It may sound unfair for local kids to play against the team which trained in germany spain and played in qualifier.. but that is the only way we can find players who can get into the current side with limited time available ... Also if the kids of local federation cant match the national side then we can say they might as well get the reality check..
I think the main idea behind here is to have continuous match practice rather than quality of opponent. I feel it is a good idea from AIFF to play local side to gauge new talents and as well as have match practice for juniors in one shot.
AIFF team beat IFA XI 2-0 yesterday at MB ground. Adam has apparently liked a couple of players from IFA XI and these boys will undergo MRI tests (age fraud prevention) before they get a call up.
U17 World Cup: Ceppi's thumbs-up to Goa's stadiums
Ceppi (left) is pleased with Goan authorities' effort at Stadium redevelopment
17-Feb-2016 07:26:03
The LOC of India's U17 World Cup expressed his happiness at efforts to prep the stadiums up for the big tournaments to follow later in the year...
The FIFA delegation in India to carry out an inspection of all venues shortlisted for hosting the prestigious U17 World Cup in 2017, completed their assessment of Goa's Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, in Fatorda, and associated venues - delivering a similar verdict to that of Kerala's venues at a press conference in the Goan capital, on Tuesday, 16th February.
In attendance were Jamie Yarza, FIFA's Head of Events accompanied by Javier Ceppi, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the tournament, which is being hosted on Indian soil for the very first time. The likes of Goa Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar, All India Football Federation (AIFF) vice president Shrinivas Dempo and SAG executive director Sandip Jacques were also present.
"We visited the training grounds in Benailim, Utorda, Cuncolim, Bambolim and Tilak Maidan, Vasco. Except for Utorda where work is on, most other places have the wherewithals. We are happy with the timeline, progress of the work and implementation done by the Government of Goa through Sports Authority of Goa (SAG),” revealed Ceppi, clearly enthralled with the progress the authorities in charge of renovating the stadia to FIFA standards, were making.
Clarifying that he expected competancy in maintenance of the grounds after the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) U16 championships alongside the Indian Super League (ISL), the Chilean re-iterated, "SAG will hand over the grounds in June for the AFC U-16 Championship that begins in Goa in September. The grounds will be made available for the ISL and the I-League thereafter on condition that the grounds are returned back to us in the same pristine conditions that they are handed over. We expect the clubs to spend on the maintenance of the grounds when they are given charge.”
“The football can be compared to the level of World Cup football. It is not a youth tournament. The teams are technically, mentally and physically prepared,” elucidated Yarza, on the level of football at the tournament. .
Ceppi concluded by stating state federations will be responsible for hosting knockout games, depending upon their readiness.
"Each selected state will host the qualifying rounds and 16 round matches. The quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals venue will depend on the readiness and willingness of each state. The spectator participation will determine the willingness. The more people that come to watch the ISL and the I-League games will determine which states will get to host the final rounds of the World Cup," he concluded.
If number of spectators is the sole parameter for the final rounds then Kolkotta and Kochi are the shoo in favorites. Personally i would prefer the Group A hosted in either of these cities as apart from the roaring spectators we could also take advantage of the humidity, which the like of Europeans especially the Nordic countries would find difficult to cope with.
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U17 World Cup: Ceppi's thumbs-up to Goa's stadiums
Ceppi (left) is pleased with Goan authorities' effort at Stadium redevelopment
The LOC of India's U17 World Cup expressed his happiness at efforts to prep the stadiums up for the big tournaments to follow later in the year...
The FIFA delegation in India to carry out an inspection of all venues shortlisted for hosting the prestigious U17 World Cup in 2017, completed their assessment of Goa's Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, in Fatorda, and associated venues - delivering a similar verdict to that of Kerala's venues at a press conference in the Goan capital, on Tuesday, 16th February.
In attendance were Jamie Yarza, FIFA's Head of Events accompanied by Javier Ceppi, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the tournament, which is being hosted on Indian soil for the very first time. The likes of Goa Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar, All India Football Federation (AIFF) vice president Shrinivas Dempo and SAG executive director Sandip Jacques were also present.
"We visited the training grounds in Benailim, Utorda, Cuncolim, Bambolim and Tilak Maidan, Vasco. Except for Utorda where work is on, most other places have the wherewithals. We are happy with the timeline, progress of the work and implementation done by the Government of Goa through Sports Authority of Goa (SAG),” revealed Ceppi, clearly enthralled with the progress the authorities in charge of renovating the stadia to FIFA standards, were making.
Clarifying that he expected competancy in maintenance of the grounds after the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) U16 championships alongside the Indian Super League (ISL), the Chilean re-iterated, "SAG will hand over the grounds in June for the AFC U-16 Championship that begins in Goa in September. The grounds will be made available for the ISL and the I-League thereafter on condition that the grounds are returned back to us in the same pristine conditions that they are handed over. We expect the clubs to spend on the maintenance of the grounds when they are given charge.”
“The football can be compared to the level of World Cup football. It is not a youth tournament. The teams are technically, mentally and physically prepared,” elucidated Yarza, on the level of football at the tournament. .
Ceppi concluded by stating state federations will be responsible for hosting knockout games, depending upon their readiness.
"Each selected state will host the qualifying rounds and 16 round matches. The quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals venue will depend on the readiness and willingness of each state. The spectator participation will determine the willingness. The more people that come to watch the ISL and the I-League games will determine which states will get to host the final rounds of the World Cup," he concluded.
FIFA Delegation about DY Patil stadium