By Shoubhik Mukhopadhyay
I-League Media Team

NEW DELHI: Tata Football Academy cadets were plagued persistently as they were ousted from the U-19 I-League last year following drawing of lots. Unarguably it is the only occasion in football history where defending champions got booted from the tournament following a drawing of lot round, really football takes it all. The cadets are ready to rewrite the story now as they unfurl their voyage in U-18 I-League against Mohun Bagan AC in an away fixture tomorrow.

Tata Football Academy and Hindustan FC were tied with same points in U-19 I-League last season, incidentally their goal difference, head to head record were identical too, so only drawing of lot was left to separate them, where Hindustan FC pipped the veteran football academy to get a nod into the national round. The wound won’t be healed any sooner than clinching the silverware this occasion.

The team have been training hard under the tutelage of Lee Walshaw and Akshay Das and they have pulled up their socks to thwart their opponents. The captain’s armband has been handed to Ronald Singh and he has proved his worth meticulously. His dedication and exemplary leadership acumen have been enormously worthwhile for the entire squad. The coaching team prefer the English style of play, primarily 4-2-3-1 with sole striker. Kuki and Srivash Singh are the primary attacking blades while Ronald and Rahul are handed with the responsibility to keep the supply line unharmed.

The defense line boasts of some of the best youngsters around the country in the likes of Shubham Singh, Naresh Singh and Rakesh Yadav. Undoubtedly, rival camps have to sweat it a lot to percolate this defense line.

“We are here to win this time, no matter what happened last year, it’s history now”, gaffer sounded really positive and optimistic about his team’s outcome. We won’t be surprised once some of the biggies get flummoxed by the crafty lads from Tata Football Academy.