Taking a firm aim at lifting the AFC Challenge Cup, inspirational India captain Baichung Bhutia said on Saturday that his team was determined to keep up their never-say-die attitude to emerge triumphant in the prestigious tournament.Baichung said what had stood out for his team in this event has been its "great character" to fight till the end in the three matches they played so far and will have to keep it up in the semi-final and the final to emerge winners.India takes on Myanmar while DPR Korea play Tajikistan in the semi-finals on Thursday of Asia's second tier inter-nation competition whose winners qualify for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup."We have shown great character and team spirit in the three matches, nobody gave up till the end. We have to keep up that never-say-die attitude as this is such an important tournament. I don't need to say this, every player knows it," said Bhutia who scored a brace against formidable Turkmensitan on Sunday to see India through to the semi-finals."We might not have played beautiful football under the conditions (of the ground) but we played effective football. I think that is important, it is not necessary that we play beautiful football all the time," he said.Baichung said from now onwards any of the four semifinalists can win the tournament and India can't take Myanmar lightly on Thursday."Myanmar are a good team, they are technically good and they play hard game. So, we can't take them lightly. We want to win but it will not be easy," he said.Asked about the difficulties in playing on a slushy surfaces, Baichung said he was used to those conditions but felt scared of his teammates as most of them are not used to playing under such conditions. "I was used to playing in such conditions in Kolkata but other players were not used to. I was scared of them especially youngsters Gouramangi Singh and Anwar Ali, but fortunately everybody came through and there was no injury," said the 32-year-old Arjuna Awardee.On his personal achievement, the Sikkimese Sniper said winning the AFC Challenge Cup would be one of is cherished achievements in his 13-year-old international career."I won't say it would be the best achievement as for me winning any tournament for the country is a big thing. But yes, winning this tournament would be one of the high points in my career," he said.Baichung was all praise for his "best friend" Renedy Singh for his consistency and fine form in the match against Turkmenistan by sending several crosses from the left and feeding Baichung for the second goal in that match."Renedy has been very consistent performer for India throughout his international career. He has been a disciplined player and he will always maintain a certain standard in his play and give his best," he said.The spectator attendance has been disappointing so far in the tournament, but Baichung hopes that since India has reached the last four stage, crowd presence will increase from here."There has not been much crowd so far but we can't do anything for that. But I hope the spectator attendance will increase in the semifinals and final," he said.Most of the matches were earlier scheduled to be held at Lal Bahadur Stadium which is at the centre of the city but due to poor ground conditions there, the main venue was shifted to Gachibowli Stadium, more than 20 km from the city.
