Having secured fighting draws in their opening round against Malaysia and USA respectively, hosts India and Tanzania are all set to unleash their arsenal in a Round 2 clash at Tilak Maidan, Vasco today
The Goan Network
Panaji
After playing a fighting 2-2 draw against Malaysia on Sunday, India Colts will be up against a gritty Tanzania, who shook USA during their 1-1 stalemate in the tournament opener at Tilak Maidan, Vasco.
On match eve, India coach Nicolai Adam is expecting his young guns to lift their performance and vindicate their talent at this level. As the team took to the pool at the hotel to beat the summer heat, Nicolai was seen motivating his boys.
The Arabian sea, barely some 50 meters away, spurred on by the breeze and maybe by the dark clouds overhead, a local quipped: "The sea is most dangerous at this time. Monsoon is to arrive soon. It just washes the sand away."
At the pool, the boys wash away their tired limbs at the recovery session.
Goa at this time of the year is hot and humid. “But we don’t have any problems playing in this heat,” Nicolai declares, adding: "We did our training sessions in Goa in the last five weeks in the heat. It’s not a problem.”
The overnight rain had an effect early morning in Goa but with the sun at his scorching rage as the day progressed, it has turned out more humid.
Did you have a look at Tanzania?
“The boys look a lot like the players from South Africans when we played there. They are tall but not muscular. They played a very good match against USA. It will be another hard day for us,” he maintained.
Tanzanian coach Bakari Shime, also insists, that it will be a “hard match” against India.
“India are the hosts. The hosts are always the strongest. On top of that, India have been preparing so long. It will be a hard game,” he says in one breath.
Only last night Malaysian coach Somasundram Periasamy had certified “India are a fit team.”
“India were physically fit and better than us. They had momentum with which they attacked and it cost us. Their wingers were very impressive,” he had said at the official post-match press conference.
Nicolai, nevertheless, speaks of what more is to be done. “We also have to be critical of ourselves. A 2-2 draw is not enough for what we have to play in the future,” he asserts. “The boys made too many mistakes. We need to avoid that. That’s how I see it, especially when you are the better team on the field. You just can’t afford that. So we need to improve on that aspect,” he informs.
“Coming back from 0-2 is quite good. I feel the spectators liked the spectacle. We hope more people come to the ground to cheer for us.”
Tickets for the tournament are available online on www.bookmyshow.com while admission for 18 and below is free. The match will also be streamed live on Indian football team’s official Facebook page.
Playing today
India v Tanzania, 4pm; Korea Republic v Malaysia, 8pm at Tilak Maidan, Vasco
