INDIA WIN NEHRU CUP FOR FIRST TIME 

 

India’s soccer dream comes true. After just three wins in twelve previous editions of the Nehru Cup, India with five wins in this tournament won the title in style. In the final of the 13^th ONGC-Nehru Cup India scored a memorable 1-0 win over tenacious Syria thus winning this tournament for the first time. Dashing midfielder N.P. Pradeep scored the match-winner for India with a blistering left footer in the 43^rd minute. 

August continues to be a lucky month for Indian football. Five years ago, India won the LG Cup in Vietnam beating the hosts 3-2 in the final. Baichung Bhutia was the skipper on that occasion also. Forty five years ago, in the 1962 Jakarta Asian Games, on this very day India beat Japan 2-0 in the quarter final and went onto win the gold medal. Also the tradition continues whenever India loses to a team earlier and then meets them in the final they emerge champions. It happened against South Korea in the 1962 Asian Games. 

The Indian players got considerable wealth besides the prize money of $40,000. The president of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi promised the players a cash award of Rs. 10 lakhs and the chief minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikhsit promised a sum of Rs. 5 lakhs. The victory has given a boost to Indian football. Not only will it improve India’s FIFA rankings but the Indian football team have become the talk of Delhi. Several eminent sportspersons cirketer Virender Sehwag, international hockey stars Dhanraj Pillay and Harendra Singh witnessed the final and congratulated the Indian team. 

India changed tactics and played crisp passing and kept the ball on the ground to trouble Syria. In the 9^th minute in the first half. Baichung’s deft diagonal through pass put overlapping N.S. Manju through. His weak shot was parried by Syria’s goalkeeper Mowssab Blahowss and Steven Dias blasted the rebound over the over the bar. Seevn minutes later, Dias’s free kick was headed wide by Baichung.  

India scored in the 43^rd minute. Chettri headed onto Baichung who tapped back to Pradeep whose blistering left footer entered the net. Just before half time, came the turning point of the match. Left midfielder of Syria Wael Ayan was shown the red card for kicking Sur Kumar Singh on the groin off the ball. 

Though playing with ten men in the second half, Syria attacked relentlessly and India’s goalkeeper Subrata Paul made several heroic saves. India’s stopper back Mahesh gawli made several timely interceptions and kept the tournament’s top-scorer Zyad Chaabo in control. Gawli fully deserved the man of the match award. In quick counter attacks India nearly scored when Dias squared to Baichung but he shot wide from close. India controlled proceedings and emerged deserving winners and avenged the 2-3 loss to Syria in the round robin league. The Chief Minister of Delhi Mrs. Shiela Dixit presented the trophy to the Indian team. 

Teams:

India: N.S MANJU, AJAYAN,GOURAMANGI SINGH, N P PRADEEP, P.RENEDY SINGH,[Sub]TARIF AHMED[Sub], SUNIL CHETTRI, SYED RAHIM NABI[Sub], DEEPAK KUMAR MONDAL[Injured], MAHESH GAWLI, BAICHUNG BHUTIA[CAPT], IRUNGBANI SURKUMAR SINGH, MEHARJUDDIN WADOO[Sub], BUNGO SINGH[ Sub], SUBRATO PAUL, ABHISHEK YADAV[Sub], CLIFFERD MIRANDA[Sub],  STEVEN BENEDIST DIAS, SANDIP NANDY,[Sub] CLIMAX LAWRANCE

 

By Novy Kapadia