Football team manager to return after spat with Houghton

NEW DELHI - With just two weeks left for the Asian Cup, the Indian football teams preparations received a severe jolt after manager Pradeep Chowdhury decided to return from the squads base in Dubai after falling out with chief coach Bob Houghton.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) claimed Friday that Chowdhury, who has been with the team for the last three years, will be returning due to health problems, but a top federation official IANS that the manager is returning after a spat with the coach.

There were differences of opinion between the coach and manager on several issues and they had a big fight on Friday after which the manager has decided to fly back home, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A team official in Dubai also confirmed to IANS that Chowdhury had a big fight with Houghton on several issues.

There were several issues on which both the coach and manager were not on the same wavelength. It will be a big blow for the morale of the team if such things take place just a couple of weeks before the Asian Cup, the official said.