Baichung says India has ''realistic'' chance to win Nehru Cup

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New Delhi, Aug 16: National football captain Baichung Bhutia today said India has a realistic chance to win the ONGC Nehru Cup beginning tomorrow, though it would not be an easy task.

''We have a realistic chance to win this tournament. I am not saying that it would be easy task, but the boys are confident after a productive training stint and the Portugal tour,'' Bhutia said at a pre-tournament press conference here.

''The boys have full of confidence now as a unit and as individual players. Each player now knows his responsibilty in his position. He also knows the other player's responsibilty. That is the best thing to happen in Indian team after a long time,'' he said.

India take on inexperienced Cambodia in the tournament opener tomorrow and Bhutia said the hosts should not take the South East Asian opponents lightly.

''No team can be taken lightly. Tomorrow, we have a task at hand to win against Cambodia. We cannot take them lightly,'' the Mohun Bagan striker added.

Coach Bob Houghton said his boys were concentrating on tomorrow's game and not looking beyond.

''We are concentrating on Cambodia game. We have to play as a unit to beat them. A win tomorrow will give us a huge boost,'' said the Englishman.

''Their coach (Scott O'Donnell) is a hard working and his boys will reflect his disciplined approach. We cannot take them lightly,'' he added.

O'Donnell, while accepting that he had a bunch of inexperienced boys with him, cautioned the other teams to take his team lightly at their peril.

''We are not here to make up the numbers. We will be competitive as any other team,'' said the Aussie, who took over as Cambodian caoch in 2005.

''The local league there is of very poor standard. So, the boys need international exposure. The boys are keen to do well in the tournament,'' he added.

UNI