Coach urges India players to have a ball at U-17 World Cup
De Matos: If we can show the world that we belong on the same page as them, then we have a victory
With less than a week to go for India to face the US in their campaign opener at the Fifa U-17 World Cup, India U-17 head coach Luís Norton de Matos wants the young colts to enjoy every moment of the mega event.
“Liberty and responsibility is what I believe in. The capacity of taking decisions is what football is all about, along with enjoying every moment of playing on the pitch,” Matos said.
“The level of the Indian U-17s is very high and I want them to enjoy every moment they play in the Fifa U-17 World Cup. At the same time, we will fight as we want to show the world that we belong on the same page as them,” he added.
“All games are winnable football.”
India have been drawn in Group A of the Fifa U-17 World Cup along side the US, Colombia and Ghana. The Indian boys face the US on October 6, before locking horns with Colombia and Ghana on October 9 and October 12 respectively at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here.
“We have nothing to lose and we have everything to win. If we can show the world that we belong on the same page as them, then we have a victory in that,” Norton said.
“The Fifa U-17 World Cup 2017 India is a big moment for Indian football and I am glad to be a part of it”, the Portuguese coach added.
“We have a destiny in life and I think coming here to India was mine. My great grandfather was born here and I always heard about India back in Portugal hence it is an amazing feeling to be here, associated with a keynote in Indian football’s history.”
Tough group for Ghana
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The Ghana U-17 coach Paa Kwesi Fabin asserted that they would prove to the world their side is the best at the event. The coach, who has been the in-charge of the U-17 side since 2011 said despite being in a tough group, his wards are ready to take up the challenge.
“In India, we’ll be out to show we’re the best, we’ve been handed a very tough group, We’re up against the sort of sides who need no introduction, but we’re ready,” coach Kwesi Fabin was quoted saying by Fifa on Friday.
Ghana will feature for the first time in the U-17 World Cup after an absence of 10 years, thanks to their runners-up spot finish in the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations which concluded earlier this year.
The coach feels the side has put immense efforts to return for the U-17 World Cup. He also targets entering the final of the tournament and winning it.
“We put in a big effort to get to the U-17 World Cup again. Qualifying was very tough, but our hard work paid off and we achieved our goal, the time has come for us to reap the benefits of everything we’ve done so far,” Ghana U-17 coach said.