SAFF Cup: India to send U23 team

Tuesday, 20. October 2009 - Rajeeb Mukherjee

The Indian Under-23 national team will represent the country in the upcoming SAFF Cup in Bangladesh in December 2009.

National coach Bob Houghton has been able to convince the authorities and will be able to give the younger players much needed international exposure in the south Asian championships ahead of bigger assignments next year.

Thereafter the youngsters will also play in the AFC Challenge Cup in Sri Lanka in February 2010 and then the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China from November 12 to November 27, which is an under-23 tournament.

There would be a simultaneous camp for the senior and under-23 national teams in the second half of November. Goa is the set camp venue for the moment, but keeping the weather conditions in Dhaka in December in mind maybe coach Houghton and the AIFF would consider Kolkata as a better option for the preparations.

As the Under-23 team will be training with the senior squad the one or the other senior player could be send with the team to the SAFF Cup and AFC Challenge Cup. The Asian Games like the Olympic football tournament allow three players above the age of 23 to be part of the squad.

Bob Houghton also informed the media that the Under-19 national team would represent India in the 2010 SAF Games to be held in Dhaka, Bangaldesh from January 29 to February 8.

Houghton also said that he and Colin Toal were looking at promising players, who were not part of any I-League side to be part of future camps.