Sudeep Pakrashi:
It was not the first time the Indian under-17 football team qualified for the finals of the under-17 Asian Cup. India already qualified for the finals of the under-Asian Cup thrice in 2018, 2020 and 2023 and every time, under the guidance of former India international Bibiano Fernandes. On Saturday, India’s under-17 national team’s qualification for the under-17 Asian Cup came for the fourth time.
But the significant part was that, this was the first time India defeated Iran in the under-17 Asian Cup qualifiers, and Bibiano Fernandes says winning against a stronger team like Iran is one of his most memorable victories as coach.
The chief national coach under whose guidance India secured SAFF Championship recently, revealed while speaking to Parallel Sports on Monday, “Yes, winning against a team like Iran was not easy. I convinced the boys to be careful on strengthening defensive organization and make counterattacks according to the situation. They did a great job, fought till the end. All credit should go the boys.”
India will have to compete against the top-level teams like Qatar, Soudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, DPR Korea, Korea Republic, and China in the finals of under-17 Asian Cup, to be held in Saudi Araboia in May. Bibiano explains, “These boys have huge potential. They need to play preparatory matches the stronger teams like Iran. Simultaneously, the boys will also benefit if they get the opportunity to take part in a tournament like I-League.”
Rajrup Sarkar, the custodian from North 24 Parganas and a student of Zinc Football Academy Rajasthan, had an excellent performance in India’s do-or-die match against Iran. Bibiano also praised a lot about the goalkeeper stating, “He dished out an exceptional performance against Iran. I should be thankful to our goalkeeping coach for having guided him properly. In our national preparatory camp, goalkeepers never train alone. They are always trained with the defenders and before Iran match, goalkeepers underwent an intense training of penalty shoot-outs.”
When asked about his own desire, Bibiano Fernandes did not hide, saying, “Yes, now I desire to become a coach of the senior national team in future.”
