India U-15 and U-18 youths prepare for AFC events

Following an initiative by youth coach Colin Toal and the All India Football Federation, India's U-15 probables will play preparatory matches with U-15 teams of legendary German clubs Bayern Munich and Stuttgart FC in September. The Indian youths will have two weeks’ training at a top German sports centre including two or three preparatory matches. Toal started preparations in Goa last week with 33 U-15 boys and 30 U-18 boys.

“The boys in both the [AFC] age group championships, may not qualify for the final phase or they may qualify. If they can qualify that will be a great inspiration for them. But the evaluation of each player’s standard can actually be judged if these quality players are provided the best of the training along with quality preparatory matches on a long term basis, that is at least for next three years. And at the same time, the perfect evaluation of a player can be made if any among these junior and sub-junior probables can ensure his birth in the senior Indian team by his performance. You will be able to assess the player’s improvement in true sense if you find any among these junior and sub-junior boys can produce glittering performance in the National Football League," he told Sudeep Pakrashi of Express India.