Qualifying for WC 2010 difficult not impossible: Houghton

Kolkata, Aug 6 (UNI) National soccer coach Bob Houghton today said preparing the side for world Cup 2010 in 18 months time is 'difficult but not impossible'.

Talking to the media here, he said, ''I will need one year to get a complete assessment of the Indian soccer team. After that I have some two and half years to build the side for the wolrd Cup 2010.'' ''I say two and half years because the qualifiers start from 2009 and by that to put they side together is very difficult, but not impossible. For that we need to take giant steps forward.'' He also laid out the schedule for the whole season. While the senior side would play against Saudi Arabia, Japan and Yemen in Asia Cup qualifiers, the U-23 team will be busy in Asian Games in Doha and the U-20 team will prepare for the Olympic Games qualifiers.

'While I will get a full understanding of the side by next year. I can have a feel and build the side on that.'' ''India does not deserve to be number 26 in Asia. This only proves that we have not played to our potential. In order to improve we need to play teams like Maldives, Palestine, Hong Kong, Tajikistan and Kyrghyztan and improve on our rankings,'' he said.

The main issue is to build confidence that comes from winning, he said. ''We should play teams against whom we can win and thus tackle our record forward. This will build team spirit and motivate the side to do better in future,'' he said.

Houghton also said that he had plans to play friendlies against teams like Indonesia, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Malaysia.

''These four countries are jointly holding the Asia Cup so they will be eager to play also. They are automatic qualifiers as hosts,'' the 58 year old Englishman said.

Talking about Indian players of foreign origin, he said, ''That is a very big possibility. We saw an excellent one in Michael Chopra when we played against Cardiff City. But he has plans to play for England. There are other players like Harpal Singh, who played with Leeds United and Prince Rajkumar who has over 20 goals in Dutch League.'' ''Getting them will change things around,'' he added.

He also stressed on having an organised support staff and has already written to the AIFF for a psychologist, he said, ''I don't want anyone between me and my players. I can handle them and I understand players psychology. I talk to them as I should with each one respectively.'' ''The players are quite sound technically. We have to build on fitness and tactics. In fitness, we need two things endurance and power and the approach will have to be decided by us,'' he said.

UNI BA JYN PM BST1624