India probable to face NE XI today

By our sports Reporter

GUWAHATI, Jan 28: India's probable squad for the 2017 U-17 World Cup will face North East combined XI in a friendly game at the Indira Gandhi Athletics stadium tomorrow. The match will kick off at 5 in the evening.

The idea behind organizing the match is to look out for potential talent who could still make the cut for the Under-17 World Cup squad. Talking to the media person, just before the team’s practise session today, Nicolai Adam, the chief coach of the Indian U-17 World Cup squad,  said, that they are in the city as a part of their talent hunt programme for the world cup. “ Before we start our fil preparation I want to check whether there is any more talented footballers left in the country. At present we have around 35 footballers in our Goa academy and If we find any new talent we will definitely include him in the academy from where the fil squad will be selected.”

India will host the next U-17 World Cup and turally a lot of expectation will be there from Indian squad by the soccer fans of the country. However Nicolai today warned the fans not to expect too much from the team as on merit India is far behind than football developing country of the world. “I have taken the charge of the team one year back and thereafter I have visited many places of the country. What I have noticed is that the country is lack of infrastructure and sufficient competitions in the junior level. You can’t improve the standard of the game instantly unless those things are not on right place.”

Assam boy Aman Chetry, who is the part of the Indian probables, will miss tomorrows game because of injury. However Nicolai has found huge talent in him. “The boy is very talented and has very bright prospect,” said the coach.

The coach is also highly satisfied with the Sarusajai turf which will host the exhibition game tomorrow. “We have horrible experience in Kolkata in the earlier game as the turf was not fit at all to play soccer and I was very scared as there was every possibilities for the players to get hurt. However the turf at the Sarusajai stadium is excellent and Indian football needs this type of ground every where in the country,” added Nicolai.

Meanwhile replying a query on his plans on India’s preparations for the World cup Nicolai said, “ After these friendlies, we will go to South Africa for one month exposure trip. There we play against few top teams. The boys will then get a break for their examitions and we will again assemble in Goa during second week of April. We play some more exhibition games in India.   Later the probables will leave for Germany where we will have two camps and also play few matches.” India will also play fil round Asian U-16 soccer tourment in Goa this September.

Ankur Dutta, the secretary of the Assam Football Association, was also present in the media briefing. He added that due to security reason of the South Asian Games crowed will not be allowed to witness the game.

Meanwhile North East XI will have four players from Assam which included Chiranjit Gogoi, Tridev Boro, Gyandeep Gogoi and Jet Lee Buragohain.