Indian National Football Team India

Hero Intercontinental Cup: Constantine picks 30 for National camp from May 16

Indian Head Coach Stephen Constantine has summoned 30 players for the national camp or the Hero Intercontinental Cup which is slated to be held in Mumbai from June 1, 2018.

The players have been asked to report for the National camp on May 16, 2018, while Bengaluru FC players would be joining the camp on May 18th after their AFC Cup duties. The squad will be further shortlisted to 23 probables for the final competition against Chinese Taipei, New Zealand and Kenya.

It is expected to identify a group of core players building up to the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 in case some players miss out due to injury or lean patch of form to have probable replacements ready. India is expected to to be challenged in every game of the Hero Intercontinental Cup against opponents  Chinese Taipei, New Zealand and Kenya, who pose different playing styles and approach.

Constantine quoted to AIFF media”I always look forward to the National Camp as I love working with the players. All of them have worked very hard to qualify for the camp. We can say the India National team has reached a certain level in many years and now the onus is on us to maintain this. We have to work hard relentlessly to continue the process.”

While the regulars have made it to the probable 30 squad lead by Talismanic skipper Sunil Chhetri, players like Souvik Chakraborti, Sanjiban Ghosh(both Jamshedpur FC) and Ashique Kuruniyan(FC Pune City) has been named in the probable squad of 30 for their performance in the Hero ISL 2017-18. Kuruniyan who had a brief stint with Villareal C, the third team of La Liga side Villareal will be looking to impress Constantine to make it to the final 23 man team.

While I-league fans have reason to unhappy as some of the consistent performers of I-League 2017-18 season like Raynier Fernandes, Samuel Lalmuanpuia, Subhash Singh and Soosairaj Michael continues to be overlooked despite putting-up strong individual performances for their I-League sides.

The squad of 30 players for the preparatory Camp in Mumbai is as follows:

 GOALKEEPERS: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Vishal Kaith, Amrinder Singh, Sanjiban Ghosh.

 DEFENDERS: Lalruatthara, Davinder Singh, Pritam Kotal, Anas Edathodika, Sandesh Jhingan, Salam Ranjan Singh, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Narayan Das, Subhasish Bose.

 MIDFIELDERS: Udanta Singh, Laldanmawia Ralte, Seiminlen Doungel, Dhanapal Ganesh, Souvik Chakraborti, Md. Rafique, Rowllin Borges, Pronay Halder, Anirudh Thapa, Bikash Jairu, Halicharan Narzary.

 FORWARDS: Sunil Chhetri, Balwant Singh, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Manvir Singh, Alen Deory, Ashique Kuruniyan.