India eager to take on UAE in opener
The Goan Network
Panaji
Ahead of the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016, a pre-tournament press conference with the head coaches of Group A was held at the GMC Stadium Press Conference room on Wednesday.
Among the four teams of the Group which will play their first game at PJN Stadium, Fatorda on Thursday, Abdalla Ali Sultan Alhammadi, Head Coach of Islamic Republic of Iran was conspicuous by his absence while his counterparts from UAE, India and Saudi Arabia were present. Introducing the Head Coaches to the media present was AFC Media Officer, Seunghun Lee.
Talking about their team’s preparations coming into the tournament, the UAE gaffer Abdelmajeed Ibrahim Mohamed Alnemer revealed that they started preparing themselves from June. Before coming to India, they had an exposure trip to Malaysia wherein they played four matches and are now ready to take on the opposition for the tournament.
The India team coach, Nicolai Adam on his part stated that his side spent almost three months in Europe mostly in Germany and some time in Norway, playing a total of 19 matches and being more or less successful before returning to India on August 23.
Adam while stating that he was quite happy with his team’s preparations also lamented that it was unfortunate that on the last day in Germany that during a game one of his key players broke his leg. Adam while admitting that injuries happen in sport stated that they look forward to the AFC U-16 Championship starting on September 15 with the team eager to give it their best. The Saudi Arabia Head Coach, Mohammed Abdullah Alabdali calling the Championship a final exam stated that they prepared themselves with a three weeks camp wherein they played a few games which went well. They then moved to Asia for friendly games which they found beneficial to their side before coming to India for this tournament. Alabdali admitted that they have up front a difficult task and expect tough games while respecting each of the teams. He went on to say that while they have prepared well, he hopes the side fulfils the expectations of their people back home.
Talking of their tournament target, UAE’s Coach Alnemer hoped that their target on reaching the U-17 World Cup is the same as any other team in the competition. Nicolai, made it clear that he signed the contract with the National side with the intentions of preparing the team for the U-17 World Cup next year (October 2017, Goa). “We aim to qualify on merit and for that our next task is to reach the semis. This means that we belong to the World Cup stage and not there by virtue of playing hosts,” he made a telling statement.
Talking ahead of their first game opposition on Thursday at Fatorda Stadium, the UAE Coach Alnemer stated: "Our game is going to be the second game (7 pm). About the Indian Team, we have no idea. But we have put our honest preparations for our first game and rate our chances as equal to theirs,” he averred. Nicolai, the India Coach, on his UAE counterpart stated thus. “We take them seriously, they take us seriously. I hope to see a good match of both the teams doing well. At the end of the day it is youth football. I think nobody can say we will win this game. We are prepared to face UAE on Thursday, after that we will take on Saudi Arabia.”
