PANAJI
Having reached Goa late into the evening on Tuesday, the team had to cancel first training session that same evening at Utorda. Jet lag and time zone across the seas notwithstanding, they advanced their training session from late evening on Wednesday to a morning session at Benaulim ground. A clear indication that their tenth appearance on the global stage at the U-17 level was not only to be competent but to be counted among the very best.
Entering the ground on a sunny morning, Costa Rica
began with the ‘Men in the middle.' In this game of skill, three of the young lads were in the circle and they had to intercept the ball being passed from end to end or across from the outer ring surrounding them.
Meanwhile closer to the sidelines facing the stands, two of the players apparently nursing niggles were being closely and individually monitored as they underwent resistance and recovery training with the loop band and balancing disc before moving on to a viper band. At a distance at goal, the three goal-keepers, Ricardo Montenegro, Brandon Calvo and Kevin Chamorro were enthusiastically going about their business. This was followed with a limbering up session with a hop, skip, jump kind of movements. Their intent, sharpness and adeptness on the move served a reminder to the handful present in the stands that the Goa opening game on October 7 played by Costa Rica against Germany at 5 pm will be a well-contested affair.
Los Ticos are at FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 on virtue of having finished second best to a hot World Cup Colts favourite Mexico at the CONCAF U-17 Championship. Though they may have lost to the eventual champions 6-1, these lads epitomize spirit, determination and potential to deliver more than what one may expect.
Meanwhile closer to the sidelines facing the stands, two of the players apparently nursing niggles were being closely and individually monitored as they underwent resistance and recovery training with the loop band and balancing disc before moving on to a viper band. At a distance at goal, the three goal-keepers, Ricardo Montenegro, Brandon Calvo and Kevin Chamorro were enthusiastically going about their business. This was followed with a limbering up session with a hop, skip, jump kind of movements. Their intent, sharpness and adeptness on the move served a reminder to the handful present in the stands that the Goa opening game on October 7 played by Costa Rica against Germany at 5 pm will be a well-contested affair.
Los Ticos are at FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 on virtue of having finished second best to a hot World Cup Colts favourite Mexico at the CONCAF U-17 Championship. Though they may have lost to the eventual champions 6-1, these lads epitomize spirit, determination and potential to deliver more than what one may expect.
