Pune FC striker Jeje Lalpekhlua has been named captain of the Indian team for the AFC U22 Asian Cup Qualifiers, while East Bengal goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu will be the vice-captain. The qualifiers are scheduled to take place in Muscat, Oman from June 23 onwards.
“It is a huge honour for me to lead my country,” said Jeje. “We have been training under Head Coach Arthur Papas since the first week of June and he has been a pillar of support to all of us.”
The Indian team has been in Dubai for a preparation camp in the last few days and the boys played two preparation matches. They were held to a 3-3 draw by an Africa XI [read match report] in the first match, while Papas’ boys recorded a 4-1 win against DNATA Club in their second match on Tuesday. Lalrindika Ralte scored a brace for India, while Shyjumon and striker Manandeep Singh scored one apiece.
The Indian team will leave for Muscat on Thursday morning.
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INDIA U22 SQUAD
Goalkeepers
Soram Poirei Angamba (Shillong Lajong FC), Ravi Kumar (Pailan Arrows), Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (East Bengal Club)
Defenders
Abhishek Das (East Bengal Club), Narayan Das (Tata Football Academy), Deepak Devrani (Pailan Arrows), Souvik Ghosh (Pailan Arrows), Pritam Kotal (Pailan Arrows), Vishal Kumar (Pailan Arrows), Prathmesh Maulingkar (Pailan Arrows)
Midfielders
Romeo Fernandes (Dempo SC), Ganeshan (Pune FC), Pronoy Haldar (Pailan Arrows), Shyjumon (Chirag United Kerala), Deepak Prakash (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited), Lalrindika Ralte (Churchill Brothers SC), Tirthankar Sarkar (Pailan Arrows), Ongnam Milan Singh (Pailan Arrows), Simranjit Singh (Tata Football Academy)
Forwards
Alwin George (Pailan Arrows), Jeje Lalpekhlua (Pune FC, Captain), Holicharan Narzary (Pailan Arrows), Manandeep Singh (Air India)
Officials
Arthur Papas (Head Coach)