BHUBANESWAR 25-Mar-2018
Odisha lad Bekey Oram’s brace helped India U-16 National Team emerge champions in the Jockey Cup International Youth Invitational Football Tournament, defeating hosts Hong Kong U-17 team by 4-2 goals in their third and final match in Hong Kong today.
Rohit Danu and Lalrokima netted the other two goals for India. This was the team’s third consecutive victory in as many days, the team having earlier defeated Chinese Taipei 4-0 and Singapore 3-1. Bekey also scored one goal in the opening match against Singapore.
The tournament was an U-17 event where India fielded their U-16 National team. The team coached by Bibiano Fernandes is presently unbeaten in 22 matches which includes friendly matches against National Youth Teams and International Club and Academy sides.
The youth tournament was a part of series of International exposure tours planned by the All India Football Federation along with the Sports Authority of India to provide the best preparation for the squad in their quest to qualify to the next edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The U-16 boys have already qualified for the AFC U-16 Finals from where the top four teams will make it to the FIFA U-17 World Cup. The team which had earlier been on exposure tours to Dubai and Qatar now head to Spain where they will be playing in a tournament which includes short-format league matches plus a knockout elite tournament.
The tournament will also be participated by clubs/academies of the likes of FC Barcelona, Manchester United, UC Sampdoria, Villareal CF, FC Shakhtar Donetsk, etc. The boys thereafter play the Sport Chain Cup in Spain which is a 4-nation single round tournament against the National sides of USA, Norway and Morocco. The squad, thereafter, will proceed to play the SportChain Cup, a 4-nation single round tournament which includes the likes of USA and Norway, the fixtures of which are awaited.
SPAIN TOUR SCHEDULE:
March 28: India U-17 vs IFK Stocksund (SWE).
March 29: India U-17 vs BCN FC (AUS).
March 29: India U-17 vs CEF SP Vidrerenca (ESP).
March 30-31: Knockout rounds.
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PHOTO: India U-16 team after emerging champions in the Jockey Cup International Youth Invitational Football Tournament in Hong Kong on March 25, 2018.
