AIFF Media Team
NEW DELHI: High on confidence after their 4-1 victory against Sri Lanka U-16 in their first Group B encounter of the 2nd edition of the SAFF U-16 Championships in Kathmandu, the Indian U-16 National Team take on Bangladesh at the Army Ground on Thursday (July 25, 2013).
With Bangladesh, being Coached by a Dutch Coach, having beaten Sri Lanka in the match between the two Teams, both India and Bangladesh have already sealed their berths in the semifinal.
But Head Coach Goutam Ghosh concentrates on the job in hand. “The second match will be about rectifying the mistakes we made in the first one against the Lankans,” Ghosh told www.the-aiff.com.
“We played well for the entire length of the match but we were not flawless. We have been working on our weaknesses and come the morrow, if we succeed in not making the same mistakes, we are successful. This is more important to me than the result,” added the Coach.
Staying true to All India Football Federation (AIFF)’s philosophy of Youth Development Programme stays on top of Ghosh’s agenda. “Results stay immaterial,” he keeps on reiterating.
“You take any top Country with sound Youth System in place. They set long-term goals. More than winning, the aim is to nurture the Players for the future -- so that ten years later, our players can compete with the best,” Ghosh maintains.
Ghosh maintained that these Exposure Trips help the boys understand different cultures and give them international exposure, which at their age is more important than mere results.
“The fact that the boys are going through the grind of a Tournament and adapting to different cultures is very encouraging. I sincerely thank AIFF for such Exposure Trips. These Tours will help the boys mature,” Ghosh said.
“As far as victories are concerned, that will come naturally if we are playing well and sticking to our philosophy. In fact, it will be an indication for us that we are on the right track. But at the same time, our >
The kick-off is at 4.15pm (IST).
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