Yemen could provide a surprise or two

By Avinash Nair

BANGALORE, APRIL 14. Tomorrow is another day and another contest. Both Yemen and the host, India, go into what one assumes is a crucial contest on Sunday in the Group-8 Pre-World Cup qualifier with an open mind. Neither team is aware of the other's strengths and weaknesses and the football buffs who are expected to throng the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here is sure to get their money's worth.

Yemen comes into the match with a thumping 5-0 verdict over Brunei and this has understandably caused a few creases in the Indian camp though the tiny Arab nation is ranked much below the host in the FIFA list.

Chief coach Sukhwinder Singh while admitting that Yemen was an unknown entity, would not take risks and understandably did not name the eleven, what with Bangalore experiencing steady showers the past few days.

``We did practise in the rains to get a feel of the underfoot conditions, and barring Jo Paul Ancheri (still nursing a groin pain) the rest are fit and raring to go,'' said the Indian coach.

Jo Paul is a doubtful starter and the question of his replacement is paramount. With Ratan Singh fit and ready, K.V. Dhanesh could in all probability be moved to the central midfielder's role which Ancheri has so far carried out brilliantly. Bhutia's hamstring strain too was heavily packed with ice but the star forward, who earned a `yellow' in the first match, sounded cautious, ``I'm a little tentative about my injury, but will still go all out''.

Going by the body language that the Indian team displayed, its `pride' is intact and will play like one to enhance the reputation that the team earned after that fine win against the UAE.

Yemen has no stars to speak of. But the young side, with an average age of 22-24, looks physically fit and the cool weather here should only be to its advantage.

``It's more or less like this back in Yemen,'' said coach Luciano de Abroue. The `friendly' Brazilian may have taken charge of this Yemen team only three months ago, but looks to have moulded the team as a unit.

``I picked the team after watching the league and an under-19 tournament in Saudi Arabia. It's a young side and the country being geographically stationed at an altitude of 2,700 metres, the players are supremely fit. And mountain running is part of our training,'' said the coach, who has a special fondness for Indians' and more so Keralites.

Talking about his team's strengths, De Abroue asserted that he did not believe in three man defence, which most of the West Asian teams adopt.

``I've changed that,'' De Abroue said and agreed that there was no secrets in football. ``People watch Brazil play throughout the year and still are wary of the side. The rivals come better prepared and make it tough on Brazil. But Brazil is still the best team,'' said the former wing back, who does not look the 59- year-old he is.

Yemen had a feel of the playing field this afternoon.

The teams (from): Yemen: Goalkeepers: Faisal Al-hah Obeaid, Maath Mohammed Abdulkhaliq, Pawzi Abdulla Omar; Defenders: Ibrahim Ahmed Ali, Mahmoud Mohd. Ali, Nashwan Abdulaziz Ali, Khaled Abdu Mohd. (captain), Salem Saeed Abdulla, Abdulrahman Saeed Abdulla; Midfielders: Aziz Salem Ahmed, Redwan Abduljbar Ahmed, Ali Mohd. Mohammed Joarah, Jamal Ahmed Abdulla, Mohd Salem Ahmed, Anwar Mutaher Ahmed, Adel Abdulla Ali al Salemi, OSama Mahfooz Bahashwan; Strikers: Ali Abood Awad, Mohd Abdullah Ahmed Hassen, Fadl Abdulla mohd, Ali Mohd Mohammed Al- Nono, Abdul Salem Hamood Al-Qurbani. Coach: Luciano De Abroue. Asst. coaches: Abdullah Baamer, Ahmed Ali Qasem. Manager: Ali Mohd Muthanna Razeh. Doctor: Abdulrahman Al-Shrgaby. Physio: Abdulsalam Al-Asbahi. Deleagation leader: Ibrahim Ahmed Al- Hebshi. Asst leader: Abdulkareem Abdullah Ali Annash.

India: Virender Singh, Prashanta Dora, N. Balaji; Mahesh Gawli, Deepak Kumar Mondal, K. Ratan Singh, Jo Paul Ancheri, Dhanesh K.V., Roberto Fernandes, Khalid Ahmed Jamil, Alberto Jules, Alvito D'Cunha, Noel Wilson, Renedy Singh, R.C. Prakash, I.M. Vijayan, S. Venkatesh, Baichung Bhutia, Rajendra Prasad Singh, I. Surkumar Singh, Abdul Hakim. Chief coach: Sukhwinder SIngh. Asst. coach: Brahmanand Shankwalker. Manager-cum-technical director: Krishnaji Rao. Doctor: Ramesh.

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