India-Cambodia opening match

The ONGC Nehru Cup has been hyped as the reincarnation of the Nehru Gold Cup. At this point, though, it falls short of the reputation...

The ONGC Nehru Cup has been hyped as the reincarnation of the Nehru Gold Cup. At this point, though, it falls short of the reputation that India8217;s only top-level international meet had garnered.

To begin with, the meet will remain a five-nation event, what with the effort to get Iran8217;s national side falling through. Iran had offered a club side which the All India Football Federation had taken exception to.

In the draw that has been now released, India start off their campaign at the Ambedkar Stadium here on August 17 with a match versus Cambodia.

Other teams in the draw are Syria, Kyrgyzstan and neighbours Bangladesh. The meet will be inaugurated by President Pratibha Patil.

8220;We wanted the Iranian national team for the tournament but they were intent on sending one of their club sides. We were not ready for that as only results against national A sides count towards FIFA rankings,8221; AIFF secretary Alberto Colaco said today.

8220;As a last ditch effort, we tried to get their Under-23 side for the tournament, but that did not work out either.8221;

The meet was supposed to have been a bigger affair with sponsors ONGC wanting 15 teams. What interfered were the country league fixtures and the annual Merdeka Cup in Indonesia where many teams were committed.

Story continues below this ad

Syria, the highest ranked team in the tournament at 113, start versus Bangladesh, while Kyrgyzstan 152 also have Cambodia as their first opponents.

India are ranked 162 and Cambodia 170. Bangladesh are 172.

The sponsors hope to make this an annual affair and federation president Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said: 8220;With time, we can get more glamorous sides from Europe and South America, but as the tournament is being revived, we are satisfied with the teams we have got.8221;

The tournament offers a purse of 100,000 and the champions will get 40,000. The runners-up get 20,000, the third team getting 10,000.

Man of the Match awards of 300 each will be given in every league match. The teams will get 2,500 for each victory.

Story continues below this ad

Meanwhile, Dasmunsi assured that it 8220;will be my job to see to it that the renovated Ambedkar Stadium is not used for political functions and rallies.8221;

The itinerary

Aug 17: India v Cambodia

Aug 18: Bangladesh v Syria

Aug 19: Kyrgyzstan v Cambodia

Aug 20: India v Bangladesh

Aug 21: Syria v Kyrgyzstan

Aug 22: Bangladesh v Cambodia

Aug 23: India v Syria

Aug 24: Bangladesh v Kyrgyzstan

Aug 25: Cambodia v Syria

Aug 26: India v Kyrgyzstan

Aug 29: Final