Fitness is a concern for Constantine before taking on Iran and Turkmenistan

INDIAN NATIONAL TEAM coach Stephen Constantine is worried about the fitness level of his players ahead of the World Cup Qualifier matches against Iran and Turkmenistan.

After most of his players in the national team camp organized in Delhi could not complete a yo-yo fitness test, Constantine was left frowning and acknowledged that this lack of agility would hurt their chances in the last remaining matches of the group stage, to be played later this month.

Constantine shared his concerns with the media, saying,

“We have conducted some Tests and the fitness levels are not very encouraging. All I can say that Players need to be in better condition than they are. You need to sweat and run... playing in Iran will get as difficult as it can get. They have a history of playing in the World Cup and are the Giants of Asia, presently placed at 44. It’s like David vs Goliath on the field."

The Blue Tigers' woes were intensified when just before the team left for Tehran it emerged that skipper Sunil Chhetri was going to have to miss the trip due to an injury that manifested itself at the very last moment.

But Constantine, refusing to be bogged down by immediate concerns, has his eyes set on the long term goals,

“My first target was to take the Team to the World Cup Qualifiers which we achieved. The next target was to retain the SAFF Championship and we came out triumphant. The next goal is to be there at the Final Qualifiers for the 2019 Asian Cup and I want to achieve it too."

Even if India don't fare well against Iran and Turkmenistan, they will still have the chance to go into the next round of Asian Cup Qualifiers through the playoffs; and that is probably going to occupy the mind of the gaffer in the coming months as he prepares the strategy for Blue Tigers in the latter half of 2016.