Players of Tata Football Academy in action

Jamshedpur, Dec. 16: Football captain Habibur Rahman’s injury has not deterred the Tata Football Academy’s (TFA) plans to redeem its prospects in the Durand Cup, Asia's oldest tournament, scheduled at Delhi’s Ambedkar Stadium later this month.

TFA sources said the team is all set to improve their performance this time. It would also be a learning experience for most of the cadets who are passing out in 2004, they added.

TFA sources said they were quite worried over Rahman’s ankle injury but things were under control. “Rahman is fast recovering from his injury. He will lead the team for the Durand Cup,” the sources said.

According to Carlton Chapman, a former cadet and one of the coaches at the academy, rubbing shoulders with mature players during the Durand Cup would give the much-needed experience for the TFA outfit.

Assistant coach Vijay Kumar said a 16-member team has been selected for the tournament.

“Rahman’s injury has not affected the morale of the team. All the team members are fit and raring to go to Delhi,” he added.

Kumar said the TFA team consisted of two goalkeepers, five defenders, six midfielders, and three forwards in Sumit Thapa, Vanlal Rova and Subhash Mondal.

The midfielders will be Bimal Birua, Jehry Zirsanga, Malsawma, L. Kartighan, Chitrasen Singh and Bhola Prasad. Rahman, Gurpreet Singh, M. Gourmangi Singh, Debabrata Roy and Praveen Rawat will be the defenders. Subroto Paul and Subhashish Roy Chowdhury are the two custodians in the squad, Kumar added.

Eight teams, including defending champions Mahendra United, East Bengal, Mohan Bagan, Md Sporting, JCT Mills, Phagwara, Salgaokar, Churchill Brothers and TFA will participate in the tournament.