AFC Under-16 Championship qualifiers: India face Bhutan

The biggest challenge for India stays to shut doors on complacency when they face Bhutan tomorrow. 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. 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.

“We have watched India and they are a good team,” Bhutan’s Japanese coach 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 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 Under-16 Championship stays the target. But it’s one step at a time, one match at a time.

The Under-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, and they stay ready for the next performance.

The kick-off at the Sabah Al-Salem Stadium on Friday, September 27 is at 4.50pm local Kuwait time (7.20pm IST).

(Report & Photo courtesy AIFF Media)