Soccer gets richer, Bruno is skipper, Goans bowled over

The news brought joy to the local fraternity, that now boasts a National League champion in Salgaocar, a club whose cause Coutinho has championed for more than a decade, doing so once again with aplomb at the latest edition, finishing second on the scorer’s list with 10 goals.

But more than Goa, or India, the SAFF event is in essence designed to haul the region out of the backwaters of world soccer, to a more respectable FIFA ranking in time to come. A hopeful — and vigourous — marketing effort has seen $ 175,000pumped in by Asian Marketing Limited, a wing of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which has also provided $ 25,000 appearance money per team. A $ 50,000 bonanza awaits the winners and $ 25,000 the runners-up, making the event cash-rich.

FIFA’s guidance and encouragement is evident. Marketing and sponsorship has been vital and profuse. A SAFF team song We’re on the Ball produced by Grove Street Entertainment will resound through promotion and TV coverage.

FIFA communications director Keith Cooper will visit the championship to guide and enlighten the media on latest trends and practices.

The first two editions of the event named South Asian Regional Co-operation (SAARC) took place in 1993 (Lahore) and 1995 (Colombo) with India and Sri Lanka lifting the Cup. After the institution of SAFF, India claimed top honours again in 1997.

India square up to Bangladesh in a Group A opener at 1700 hours tomorrow.

Pakistan, the third team in the group, are on their way, presently in Mumbai after ahold up in travel caused by visa formalities. Runners-up Maldives, Nepal and second-favourites Sri Lanka form Group B.

SAFF president PP Lakshmanan (India) expects a keen contest, appreciating the motivation that has gone into each of the six teams’ preparation for the event. He anticipates even keener contests in future when Bhutan and Afghanistan join the fold.

INDIA CONFIDENT, B’DESH HOPEFUL: India team manager Henry Britto exuded satisfaction and confidence on his team despite a mere fortnight of training after a hectic domestic schedule.

Britto, manager of NFL champions Salgaocar, shied from any clairvoyant attempt to deem the home side champions, saying: “We’re not taking anyone lightly and certainly not Bangladesh. But we enjoy the home advantage and I can’t see why our players cannot come out victorious.”

India’s eastern neighbours have been training for two and a half months. Their challenge will hinge on the form and fitness of skipper and stopper Jewel Rana, striker Alfaz Hussainand mid-fielder Mohd Iqbal. A young side averaging 22 years, Bangladesh hope to do far better than fifth at Kathmandu. “We hope to make the semi-finals and meet India in the final,” Khairal Pearu enthused, who spoke in the absence of coach, Iraqi Shamin Shaker, a 1986 World Cupper.

Coutinho to lead India

Bruno Coutinho, shaken out of deep slumber by an excited friend, learnt of his appointment as India captain just minutes before pressmen converged on him to offer congratulations.

Coutinho, who last skippered the National side in 1997 and for the first time ever in 1991, makes a glorious comeback not just as captain but as a member of the team after being cold shouldered for the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.

The 29-year-old striker appeared phlegmatic and refused to be drawn into controversy of the Asiad sidelining. Instead he mirthfully accepted the honour by saying, “Maybe my stars are shining on me.”

Coutinho believes his role as support striker as the right-half or right-out positionwill be ideally suited to spur IM Vijayan and Bhaichung Bhutia, and appreciated coach Sukhwinder Singh’s efficacy in tactics which Coutinho believes will hold the team in good stead.