‘I will never play for Delhi’

Delhi coach Surinder Kumar rues missing Avdesh’s services and says with some more time in hand,the defender would have regained match-fitness.

“We had sent letters to the respective associations 15 days back and he joined us only a couple of days ago. The position of a midfielder is too important and fitness levels are very demanding. Unfortunately he is not in good shape as he hasn’t been training. If I had some more time,I could have worked on his fitness,” Kumar said.

Avdesh refutes the allegation,saying his appearances in the Goa league stood proof enough that he was regular at the team practice.

“I played most of the Goa league matches and attended all training sessions. I know I was a bit late in joining the camp but I had to complete the formalities with Dempo,” said Avdesh,who was a part of the Delhi team in the last edition.

The DSA admits the decision was harsh,but says there was no way out. “He’s a big player and certainly had made a difference. But he was not the Avdesh Pal we’re expecting to see. In the interest of the team we decided to leave him out,” said DSA secretary NK Bhatia.

Chhetri to lead
Meanwhile,Sunil Chhetri was named the skipper of the Delhi team for the National Football Championships for Santosh Trophy scheduled May 24 -June 14 in Tamil Nadu.

Churchill Brothers goalkeeper Vinay Singh has been named Chhetri’s deputy while 18 other players have also made the cut.

The squad: goalkeepers: Vinay Singh (vice-captain),Pronoy Roy; defenders: Vikas Rawat,Gagandeep Singh,Pushpender Kundu,Bijender Kumar,Manoj Joshi,Sohrab Khan,Anil Bara; midfielders: Praveen Rawat,Amjad,Shanta Singh,Amit Sharma,Nirmaldeep,Manish Khatri,Sumit Thapa; forwards: Sunil Chhetri (captain),Gaimlung Kamei,Mahender Singh,David; stand byes: Rampal,Sandeep Bisht,Manoj Yadav,Prem Lal,Kamal,Jimmy,Kulbhushan,Yogesh,Arif Ansari,Ashish Rawat; coach: Surinder Kumar.