India football team to start grind for long season: Constantine

Bengaluru, February 21: After accepting his one-year contract extension, India football team coach Stephen Constantine said the team is bracing up for a long season and ultimate aim will be Asian Cup in 2019.

"It is going to be a tough season and hopefully an injury-free one as well. As we head into the start of this schedule in March we already have several players out with injury and or suspensions," wrote Constantine on his personal blog.

Constantine said the team will require all the players fit as fiddle for the long grind.

"We are going to need all hands on deck going forward. As always with me, it is the players that are willing to play for the team and do the work that interest me.

"We have shown over the last two years that the current group of players are fighters and will give everything in every game," he said.

The 2018 fixtures of Indian football team

March 27: AFC Qualifier vs Afghanistan (Away)

June 1 to 12: Intercontinental Cup (Home)

August 18 to September 1: Indonesia Asian Games (U-23 side)

September 2-11: SAFF (Bangladesh)

October 8-16: International friendly

November 12-20: International friendly