Xtra Time Web Desk: The Indian football team led by Sunil Chhetri will be having a camp in Kolkata from August 15 ahead of the International Friendlies in September 2021. All players and staff will be assembling by the day with training sessions starting from the next day.
This marks the return of the National Team camp in Kolkata after 15 years, with the Blue Tigers last having camped in Kolkata way back in 2006 prior to the FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Saudi Arabia. The camp will be conducted under a secured bio-bubble adhering to the laid-down health parameters in wake of the current pandemic situation. The contingent will also be undergoing regular testing.
National team Head Coach Igor Stimac has named his initial list of 23 probables, leaving out players from ATK Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru FC owing to the two club’s commitments in the AFC Cup in the Maldives. Players from both clubs will be joining the squad immediately after finishing their club commitments in the continental tournament.
The selected 23 players for the national camp are as follows:
GOALKEEPERS: Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, Vishal Kaith.
DEFENDERS: Asish Rai, Seriton Fernandes, Rahul Bheke, Adil Khan, Chinglensana Singh, Narender, Akash Mishra, Mandar Rao Dessai.
MIDFIELDERS: Bipin Singh, Brandon Fernandes, Lalengmawia, Glan Martins, Jeakson Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Yasir Mohammed, Halicharan Narzary.
FORWARDS: Rahul KP, Farukh Choudhary, Ishan Pandita, Rahim Ali.
The ATK Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru FC players who will be joining the camp after their AFC Cup duties are as follows:
GOALKEEPERS: Amrinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu
DEFENDERS: Pritam Kotal, Ashutosh Mehta, Sandesh Jhingan, Subhasish Bose.
MIDFIELDERS: Udanta Singh, Pronay Halder, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Ashqiue Kuruniyan
FORWARDS: Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh, Sunil Chhetri.