Thaindian News

Kathmandu, March 6 (IANS) India football captain Sunil Chettri said Tuesday that it will be tough for the 2008 champions in the AFC Challenge Cup since they have been placed in the Group of Death.

India, ranked 154th in the FIFA rankings, have been placed alongside with 2010 World Cuppers North Korea (106th), Tajikistan (140th) and the Philippines (156th). India start their campaign Friday against Tajikistan.

Chettri said the team has to take one match at a time.

“You can never bask on past laurels. We have been drawn in the Group of Death and can’t afford to take any of the teams lightly. Every match is a new match and we need to take one match at a time. We need to play as a cohesive unit against Tajikistan,” he said.

The Delhi boy said the camp in Dubai has helped the team.

“The camp was very useful indeed. It helped all of us — be it juniors or seniors. Now we have a clear idea as to what the coach wants. The juniors are slowly settling down and picking up the technical aspects which one needs to possess to play at the highest level,” he said.

Chettri said the national team is going through a transition with some of the top players retiring.

“The national team is passing through a transitional phase. The senior players who used to act as our mentors have retired from International Football. Bhaichung Bhutia, Rennedy Singh, Deepak Mondal went out of their way to help the juniors. We need to carry on the legacy for the benefit of Indian football,” he said.