Indian U17 Football Team Eyes Indonesia Challenge Ahead of Key Tournaments

The Indian men's U17 football team, coached by Ishfaq Ahmed, is preparing for two friendlies against Indonesia in Bali as part of their training for the upcoming SAFF U17 Championship in Bhutan and AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Thailand. The team played a practice match against Bali United FC U20, resulting in a 2-2 draw.

The Indian men's U17 football team is gearing up for two crucial friendly matches against Indonesia in Bali. Set to take place this Sunday and next Tuesday, the matches are pivotal for the Blue Colts as they prepare for the SAFF U17 Championship in Bhutan this month and the AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Thailand in October.

On Friday night, the team played a practice match against Bali United FC U20 at the Samudra Kuta Stadium, where Mohammad Sami and Mohammad Arbash netted goals for India in a 2-2 draw. Head coach Ishfaq Ahmed noted that the practice match allowed them to test the entire squad, with the main eleven playing only in the last 25 minutes.

Ahmed highlighted the top-notch training facilities and the pleasant climate in Bali, describing them as ideal for the team's preparation. With the matches scheduled at the Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium, Ahmed emphasized the importance of exposure to competitive teams like Indonesia's, which will help the Blue Colts in future tournaments.

(With inputs from agencies.)