The first Team India camp under new national coach Wim Koevermans is set to kick-off in a couple of weeks on July 27, but where will the camp be held? The facilities in New Delhi were not to the liking of Koevermans and now the AIFF is scouting for alternative training facilities within the country.
This brings me back to something that former India coach Bob Houghton used to say. He said India lacked the necessary training facilities to prepare a senior national team for an international competition and therefore he was forced to organise training camps in Portugal, Spain and Dubai.
With the Nehru Cup set to be played from August 23 to September 2 in New Delhi the capital was the preferred choice for the preparatory and selection camp, but the Ambedkar Stadium isn’t in shape and will host a parade for Independence Day on August 15, the Nehru Stadium practice ground and other facilities also didn’t meet expectations.
Now venues in Bangalore, Jamshedpur, Gurgaon and the JCT Academy in Hoshiarpur are being considered as potential options, therefore, planning to go abroad doesn’t make sense especially because the team will play in local conditions at the Nehru Cup.
One will have to wait and see what solution the AIFF comes up with.
Published with permission from Arunava about Football.
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