Players from state league named among probables for SAFF Cup

National football coach Stephen Constantine has named 40 probables for the forthcoming SAFF Cup to be held in Thiruvananthapuram later this month with players from local leagues and even members from AIFF U-19 Elite Academy being called up for the first time.

The initial list of 28 probables for the December 23 to January 3 tournament would assemble at a preparatory camp in Kochi on December 9 with practice commencing from next day.

Keeping in tune with his vision of selecting a pan-Indian squad, Constantine’s selected 40 probables include players from the local leagues, those not part of the ongoing Indian Super League and even members from AIFF U-19 Elite Academy.

“This is perhaps the first time in recent times where three players who have not ever even donned a jersey for any I-League club have been summoned for the camp -- two of them having played for Army XI while the other is at present a Calcutta University student who had played for SAI in the Kolkata Premier League.