By Shoubhik Mukhopadhyay
I-League Media Team
NEW DELHI: The finest group of Gen-Y footballers, who are donning the AIFF Elite academy colour, have already proved their worth and are coming to the U-18 I-League as the favourite. Debutant Sports Authority of India, who have already tasted a sour loss against Salgaocar in their opening fixture, are slated to face AIFF Elite academy on 31st October. No matter what will be the outcome, the odds will be much higher for the defending champions AIFF Elite academy against the entrants.
AIFF Elite Academy knocked out every opponent last season and teams in the likes of Salgaocar, Sporting Clube de Goa, Dempo and SESA rattled in front of them. Elite academy racked up not less than twenty seven goals in the zonal round and qualified for the national round with seven stupendous wins. Having showcased pugnacious football, Elite academy have honed their defensive skill too. Conceding just a solitary goal throughout the zonal round solidify their supreme authority over the game. Elite academy heaved on tremendous command in the game and replicated the sublime ball game once again in the national round. While the attackers continued the damage work, defenders shown utmost resilience to keep their home unscathed. They wrecked up twenty goals in seven outings having conceded just three, menacing stats indeed. They had an unwritten mandate for the championship, sheer professionalism and astute skill were rightly crowned at the end.
The team, boasting of a natural leader Anirudh Thapa, prefer to play attractive football. Albeit coach picks 4-3-3 formation, players are quite flexible and switch their position as and when the situation demands. Edmund Lalrindika, Munchahary and Baoringdao Bodo, who are the vital cogs in the attacking third, are going to massacre many a coach’s dream undoubtedly. Bodo and Edmund dished out their fluid goal-scoring ability and scored four goals apiece in the recently concluded Subroto Cup, which paved their path to clinch the silverware eventually.
Jayananda Singh is the mainstay in the defense line as he communicates well and often delivers lethal long balls to the attackers. The defense line comprising of Asraf Ali Mondal, Amal Das, Jerry and Amit Tudu has fastened their belt to snuff out the attacking moves.
The team have been in tremendous touch and now it’s time to deliver against all odds. Floyd Pinto rightly pointed as the Elite academy boys are going to ply their trade against those who are 1-2 years older actually, “Our team comprise of 1998 & 1999 born players, so we are gearing up for the challenge from those opponents who are elder to us, at least by one year.” Despite of this impediment, he has enormous confidence on the lads who have earned plaudits for their show in the Subroto Cup.
Edmund Lalrindika, who’s extremely confident ahead of the U-18 I-League, is ready for the onslaught right away, “I want to prove myself in the bigger stage. There’s no consolation for seconds and thirds, I’m pushing my limits to reach the pinnacle”. Are rival camps listening to him?
