Six newcomers make the cut for Igor Stimac's India squad for King's Cup

Pune City's Adil Khan has made a comeback to the squad post-2012.

Indian Senior Men’s National Team Head Coach Igor Stimac named 6 newcomers into India’s final list of 23 for the King’s Cup slated to kick-off in Buriram, Thailand from June 5.

The six newcomers include Rahul Bheke, Brandon Fernandes, Raynier Fernandes, Michael Soosairaj, Abdul Sahal, and India U-17 World Cup team captain Amarjit Singh. Besides, Adil Khan made a comeback to the squad post-2012, while Goalkeeper Kamaljit Singh is yet to make his International debut.

WATCH: Indian football team's final training session before leaving for Thailand

“We accomplished our work in Delhi, and I would like to use this opportunity to appreciate everyone’s involvement in helping us in doing so,” Stimac stated. “I need to thank AIFF, the players, the media, the hotel authorities, and obviously the Sports Authority for providing us with great training facilities,” he added.

“We had to make the difficult decision about the remaining two slots in the squad, and eventually, Nishu Kumar, and Jobby Justin were released,” the coach informed.

The Blue Tigers leave the Indian shores for Thailand today (June 2, 2019). They have an overnight stay in Bangkok tonight, and will fly to Buriram on Monday morning.

Meanwhile, Central Defender Sandesh Jhingan declared that “all the boys have thoroughly enjoyed the camp, and are pumped up.”

“The coach has brought in his new system. We are playing more with the ball now -- more of an attacking side of Football. With the success we have had before, players are motivated. They believe they can do more. Everyone is hungry for more success,” Jhingan explained.

Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu stressed, “Coach Stimac is a hardcore professional.”

“It’s very important for a coach to be honest, and he is very straightforward. Most significantly, he provides all the proper reasoning of what he is trying to do, the purpose behind everything which is being done,” Sandhu expressed. “The kind of hunger the boys are showing to learn from such an experienced coach has been exemplary. Whatever he says, it interests us, and the boys are never tired of listening to him. He is incorporating his ideas, and we are ready to learn,” he maintained.

Midfielder Pronoy Halder admitted that he has “improved significantly as a player under Stimac.”

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“He has been guiding me on, and off the ball, explaining my positioning as per match situations. He is a great motivator, and is himself highly motivated,” Halder smiled. “He mentions that we can bridge the gap with higher nations, but we need to work hard on that.”

WATCH: AIFF Technical Director Isac Doru and Indian Football Team head coach Igor Stimac's first press conference

“At times we imagine the names he has coached – Modric, Perisic, Kovacic, amongst others. It is up for us to grab as much as we can,” Halder narrated.

Jhingan also mentioned that it’s “always a bonus for any player if the coach who comes in has played in his position.”

“He was a central defender who has played in the FIFA World Cup France 1998 where Croatia finished third, and has played League football at the highest level, and also been a youth world champion. I have spoken to him about areas I want to improve on, and he has stressed on certain factors. It’s always so encouraging to have the right connection.”

The preparatory camp had kicked-off in the Capital on May 21. India play Curacao in their first match of King’s Cup on June 5, while the second match is slated for June 8.

The final list of 23 for the King’s Cup is as follows:

GOALKEEPERS: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Kamaljit Singh.

DEFENDERS: Pritam Kotal, Rahul Bheke, Sandesh Jhingan, Adil Khan, Subhasish Bose.

MIDFIELDERS: Udanta Singh, Jackichand Singh, Brandon Fernandes, Anirudh Thapa, Raynier Fernandes, Pronay Halder, Vinit Rai, Sahal Abdul, Amarjit Singh, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Michael Soosairaj.

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FORWARDS: Balwant Singh, Sunil Chhetri, Farukh Choudhary, Manvir Singh.

HEAD COACH: Igor Stimac