Sports
Can show world we can play football, says India U-17 coach
New Delhi, Sep 19 (IANS) India U-17 football team coach Luis Norton de Matos on Tuesday said that he wants to show the world his side can play football during the World Cup which is scheduled to start from October 6.
“All games are winnable in football, there is no game which can’t be won. Even if there is a five percent chance of winning we will fight for it, We want to show that the Indian team is as organised as the rest of the world and if we can show the world that we too can play football, it would be even better,” Matos told the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
The hosts are currently training for the U-17 World Cup in Goa. The colts earlier took part in a Four-Nation Tournament in Mexico after being part of exposure trips in Europe, facing national teams and club teams such as Benfica, Serbia and Macedonia amongst others.
“The level of the Indian U-17s is very high but come the FIFA U-17 World Cup it will be a different ball game altogether. However, if we can prove that the Indian team can play on the same page as the opposition in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, there is a victory in that,” the Portuguese said.
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“Every game you play either you win or it is a learning experience. Against Chile and Macedonia, we registered good results but the FIFA U-17 World Cup will be a competition and competitions are different from friendly games,” Matos added.
The 63-year-old who played five matches for Portugal also said the World Cup experience will be unique in Indian football history and he is delighted to be a part of it.
“It is amazing to be a part of a unique moment in Indian football’s history. I am very happy to be a part of it. If the players continue to play with hard work and dedication and chart goals for them, they can go on to be some of the best in the coming years,” he said.
“The players are already heroes because they will be playing in India’s first ever participation in a FIFA World Cup. This generation can inspire many coming generations to take up football in India,” Matos added.
–IANS
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The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.
Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.
Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”
Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.
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