Favourites Syria field depleted side

A day after Lebanon said they are under-prepared for the international event,their western neighbours Syria...

A day after Lebanon said they are under-prepared for the international event,their western neighbours Syria,the highest ranked and the only team inside the top 100,at 95,in the tournament,said they didnt even have enough players to complete their squad of 20.

The Nehru Cup will prepare us for the Asian Cup 2011 qualification. Our last international match was against Lebanon in February and we could get the boys together for only ten days before arriving here. That gives you a precise picture. Theory still tells you were the no. 1 here but Im keeping the favourites tag and the pressure that comes with it behind me. Were just banking on the final three-four days of training here because the players arent accustomed to such humid conditions, Syria coach Fajer Ibrahim said.

The Syrian squad is short of its full strength by,at least five players,including skipper and striker Feras Al Khatib and midfielder Jehad Al Huuseen.

The Qadsia Kuwait players,the coach says,werent let free by the Kuwaiti club and will be missed sorely during this campaign.

Three of our main team players,unfortunately,picked injuries during training in Damascus but we needed Ibrahim and Huuseen for stability. They missed the last edition of the tournament as well due to club commitments. Our federation didnt intervene too, Ibrahim said.

The Sri Lankan team arrived later in the afternoon while Kyrgyzstan were expected late on Monday.

Syria squad: Mosab Balhous,Mustafa Shakosh,Kawa Hesso,Hamzeh Al Aitoni,Ali Dyab,Juan Hesso,Belal Abduldaim,Bakri Tarab,Wael Ayan,Meataaz Kailouni,Ahmad Mohamad,Abdelrazaq Al Hussein,Mohammad Al Zeno,Raja Rafe,Abdul Fatah Alaga,Alaa Al Shbli,Feras Esmaeel.

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