Venkatesh leads 20-member Indian team in Vancouver

New Delhi, July 8 (UNI) With Baichung Bhutia deciding to skip the tourney, Bob Houghton faces the first test after taking over as the new coach at the four-nation tournament in Vancouver, where S Venkatesh will lead a 20-member Indian squad.

Bhutia had informed the All India Football Federation (AIFF) about his intentions to quit international soccer because he could not motivate himself. The AIFF top brass, however, advised him to delay his retirement plans, at least till the Asian Games and spared him for the July 19-23 tournament.

The AIFF attached Maurice Affonso as the assistant coach with Houghton while former Goa coach Marcus Pachecho will assist the Briton as goalkeeper coach.

Squad: Sandeep Nandy (goalkeeper), Mahesh Gawli, Narender Singh, NS Manju, Surkumar Singh, S Venkatesh (captain), Rennedy Singh, Steven Dias, Mehrajuddin Waddo, Suhil Kumar Singh, Sunil Chhetri, Anupam Sarkar, Manjit Singh, Samir Naik, Bibiano fernandes, Freddy Mascarenhas, Micky Fernandes, Subhasis Chaudhury (goalkeeper), NP Pradeep and Habibur R Mandal.

Officials: Bob Houghton (chief coach), Maurice Affonso (assistant coach), Marcus Pachecho (goalkeeper coach), Dr Manab Bhattacharya (team doctor), Pradeep Dutta (physical trainer), Pradip Kumar Choudhury (manager).

UNI AY PM PM1623