Sport - Football   

India meets Turkmenistan on Saturday

By Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI APRIL 14. India cannot take it easy against a fast-improving Turkmenistan, which on Monday announced its intentions of achieving `a suitable result' in the Goa tie on Saturday.

Turkmenistan has already showed that the FIFA rankings do not matter much when the teams ranked way below 100 meet each other.

Turkmenistan defeated India convincingly at Ashkabad in its home tie in the Olympic qualifying tournament.

Turkmenistan has risen quite remarkably since it fielded a scratch team in the Busan Asian Games last November where the Central Asian nation lost to India 0-3.

"That time (in Busan) we were still preparing and learning to play together,'' said the head coach Rovshan Muhadov after the practice session at the Central Secretariat ground here this afternoon.

"We formed the team only six months ago and now we are somewhat confident of our strength,'' said Muhadov.

Muhadov played for erstwhile Soviet Union and was the top scorer with 35 goals in 1991 season.

"We recently hosted an eight-nation tournament which included Cuba and we finished second. This was much better than our expectations,'' he said.

Speaking about his goal in the away match, Muhadov said he would definitely like to win on foreign soil. "But a suitable result will do for us,'' Muhadov added hinting at a draw. After two days of stay in Delhi, Turkmenistan leaves to Goa on Thursday afternoon.

The team: Azat Muhadov (capt.), Eldar Aleiv, Hasmagamed Amayev, Yagmyrmyrat Annamyradov, Nazar Bayramov, Shahrat Durduyev, Alik Haydarov, Rasif Kerimov, Vyacheslav Krendelev, Pavel Matus, Chariyar Meredov, Mekan Masyrov, Artyem Nikitenko, Begli Nurmuradov, Guvanchmuhamed Ovekov, Guvanch Rajepow, Muhammet Saparow, Yewgeniy Zemskov. Coaches: Rovshan Muhadov, Aman Meredov and Aleksandr Klimenko.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

Chess

• India `B' causes a flutter by surprising China
• Arun, Aishwarya triumph
  
  Cricket
  
• South Africa gets back on the rails
• Kaif crosses 1,000-run mark
• Pakistan withdraws from Asia Cup
• Australia wins first Test in style
• A heart-warming performance, indeed
• Thakkar's knock in vain as MP enters semifinals
  
  Football
  
• Churchill Brothers rallies to beat HASC
• Spirited Pondicherry sinks Andhra
• India meets Turkmenistan on Saturday
• Bagan exacts revenge
  
  Golf
  
• Weir wears the green jacket
  
  Tennis
  
• Sonal Phadke crashes out
• Henin ends Serena's winning streak
  
  

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu