Khao Yai [Thailand], June 10 (ANI): The final one-and-a-half yr have been fairly hectic for India U-17 males’s nationwide crew. The kids have typically discovered themselves in hustle and bustle of assorted locations like Colombo within the SAFF U-17 Championship, in Muscat for observe matches, in Dammam through the AFC U-17 Qualifiers, in Goa throughout their lengthy preparatory camps, and in European cities like Madrid, Stuttgart and Augsburg for developmental coaching.
Call them globetrotters however they’re an especially targeted lot. With nearly per week to go forward of their Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-17 Asian Cup marketing campaign, the India U-17s now discover themselves in a moderately quiet nook of the world on the Khao Yai Sports Complex right here in Thailand, which is totally surrounded by the nothingness of the Khao Yai National Park, All India Football Federation mentioned in a launch.
With nothing to distract them for miles, U-17 boys practice exhausting day in and day trip forward of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-17 Asian Cup, the place they’re set to face Vietnam (June 17), Uzbekistan (June 20), and Japan (June 23) in Group D, the discharge mentioned.
Head coach Bibiano Fernandes feels that the boys are already acclimatised to the situations in Thailand and are raring to go.
“The motivation levels are right up there for these boys. They have all been training hard for months and have had the opportunity to play in some of the best conditions for their age,” Fernandes mentioned.
“Not only have they been able to play against some of the best clubs in the world, but now they have also been given two weeks to acclimatise to the weather and the pitches here in Thailand, before the AFC U-17 Asian Cup. The focus is optimum for them,” he added.
The India U-17s have performed two native groups in Thailand, incomes comfy wins in each matches. Fernandes believes that incomes respectable ends in the observe matches towards the junior sides of prime European groups like Atletico de Madrid, Real Madrid, VfB Stuttgart, FC Augsburg, and plenty of extra, have given the India U-17s the boldness to exit and carry out.
“I think a big thank you should go out to the Federation for arranging for our long camps in Spain and Germany, along with matches against some high-quality opponents. The results have mostly been positive, and that has given these boys a lot of confidence that they can take on quality sides in the AFC U-17 Asian Cup as well. I now have a bunch of highly motivated boys, who are dreaming of big things. That is always a good sign as a coach,” mentioned the coach.
The launch mentioned the present squad of 23 gamers which have travelled to Thailand for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup is a rigorously crafted one which took round one-and-a-half years to construct. The present squad has 10 gamers who weren’t part of the squad that secured qualification for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, final yr.
The crew had been in camp since November final yr in Goa, and gamers from everywhere in the nation had been introduced in because the teaching workers examined them out beneath varied situations. The 10 that emerged to ultimately seal their berth within the squad that may characterize India within the AFC U-17 Asian Cup are – Pranav Sundarraman, Pramveer, Dhanajit Ashangbam, Rohen Singh, Omang Dodum, Akash Tirkey, Prachit Gaonkar, Shashwat Panwar, Lemmet Tangvah and Gogocha Chungkham.
“Building this squad took all the knowledge and experience we built from the SAFF (U-17) Championship and the Asian Cup Qualifiers last year,” mentioned Fernandes.
“There are some boys who have been here from the start, and others who have joined in after November last year, but it has always been about the long process of building this team.””The first things that we try to inculcate in these boys once they come into the team are their attitude, behaviour, manners, respect for opponents, and being better human beings in general. That always has to come first. Once that is out of the way, we focus on their acumen on the pitch. Discipline is the main thing for me. If you cannot be disciplined, you cannot excel in any sport. But what was great to see was that the boys who have been in this team for longer have helped the newer ones get into the groove of the team,” he added.
Bibiano’s boys have a dream to achieve the World Cup (the 4 semi-finalists of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup get direct entry into the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2023), the discharge mentioned, including that whereas some robust groups stand of their method, the India U-17s stay steadfast.
“Oh, the boys are just raring to go. Of course, we have some tough teams in our group, but there are no easy matches at this level. Everyone has come to win and to qualify for the World Cup, and so have we. We will take it one step at a time. The first objective is to get good results and qualify for the quarter-finals. Then it is just one more step from there,” concluded the coach.
India U-17s’ Squad of 23:Goalkeepers: Sahil Poonia, Julfikar Gazi, Pranav Sundarraman.
Defenders: Ricky Meetei Haobam, Surajkumar Singh, Mukul Panwar, Malemngamba Singh Thokchom, Pramveer, Dhanajit Ashangbam.
Midfielders: Vanlalpeka Guite, Danny Meitei Laishram, Gurnaj Singh Grewal, Korou Singh Thingujam, Lalpekhlua Ralte, Rohen Singh, Omang Dodum, Faizan Waheed, Akash Tirkey, Prachit Vishwas Naik Gaonkar.
Forwards: Thanglalsoun Gangte, Shashwat Panwar, Lemmet Tangvah, Gogocha Chungkham.
Head Coach: Bibiano Fernandes. (ANI)