U19 ISL players not being released for Indian Arrows, says De Matos
With an eye on bigger challenges, India’s U-17 World Cup football squad has been kept together to play in the 2017-18 I-League as Indian Arrows. But the Luis Norton De Matoscoached side shall not get its preferred choice of footballers for the domestic competition.
Apart from the U-17 boys, who played in the World Cup, Matos wanted several U-19 players for Indian Arrows but many of them are employed with ISL teams, who don’t want to part with them.
“The question is whether they will get game time or not in ISL. Playing 18 matches in I-League is better than playing two matches in ISL. At a young age, the more you play, the more you will develop. In I-League, there is chance to rub shoulders with senior players,” Matos said. “I had prepared a list of U-19 players but at least five of them are with ISL teams. I have no option. I want to prepare players for U-19 tournaments in the coming two years.”
The Indian Arrows is not a new experiment. From 2010 to 2013, the team comprising U-23 players played in three I-Leagues. It was later disbanded with the AIFF citing financial constraints.
The Portuguese national, however, added that he needs at least two years to develop the team so that it can compete with top international sides. His contract with the AIFF is only till the end of I-league. The Indian Arrows will play their home games in New Delhi.
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