Dasmunshi hopeful about India making it to soccer World Cup

Margao, June 30 (UNI) All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Priya Ranjan Dashmunshi said he was optimistic that India team would make it for the World Cup in 2010 or 2014.

Mr Dashmunshi was speaking to mediapersons after witnessing the exhibition match organised by AIFF between the India seniors and India Juniors in South Goa.

Mr Dasmunshi said, ''we have already started preparing for the next World Cup and will be focusing more on youngsters, under-17, under-19 and under-13.

With the guidance from new India coach Bob Houghton and under-20 India junior team coach Islam Akhmadov, we will try our best to see India play in the next World Cup.'' Mr Dasmunshi said AIFF would stress on more surfaces in India, like the artificial turf, which is brainchild of Mr Umaji Chowgule, at Margao in South Goa.

''Chowgule had inspired us and and we will try to put artificial turf in the other football centres in India, ''Mr Dasmunshi added.

Mr Dasmunshi said the AIFF had a proposal to allow foreign players of Indian origin to play in India and they had shortlisted about 14 players. India Senior football team for the International tournament at Vancouver in Canada next month will be announced in a couple of days.

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