India’s U-16 football team beats Al-Ahly in friendly match

The 2-1 result helps the team clinch the India-Egypt Friendship Cup.

India’s U-16 team will next play against Semoha team in Alexandria.

India’s Under-16 football team beat Al-Ahly 2-1 in friendly match to win the India-Egypt Friendship Cup.

Head coach of the Indian team, Bibiano Fernandes, expressed his happiness for the win and said the match was beneficial to his side and a learning experience for both teams. “I’m really happy we have learned a lot of things. We are looking forward to build this team to the AFC,” Fernandes told PTI .

Fernandes noted that the team was undergoing training to play in the Under-16 AFC tournament which will be held in Nepal. “They did a good job in terms of fitness and travelling and playing in another country. I’m really happy about this,” he said after the match on Saturday.

The head coach was optimistic about his team’s rise in quality in the future.

Rohit Danu, who scored the first goal for India said he gained valuable experience. “I’m very happy to score the first goal. I gained good experience is this match,” said Danu.

‘Happy’

Aenam Jyrwa, who scored the second goal, said that his goal confirmed the team’s trust in winning. “We have travelled so far to play this match so we are happy to win the first match and we are expected to win the second match as well,” Jyrwa said.

Ali Amr, Ahly team player who scored the only goal against India, congratulated the Indian team for its win. “Good luck for the Indian team. I enjoyed playing with them,” Amr said.

India’s Ambassador to Egypt, Sanjay Bhattacharyya, said the match showed the young team had a lot of talent. “I saw a lot of good techniques, some of the players were really brilliant. But the most important thing is that football won. I think this is just the beginning; I’m looking forward to an Egyptian team to go to India,” said the Ambassador.

Samer Abdel Rahman, coach of Al-Ahly Under-16 team, noticed that the Indian team was talented from their first interaction.

The Indian footballers will next play against Semoha team in Alexandria. The matches are being played as part of the ’India by the Nile’ cultural festival, which runs till April 27.