Iraq team to arrive in city tomorrow for Pre Olympic match

Chennai, May 12 (UNI)In what would be an inconsequential match for the home team but is important for the opponent for a berth in the main competition, India will take on Iraq in her last Pre Olympic men's qualifying football match at the Nehru stadium here on May 16.

Addressing a press conference All India Football Federation (AIFF) Vice President and Tamil Nadu Football Association (TFA) President C R Visswanathan said the Iraqi team would be arriving here tomorrow morning and would be practising at the American school grounds, to get used to the conditions.

The Indian team would be arriving on May 14. India had lost the away match to Iraq played at neutral venue Jordan by 0-3 margin. In the previous home outings here India lost to Thailand 0-1 and to DPR Korea 0-2 despite putting up an improved performance.

Meanwhile, Mr Visswanathan said Asian Football Confederation(AFC) General Secretary Date Paul Mony Samuel has informed him that Tamil Nadu was being looked at as an excellent model for football development among the states in India.

The Vision Asia team would submit a draft copy of the Strategic Development Plan to TFA within six weeks, he said.

The project, a brain child of AFC President BIn Hammam and very successful in many Asian countries, was first launched in India at Manipur in 2005. It has also been a grand success.It is now in progress in Delhi and was launched in Tamil Nadu and Kerala recently.

UNI