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India all set to take revenge against Lebanon

Chennai, Sat, 27 Oct 2007 NI Wire

Newstrack India

Oct 27 : (Updated on Oct 29)

The qualifier is now shifted to Goa because of unplayable conditions in Chennai due to incessant rains

The FIFA World Cup qualifier match between India and Lebanon is now shifted to Goa after the city has been observing incessant rains from Saturday. The match will now be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Margao, Goa on Tuesday.

The scheduled kick-off here had to be abandoned after Jordanian referee Salem Mohd. Mujghee inspected a flooded Nehru Stadium and declared it unfit to play. With forecast of more heavy rains in the coming days, the match faces a possible washout.

The All India Football Federation then worked out an emergency alternate venue. Earlier, a 10 am assessment on Monday morning was planned upon for a 4 p.m. kick off, but AIFF announced the Goa decision late on Sunday.

DELHI’S LOSS GOA’S GAIN

The Capital’s Ambedkar stadium and Kochi were also running in the contest to host the match. But Goa earned the right, as FIFA authorities did not give its nod to the Capital despite everything seemingly going in New Delhi's favour.

Delhi lost the plot as Ambedkar Stadium in the Capital doesn't comply with FIFA guidelines of being an all-seater stadium, and so the option was set aside.

However, Indian team preferred to play the match in Delhi because of their recent Nehru Cup victory, where they beat higher-ranked Syria. In addition the love and passion of football among Delhiites and coach Bob Houghton went on record to admit his love for the Delhi crowd.

On the other hand, Lebanon manager Hasan Choughari said that they would always prefer Goa as an alternate venue. India needs to beat Lebanon 3-0 to advance to the second round.

Indian football team is ready to take on Lebanon in the home tie after losing 1-4 against them in an away game on October 8. The Indian players are much eager to take revenge of their defeat, when they will take on the field at the Asian qualifying round of 2010 FIFA World Cup.

It will be an uphill task for the coach Bob Houghton wards, as they needed to beat Lebanon 3-0 in tomorrow’s match to advance to the second round, which is to be held in South Africa.

It would have been the first time for Chennai to host a World Cup qualifier although they have organised host of international matches at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium here under floodlights.

However the rain has the final say about the prediction of the match, since the city has been witnessing incessant rains for the last two days. The forecast is showing more rains in the offing, which is surely not a good sign for the match.

"We cannot say anything right now and the referee will only decide on the possibility of the match at around 6.30 PM tomorrow," C R Viswanathan, Secretary, Tamil Nadu Football Association, said.

While Lebanon is ranked 138 in the FIFA international rankings, Bhutia and his men are not far away, at 145. But the Houghton boys will have to come out with all cylinders firing to settle the scores with their opponents.

"It will be a very difficult game but we are confident that we can get 3 goals. It's not going to be easy but, hopefully, if everything goes perfectly we can get 3 goals, it's definitely possible," Indian captain Baichung Bhutia said sharing his views with a Radio channel few days back.

Talking about the strategy for the match, Bhutia pencilled down some areas where the team needed much improvement. "It will be more attacking football, but at the same time, we don't want to concede a goal because then it will be impossible to get back into the match," he said.

However Bhutia has some apprehensions regarding the venue. It will be not the same in Chennai as in Goa, Kolkata or even Delhi. But he could not do much as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) finalised the venue.

"We might not have the same atmosphere there. But I think ground-wise, weather-wise, the conditions are good though I don't feel they will give us any extra advantage," he said.

Meanwhile, the Lebanon team was the first to arrive in Chennai in the early hours of Friday. The team list showed 17 players except their star player Roda Antar, who plays in the German league for FC Kohn.

Antar had scored in Lebanon’s home match. Team officials have no reason for his absence except stating that he has gone to play in the German league. The members of the team looked enthusiastic and upbeat for the contest ahead.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Match Commissioner: Rendeni Gamini ( Sri Lanka), Referee: Salem Mohmoud Mujghee, Assistant Referees: Fathi Arabati, Awni Hassouneh (all Jordan) and Fourth official: Mohd. Yussof Mat Karim ( Malaysia).


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Comments:

ajay sriram

October 27, 2007 at 12:00 AM

hope fully the match should happen and give boost to indian soccer craze


 

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