Constantine plays down Robin injury, praises Zuala and Lanka keeper, shares Christmas plan

TEAM INDIA coach Stephen Constantine assured the media that Robin Singh's injury wasn't much of a serious thing at all. Speaking to reporters after India's 2-0 win over Sri Lanka in the SAFF Championship, in which Robin had scored both goals, Constantine said,

"He was carrying 91 kilos. So when he landed on one foot it was painful... we don't think it's anything serious."

He heaped praise on the Bengaluru FC striker's performance tonight, 

"I'm very happy for Robin. He's scored for the second game in a row. He has just had a long ISL and of course that's had a toll on him. But it's a good thing to see him score so regularly."

But the way Robin had gone down after the second goal did not look good at all. Shortly after the press conference got over, the pitchside ambulance carried the forward to a hospital. It won't be surprising if tomorrow we receive an update saying the striker will miss most, if not all, of the remaining SAFF Cup matches.

The attention turned to 18 year old winger Lallianzuala Chhangte, the DSK Shivajians U-19 player from Mizoram who has become one of the youngest players to ever play for the Indian national team. Constantine said,

"I didn't know he was the youngest player to play for India. But if they're good enough they're old enough... he had an impressive debut match and has a long future ahead of him."

When asked if he was happy with a 2-0 win, the British coach was emphatic,

"I'm never satisfied... we had a lot of corners and created a lot of chances, and we would've liked if a couple of them had gone in. But Sri Lanka keeper Perera was exceptional... he's the man of the match for me."

India are now slated to play Nepal on Sunday, where anything less than a 4 goal defeat will be enough to take them into the semi-finals. Speaking about the familiar opponents for whom it will be a desperate, do-or-die match, Constantine was guarded,

"Nepal will be a hard side to break down. They work very hard. We've played them thrice already this year and won only once."

But for the moment he is not letting the worry get to him. He shared with the press his plans for a little Christmas celebration of his own,

"I have a Christmas cake waiting in my fridge. Now I will go back, cut it and eat the whole thing along with a cup of tea."