Will try to give every member maximum game time possible, says U-19 coach Floyd Pinto
India U-19 football team coach Floyd Pinto has stated that he would try to give every player in the 18-member squad as much playing time as possible in the Granatkin Memorial Tournament. Wonder kid Sanjeev Stalin stated that they have a tough task at hand and the side would be competitive.
India have been clubbed with Bulgaria, and Moldova, apart from hosts Russia, in the Group A of the tournament staged in memory of the first FIFA Vice-President Valentin Granatkin, scheduled to held in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday. And the U-19 has been participating in it in order to prepare for the AFC U-19 Qualifiers slated for later this year.
Head coach Pinto has stated that he would be taking this chance to test the mettle of every player that has travelled to Russia. "We have travelled with an 18-member squad. Our primary target will be to give every member as much game time as possible,” said Pinto, reported AIFF.
“This is a fresh squad with a mix of the boys from Indian Arrows, boys from the U-16 team who had qualified to quarterfinals of AFC U16 Championship (in 2018), and a new group of boys who have made it through the trials," Pinto added.
India would be playing three group matches before knowing their playoff fate and Pinto stated that acclimatizing with the Russian weather will be crucial with forecasts ranging from eight to 23 degrees.Â
"I am sure, the boys will love the weather,” Floyd maintained. Our primary lookout will be acclimatise as soon as possible, and play to our true potential,” he said.
Stalin, who caught eyeballs with his beautiful free-kick in the AFC U16 Championship in 2016, has stated that the team would give their best to overcome the tough challenges.
"Football is a tough game. We know whom we are going to play against. But we have to believe in ourselves, and execute it on the pitch. We will try to play to our best, and overcome the challenges,” he said.
Squad:
GOALKEEPERS: Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Niraj Kumar.
DEFENDERS: Akash Mishra, Muhammed Rafi, Sumit Rathi, Shabas Ahammed, Jitendra Singh.
MIDFIELDERS: Sanjeev Stalin, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Ninthoinganba Meetei Khumanthem, Givson Singh Moirangthem, Vikram Partap Singh, Ricky John Shabong, Lalchhanhima Sailo, Muhammed Basith Parathodi, Robin Yadav.
FORWARDS: Harmanpreet Singh, Rohit Danu.