Five new faces in Indian football team

Five new faces figure in India's football team for the World Cup qualifying match against Japan, on June 9, at Saitama, Japan. They are defenders Habibour Rahman, Selwyn Fernandes, Debrata Roy, medio Gourmangi Singh and striker R C Prakash.

Defender Debjit Ghosh and Abhishek Yadav, who are nursing injuries, have not been included in the team, to be led by Baichung Bhutia, and while Samir Naik, who missed the last match against Oman which India lost 5-1, is back in the side after having recovered from an injury.

US-based Non-Resident Indian Ranvir Singh, who was among the probables, failed to make it to the side.

"Ranvir, who joined the Indian camp four days back, was in top shape and showed lot of promise, but could not find a berth as other players that we have are better than him," coach Stephen Constantine, who announced the team in Margao, Goa, said.

Constantine said Ranvir is willing to stay in India this season and also ready to play for any of the Indian clubs.

"Probably, if he shows good improvement he may find a place in the Indian team for the next two remaining matches," the coach added.

The team will play two practice matches against Indonesia on May 30 and June 3 in Indonesia before embarking for Japan.

The 5-1 defeat at the hands of Oman at home still haunts Constantine, who said, "It is the worst performance of our team since I took over two years back. This match is a good opportunity for our players to make amends for the poor performance."

The coach expressed confidence of the his boys beating Japan.

"Japan, who are ranked much higher than us, are a strong side, but not unbeatable. If we play to our potential we can upset them," Constantine said.

The team:

Goalkeepers: Sangram Mukerjee (East Bengal), Pransanta Dora (Mohun Bagan).

Defenders: Mahesh Gawli (East Bengal), Habibour Rahman (TFA), Selwyn Fernandes (Vasco), Deepak Mondal (East Bengal), Debrata Roy (TFA), Satish Bharti (Mohd. Sporting).

Midfielders: Renedy Singh (Mohun Bagan), Climax Lawrence (Salgaocar), Samir Naik (Dempo), S Chakraborthy (East Bengal), Jo Paul Ancheri (JCT), Jatin Bist (Salgaocar), Gourmangi Singh (TFA), and S Venakatesh (Mahindra United).

Forwards: Baichung Bhutia (East Bengal), Ashim Biswas (Mohun Bagan), R C Prakash (Dempo), Bijen Singh (East Bengal).