AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: After emerging Champions of the Jockey Cup Youth International Youth Invitational Football Tournament, the India U-16 National Team will be back to facing other National Teams in the 2018 Sportchain Cup.

Pitted against Norway and the U-17 National Team of United States of America, the boys will begin their sojourn against the North Americans on April 16 before taking on Norway on April 18. The team rounds off its campaign facing the USA once again on April 19. All the matches will be held at the Facsa Football Centre in Benicasim, Spain.

“USA are a tough team and Norway are also very strong. But as a team we are prepared. Our win in the Jockey Cup helped us gain confidence and the results in other friendlies have been encouraging,” Coach Bibiano Fernandes said. “The boys have been playing here for some time, so we are quite ready to face the twin challenges,” he added.

The U-16 National Team are currently on an exposure tour in preparation of their AFC U-16 Championship commitment later this year. All India Football Federation along with the Sports Authority of India have planned a series of matches leading up to the tournament.

“The matches, especially the ones against National Teams help us to gain lot of experience.  It is important for us to have enough matches at the top level and I would like to thank AIFF for thinking ahead and providing us those opportunities,” the Coach maintained.