AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: A 23-member Indian U-18 team is currently in Bhutan to participate in the SAFF U-18 Championships. The squad which travelled from Delhi on September 16 will be playing its first match in the tournament on September 18 (today).

The opening encounter on September 18 is against Bangladesh while their next opponent is the hosts Bhutan on September 22. The tournament is being played on a Round Robin format with each team playing each other once.

Head Coach Floyd Pinto, informed that the entire squad is “looking forward to the tournament.”

“The team is ready for the SAFF Championships. This will be a good tournament practice for the upcoming AFC U-19 Championship Qualifiers,” he said.

“It will help us to know our strengths and weaknesses. And playing competitive matches is always better than training games.,” he added.

The 23-member squad is as follows:

GOALKEEPERS: Aditya Patra, Haroon Mohammad, Lara

DEFENDERS: Amal Das, Lalliansanga Renthlei, Kishan Singh Thongam, Namgyal Bhutia, Sahil Panwar, Asish Rai, Deepak Tangri, Jayananda Singh Moirangthem

MIDFIELDERS: Lalengzama Vangchhia, Lalnuntluanga Bawitlung, Zonunmawia, Abhisek Halder, Arnald Princeton Rebello, Ashis Pradhan

STRIKERS: Lalrindika Edmund, Roshan Singh Naorem, Suraj Rawat, Baoringdao Bodo, Pranjal Bhumij, Lalawmpuia