"The All India Football Federation President (Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi) told me that our participation in the Asiad is almost certain," Nayeem continued. "In fact, he left for Delhi today to iron out things."

If the Indian football team does play in the Bangkok Games, it will after 12 years. India last competed in the football event in 1986 and the performance wasn't too encouraging.

"This time we have a talented team and should do better," Nayeem, the captain of the bronze medal winning team of 1970, said. Now, his primary concern is to prepare for the mega-event.

"We will hold a camp at Bangalore from August 1. Although the senior players might be exempted from thiscamp, to fulfill their club commitments, we will have around 30 boys at Bangalore."

Nayeem expects the entire team to accompany him to Germany for a preparatory tour in September. "If we can play around six good matches there, our team will be in good shape."

The coach feels that the trip to Germany will be very crucial and help build the team's morale. At this juncture, an exposure tour to a European country will be of much higher value than to an Asian country. "After all, we will have to play against the Asian countries at Bangkok. So in the preparation phase, we have to face superior teams."

Even the SAF Games, after the proposed visit to Germany, will be used as a preparation for the Asiad. After SAF, the AIFF might send the team on an African tour to countries like Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia also. Nayeem believes that India can pose stiff challenge for the better known teams of Asia this time.