Raleng left out

Services coach fires salvo after AIFF’s announcement

New Delhi: Despite his brilliant run in the National Football Championship with 13 goals, Services striker S. Raleng was Wednesday left out from the list of 31 probables for the national camp starting here from July 23.

The Services striker hogged the limelight all throughout the Santosh Trophy tournament in Srinagar for his goal scoring abilities.

Services, however, lost to Punjab in the summit clash.

Services coach Raghavendra Singh was fuming. “I am really disappointed. After a good performance, he (Raleng) should have been given a chance to be in the national camp. I am not telling to select him, but he should be given a fair chance to show whether he is good enough to represent the country,” Singh said.

“The National Championship is a platform where one can find potential talents for the national team. And if you don’t give the deserving players a chance how will good players come up,” he added.

The AIFF on Wednesday announced a list of 31 probables for the national football team’s camp ahead of its Portugal tour. The camp, which was shifted from Goa to Delhi would now be held at the Ambedkar Stadium. Coach Bob Houghton will have injury problems with Rennedy Singh, NP Pradeep picked up injuries of late.

THE PROBABLES
Goalkeepers: Arindam Bhattacharya, Subhashish Roy Chowdhary, Subrata Paul and Sandip Nandy. Defenders: Govin Mojranginem, Rakesh Masih, Denzil Franco, Surkumar Singh, Mahesh Gawli, Gouramangi Singh, Deepak Mondal, N.S.Manju, Anwar, Syed Rahim Nabi and Sameer Naik. Midfielders: Kattimani, Baldeep Singh (Jr), Steven Dias, Climax Lawrence, N.P. Pradeep, Clifford Miranda, Bungo Singh, Ajayan Nair, Mehrajuddin Wadoo and Renedy Singh. Forwards: Baichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri, Manjit Singh, Abhishek Yadav, Sushil Singh and Tarif Ahmed.