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AIFF U-19 Elite Academy to face Tottenham Hotspur

AIFF U-19 Elite Academy

AIFF U-19 Elite Academy

As if rubbing shoulders with Robert Pires and meeting Zico was not enough, the AIFF Under-19 Elite Academy will now be travelling to Malaysia to play against teams like Tottenham Hotspur FC and Estudiantes de La Plata in the Frenz United International Cup FIC Under-18 Tournament starting January 3 till January 15, 2015.

“This will be a wonderful experience for our boys to get a feel of an international tournament and also playing against top youth teams of the likes of Tottenham,” Head Coach Shabir Pasha told AIFF Media.

“Our boys are raring to go and after good four months of playing in the Durand Cup, U-19 I-League and also against FC Goa, they are high on confidence. Let’s see what happens in Malaysia.”

Sixteen teams will be divided into four groups with two teams from each group making it to the quarterfinals. Two groups will be based in Malaysia while the other two in Indonesia. AIFF Elite Academy Boys are clubbed with Tottenham Hotspur, Argentine Premier Club Estudiantes de La Plata, and hosts Frenz United Malaysia U-18. Other big fishes in the tournament include FC Valencia, Liverpool FC, Besiktas and FC Porto.

The Boys in Blue will open their account against Estudiantes on January 4, followed by Spurs on 6th and ending with Frenz United Malaysia on 8th. If they reach the quarters, it will be played on January 10, while the semis are on 12th followed by the final on 15th.

So far the boys kicked off their season with the 127th Edition of Durand Cup in October 2014 in Goa, which proved to be a litmus test for them. Before their setback in the third place of the preliminary round against SESA Football Academy 1-1 (POS 3-4); they comprehensively annihilated Goa Velha SC and YCC Chandigarh in the opening stages of the qualifiers.

In the wheezing pause before the kickoff to the AIFF Under-19 I-league competition, the AIFF Elite Academy went astray 4-0 and 3-4 to Indian Super League semifinalists FC GOA. The Zico coached team though was very impressed with the performance of the youngsters.

‘They play like ones in Brazil’ is what the legendary Brazilian said post the second match.

“He was very impressed with the boys,” coach Pasha informed.

“It was a great learning experience for the boys to have played against Robert Pires,” he added.

The AIFF Elite Academy’s voyage to triumph was recuperated with a splendid performance and undisputable run in the Under-19 I-league by whipping out SESA Football Academy, Dempo SC and Sporting Clube de Goa in the qualifying round of the Goa Zone. The Boys have presently won all their three home matches and are top of the points table.

Frenz United International Cup | AIFF Elite Academy’s Group D Fixtures
Jan 4: AIFF Elite Academy v Estudiantes de La Plata
Jan 6: AIFF Elite Academy v Tottenham Hotspur
Jan 8: AIFF Elite Academy v Frenz United Malaysia

(Report & Picture courtesy AIFF Media)