By Nilanjan Datta, AIFF Media Team
KUWAIT CITY:
The waves of the Persian Gulf break on the shore, the tall Buildings,
the next one taller than the previous, watch. Kuwait City is City of
skyscrapers with wide yet quiet roads where with the latest Car Models
glide past you. Honking? What is that? Even India U-16 boys ask.
As
the Team Bus passes by the majestic Al Jaber Ahmad International
Stadium, all watch in awe. You hear the shutters of the Cameras being
pressed. “It’s a 250 Million Dollar Stadium,” locals tell you. “There
are two helipads inside the Stadium for emergency and VIP movement.”
The
Training Ground of the All India Football Federation’s Academy boys
stay next door -- at the Al Nasr Club premises where three lush green
turfs lie side by side. The spring in the steps among the boys is
unmistakable, the camaraderie, spontaneous. This Team is not a
stereotype.
“We
have watched India and they are a good Team,” Bhutan’s Coach from
Japan, Kazunori Ohara opined after Bhutan lost their third consecutive
match against Kuwait. “We are in the process of building our side. But
it will take time. The boys are learning at every step.”
The
biggest challenge for India stays to shut doors on complacency. But
Head Coach Goutam Ghosh isn’t worried. “We played well against
Tajikistan in our first match and fared much better against Lebanon to
register a facile win. We haven’t ever taught the boys to relax during a
match. So there’s no question of complacency,” Ghosh tells www.the-aiff.com.
“But it’s not time for any jubilation. The next match is day after and
the boys need to eat and rest properly. There are niggles which need to
be looked into.”
Midfielder
Deependra Singh Negi, who had come in as a substitute against Lebanon
in the second half had to be rushed to a local Hospital after he
suffered from back spasms. He is fine now.
The
preparation for Bhutan stays precise. With Bhutan noted down in the
logbook, the boys are briefed. “People may feel we played excellent in
our last match against Lebanon. I have been reiterating that’s our
normal style of play. We are used to see the boys playing like that,”
Ghosh adds.
There
were a lot of NRIs who had dropped in for the match against Lebanon,
including notable dignitaries from the Indian Embassy in Kuwait. They
went back impressed, discussing the style of passing and pressing. When
these boys play, Football just looks so simple. But it’s still early
days.
“I
reiterate, I have full confidence in my boys. I know what they are
capable of. But they are young and almost every other Team has more
physical presence than us,” Ghosh states. “Bhutan are passing through a
transition like us. They didn’t have a good match against Tajikistan but
played well in flashes against Kuwait. But we are ready for them.”
Will
there be any changes? “We don’t want to break the rhythm. We are
playing three matches in five days and besides being physically fit,
they need to be mentally fresh,” Ghosh, looking into his logbook,
pronounces.
Qualifying
for the Final Phase of the AFC U-16 Championship stays the bull’s eye.
But it’s one step at a time, one match at a time.
The
beauty of the sport stays there is no loneliness. The U-16 wards always
stay engaged in something or the other among their teammates -- minute
after minute; hour after hour. There’s no pressure seeping into the
ranks, they stay ready for the next performance.
The Persian Gulf, all blue watches; as do the Tall Buildings.
The kick-off at the Sabah Al-Salem Stadium on Friday (September 27) is at IST 7.20pm.
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