Top three players not called up by Igor Stimac for national camp

These footballers have performed exceptionally well this year and will be disappointed to have missed out.

The list of 38 probables for the upcoming preparatory camp for the Indian men's national football team was announced by head coach Igor Stimac on Friday. India will play two friendlies with Bahrain and Belarus and the players will start their preparations soon. The camp begins on March 10 in Pune and the players who are still involved in the Indian Super League semi-finals will join later, after the conclusion of the competition. 

This list will see further refinement and some players will miss the flight to Bahrain on March 21. There were many players who made it to Stimac's probables list after having a successful season with their respective clubs. Figures such as Roshan Singh and Jerry Mawihmingthanga finally got a Indian football team call-up and will look to make the final team.

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However, there were a few players that did not make the list, but deserved to be amongst the probables. These players had impressive individual campaigns for their clubs. Missing out on representing the country on the international stage will be tough to take for these individuals. On that note, here is a look at the top three players who did not get called up by Igor Stimac to the Indian football team for the national camp.

Notable mentions

Before diving into the top three players who did not get picked for the national camp, it is also worth acknowledging the efforts of Hira Mondal and Jitendra Singh. The former shone through at the left-back position for SC East Bengal and was one of their best performers this year. But, perhaps a recent injury caused a setback in his chances for a call-up to the national camp. The latter was a good performer for the Men of Steel, but went overlooked by the national team tactician. 

Puitea

Lalthathanga Khawlhring, also known as simply Puitea, has been one of the stalwarts of Kerala Blasters' high-flying campaign this ISL season. The 23-year-old has emerged as a major figure in the Yellow Army’s midfield this year. Former NorthEast United player, Puitea, has made three assists, while playing 17 matches. 

KBFC head coach Ivan Vukomanovic puts a lot of faith in the youngster, who is fast becoming a popular name in Indian football. His energy and tenacity are something the Indian national football team needs desperately. Perhaps, it would have been beneficial for the growth of the player to be amongst the probables.

Ruivah Hormipam

Many Indian defenders have made their mark this year and one of them is Ruivah Hormipam. The 21-year-old is making his debut in the Indian Super League in the ongoing 2021-22 season. It is safe to say he has had a breakthrough campaign and is amongst the candidates for the Emerging Player of the Season award. 

Getting recognition for his performances in the ISL with a national team call-up would have been a just reward. The centre-back has 53 clearances in 10 ISL matches, which is impressive. His partnership with Marko Leskovic has been tough to break. Certainly, Hormipam would have given stiff competition to the likes of Chinglensana Singh. 

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Danish Farooq

Danish Farooq was one of the new arrivals at Bengaluru FC before the ISL 2021-22 season began. He was making his debut in the ISL and stepping up from the I-League was to be a big challenge for the midfielder. However, Farooq made the most of the opportunity. In particular, he impressed Marco Pezzaiuoli, who praised his work-ethic on the pitch.

A box-to-box midfielder by trade, Farooq managed to score three goals and also bagged two assists. Furthermore, he made 61 tackles in 16 matches during the season. A player that is an asset in both attack and defence must be a part of the Indian football team. Farooq’s utility makes him invaluable.

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