New Delhi, Aug 9 (IANS) India will face Cambodia in the opening match of the five-nation Nehru Cup International Football Tournament that starts here Aug 17 minus Iran, it was announced Thursday.
The tournament, revived after a gap of 10 years, was initially perceived to be a six-nation tournament but the last-minute pullout by Iran forced the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to stick to five teams.
Besides hosts India, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Syria and Kyrgyzstan will be the other teams in the 13-day tournament at the refurbished Ambedkar Stadium where new floodlights have been put up especially for this tournament, the AIFF said.
The tournament will be played in the round-robin league format and the final is slated for Aug 29.
"Iran first accepted the offer to take part but then they said they would not be able to send their national team. We said they could send their under-23 team.
"But they changed their stance and said they could only send a club team. We rejected this and had to stick to five teams," said Alberto Colaco, secretary AIFF, during unveiling of the trophy of the tournament.
The total prize money of the tournament is $100,000. The champion team takes away a prize of $40,000, the runners-up receive $20,000 while the third place team will be richer by $10,000. The winning team of every match will get $2,500 while the prize money for the Man of the Match will depend on the match.
AIFF president and union minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi was also present on the occasion along with tournament sponsor Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) director (human resource) A.K. Balyan.
"ONGC is supporting soccer at the grass root level so that young footballers bud into professional players at an early age. The Nehru Cup tournament will help India take a big leap in international football," said Balyan.
Dasmunsi dodged all queries and left mid-way before the question and answer session, saying he has a cabinet briefing (as parliamentary affairs minister) and other appointments.
The AIFF president kept his speech short by saying "President Pratibha Patil will be chief guest at the inauguration ceremony".
He also thanked the ONGC for making a completely new model of the trophy, as the original model was not available.
"The original trophy was not available and we are thankful to ONGC for providing us with a completely new model. The last trophy was won by Iraq in 1997, and after that due to the turmoil in their country, the original trophy was not available," said Dasmunsi.
Dasmunsi also thanked the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for refurbishing the Ambedkar Stadium in a short period of time.
"The MCD has done a wonderful job at the Ambedkar Stadium. Now I will see that an amendment is passed in the constitution of the MCD to not allow any political meetings at this stadium," said Dasmunsi.
Fixture:
Aug 17: India vs. Cambodia (6.30 p.m.)
Aug 18: Bangladesh vs. Syria (7 p.m.)
Aug 19: Kyrgyzstan vs. Cambodia (7 p.m.)
Aug 20: India vs. Bangladesh (7 p.m.)
Aug 21: Syria vs. Kyrgyzstan (7 p.m.)
Aug 22: Bangladesh vs. Cambodia (7 p.m.)
Aug 23: India vs. Syria (7 p.m.)
Aug 24: Bangladesh vs. Kyrgyzstan (7 p.m.)
Aug 25: Cambodia vs. Syria (7 p.m.)
Aug 26:India vs. Kyrgyzstan (7 p.m.)
Aug 29: Final (6 p.m.)
The tournament, revived after a gap of 10 years, was initially perceived to be a six-nation tournament but the last-minute pullout by Iran forced the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to stick to five teams.
Besides hosts India, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Syria and Kyrgyzstan will be the other teams in the 13-day tournament at the refurbished Ambedkar Stadium where new floodlights have been put up especially for this tournament, the AIFF said.
The tournament will be played in the round-robin league format and the final is slated for Aug 29.
"Iran first accepted the offer to take part but then they said they would not be able to send their national team. We said they could send their under-23 team.
"But they changed their stance and said they could only send a club team. We rejected this and had to stick to five teams," said Alberto Colaco, secretary AIFF, during unveiling of the trophy of the tournament.
The total prize money of the tournament is $100,000. The champion team takes away a prize of $40,000, the runners-up receive $20,000 while the third place team will be richer by $10,000. The winning team of every match will get $2,500 while the prize money for the Man of the Match will depend on the match.
AIFF president and union minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi was also present on the occasion along with tournament sponsor Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) director (human resource) A.K. Balyan.
"ONGC is supporting soccer at the grass root level so that young footballers bud into professional players at an early age. The Nehru Cup tournament will help India take a big leap in international football," said Balyan.
Dasmunsi dodged all queries and left mid-way before the question and answer session, saying he has a cabinet briefing (as parliamentary affairs minister) and other appointments.
The AIFF president kept his speech short by saying "President Pratibha Patil will be chief guest at the inauguration ceremony".
He also thanked the ONGC for making a completely new model of the trophy, as the original model was not available.
"The original trophy was not available and we are thankful to ONGC for providing us with a completely new model. The last trophy was won by Iraq in 1997, and after that due to the turmoil in their country, the original trophy was not available," said Dasmunsi.
Dasmunsi also thanked the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for refurbishing the Ambedkar Stadium in a short period of time.
"The MCD has done a wonderful job at the Ambedkar Stadium. Now I will see that an amendment is passed in the constitution of the MCD to not allow any political meetings at this stadium," said Dasmunsi.
Fixture:
Aug 17: India vs. Cambodia (6.30 p.m.)
Aug 18: Bangladesh vs. Syria (7 p.m.)
Aug 19: Kyrgyzstan vs. Cambodia (7 p.m.)
Aug 20: India vs. Bangladesh (7 p.m.)
Aug 21: Syria vs. Kyrgyzstan (7 p.m.)
Aug 22: Bangladesh vs. Cambodia (7 p.m.)
Aug 23: India vs. Syria (7 p.m.)
Aug 24: Bangladesh vs. Kyrgyzstan (7 p.m.)
Aug 25: Cambodia vs. Syria (7 p.m.)
Aug 26:India vs. Kyrgyzstan (7 p.m.)
Aug 29: Final (6 p.m.)
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