The Indian football team has landed in Kolkata where they will play their AFC Cup qualifiers. Before that, they will play some warmup matches to get going. The Blue Tigers are in a relatively easier group as they are clubbed with teams like Cambodia, Hong Kong and Afghanistan and are expected to qualify for the main stage which is scheduled for next year in China.
The Indian team will play four friendly matches starting with a preparation match with Indian Super League outfit ATK Mohun Bagan as they are also preparing for the upcoming AFC Cup campaign. Followed by another game against the I-League All-Stars and then they will travel to Doha to face Zambia and Jordan on the 25 and 28th of May respectively.
Ahead of the practice match against ATK Mohun Bagan, Igor Stimac shared how the match will be beneficial for both the parties as Juan Ferrando’s men are also preparing for the upcoming AFC Cup. So Stimac said, “As per the practice games and international friendly games schedule, we’re gonna have a practice match tomorrow against ATK, which will serve them and us very well in this stage of preparation. After that, a selection of the I-League players will give us an opportunity to see the best players from I-League. We are going to play two practice matches on the 17th and 20th (May).
“After that, we are going to travel to Doha where we play Zambia on the 25th of May. Three days later we face Jordan, which will be our last preparatory game for the qualifiers.”
The Indian head coach shared how he loves being in Kolkata and how it is a football city where people are very passionate about the sport. He feels that it is something needed in world football and hopefully he and his boys will be able to take India forward to the final stages of the Asian Cup.
“It’s a football city which I love personally because you can feel football here, everywhere,” said Stimac of Kolkata. “In each corner, you can feel the passion and that is something which is most welcome and needed in the football world. It’s great from the motivational point of view for the team, the players, the coaches, and everyone that speaks and cares about football. I love this city and I love being here. I hope that all together we’re gonna take India to the final phase of the AFC Cup stages,” said the Croatian manager.
Stimac had to release a few players due to injury but he has called for reinforcements in the form of Bipin Singh, Lalengmawia, Rahul Bheke and Hyderabad FC’s hero Laxmikant Kattimani. The Croat revealed that he is not feeling any pressure ahead of the qualifiers as people highlighted how India should definitely qualify from this group.
“ I’m not under pressure. I know what I need to do, together with the staff and the players. There are expectations. Expectations are always there and they are welcome, you know. I’m very confident with the work we are providing here; at least this time, (we’ve had) enough time to prepare well. Never mind that some of the players are not with us. I said we have enough quality in our team with the players who are here with us to make sure that the team qualifies,” he concluded.
