Matos banking on 'positive U-17 WC experience' ahead of AFC U-19 qualifiers

“It is very important to continue the process of developing football in the set of boys that have been provided post the World Cup. We will be looking forward to give all the teams a tough fight and aim for a win”, Matos said.

Published : Nov 03, 2017 20:39 IST

India U-19 football team upon arrival in Saudi Arabia for the AFC U-19 Championship qualifier.
India U-19 football team upon arrival in Saudi Arabia for the AFC U-19 Championship qualifier.
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India U-19 football team upon arrival in Saudi Arabia for the AFC U-19 Championship qualifier.

The Indian U-19 national team will face kick start its qualifying campaign for the AFC U-19 Championship at Dammam, Saudi Arabia on Saturday. It will take on the host in a Group D encounter at the Prince Mohammad bin Fahad Stadium.

READ: India U-17 stars among 29 probables for AFC U-19

Riding on the “positive experience” of the recently concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 India, head coach of the Indian U-19s, Luis Norton de Matos said in the official pre-tournament press conference that India will be looking to make an impact, whilst continuing the process of “building football in the next generation”.

“It is very important to continue the process of developing football in the set of boys that have been provided post the World Cup. We will be looking forward to give all the teams a tough fight and aim for a win”, Matos said.

“We will fight till the very end in our upcoming matches, but at the same time we respect our opponents and we know that our opponents have the necessary tools to hurt us. We will have to be focused and stay on our toes throughout the entirety of the matches.

“We aim to play against the best and we are drawn in a group that have some of the best youth teams in Asia. Against Saudi Arabia, it will be a very tough clash and the fact that they will be playing at home will add to that”, he added.

Comprising of a mixture of players from U-17 World Cup team and India’s U-19 team which played in the SAFF U-19 Championship in Bhutan, the U-19 national team has been pitted in Group D alongside host Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Turkmenistan.

India U19 are all set to begin their AFC U19 Championship qualifiers journey. #BackTheBlue #AsianDream

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“The set of players that we have are special and some of the boys who were part of the FIFA U-17 World Cup are in the Indian U-19s, which make it a very special experience of them of playing against some of the best youth teams of Asia.

“We are preparing for the future and through the process the players are bound to grow with the experience that they will get throughout”, Matos quipped. “The World Cup proved that the new generation can follow football and we wish to capitalize on this growth.”

In its preparation for the AFC U-19 Championship qualifiers, India had an exposure tour of Qatar wherein the colts played against Qatar U-19s and Al-Gharafa Club, losing 1-0 against the former and defeating the latter 3-1. “The exposure tours helped us in our preparation for the qualifiers as they gave us time for team chemistry to build both on and off the field. Our strength is our unity and if we aim to play as a single unit in the upcoming matches”, Matos informed.

Meanwhile, the head coach of Saudi Arabia Khalid Alatawi gave credit to India and said, “India are one of the teams that have evolved good with time and they (India) have made good progress. They (India) are quick on the ball and will be tough opponents tomorrow."

The kick-off for which is slated at 9:35 PM IST.

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