India announces its 28-man squad for the Puerto Rico tie

by Chittu Shetty August 25, 2016

National Coach Stephen Constantine today announced his 28 player’s probable squad for India’s next International Friendly against Puerto Rico to be played on September 3, 2016. This match is scheduled to be the first International football match at Mumbai in over 61 years, as Andheri sports complex gears up to host the game. Last time Mumbai witnessed an International football match, it was against a touring USSR team back in 1955 which India lost 3-0.

“It’s a hugely important match for the people in Maharashtra that International Football is back in Mumbai after a long gap. Mumbai, as vibrant as ever, has been known for its Football culture and I hope the Indian fans will be turning up to support and cheer from the Stands. It’s important that we have a good crowd,” Constantine told AIFF Media. The Mumbai crowd is known for its sporting enthusiasm when it comes to sports like cricket and Kabbadi, but football will be a test. Although there will a certain fix number of supporter lining up for the game, it will be interesting to know the numbers, whether it come close to that of ISL crowd in the city.

India are facing a higher rank team in Puerto Rico who are currently placed at 114, one of the biggest jumper in FIFA July ranking calendar, while India have remained at 152 spot. It will be important game for the blue tigers who have failed to break the 150 mark since last year.

Coach Stephen Constantine echoed the importance of the game, “Puerto Rico were the best movers in the FIFA Rankings in July 2016. I have been watching some of their matches and they boast about a lot of Players who play in quality Leagues all over the World including Europe and the USA,” Constantine who was of opinion of including PIO’s for the national team brought back the references of Guam game adding, “They are a Country similar to Guam. It’s an American colony and is a very good side. It will be a very tough game and we hope we can put up a good performance.” Constantine informed that all the Players would be reporting to the Camp on August 28 with practice sessions beginning next day, August 29, around six days before the game on 3rd September.

There are some changes in the squad with BFC and EB having to release its players for this official International friendly, Goal keepers Laxmikant Kattimani and TP Rehnesh dropping out to make space for Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Amrinder Singh, while few others like A. Khonjee, Koushik Sarkar and Surprisingly the young SAFF cup scorer L Changte didn’t make the cut.

The 28-Man Probable squad of INDIA:

Goalkeepers
Subrata Pal, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh
Defenders
Rino Anto, Sandesh Jhingan, Arnab Mondal, Keegan Pereira, Chinglensana Singh, Pritam Kotal, Narayan Das, Fulganco Cardozo
Midfielders
Vinit Rai, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Dhanpal Ganesh, Pronay Halder, Jackichand Singh, Isaac Vanmalsawma, Bikash Jairu, Udanta Singh, Holicharan Narzary, Rowlin Borges, Alwyn George, Germanpreet Singh, Mohammed Rafique, Arjun Tudu
Forwards
Sunil Chhetri, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Sumeet Passi