Success beyond ego clashes

On the present team, Nayeem says, 8220;We got Venkatesh at the last moment and the team as a whole was uncertain whether it was going or not. Also some of our players, clubs andofficials must realise that playing for the country is a matter of pride and that it comes above regional teams and clubs.8221; Obviously the late arrival of some players for the camp, not-too-good food at the Bangalore camp and clubs8217; reluctance to release players in time still rankles the soft-spoken man.

India got past Nepal by a goal from Carlton Chapman and then in the game against Turkmenistan, who many see as a dark horse in the tournament, India did extremely well to come back from a 0-3 deficit. 8220;We should actually not have been three goals down. Unfortunate defence lapses let us down and then we missed our chances,8221; he added while referring to a couple of misses by Bhaichung Bhutia, one of them from close quarters.