Pre Olympic soccer matches:India take on Thailand on Mar 14

Chennai, Mar 12 (UNI) Big time International men's football comes to this sportsloving metropolis after a long gap, when India figure in three home matches of the pre-olympic tournament here.

In its first home match on March 14, India will meet Thailand and then take on DPR Korea on March 28.

The third and the final match would be against formidable Iraq on May 16. India have already lost to Iraq 0-3 in the away match last month.

At the end of six matches (home and away) the team that finishes with maxium points would qualify for the next round to keep their chances of qualifying for the Beijing Olympics next year alive.

Tamil Nadu Sports Minsiter T P M Mohideen Khan would inaugurate the match on March 14.

All the matches would be held under floodlites at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium under the auspices of the Tamil Nadu Football Association (TFA) and the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

A lush green turf and spruced up stadium beckons the players as both the teams landed in the city for the first match.

While the Indian team landed around midnight last night, the Thailand squad arrived here this morning.

After a brief rest at the hotel, the Thais were the first to go to the ground when they proceeded to American International School at suburban Taramani for practice and warm-ups as (TFA) authorites are giving final touches to the Nehru stadium for the matches.

The Indian team, led by skipper N S Manju, later had a stint at the school grounds, TFA sources told UNI.

Meanwhile, Alisher Muminov of Uzbeksitan has been appointed as the Match Commissioner for the India-Thailand match. Mr Ali Saleem of Maldives will be the Referee.

Mr Mohammed Saeed, Mr Ahmed Ameez and Mr Riyaz Rasheed, all from Maldives, would be the Assistant Referee-1, Assistant Referee-2 and Fourth Official, respectively.

UNI