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Regular-article-logo Saturday, 11 May 2024

AIFF PRESENTS NO-STAR SQUADS 

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FROM A CORRESPONDENT Published 04.01.01, 12:00 AM
New Delhi, Jan. 4 :    New Delhi, Jan. 4:  With the AIFF releasing team lists of 15 of the 16 countries to take part in the Millennium Cup, it is now clear that none of superstars that the federation chief had promised is likely to turn up. The Iraqi team list has not been received. AIFF chief Priya Ranjan Das Munshi had claimed that the national teams will be sent from Romania, Chile, Uruguay, and Cameroon. The lists available are on second string sides only. Not that the claim of the availability of Ivan Zamorano and Marcelo Salas from Chile was taken seriously, the list available now does not include them. Howsever, the AIFF hopes that since Chile has only sent 19 names so far, one of the stars may join the squad later. Bangladesh and Jordan will send their full squads. Jordan, playing in group 3, have eight first team players in the squad. Their most experienced internatioinal is 35-year-old midfielder and skipper Jamal Abu Abed who plays for Al-Faisely club, the champion club of Jordan. Others from the champion club are defender Haitham Al-Shaboul and sweeper back Adnan Al-Shuaibat. The Jordan team also includes striker Bassam Al-Khatib who played for Mahindra United last season and promising 23-year-old striker Ghanem Al-Dayeh who plays for their premier league club, Shahbab Al Hussein club. Indonesia, drawn in India's group, have also named very few of their players who participated in the Asia Cup final rounds in Lebanon. Their talented strikers Rochi Putiray who plays as a professional for Instant-Dict in Hong Kong and 21-year-old Bambang Pumangkas are missing. Cameroon have only Carlos Kameni and Mohammed Idrissou from their squad which won the gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Star players like defender Patrick Wome, striker Patrick Mboma and midfielders Samuel Et'O and Geremi Njitap Fotso who play for European club champions Real Madrid of Spain are missing. Romania have also sent a second string list. In Calcutta, the AIFF released names of the Yugoslav squad, adds a Staff Reporter. Yugoslavia are in group A and play their matches in Kochi. The Kerala city, incidentally, will also host India's matches, in group 2.    
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