U-23 players have chance in senior team: Khalid Jamil

BENGALURU: India national football coach Khalid Jamil said his focus is the AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore away on October 9.

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With the camp beginning here from Saturday, Jamil said, “We have to play as a unit. We have to prepare very well and just give our best,” Jamil said at a press conference along with India U-23 coach Naushad Moosa, senior women’s national team Crispin Chettri and women’s U-20 & -17 head coach Joakim Alexandersson.

The coach said the team will have the services of Sunil Chhetri and defender Sandesh Jhingan, who is recovering from a jaw injury. “Sunil has done well last year. So I think this is the correct time to give him a game chance. And if the U-23 players are good, we will definitely choose them.”

U-23 players take the big leap

Moosa was happy to see his wards make the big stride. “This (senior India) squad had nine U-23 players. But I’ve told him (Jamil) to look at two more players,” Moosa told TOI. “It’s a great time that so many players have been called for the senior team. They showed character in the AFC U-23 qualifiers. I’m sure they’ll make a lot of difference when they get into the senior squad. They have that potential,” Moosa said.