You
look at the boys and try to dig deep. It's the U-16 Asian Cup and four
years down the line some of them, who knows, will be as big as Lionel
Messi or even better than Diego Maradona. Fresh but shy faces, eyes
filled with ambition and with an ability to take on the World with the
ball at their feet, each one of them avoids eye contact with you. You
greet them and the first common line which you hear, stays: "Good Luck."
You try to engage them in a conversation, they just nod and smile; that
too with their heads down. There's Japan, there's the two Koreas,
there's Australia, there's Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, China
and others - the cream of Asia. And among them there's a bunch of
talented boys from India; the U-16 Indian National Team - the future of
Indian Football. India who earned a ticket for the final phase in
October 2011 in Tashkent, stay clubbed with Uzbekistan, Syria and China
in Group D. The top-two from each Group qualify for the Quarterfinals
while the four semifinalists get a direct entry into the U-17 World Cup.
On the surface that means, India stay 4 matches away from a spot in the
World Cup. "Namaste," utters former Indian National Coach Rustam
Akramov, presently the Director of Uzbekistan's National Team. India are
slated to play Uzbekistan in their first match on September 23
(Sunday). The elder statesman informs: "We have trained for 73 days
abroad for the Championship and have played 24 International matches.
This U-16 bunch of ours stays more tactically organised than our U-19
batch." Both the teams had their first practice session at the Rah Ahan
Stadium, the venue for the match. "International exposures at this
age matters. Uzbekistan go into the match with more confidence than us,"
Colm Joseph Toal utters. "But we will be competitive." The boys, by
then, finishing their practice session, were tossing the ball in the
sky. The blue sky just couldn't have been clearer. The last time the
Indian U-19 team played in the AFC Qualifiers, temperatures for the
fortnight stayed an average minus one degree. The snow, the rain and the
chilly winds which seemed to pierce the bone just can't be identified
with September's Tehran. Come September, flowers greet you at every
corner, there's a wind which you will love - more like the spring;
there's spring in everyone's steps as colourful kites fly in the sky.
The Alborz Mountain Range, all brown, watches. The Indian boys
always move in a group. Speak to them but it's hard to make them speak.
All they understand is that they stay on the threshold of history and
need to perform to their potential. "From the batch of 2008, Lalrindika
Ralte, Manandeep Singh and Shilton D'Silva made already played for
India," Toal recollects. The U-16 boys enquire about India's performance
in U-22 Championship every moment. Dika, Milan, Manandeep were all part
of that.
"I
feel, at this level, you can never be consistent. It's all about the
age. They are not even 16," Akramov says. "We have had exceptional days
and even below average ones. At this age, the heart plays a big role.
Everything stays so unpredictable." There's always a bit of
restlessness yet calm about Colm Toal. He checks every minute detail and
stays the first one to arrive down at the lobby for the practice
sessions. Having earlier coached China and Uzbekistan, he knows their
footballing structure, the age-group teams more than anyone else.
It's hard to judge whether the boys love or respect him more. Toal
smiles. "We need to be competitive and we will," he murmurs. The boys
can't hear him this time. With a ball in their hands, traffic obstacles
force a halt every second minute. The journey stays long. The Rah Ayan
Stadium awaits.
Uzbekistan-We have trained for 73 days
abroad for the Championship and have played 24 International matches.
This U-16 bunch of ours stays more tactically organised than our U-19
batch.
Guys the big difference here would be the tactics and team cohesion... remember the match we lost 6-0 we were missing raja in the midfield.. while its scary the number of matches uzbek have played internationally and the fact india lost to uae 2 times does not really uplift your spirits..
However Lets not just dismiss india, i am sure the cubs are raring to go and Colin toal would have prepared the tactics keeping in mind the Uzbek games and reputation..
no doubt uzbek will probably be the title contenders and definitely a very tough team..but this is football anything is posible even a upset...I feel we can get even a win, we may just play the match of our lives and win or we may be outclassed..lets see..Personally i feel the stay of the IMG boys level of training in America and the crucial 3 month stay together in goa will have made the cubs a much more cohesive unit since the last qualification.
probably the game plan will be to defend well especially the first 15-20 min , by then the cubs will get over their nerves and build the confidence and suprise us like the india U22..Lets not just write off indian cubs with a loss.
I am just wondering what will be the weather conditions..if its freezing wetaher its may affect our play while the uzbeks are used to that kinda weather..
> ashindia said:
> Ronny Bro this our next U-16 team(currently U-15) maybe physically they can match Asians atleast for starters
yes I saw this pic today..This team looks almost like our current u-16 team..I think AIFF are trying to pick up physically bigger kids for the academies
Comments
2-1 to uzbeks..cause this is the first match of the tournament..no matter what they would also be under pressure to perform.
