MARGAO
One of many fine young talents part of India’s existing U-17 crop set to play the forthcoming AFC U-17 Asian Cup Thailand 2023 is Prachit Viswas Naik Gaonkar.
The 17-year-old Prachit, who represents FC Goa colts, was born in Mapusa. The India U-17s have been training in Spain and Germany for the last month and a half, and have played preparatory matches against the youth teams of Atlético de Madrid, CD Leganés, Real Madrid CF, Getafe CF, VfB Stuttgart, SSV Reutlingen, FC Augsburg and TSV Schwaben Augsburg, registering five wins, four losses and a draw.
The team will travel to Thailand and are set to face Vietnam (June 17), Uzbekistan (June 20) and Japan (June 23) in Group D in Pathum Thani and Bangkok.
The Goan lad made a name for himself with an invaluable display and his class and potential in a crunch game. Gavin Araujao praised Prachit for his hard work and dedication.
"He was in the FC Goa Colts since its inception and is very impressive on the waistline. India coach Bibiano Fernandes is giving confidence to the lads and the boys are paying. I like that approach," Araujao, who is the coach of FC Goa U-17s, said.
Sugatesh was his first coach at Under-13 FC Goa Colts and is happy that Prachit is in the Under-17 squad. "It is hard work for him to figure in the squad and I wish him good luck," said Sugatesh.
