India U17 Team Gears Up for Key Friendlies Against Indonesia in Bali

The Indian U17 men's team arrives in Bali for crucial friendly matches against Indonesia U17, set for August 25 and 27, 2024. The fixtures are a precursor to the SAFF U17 Championship and AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers. A practice match against Bali United FC U20 ended in a 2-2 draw.

The Indian men's U17 team has touched down in Bali as they brace for two important friendly matches against Indonesia U17 on August 25 and 27, 2024. On Friday night, the Blue Colts held a practice game against Bali United FC U20 at the Samudra Kuta Stadium. The game concluded with a 2-2 draw, with goals from Mohammad Sami and Mohammad Arbash for India.

Coached by Ishfaq Ahmed, the Indian U17 team is ramping up their preparation for next month's SAFF U17 Championship in Bhutan and the AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Thailand this October. The squad had been training in Srinagar before their journey to Bali. 'We tried and tested our entire squad in yesterday's practice match,' noted Ahmed. 'The main eleven played only the last 25 minutes. The other players got a chance to play, and I'm thrilled about that.'

Ahmed praised the training facilities in Bali. 'Everything has been top-class, perfect for our upcoming tournaments. The climate is pleasant, and our hosts have been very accommodating,' added the coach. Contrary to expectations, temperatures in Srinagar and Bali are quite similar at this time of year, although Bali is more humid. The team has adjusted from training on an artificial pitch in Srinagar to natural grass in Bali without issues. The SAFF U17 Championship will be held on an artificial pitch, while the AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers will take place on natural grass.

Ahmed and his squad are eager for the challenges ahead, recognizing the importance of playing strong regional teams. 'It's crucial for our players to gain exposure against some of the top teams in the region. The Indonesian age-group teams have been performing well,' said Ahmed. Indonesia, which hosted the FIFA U-17 World Cup last year, finished third in the ASEAN U16 Boys Championship this year. Coached by Novo Sarianto, they secured third place by triumphing over Vietnam 5-0 after losing to Australia in the semi-finals.

'Indonesia has a strong and organized team with good technical and tactical abilities. They recently had a big win against Vietnam. This is the level of competition our boys will face,' Ahmed concluded. The friendlies against Indonesia U17 will be held at the Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium in Gianyar on Sunday and Tuesday, kicking off at 17:30 IST.

(With inputs from agencies.)