We are like family: Syria coach

Tuesday August 28, 04:22 AM
We are like family: Syria coach


With a clean slate and 14 goals from four matches, Syria go to the
final of the ONGC Nehru Cup tournament as clear favourites on
Wednesday. In fact, India have been the only team in the five-nation
meet to put up a semblance of a fight against the middle-eastern
nation.

Their quality of play justifies the fact that they are the highest
ranked (113) team in the meet. So what makes this Syrian team click?

"We are a big family, like a 'band of brothers'. We do not take to the
field as an assembly of players but as a big family and that would be
evident from our style of play. Every one stands by the other," said
Fazer Ibraheem, the chief coach of Syria, and also a former
international player.

In fact, besides India skipper Bhaichung Bhutia, Fazer is the only one
to have played in the tournament that has made a comeback after a
decade long hiatus.

The troika of skipper Maher Al Said, Zyad Chabbo and Mohammed Alzeno
has been too hot to handle for any team. Maher, the most experienced
player in the team, has led from the front creating opportunities,
intercepting opposition moves and also scoring goal.

Zyad Chabbo is leading the goal-scorers list with five goals at the
moment and Maher is following closely with four; and that has a lot to
do with their understanding. "The three of us occupy close playing
position on the field but even outside the field we are pretty close.
All of us are from Damascus and the understanding we share in our
social relationship rubs off on the field of play, and, Insah-Allah,
it is working well for us," said Maher.

Alzeno suffered a minor shoulder injury during the match against
Cambodia, but the coach is hopeful that the wily striker recovers in
time for the final tussle against the hosts India.

"Alzeno is fine, we gave him a rest from training today. He is crucial
to our scheme of things so most probably he will start on Wednesday,"
said Ibraheem. Ibraheem said that the present team is missing six
regular players and most notably their captain Tarek Jabban and
striker Firas Al Khatib, the top scorer in their AFC Cup campaign.

"Tarek and Firas are busy with their club commitment while four others
are tied up with the Olympic team. But we have enough ammunition up
our sleeves to win this tournament," said Ibraheem.

Ibraheem, however, has warned his team not to get carried away and be
ready for any surprises the hosts may offer.

"At home, India can be dangerous. There was marked improvement in
their performance against Kyrgyzstan from what they did against us. We
will not like to take any chances and go all out on Wednesday," added
Ibraheem.

Indian team on the other hand decided to take rest today but will
return to a final training session tomorrow hoping to draw out a plan
to derail the Syrians.

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