New Delhi: Nine days into Indian football
team's month-long training sojourn in Barcelona, chief coach
Bob Houghton is satisfied the way his boys are shaping up.
Team manager Pradip Chowdhary said Houghton was happy
with the fitness of the boys and their intensity in training
at the FC Barcelona facilities.
"Houghton is very happy with the progress of the training
so far and the hard work of the boys. He looks after every
aspect of training and the boys are training hard as this tour
is very important," Chowdhary told reporters from Barcelona.
"We (support staff) meet everyday to take stock of the
training of the boys. We discuss about any injuries, training
drill and other matters. Everything is going on fine and he
(Houghton) is happy with the training," he added.
Senior team member Renedy Singh said the players are
making the most of the great facilities at FC Barcelona.
"The facilities here are simply great and it is an
important tour for us. We are training hard and making best
use of the facilities," he said.
The Indian team, preparing for the August 18-31 Nehru Cup
tournament, reached Barcelona on July 7 and they will play
their first friendly game against Spanish third division side
Unio Esportiva Castelldefels on July 25.
The other friendlies will be played on July 29, August 1
and 5 before flying home on August 7.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, July 16, 2009, 17:51