Soccer: National team to play portugal league side

Add as a preferred source on Google

New Delhi, July 19: Indian national football team will play against former Portuguese Super Liga side and now top second level league side on July 28 as part of their training in the Iberian country.

Houghton's boys are scheduled to take on Estoril Praia, the 2003-04 League of Honour (second level professional league below Portuguese Super Liga) winners and a Super League side till 2004-05.

Founded in 1939, Estoril Praia, has its home in Estoril, Municipality of Cascais in district of Lisbon. They last played in the Super Liga in 2004-05 before being relegated to the next professional level.

Portugal has two levels in professional league -- Super League (Super Liga) and League of Honour (liga de Honra) -- and second and third divisions below the two.

The Indian side will warm up with a match against a non-professional second division side Odivelas FC today and are slated to play third division sides Recreativo Agueda and AC Marinhense on July 22 and 26 respectively.

The squad will leave Portugal on July 31, according to information sent by Football and Friends, the promoters of the fortnight-long training sojourn in Portugal.

Before the team's departure from India on July 13, the AIFF had promised to have a fixture with one Super Liga side but apparently failed to materialise it.

Meanwhile, the national squad had their fifth session yesterday ahead of today's game in Odivelas, at the outskirts of Lisbon.

The team will visit famous Portuguese side Benfica's stadium Estadio da Luz (Stadium of Light) next week on the invitation of multiple Super Liga champion side's president.

Fixture: July 19: Indian national side vs Odivelas FC (2nd Div side) July 22: Indian national side vs Recreativo Agueda (3rd Div side) July 26: Indian national side vs AC Marinhense (3rd Div side) July 28: Indian national side vs Estoril Praia (League of Honour side) .

UNI