Bhutia to lead for LG Cup, pre-World Cup

Ace striker Baichung Bhutia has been retained skipper of the 20-member Indian football team for the LG Cup in Vietnam later this month and the World Cup qualifying match against Japan in Kolkata on September 8.

Naming the side, chief national coach Stephen Constantine expressed confidence that the team would retain the LG Cup it won in 2002. The tournament begins on August 22.

"I am 100 per cent satisfied with the team. The progress has been very good in the ongoing camp. We're going to win the tourney," Constantine told a news conference in Kolkata.

The team comprises two goalkeepers, seven defenders, seven medios and four forwards.

The team:

Goalkeepers: Sangram Mukherjee and Naseem Akhtar.

Defenders: Dipak Mandal, Debjit Ghosh, Mahesh Gawli, Habibur Rahman, Vinu jose, Sameer Naik and Debabrata Roy.

Medios: S Venkatesh, Climax Lawrence, Jatin Singh Bisht, Rennedy Singh, Steven Dias, Jerry Zirsanga and Tomba Singh.

Forwards: - Baichung Bhutia (capt), Abhishek Yadav, R C Prakash and Ashim Biswas.

Standbys: Prashanta Dora, Covan Lawrence, Surkumar Singh, Gourmangi Singh and Bijen Singh.