For India’s U-16 quartet, it was a dream come true when they got to interact with their heroes of the senior national football team. It all happened during the training session for the AFC Asian Cup qualifying match against Myanmar.
The Indian U-16 team had been the toast of the nation, qualifying to the AFC U-16 Final Malaysia 2017 earlier in September where it was held by defending AFC U-16 champion Iraq in its final match to qualify.
Even as the contingent were granted leave to go back to their respective hometowns after staying at the AIFF Academy in Goa for over a year, Rohit Danu, Ravi Rana Bahadur, Gurkirat Singh and Ricky John Shabong preferred to stay back, all to watch the Indian senior team take on Myanmar in Goa on Tuesday.
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“Its holiday time and everyone has gone back home. But, I couldn’t let this opportunity go out of my hand. So I preferred to stay back,” Rohit said while watching the senior team practice at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda.
“We have represented India at the U-16 level but my ultimate dream stays to represent my Country at the senior level. I know I need to work harder for that but right now, I can only feel it watching Sunil Bhaiya and others,” Rohit sounded emotional.
Post-practice the gesture from the senior boys floored the teenagers. Right from Stephen Constantine to Sunil Chhetri to Sandesh Jhingan to Subrata Paul, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Pritam Kotal, Anas Edathodika amongst others, almost everyone walked up to them to have a chat and even posed for pictures.
“Everyone dreams of donning the national colours but only they (pointing to the Senior Team) have managed to make it. We hope we can emulate them too,” goalkeeper Gurkirat Singh stated.
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