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PANAJI
As India embark on the mission AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, the Blue Tigers are geared up to give their best. Here is the profile of the 23-member Indian national team.
GOALKEEPERS
Name: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu
Club: Bengaluru
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 26
Ever since making the move to ISL team Bengaluru from Norwegian club Stabæk in 2017, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has had a fine run both for the club and country.
He is the first-choice in between the sticks for Stephen Constantine and has put in some memorable performances for India over the years. Gurpreet’s height combined with good decision-making allows him to cover a wider frame and makes him a safe bet for balls inside the box.
In two Hero ISL seasons, Gurpreet has made 30 appearances and has conceded just 25 goals and made 76 saves. He has played for East Bengal before leaving for Norway and has 29 caps for Indian national team.
Name: Amrinder Singh
Club: Mumbai City FC
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 25
Amrinder started his career as a striker before his coach noticed that his stature is made for goalkeeping. The Punjab-born has always played second fiddle to Gurpreet Singh Sandhu at the national level.
He has represented Pune FC, ATK and Bengaluru FC in the past, featuring in the AFC Cup semifinals with the latter. The Mumbai City shot-stopper is currently one of the best in the country and boasts incredibly good reflexes.
Name: Vishal Kaith
Club: Pune City
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 22
Vishal Kaith is an exciting prospect in between the sticks, with his performances for Pune City earning him widespread acclaim. He is good with his reflexes and in the air, and his traits consolidate his position in the Indian squad as an able back-up to Gurpreet Singh.
Kaith has seven clean sheets in 21 appearances in his ISL career. He was the first-choice goalkeeper for India at the 2018 SAFF Championship and started all four games, managing two clean sheets.
DEFENDERS
Name: Pritam Kotal
Club: ATK
Position: Right back
Age: 25
A product of the Tata Football Academy (TFA), Kotal has established himself as the first-choice right back for India in the last three years. The West Bengal native has plied his trade at Mohun Bagan, FC Pune City, ATK and Delhi Dynamos. Pritam has come back to ATK for the rest of current ISL season. Capable of slotting into the left side of defence too if required, Kotal is a fullback who loves to venture forward with overlapping runs and can be a decent offensive outlet from his flank.
Name: Sarthak Golui
Club: Pune City
Position: Defender
Age: 21
Sarthak Golui, who plays right-back, is known for his marauding runs up and down the flank. He is a workhorse who is prepared to bomb forward in attack and make one overlapping run after another to support his teammates.
The tenacious full-back has been playing for Pune City for the last two ISL seasons and has established himself as a first-team regular at his position. He has one goal and four assists to his name in 21 appearances.
Name: Sandesh Jhingan
Club: Kerala Blasters
Position: Defender- Centre/Right-Back
Age: 25
Chandigarh-born Sandesh Jhingan has been one of the most consistent performers for his club and country in recent years. He has spent his entire Hero ISL career with Kerala Blasters so far, racking up 70 appearances and four assists over the course.
Jhingan is a physically strong and tall defender who adopts an aggressive and no-nonsense approach on the field. He is also adept at right-back, making him invaluable for the Indian national team.
Name: Anas Edathodika
Club: Kerala Blasters
Position: Defender - Centre-Back
Age: 31
Hailing from Malappuram, the hotbed of football in Kerala, Anas Edathodika got his break with Mumbai FC in 2007. He signed for the Hero ISL side Delhi Dynamos in 2015.
In 2017, he was picked up by Jamshedpur FC through the player draft and the 2018-19 season saw his homecoming to Kerala Blasters. Anas has managed 37 appearances in the Hero ISL and has scored one goal.
With 15 caps for India in a short period, the Keralite has earned a first-team spot alongside Sandesh Jhingan at centre-back under coach Stephen Constantine. His reading of the game and composure at the back will be vital assets for the Blue Tigers in UAE.
Name: Salam Ranjan Singh
Club: East Bengal
Position: Defender
Age: 23
The Manipur born is a graduate from the Pune FC academy and made his professional debut in the 2013-14 edition of the I-League. The defender spent three years there, which included a loan spell at Bengaluru FC. He is currently plying his trade with East Bengal and is the only player from I-League in the national team fold.
He was excellent for India against Jordan in a recent friendly and is a good backup in defence.
Name: Subhasish Bose
Club: Mumbai City FC
Position: Defender
Age: 23
Subhasish Bose is a product of the Pune FC youth academy who made his professional debut for Sporting Clube de Goa in the I-League in 2016. The youngster went on to represent some big guns like Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru FC before being roped in by Mumbai City.
Born in Kolkata, he can play as a centre-back if required but is most comfortable in his natural position as left-back.
Name: Narayan Das
Club: Delhi Dynamos FC
Position: Left back
Age : 25
Narayan is a West Bengal native who come through the ranks of the Tata Football Academy (TFA). The left-footed defender has undergone stints at Pailan Arrows, East Bengal, Dempo, FC Pune City and FC Goa before arriving at the national capital in the summer.
The left back made his India debut all the way back in 2013 and has established himself as a mainstay in Stephen Constantine’s side in recent years.
MIDFIELDERS
Name: Udanta Singh
Club: Bengaluru FC
Position: Right wing
Age: 22
Another product of the prestigious Tata Football Academy (TFA), Udanta Singh is a speedy winger with bags of tricks up his sleeves. The Manipur-born winger has been a mainstay for Bengaluru FC ever since their inception in 2014.
A winger who can beat his man at will, Udanta also has an eye for goal and can score the occasional beauty. After a slow start, the winger has burst into life with three goals to show for in the first half of the 2018-19 Hero Indian Super League.
Name: Rowllin Borges
Club: NorthEast United FC
Position: Central midfielder, Defensive midfielder
Age: 26
Having emerged through the ranks at Sporting Clube de Goa, Borges has quickly established himself as one of the top defensive midfielders in the country. After five seasons with Sporting, the Goan native moved to NorthEast United in 2016 and has become a key figure for the Guwahati-based club.
Borges played a key role in India’s AFC Asian Cup qualification campaign and bagged a goal in the win against Macau. He has been in excellent form for NorthEast in the current season with two goals and as many assists in 12 appearances so far.
....To be continued
