U-23 Indian football team leaves for Czech Republic

A 25-member Under-23 Indian football squad left for Czech Republic for a 19-day exposure tour in preparation for the Incheon Asian Games to be held from Sep 19 to Oct 4.

Four from the original 29 list of probables - Deepak Devrani, Shouvik Ghosh, Sanjay Balmuchu and Romeo Fernandes - who were practicing under national coach Wim Koevermans, have been released from the camp and didn't accompany the team.

The team, which will be based in Pilsen, will play three matches against three Czech clubs - Senco Doubravka, FK Most and TJ Domazlice.

On their return Aug 8, the team will play two friendies against Pakistan in Bangalore Aug 17 and 20. Following that the team will travel to China for another exposure tour from Aug 25 to Sep 8 where they will play two matches against Shanghai FC and JiangSu.

Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh and Francis Fernandes are the three senior players who are part of the squad the rest of which comprises U-23 players.

The 25-member squad:

Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Ravi Kumar, Kamaljit Singh.

Defenders: Pritam Kotal, Keenan Almeida, Joyner Lourenco, Shankar Sampingiraj, Sandesh Jhingan, Salam Singh, Narayan Das.

Midfielders: Pronoy Halder, Rowlin Borges, Clifton Dias, Alwyn George, Siam Hangal, Lalrindika Ralte, Dhanpal Ganesh, Milan Singh.

Forwards: Francis Fernandes, Seiminlen Doungel, Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh, Haokip Thongkoshim, Alesh Sawant, Mandar Rao Desai.