All India Football Federation's developmental side Indian Arrows will face a stiff challenge when it takes on Mumbai City FC in the third qualifier of the Super Cup 2018 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Friday.
The Arrows team is a youth side comprising of players from the U-19 and U-17 national teams. Coach Luis Norton de Matos believes that the 'process needs to continue.'
"We are in a process and we'll continue to show that we are able to showcase a good brand of football, no matter who are we facing," Matos said.
"We had four wins in the I-League despite being the youngest squad in the league. Moreover, the youngest highest scorer Abhijit Sarkar is in my team. My boys were chosen for the Hero of the Match 10 times. Naorem scored arguably the best goal in the I-League and mostly, the team proved their mettle against the physically superior sides."
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Attacking midfielder, Princeton Rebello, said the squad is determined to make the most of the opportunity. "This is a competition where we can bow out on first day itself. We can't let this opportunity go,'' he said.
Meanwhile Mumbai City coach Alexandre Guimaraes lauded the AIFF's developmental project, saying, ''This is a very good idea of the federation to give them a possibility to compete with professional teams. This is not very usual in other places where I have been (Asia or South America) before.''
''This process can be continued and it'll gain them gather more experience for future. I watched some games and we know how hungry they're for the success."
Goalkeeper Amrinder Singh, who has recently extended his stay with the Mumbai-based club, also reaffirmed the same and ratified that they are taking the match very seriously.
"All the youngsters have the experience of playing in a FIFA World Cup, which is huge for any footballer. They're agile, they are learning with each passing day and we're aware of their potential. They can surprise one and all on a given day."
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