The Indian men's U17 football team is gearing up for a crucial test against Indonesia, with two friendly matches scheduled in Bali this Sunday and the following Tuesday.
These fixtures are a significant part of their preparation for the upcoming SAFF U17 Championship in Bhutan next month, followed by the AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Thailand this October.
On Friday night, the Blue Colts played a practice match against Bali United FC's U20 side at the Samudra Kuta Stadium, ending in a competitive 2-2 draw. Mohammad Sami and Mohammad Arbash were on the scoresheet for India, showcasing the team’s potential as they adjust to international competition.
Under the guidance of coach Ishfaq Ahmed, the team has been rigorously preparing for these crucial tournaments. They spent over a month and a half training in Srinagar before embarking on their journey to Indonesia. The coach utilized the practice match to evaluate the entire squad, giving all players a chance to demonstrate their abilities.
"We tried and tested our entire squad in yesterday's practice match," Ahmed said. "The main eleven only played in the last 25 minutes. The other players got the chance to play, and I'm really happy about that."
The match against Bali United FC was a formidable challenge, as the Indonesian side featured five players from their national U20 team. "Bali United are one of the top teams here, and we could compete physically with them and judge our level," Ahmed noted.
This competitive match offered a valuable benchmark for the Indian team as they assess their readiness for upcoming tournaments.
Ahmed praised the training facilities in Bali, noting that the environment has been conducive to the team’s preparations. "The training facilities here are nice. Everything has been top-class, which is ideal for us to prepare for the main tournaments coming up. The climate is pleasant, and the hosts have been really helpful, accommodating all our requests. So far, so good here," he added.
Interestingly, despite being in different regions, the temperatures in Srinagar and Bali are comparable, ranging between 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. However, Bali's island climate brings higher humidity, a factor the team is adjusting to, alongside transitioning from the artificial pitches at Srinagar’s TRC Ground to natural grass in Indonesia.
The SAFF U17 Championship will be held on an artificial pitch at the Changlimithang Stadium, while the AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers will take place on natural grass at Chonburi Stadium, making this adaptation crucial. The upcoming friendlies will be held at the Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium in Gianyar, and Ahmed emphasized the importance of such matches for exposure.
"It’s extremely important for our players to get exposure against some of the best teams in the region," he said. "The Indonesian age-group teams are doing really well. This is the kind of competition we will face in the future."
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