![\"WIm-Kovermans\"](\"https:\/\/indiansportsnews.co.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/WIm-Kovermans.jpg\")
Kathmandu: The Indian National Team had an intense practice session at the Police Headquarters Ground on Saturday (September 7) morning. India play Maldives in the second semifinal of the 2013 SAFF Championship on Monday (September 9).<\/p>\nKathmandu: The Indian National Team had an intense practice session at the Police Headquarters Ground on Saturday (September 7) morning. India play Maldives in the second semifinal of the 2013 SAFF Championship on Monday (September 9).<\/p>\n
National Coach Wim Koevermans stressed on the importance of recovery of Players in such a hectic schedule. \u201cIt\u2019s a difficult schedule,\u201d he reiterated. \u201cBut I\u2019m still not happy with the quality of the practice ground,\u201d he said at the Official Media Interaction. \u201cEveryone is available for the semifinal against Maldives,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Koevermans did watch Maldives play Afghanistan in the Final Group B League match the previous day. \u201cYeah, I watched Maldives for 90 minutes. They are a tough unit,\u201d he pronounced.\n<\/p>\n
The last two outings for India against Maldives have been fruitful. \u201cBut that is past. We need to lie in the present,\u201d Koevermans quipped. \u201cWe don’t underestimat any Team and won\u2019t ever underestimate any.\u201d<\/p>\n
Referring to comments of the Maldives\u2019 captain Ali Ashfaq that this is the \u201cweakest Indian Team ever,\u201d Koevermans smiled. \u201cEveryone had labeled our Group as the Group of Death. There were no easy Teams in our Group. And now we are in the semis. I hope they underestimate us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to be ready for Maldives and are preparing ourselves,\u201d he maintained.<\/p>\n
Central Defender Sandesh Jhingan said it is a \u201clearning experience\u201d for him to be together in a squad along with Senior Players.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome Years back when I watched on Television I was in awe of Gouramangi, Subrata, Chhetri and others. Now I have worked hard to earn my place in the squad. Seeing them from close is a learning experience for me. At the same time, I have to keep myself ready whenever the Coach wants me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Former India U-23 Captain Raju Gaikwad, felt that Sunil missing the semifinal won\u2019t prove to be decisive.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are two ways of looking at it. It\u2019s a big motivation for others to rise to the occasion. We are fit and raring to go for the semifinal,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kathmandu: The Indian National Team had an intense practice session at the Police Headquarters Ground on Saturday (September 7) morning. India play Maldives in the second semifinal of the 2013 SAFF Championship on Monday (September 9).<\/p>\n
National Coach Wim Koevermans stressed on the importance of recovery of Players in such a hectic schedule. \u201cIt\u2019s a difficult schedule,\u201d he reiterated. \u201cBut I\u2019m still not happy with the quality of the practice ground,\u201d he said at the Official Media Interaction. \u201cEveryone is available for the semifinal against Maldives,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Koevermans did watch Maldives play Afghanistan in the Final Group B League match the previous day. \u201cYeah, I watched Maldives for 90 minutes. They are a tough unit,\u201d he pronounced.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15652,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16979","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-latest"],"yoast_head":"\n