By IANS,
New Delhi : Syria, runners-up last time, are the highest ranked team at the ONGC Nehru Cup 2009 and they will have to live up to their top billing when they face 160th ranked Kyrgyzstan in the second game of the ONGC Nehru Cup here Thursday.
Going by their recent track record, 96th-ranked Syria undoubtedly are the tournament favourites as they had beaten China and Lebanon in the Asian Cup qualifiers and currently are at the top of Group D.
Syria’s coach Fazer Ibrahim said for him the Nehru Cup is a preparation to qualify for the Asian Cup.
“Except for a couple of top players, who have retired, we have a good team this time. For us the tournament is just a preparation for the Asian Cup. We had a good run in the qualifiers as we have beaten China and Lebanon,” he said.
Ibrahim said the experience of playing against good teams like India and Lebanon will help them in getting much-needed practice for the remaining Asian Cup qualifiers.
“India are a good team and they have already qualified for the Asian Cup. They have done well in the last two years. So playing against them will be an advantage for us. Lebanon are also a quality team and we are in the same group in the Asian qualifiers,” he said.
Ibrahim will be missing his two top players Zyad Chaabo and Maher Al Sayad, who have retired from international football. Chaabo and Al Sayad were the stars in the 2007 Nehru Cup and in their absence Ibrahim will be banking on his top striker Mohammed Al Zeno.
“Al Zeno will have a crucial role to play but there are other experienced players in the side like Wael Ayan and Aatef Jenyat,” he said.
Kyrgyzstan, who finished third in the last edition, have a young side and will have a point to prove.
“We are here to test our young players and to give them a good exposure. The tournament will help us to find out how good are our newcomers,” said coach Anarbek Ormonbokeev.
Teams:
Syria: Mosab Balhous, Moustafa Shakosh, Radwan Al Azhar; Hamzeh Al Aitoni, Ali Dyab, Omar Hemidi, Bassel Al Shaar, Belal Abduldaim, Abdulkader Dakka; Bakri Tarrab, Wael Ayan, Ahmad Haj Mohamad, Aatef Jenyat, Feras Esmaeel, Abdelrazaq Al Hussain, Jehad Al Hussain; Mohamed Al Zeno, Raja Rafe, Majed Al Haj, Firas Al Khatib.
Kyrgyzstan: Matiash Pavel, Agapov Maksim, Amin Viacheslav, Ablakimov Roman, Abitov Faruh, Zakirov Rustamjan, Usanov Rustem, Chikishev Sergey; Askarov Davron, Amirov Ildar, Bokoev Aibek, Muladjanov Artem, Mirzaliev Almazbek, Kasian Vladimir, Sidorenko Pavel, Orozaliev Aibek, Kaleutin Sergey, Lutfullaev Hurshit; Shamshiev Islam, Murzaev Mirlan, Zemlianuhin Anton, Harchenko Vadim.