By IANS
Margao : Impressed by many of the new faces in the I-League, Indian coach Bob Houghton is set to include some of them among the probables for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup.
“There are quite a few (players) who appear good,” Houghton told reporters here. He returned to Goa after an extended holiday back home in South Africa.
Players like Churchill Bros wingers Robert Lalthamba, Naoba Singh, midfielder R. Vashum, Mohun Bagan defender Mohan Raj and Mahindra United striker Thoi Singh are among those who have caught the widely travelled Houghton’s eyes as he draws up an elaborate list for the AFC Challenge Cup.
Houghton, a former midfielder with English Premier League club Fulham, has attached huge importance to the tournament, designed for middle and lower ranked Asian teams with the champions being rewarded with an automatic berth in the final round of the 2011 Asian Cup.
Houghton is eager to prepare in right earnest for the Challenge Cup, which India will host early August.
“We will have an exposure trip to Portugal in July to prepare for the championship. We want to prepare in the best possible manner,” said Houghton.
The Indian team toured Portugal last year, as part of the All India Football Federation’s pact with their Portuguese counterparts.
The tour, where India remained unbeaten after matches against AC Marinhese and GDR Monsanto, proved more than just fruitful for Houghton’s boys as they responded by winning the Nehru Cup for the first time since 1982.
Houghton is a popular name in Portugal because he almost became the coach of SL Benfica in the 1980s.
Meanwhile, India will play a couple of international friendly matches before taking part in the SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) Cup in June, to be jointly hosted by the Maldives and Sri Lanka.
“The national camp will be held in April,” disclosed Houghton.