Houghton slams Sri Lanka, asks not to whine about the schedule

India coach Bob Houghton slammed a Sri Lanka official after he complained about the schedule of the tournament.

New Delhi: India coach Bob Houghton today slammed a Sri Lanka official after he complained about the

schedule of the tournament, asking him not to whine as the host were made to do the same in the SAFF Cup last year when the island nation was one of the co-hosts. After his side`s 1-3 loss to India in a round-robin match here, Sri Lanka assistant coach Sumit Walpole said that the islanders did not have enough time to rest as they had to play every alternate day in the five-nation tournament. "We did not have enough rest and had to play every alternate day while India play each match after a rest of two days. So, our team did not have time to have enough training between matches to correct our mistakes," Walpole said after the match. This remark got a stinging riposte from Houghton. "It is interesting to hear Sri Lanka complaining about about the schedule. But when we played in Sri Lanka in the SAFF Cup last year we played five matches each game on every alternate day and that also at 3:30 pm start under 40 degree Celsius," Houghton said. "Maldives or Sri Lanka did not play in the afternoon in that tournament. So it is better that Sri Lanka should not whine about the schedule in the Nehru Cup," added the Englishman. Houghton lavished praise on his boys, saying they played a top class game. "It was a top class game and we dominated the game totally. We created numerous chances and could have won by many more goals. But I am not worried as long as they create chances. There is a saying that if you want to score a goal you have to miss four times," Houghton said. Asked about India`s chances to make it to the final after today`s win, Houghton said, "We are in a strong position but it all depends on tomorrow`s match between Syria and Lebanon. If Lebanon win the equation can change." Houghton was all praise for right winger Steven Dias, whom he described as the best player of the day. "He was simply outstanding. Wasn`t he? He set up our first goal scored by Bhutia and then scored one himself. He had a lot of running and gave several crosses from the right besides the set pieces," he said. The Englishman did not agree that left wing was a weak link in the Indian team, saying that Anthony Pereira did a good job with a lot of running and some good crosses. "Naturally, the attacks would be more frequent from the right as Dias and right back Surkumar Singh are natural right footers. Surkumar had also a good game. Anthony and left back Mahesh Gawli are not natural left footers so the supply from the left was not many." Houghton was also not sure that the goal scored by Sunil Chhetri in the first half was an off-side. Bureau Report