AN EXCLUSIVE CHAT WITH INDIAN ARMY FOOTBALL TEAM’S CHIEF COACH ANTONY RAMESH
By Pratyusha Mukherjee
Indian Army side is ready to give a tough fight in Durand Cup and going to start their campaign from 7th August against Odisha FC at Kokrajhar in Assam.
EXCERPTS:
Durand cup will be a season opener. How do you feel?
Durand Cup is the oldest tournament in Asia and we are very excited to play in it and now the interest in the game of football is increasing in India .Football fans are very much excited to witness the matches.
How Army team is preparing for the tournament?
Army is hosting this tournament and we have won it twice before, so Indian Army has faith in us that our team will win this time and we will keep that hope alive.
Before Durand , your boys are playing Calcutta Football League.Are you taking these as your practice matches?
We will play a few matches in the Kolkata League and go into the Durand Cup which will give us match experience .It will also help our team become stronger.
So many I League and ISL teams will participate in Durand this year.So what will be your chances?
No team should be underestimated and you can’t guess who will win. So whoever plays with their target and plans on the field will win and we will work to win in our group stage first.
Coach ,who will be your captain in the upcoming Durand Cup?
Suresh Meitei will lead Indian Army Football team.
Who are the key players of your side?
Suresh Meitei, sunil B, Shafeel, Liton Shil, Christopher, Bikash Thapa and Malla Thakuri.
What strategy you will follow in the tournament?
Strategy depends on opponent team. Our sports officer (Officer in charge) Lieutenant Colonel Satpal Singh is encouraging and supporting us from all sides.
Last question.
After 27 years , Services teams from Bangladesh and Nepal will participate in the Durand…want to know your reaction.
As I said earlier , the passion for the game of football in India is growing and playing against the players from the neighbouring countries will further strengthen this tournament.
Indian Armed forces are the major contributors towards the field of sports in India for a long time.
Services Sports Control Board is one of the best sports control boards of India.
But they are lacking in fund. If they would have got adequate funds like BCCI, I am sure they would have produced many more world class sports persons and could improve the rank of India at least within first ten rankings in the World sports.
Source : Indian Army
Report- Pratyusha Mukherjee
(Author is a Sr.Journalist based in Kolkata with 20 years of experience in covering the east and northeast, with specialisation in Defence and Sports.In her illustrated career she has covered many major events and achieved International and National media awards for Journalism).
