The India U-17 national team with AIFF President Praful Patel (Photo courtesy: AIFF Media)
All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Praful Patel paid a visit to the Indian U-17 National Team’s training session at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the Capital on Thursday (October 5, 2017).
“You need to enjoy the moment,” he told the boys. “The entire Country is rooting for you,” he added.
In the past few days, celebrities from all spheres of life right from Virat Kohli to Akshay Kumar to Sunil Chhetri to Mithali Raj to Varun Dhawan to VVS Laxman amongst others have poured in their best wishes for the National Team on social media handles.
Pointing up to the stands, Patel stated: “There will be around 50000 people in the stands shouting for you. Don’t put any pressure on yourself. Play your heart out,” he pronounced.
Patel met all the boys individually, greeted Coach Luís Norton de Matos and had a chat with Abhishek Yadav, Executive Committee member, also the COO of the India U-17 National Team.
The Team presented Patel with a National Team jersey with his name inscribed on the back.
The players obviously were floored by the gesture. Winger Komal Thattal said: “It is such an inspiration for all of us to have him at the training session. We thank him for being here,” he said.
(AIFF Media)