India announce second-string probables for SAFF Championship

The squad includes four players from the Blue Colts contingent that participated at last year's FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Four U-19 players who represented India in the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 have been summoned by National Coach Stephen Constantine for the preparatory camp for the SAFF Championship.

The four U-19 players -- Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Rahim Ali and Rahul KP -- all of whom are part of AIFF’s developmental team Indian Arrows will be reporting to the Camp in Delhi from July 28 onwards, along with 30 others.

Among the others, 29 are current U-23 players with Sumeet Passi being the sole senior player (above 23) named in the list of 34 probables.

India, the defending champions, have been clubbed in Group B along with Maldives and Sri Lanka and play their first match against Sri Lanka in Bangladesh (venue not yet announced) on September 6. The final is slated for September 15.

Constantine stressed it’s important to see whether the youngsters are up to the challenge or not.

"We are always looking down to the age groups to see if these players can make the step up the ladder. I have always put a great deal of importance on the youth and have stuck to the same philosophy -- this camp is no different. Quite a few youngsters have been provided with a chance to prove their worth,” he added.

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"Heading to a tournament with such a young team is going to be a challenge but that's what we want. We want to find out that particular player who can push the extra bit to achieve the desired result, who can take up the extra responsibility to force himself into the team."

The list of 35 probables stay as follows:

GOALKEEPERS: Vishal Kaith, Toufik Kabir, Kamaljit Singh, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill.

DEFENDERS: Nishu Kumar, Umesh Perambhara, Davinder Singh, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Salam Ranjan Singh, Sarthak Golui, Lalruatthara, Subhasish Bose, Jerry Lalrinzuala.

MIDFIELDERS: Nikhil Poojary, Isaac Vanmalswama, S Nandha Kumar, Udanta Singh, Vinit Rai, Germanpreet Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Rohit Kumar, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Arjun Jayaraj, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Ashique Kuruniyan, Vignesh D, Rahim Ali.

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FORWARDS: Sumit Passi, Daniel Lalhlimpuia, Hitesh Sharma, Alen Deory, Manvir Singh, Kivi Zhimomi, Rahul KP.

HEAD COACH: Stephen Constantine.