Rain threat looms large

HYDERABAD: If rain relents, Afro-Asian Games football will kick-off on Wednesday evening with hosts India locking horns with Rwanda at the Lal Bahadur Stadium.
The event already suffered one postponement because of the late arrival of Rwanda. Rain continued unabated on Tuesday threatening another one.
Rwanda arrived on Tuesday. Another African team, Ghana, haven’t turned up yet while Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi said Ghana are on the way to Hyderabad.Ghana face Malaysia in the other match of the day.
India will face a depleted Rwanda as six of the first eleven are away playing for Europe-based clubs. Rwanda, coached by Dujkovic Ratomir and led by midfielder Eric Nshmiyimana, have incisive forwards in Jimmy Getete and Olivier Karekezi who can trouble the Indian defence.
Moreover, forward Jimmy Mulisa knows the hosts’ style well having played in the Indian league. Rwanda’s standard can be assessed from their impressive qualification for the Cup of African Nations to be held in January 2004.
Rwanda’s chef de delegation Jules Cesar Kalisa said the team was looking forward to perform well at the AAG despite the absence of a full-strength side and lack of time for acclimatisation.
Meanwhile, injuries continue to plague the Indian team with midfielder Jo Paul Ancheri likely to miss the opener with a sore ankle. Bhutia also suffered a bout of fever. The Sikkim star has, however, recovered quickly. India will go with twin strikers — Bhutia and IM Vijayan. Prominent in the back will be East Bengal’s Mahesh Gawli and M Suresh.
Squads (from): India: Sandeep Nandy, Sangram Mukherjee, Selwyn Fernandes, M Suresh, Arun Malhotra, Satish Kumar Bharati, Mahesh Gawli, S Venkatesh, Renedy Singh, Climax Lawrence, KN Ajayan, Tomba Singh, James Singh, Jatin Singh Bisht, Abhishek Yadav, IM Vijayan, Ashim Biswas, Baichung Bhutia, Sukhwinder Sing. Rwanda: Mossi Muhamud, Frodouard Buryakera, Ramadhan Nkunzingoma, J Remy Bitana, Leandre Bizagwtra, Lita Mana, Elias Ntaganda, Abdul Sibomana, Canesius Nshimiyimana, Eric Nshimiyimana, Michel Ndayiragie, Frederic Rusanganwa, Oliver Karekezi, J Paul Nsengiyumva, Flex Muvunyi, Pascal Hitimana, Aziz balinda, Jimmy Gatete, Hassan Milly, Jimmy Mulisa.