Yangon: India’s football coach Wim Koevermans said, on Wednesday, that acclimatisation will be the key as his boys gear up for the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers starting here on March 2.
“The idea stays to get enough rest to overcome and adjust after the hectic travel schedules. Travelling is tiring and takes its toll, especially if you travel to a different time zone; and one needs to remember that in Asia, you need to travel long.
“Hence, acclimatisation is important. We need to get it out of system. The boys have adjusted superbly so far and we even had a light practice session on the first afternoon,” said Koevarmans.
The players from Churchill Brothers and East Bengal couldn’t arrive together with the group, courtesy the AFC Cup schedule.
The Dutchman said that the camp in Pune helped the boys gel well.
India, who won the Challenge Cup last in 2008, open their campaign against Taiwan here on March 2. They next face Guam (March 4) and hosts Myanmar (March 6).
Asked about the opponents, Koevermans said: “We take every opposition seriously. In a build-up to a match, we need to analyse our rival teams and stay 100 percent prepared.” (IANS)
