By Shoubhik Mukhopadhyay,
AIFF Media Team

MARGAO: The parents are here and understandably they are the loudest cheerleaders. After all, it’s their sons who are representing India in the ongoing AFC U-16 Championship India 2016.

Understanding the pain of a parent staying away from their sons, that too at such a tender age, All India Football Federation made arrangements for them to witness their sons' act at the Stadium – be a part of unfurling the history from a touching distance.

Mohammed Khoro, Mohammed Rakip' father, prefers to talk less. But he couldn't hide his delight thanking All India Football Federation for their gesture.

“I could not hold my tears on seeing my son after 6-7 months. They have been constantly travelling and we can only get their news through AIFF website and social media handles and newspapers. But when I saw him after a long time, it was a different feeling.”

The soft-hearted man that Coach Nicolai Adam is, the boys were given a day off to meet and spend time with their parents. “It’s important that they get Football out of their head for the day. Their parents are here. Let them go and meet them,” he told www.the-aiff.com.

The parents fell short of words while reverencing All India Football Federation, Nicolai Adam and the entire Team management for safeguarding the prodigies from every possible predicament.

Thangjam Mohesh, Boris Singh's father, even didn't hesitate to say that even they can't take care of Boris as Nicolai as the Team does.

"I was astonished seeing the facilities over here. Honestly, we couldn't afford to offer such a picture-perfect setup to our son, not in our distant dreams. Although we don't meet, we still get the feeling that he is nourished better under the AIFF's umbrella – honing his skills under Coach Nicolai.”

The boys were sitting at a distance and hearing their parents speak. I between, you couldn’t miss the sparkle in their eyes. They were their parents after all.

Khumanthem Manglemba Meetei, father of the jovial midfielder Ninthoi, reiterated the fact while speaking to www.the-aiff.com. "Off course we miss our son. But the fact that he's representing our Country gives us a sublime feeling. We know it could not have been possible without AIFF’s help. Hope that our boys pay back.”

The story takes a surprise turn when www.the-aiff.com interacted with C.P. Shangkailal Aimol, father of Aimol Chongampipa who returned to India with a broken shinbone – an injury which he suffered during the match against MSV Duisburg on August 21, 2016.

"I knew that my son is not even able to stand properly, let alone playing Football. Still I came to Goa. What if my son isn't playing? Other boys are playing. I want to see them winning. They are also my sons, aren't they?"

"Nicolai Sir, manager sir sab humahre bachche ka itna dhyan rakhkha, apni mata-pita jaise. AIFF bachche logo ki itna khayal rakhte hai.  Sab ko dhanyabad dene ke liye mein aaya hoon. Mera beta khel nahi rahe to kya?  (Nicolai Sir always takes the effort to guard the boys. They treat them like their parents only, if not less. AIFF takes care of all minute aspects to make the boys feel at home. I have all the way here to thank them. It doesn’t matter whether my son plays or not.).

“Thank you AIFF,” the parents said in chorus.

By then it was time for the boys to say goodbye as they had to be at the Team Hotel by dinner time. The parents hugged them, the boys hugged them more. From a distance you watched – maybe your eyes were a bit moist, maybe for that split second, your heart cried.

Outside, it was drizzling.