Intercontinental Cup | Anas Edathodika named on Igor Stimac’s list for preparatory camp

06/11/2019

Anas Edathodika has been called back into the Indian national camp by coach Igor Stimac for the preparations ahead of the upcoming Intercontinental Cup in July. The 35 probable Indian footballers will attend the camp at the Mumbai Football Arena from June 25 under the guidance of Stimac.

In an interesting turn of events, central defender Anas Edathodika has been included in the Indian probable list of footballers ahead of the four-nation Intercontinental Cup which will be played in Ahmedabad next month. Anas had declared his retirement from international football after India’s exit from the group stage of the AFC Asian Cup in the UAE earlier this year. However, he has informed that he received a message from Stimac and contemplated to come out of retirement.

“Coach Stimac has shown his faith in me, and it's my turn to repay him. Coach messaged me to join the upcoming camp. Honestly, I was taken aback. Later Venky-bhai (Assistant Coach Venkatesh Shanmugam) shared all details, and I just can't wait to join the camp,” Anas was quoted as saying by the AIFF.

“The respect I earned while playing for the National Team is something which has pushed me to challenge myself again. At the moment, I’m just focussing on the camp, and not thinking about making the cut to the team at all. Whatever comes my way, I'll accept it. I'm equally passionate, and focused like I was a year back. I'm ready to push myself more.

Defenders Sarthak Golui, and Narender Gehlot, and midfielders Mandar Rao Desai, Ashique Kuruniyan and Nikhil Poojary are the first-timers who have found their names on the list.

The Intercontinental Cup will be Stimac’s second assignment since taking over as the coach of the Indian side. In the first assignment of the Croatian, the Blue Tigers had bagged the bronze medal at the King’s Cup by beating hosts Thailand on Saturday.

The Intercontinental Cup will be played in Ahmedabad from July 7 to 19 with India starting their campaign against Tajikistan on July 7. They will meet DPR Korea and Syria in the next two games of the tournament.

The list of 35 probables stay as follows:

GOALKEEPERS: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Kamaljit Singh, Vishal Kaith.

DEFENDERS: Pritam Kotal, Nishu Kumar, Rahul Bheke, Salam Ranjan Singh, Sandesh Jhingan, Adil Khan, Anas Edathodika, Anwar Ali (Jr), Sarthak Golui, Subhasish Bose, Narender Gahlot.

MIDFIELDERS: Udanta Singh, Jackichand Singh, Brandon Fernandes, Anirudh Thapa, Raynier Fernandes, Pronay Halder, Rowllin Borges, Vinit Rai, Sahal Abdul, Amarjit Singh, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Mandar Rao Desai, Ashique Kuruniyan, Nikhil Poojary, Michael Soosairaj.

FORWARDS: Balwant Singh, Sunil Chhetri, Jobby Justin, Farukh Choudhary, Manvir Singh.