India eyes World Cup qualification in 2010

New Delhi, Jun 10 (UNI) With a multi-crore deal fuelling its dream and the team rein in the firm grip of a new, thoroughbred British coach, AIFF envisages India rubbing shoulders with the soccer giants in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

In a glittering and star-studded ceremony here last noght, All India Football federation President Priya Ranjan dasmunsi announced an ambitious project hoping to make it to the World Cup finals by the year 2010.

''South Africa will be hosting the 2010 edition of the tournament and if this project yields the result, India would be sharing the dais with soccer giants in the FIFA World Cup.'' However, stretching a deadline a bit, Mr Dasmunsi added, ''And in case we fail to do it by 2010, weare determined to qualify in the next chapter of the tournament.'' Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in a message, also conveyed his best wishes for the project.

The dignitaries present on the occasion included Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Lt Governor BL Joshi, Power Minister Suhil Kumar Shinde, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, Sports Minister Mani Shankr Aiyar, media baron Subhash Chandra and Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi, apart from the mission heads from almost all the football playing countries.

The host of former and present footballers included Sailen Manna, Chuni Goswami, Syed Nayeemuddin, Inder Singh, Mohd Habib, Prasanta Bannerjee, Prasun Bannerjee, Jo Paul Ancheri, Satyen and Baichung Bhutia.

Olympian and former captain Chuni Goswami said, ''We had our days of glory in the past but somehow we could not make it to the World Cup. We won Asian Games couple of time -- including one under my captaincy -- but World Cup remained out of reach. Now we have roped in a well known British coach (Bob Houghton) for the national team and I hope under him, we would finally break the duck in 2010.'' Another former captain Prasanta Banerjee told UNI that at least the ball has been set rolling now.

''To be honest, I'm not too sure about 2010 but at least we dared to dream. I think there is no reason why we can't achieve this.

''The under-16 team should get all the attention and support. I don't see the new coach doing wonders with the national team players. The under-16 team has alwayus been good but they tend to vanish in the wilderness once graduating to the senior level. Once we arrest that, qualifying for the World Cup won't be a tough task,'' he explained.

Echoing his view, former skipper Prasun Bannerjee said, ''I think we have had enough bikering and this is the time to throw our weight behind the project. We always had the potentials but the initiative was lacking. Now with AIFF going full steam with it, I'm optimistic about the project.'' UNI AY RL KP1217