You look at the boys and try to dig deep. It's the U-16 Asian Cup and four years down the line some of them, who knows, will be as big as Lionel Messi or even better than Diego Maradona.
Fresh but shy faces, eyes filled with ambition and with an ability to take on the World with the ball at their feet, each one of them avoids eye contact with you. You greet them and the first common line which you hear, stays: "Good Luck." You try to engage them in a conversation, they just nod and smile; that too with their heads down.
There's Japan, there's the two Koreas, there's Australia, there's Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, China and others - the cream of Asia. And among them there's a bunch of talented boys from India; the U-16 Indian National Team - the future of Indian Football.
India who earned a ticket for the final phase in October 2011 in Tashkent, stay clubbed with Uzbekistan, Syria and China in Group D. The top-two from each Group qualify for the Quarterfinals while the four semifinalists get a direct entry into the U-17 World Cup. On the surface that means, India stay 4 matches away from a spot in the World Cup.
"Namaste," utters former Indian National Coach Rustam Akramov, presently the Director of Uzbekistan's National Team. India are slated to play Uzbekistan in their first match on September 23 (Sunday).
The elder statesman informs: "We have trained for 73 days abroad for the Championship and have played 24 International matches. This U-16 bunch of ours stays more tactically organised than our U-19 batch." Both the teams had their first practice session at the Rah Ahan Stadium, the venue for the match.
"International exposures at this age matters. Uzbekistan go into the match with more confidence than us," Colm Joseph Toal utters. "But we will be competitive." The boys, by then, finishing their practice session, were tossing the ball in the sky.
The blue sky just couldn't have been clearer. The last time the Indian U-19 team played in the AFC Qualifiers, temperatures for the fortnight stayed an average minus one degree. The snow, the rain and the chilly winds which seemed to pierce the bone just can't be identified with September's Tehran.
Come September, flowers greet you at every corner, there's a wind which you will love - more like the spring; there's spring in everyone's steps as colourful kites fly in the sky. The Alborz Mountain Range, all brown, watches.
The Indian boys always move in a group. Speak to them but it's hard to make them speak. All they understand is that they stay on the threshold of history and need to perform to their potential. "From the batch of 2008, Lalrindika Ralte, Manandeep Singh and Shilton D'Silva made already played for India," Toal recollects. The U-16 boys enquire about India's performance in U-22 Championship every moment. Dika, Milan, Manandeep were all part of that.
"I feel, at this level, you can never be consistent. It's all about the age. They are not even 16," Akramov says. "We have had exceptional days and even below average ones. At this age, the heart plays a big role. Everything stays so unpredictable."
There's always a bit of restlessness yet calm about Colm Toal. He checks every minute detail and stays the first one to arrive down at the lobby for the practice sessions. Having earlier coached China and Uzbekistan, he knows their footballing structure, the age-group teams more than anyone else.
It's hard to judge whether the boys love or respect him more. Toal smiles. "We need to be competitive and we will," he murmurs. The boys can't hear him this time. With a ball in their hands, traffic obstacles force a halt every second minute. The journey stays long. The Rah Ayan Stadium awaits.
Uzbekistan-We have trained for 73 days
(
abroad for the Championship and have played 24 International matches.
This U-16 bunch of ours stays more tactically organised than our U-19
batch.
3 - 0 to india...uttam rai for hattrick
> ankit said:
> 3 - 0 to india...uttam rai for hattrick
8->
Ronny Bro this our next U-16 team(currently U-15) maybe physically they can match Asians atleast for starters
Guys the big difference here would be the tactics and team cohesion... remember the match we lost 6-0 we were missing raja in the midfield.. while its scary the number of matches uzbek have played internationally and the fact india lost to uae 2 times does not really uplift your spirits..
However Lets not just dismiss india, i am sure the cubs are raring to go and Colin toal would have prepared the tactics keeping in mind the Uzbek games and reputation..
no doubt uzbek will probably be the title contenders and definitely a very tough team..but this is football anything is posible even a upset...I feel we can get even a win, we may just play the match of our lives and win or we may be outclassed..lets see..Personally i feel the stay of the IMG boys level of training in America and the crucial 3 month stay together in goa will have made the cubs a much more cohesive unit since the last qualification.
probably the game plan will be to defend well especially the first 15-20 min , by then the cubs will get over their nerves and build the confidence and suprise us like the india U22..Lets not just write off indian cubs with a loss.
I am just wondering what will be the weather conditions..if its freezing wetaher its may affect our play while the uzbeks are used to that kinda weather..
> ashindia said:
> Ronny Bro this our next U-16 team(currently U-15) maybe physically they can match Asians atleast for starters
yes I saw this pic today..This team looks almost like our current u-16 team..I think AIFF are trying to pick up physically bigger kids for the academies
Actually majority are not even 14 yet as per scot donell