AFC Qualifiers: India U-23 to train in US after camp in Delhi

Thirty-four players will participate in the camp, supervised by coach Stephen Constantine, that will go on till July 1. The squad, then, will depart for an exposure trip to the USA.

“Our aim is to qualify for the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship. The qualifiers are in a month's time and hence, we can't just sit back and ponder over,” said Stephen Constantine.

The final preparatory camp ahead of the 2018 AFC (Asian Football Confederation) U-23 Championship Qualifiers kicked off under national coach Stephen Constantine at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi on Monday.

Thirty-four players will participate in the camp that will go on till July 1. The squad, then, will depart for an exposure trip to the USA.

Besides I-League players, Constantine also called two players from the U-22 trials, players for which were scouted by the AIFF scouting network led by executive committee member Abhishek Yadav. Yadav and his team had selected players from inter-university championships, inter-college tournaments, Santosh Trophy, Second Division League, Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RFYS) as well as the overseas scouting programme.

India's slated to face Syria, Turkmenistan and Qatar in Group C of 2018 AFC U-23 Championship Qualifiers which are scheduled from July 19-23 in Doha, Qatar.

“Our aim is to qualify for the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship. The qualifiers are in a month's time and hence, we can't just sit back and ponder over,” Constantine said. “New Delhi is the ideal venue to get acclimatised to the current weather of Qatar. Our focus was on working in the similar conditions to Qatar.”

All India Football Federation has also organised for an exposure tour for the squad to the USA.

“We are scheduled to go on an exposure trip to California early next month. We'll play three or possibly four competitive matches against some club age-group teams and senior teams which will definitely come handy before we face Qatar, Syria and Turkmenistan in the Qualifiers,” Constantine said.

The list of players attending the camp is as follows:

GOALKEEPERS:  Vishal Kaith, Sukhadev Shivaji Patil, Kamaljit Singh, Phurba Tempa Lechenpa.

DEFENDERS:  Nishu Kumar, Lalramchullova, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Salam Ranjan Singh, Sarthak Golui, Sairuatkima, Lalruatthara, Nitesh Deepak Aswani, Subhasish Bose, Jerry Lalrinzuala.

MIDFIELDERS:  Nikhil Chandrashekhar Poojary, Raynier Raymond Fernandes, Isaac Vanmalsawma Chhakchhuak, Germanpreet Singh, Vinit Rai, Mawihmingthanga, Asharudeen Pulparamban, Saurabh Das, Enestar Malngiang, Robinson Singh Khumukcham, Vignesh Dakshina Murthy, Chesterpoul Lyngdoh, Lallianzuala Chhangte.

FORWARDS:  Hitesh Sharma, Daniel Lalhlimpuia, Anto Xavier, Alen Deory, Manvir Singh, Azharuddin Mullick.