AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: The India U-16 Boys national team is all set to embark upon an exposure tour in the United Arab Emirates, where they are set to play friendlies against national teams and local clubs. 

The tour includes a Tri-Nation tournament with the likes of United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Following this, they are also set to face-off against the youth teams of a number of local clubs in and around Dubai.

Head Coach Shuvendu Panda was appreciative of the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) effort to help develop the young players, saying, “These kinds of exposure tours are always helpful for the kids. Getting to play against the best players from other countries would give these boys a lot of experience.”

AIFF Director of National Teams, and former Indian National Team captain Abhishek Yadav highlighted the work put into scouting the young talents from various youth leagues, ahead of this exposure tour.

“The team has players from various states spotted through trials over the last few months as well as from AIFF youth leagues and national football championships,” said Yadav. “The team remains in a formative stage as our trials on ongoing. It is greatly beneficial as we are giving players the opportunity to play against foreign opposition overseas from this stage itself.”

Tri-Nation Tournament: 

January 8: UAE vs India (Tri-nation)

January 12: India vs Saudi Arabia (Tri-nation)

January 15: UAE vs India U-16 (Friendly)