No Keralite in national team

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When the preparatory camp for Nehru Cup 2012 was announced last month, it seemed as though a long-cherished dream of Denson Devdas may come true.

Despite bright performances in Ieague and Santosh Trophy in the previous seasons, the midfielder from Kannur could not find a place in the national team.

However, when he was invited to the national camp held in Bengaluru, he never knew his happiness was shortlived.

When Indian football coach Wim Koevermans named 27 probables for the Nehru Cup to be held from August 22, Denson's name was missing from the list.

This is a huge blow to the state as he was the only Kerala player who was named in the 37-member list.

This will be the first time the Indian national team will be playing in Nehru cup without a Kerala player after its restoration in 2007.

In 2007, and 2009 editions N.P. Pradeep from Kerala was a key member in the national team. Earlier young talent Sabeeth, who performed in AFC Challenge Cup held in Nepal, also failed to break into the squad.

Meanwhile, the only striker Sunil Chhetri hasn’t joined the 27-member camp. Chhetri now playing at Sporting Clube de Portugal in Lisbon will join the camp on August 12.

The coach will select the final 20-member squad ahead of the Nehru Cup. The Team will shift base to Jaypee Greens in Greater Noida in mid-August for the final preparation phase for the tournament.

The 27-member list stays as follows:

GOALKEEPERS: Subrata Pal, Subhasish Roychowdhury, Karanjeet Singh.

DEFENDERS: Nirmal Chhetri, Denzil Franco, Gourmangi Singh, Gurwinder Singh, Raju Gaikwad, Khelemba Meitei, Syed Rahim Nabi, Mohan Raj.

MIDFIELDERS: Mehtab Hossain, Rocus Lamare, Milan Singh, Baldeep Singh, Jewel Raja, Francis Fernandes, Alwyn George, Anthony Pereira, Gilbert Oliviera, Sanju Pradhan, Clifford Miranda, Joaquim Abranches.

FORWARDS: Robin Singh, Sunil Chhetri, Manandeep Singh, Jeje Lalpekhlua.