Ancheri to lead India in Merdeka Cup

By Our Sports Reporter

BANGALORE, JUNE 15. Ace central midfielder Jo Paul Ancheri will lead the Indian team in the Merdeka Cup football tournament in Kuala Lumpur from June 21 to 30.

Chief coach Sukhwinder Singh, given an extended lease (up to to the 2002 Asian Games) after the AIFF meeting in New Delhi last week, was indeed hampered by the injury problems that plagued the defenders. Tapan Ghosh, Roberto Fernandes and Deepak Mondal all stayed away from the week-long camp in Bangalore from June 10. However, with the last minute SOS to M. Suresh of Mahindra United, the defence has been given a semblance of balance. In the midfield, too, with the return of Basudeb Mondal (being recalled after the Sahara Millennium Cup) and Hardeep Sangha, a measure of solidity is evident, what with the younger lot of Khalid Jamil, Rennedy Singh and Jules Alberto coming good in the pre-World Cup qualifiers.

In the frontline the absence of Baichung Bhutia will be sorely felt, the AIFF giving the Sikkim lad permission to skip the tourney ahead of a busy English season. In Bhutia's absence, mercurial veteran striker I.M. Vijayan carries the onus of getting goals, which captain Jo Paul Ancheri did appreciably well (scoring four goals) in the four matches that he played in the pre-World cup outings. This team will look forward to Ancheri scoring a few more. The team, after a couple of more practice days to hone their skills, leaves for Kuala Lumpur on June 19.

lThe team: Virender Singh, Sangram Mukherjee, Surkumar Singh, Mahesh Gawli, K.V. Dhanesh, Daljit Singh, M. Suresh, Jules Alberto, Khalid Jameel, Joe Paul Ancheri (captain), Rennedy Singh, Basudeb Mondal, Hardeep Sangha, Deepankar Roy, I.M. Vijayan, Alvito D'Cunha, Abdul Hakeem, R.P. Singh, Mohd. Najeeb and Hardeep Gill.

Suhas Gamlin (leader of delegation), S. Krishnaji Rao (Tech. Director), Sukhwinder Singh (chief coach), Brahmanand Sankhwalkar (asst. coach), Dr. Ramesh (team doctor).

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