![\"The-Indian-Team-during-a-practice-session.\"](\"https:\/\/indiansportsnews.co.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/The-Indian-Team-during-a-practice-session.jpg\")
Yangon: \u2018Together we move;\u2019 \u2018Together we should;\u2019 \u2018Together we can;\u2019 \u2018Together we will.\u2019<\/p>\nYangon: \u2018Together we move;\u2019 \u2018Together we should;\u2019 \u2018Together we can;\u2019 \u2018Together we will.\u2019<\/p>\n
Togetherness on the field, Togetherness off the field!<\/p>\n
Koevermans watched Myanmar after both of India\u2019s matches at the Yangon Training Centre. The boys watched them on a local television channel in their rooms. \u2018They are a very tough team,\u2019 together they agree.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the back of the mind, you may be forced to think about a draw which will see us through. But we won\u2019t play for a draw,\u201d Koevermans utters to his boys.<\/p>\n
For the record, India stay at the top of the Group with 6 points from two matches while Myanmar, placed second are on 4 points from 2 matches. The top team from the Group qualifies for the AFC Challenge Cup 2014 which is to be held in Maldives.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn such a match, there\u2019s no place for any errors on the field. We need to keep possession and not give it away easily. In the last two matches, we have been casual at times to gift away the ball to our rivals. Against Myanmar, we can\u2019t do that,\u201d Mehtab Hossain who has been omnipresent on the green in the last two matches, echoes.<\/p>\n
There are others too who are sitting in his room \u2013 Captain Sunil Chhetri, Syed Rahim Nabi, Shouvik Ghosh and Alwyn George.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s not forget they will have support from the stands and from what we saw, it\u2019s a noisy crowd. Teams when backed by passionate fans can be very dangerous. That stays a big challenge for us,\u201d Chhetri echoes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an ultimate test for our temperament. In such a match, we need to give our 200 percent. And we will,\u201d Mehtab joins the conversation again. \u201cIt\u2019s understandable, they will go all out, they have little option.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nabi adds: \u201cMyanmar have their back to the wall. Such teams are very dangerous. They have nothing to lose at the moment. As Coach has said, we won\u2019t play for a draw. We just can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to begin from where we finished the Guam match,\u201d goalkeeper Subrata Pal mentions. \u201cThe match reminds me of our last Group League match in the AFC Challenge Cup against Turkmenistan in 2008 in Hyderabad. A draw could have seen us through but we won the match and then went on to beat Myanmar in the semis,\u201d he recollects. \u201cWe need to qualify at any cost.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis match will define the next four years for us. If we don\u2019t go through, the doors of the Asian Cup 2015 will be closed for us. We will then have to wait for the next edition which will be held in 2019,\u201d Nabi pronounces. Chhetri walks up to put his hand on Nabi\u2019s shoulder. \u201cSunil, we cannot let this chance go,\u201d Nabi goes on. Chhetri taps his shoulder again. Mehtab was checking the studs of his boots by then.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve watched Myanmar and will stick to our Coach\u2019s instructions. We have toiled hard to reach to this stage. The next 90 minutes will be defining,\u201d Arata Izumi maintains.<\/p>\n
\u201cMore than proving to others, it\u2019s more of a match to prove to yourself that you can,\u201d Mehtab opines. \u201cThey will be under immense pressure. We have to capitalise on that,\u201d Nabi complements him.<\/p>\n
Despite playing two matches in three days, there\u2019s a buzz in everyone\u2019s steps. Even as the Medical Staff carry out the regular recovery sessions, everyone talks about the mission ahead; and they know, it\u2019s not impossible.<\/p>\n
We turn to the \u2018baby\u2019 of the team \u2013 Gurjinder Kumar. Gurjinder has shown composure in his first two International matches and he too knows the importance of the match. \u201cWe had a meeting among the defenders. Paul\u2019s running commentary guides me on the field a lot as does Gouramangi\u2019s instructions,\u201d he informs. \u201cI\u2019m more mature as a player and feel so much confident after being picked for the National Team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clifford Miranda joins in. When reminded of his two goals in last three International matches, he smiles. \u201cWe have to believe in ourselves and play to our potential. There\u2019s no reason why we can\u2019t. After all, we have come here with that sole aim,\u201d he declares. There\u2019s appreciation from everyone.<\/p>\n
The squad has been staying away from their families for almost a month. And though a Preparatory Camp followed by a Tournament may seem a glamorous one, reality bites. In a diversified country as India where every player, perhaps has a different eating habit, the food in Myanmar, though off good quality, hasn\u2019t suited taste buds of many. But they have never complained.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s all for the mission, a mission which they know isn\u2019t impossible. But to overcome it, you need to be together.<\/p>\n
By Nilanjan Datta<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Yangon: \u2018Together we move;\u2019 \u2018Together we should;\u2019 \u2018Together we can;\u2019 \u2018Together we will.\u2019<\/p>\n
Togetherness on the field, Togetherness off the field!<\/p>\n
Koevermans watched Myanmar after both of India\u2019s matches at the Yangon Training Centre. The boys watched them on a local television channel in their rooms. \u2018They are a very tough team,\u2019 together they agree.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the back of the mind, you may be forced to think about a draw which will see us through. But we won\u2019t play for a draw,\u201d Koevermans utters to his boys.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13024,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13025","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-football-football"],"yoast_head":"\n