Student had played for SAI in the Kolkata Premier League.

Speaking to www.the-aiff.com, Constantine said: “We have selected a squad which encompasses all of Indian Football – right from State Leagues, U-19 Academy Players, Players from I-League and the ISL. We are building a Team for the future.”

“In my first Press Conference in New Delhi, I had mentioned that we will be keeping a tab on all Football Players who play beyond the I-League and the ISL. We are trying to expand our pool of Players,” he added.

“28 players will join us initially. With the ISL going on, it gives us an opportunity to call up those Players that we would not have been able to work with. It’s not bad the way it’s worked out,” he stated.

Constantine also thanked All India Football Federation for “allowing” him to work with the Players in the Camp.

“Having the time to spend with the Players is extremely helpful. I am thankful to All India Football Federation for allowing me this length of Camp. It’s much appreciated,” he mentioned. “We have 12-14 days to prepare which is very good, the level of fitness is not there and we need to work on that front.”

The list of 40 Probables stay as follows:

GOALKEEPERS: Subrata Paul, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Karanjit Singh, Laxmikant Kattimani, Amrinder Singh.

DEFENDERS: Aiborlang Khongjee, Lalchhuanmawia, Sandesh Jhingan, Koushik Sarkar (SAI, Kolkata), Robin Gurung, Arnab Mondal, Augustine Fernadnes, Rino Anto, Narayan Das, Pritam Kotal, Anas Edathodika.

MIDFIELDERS: Malswamzuala (AIFF U-19 Academy), Jain Punchakadan (Army XI), Alwyn George, Rowin Borges (both non ISL Players), Cavin Lobo, Sanju Pradhan, Irom Seityasen Singh, Rowlin Borges, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Francisco Fernandes, Mohammed Rafique, Bikash Jairu, Pronoy Halder, Romeo Fernandes, Sehnaj Singh.

FORWARDS: Daniel Lalramzuava (AIFF U-19 Academy), Arjun Tudu (Army XI), Sunil Chhetri, Holicharan Narzary, Udanta Singh, Robin Singh, Jeje Lalpeklhua, Haokip, Sumeet Passi.