India football captain Sunil Chhetri took to Twitter to wish the U-16 Indian team ahead of their quarterfinal clash against South Korea in the AFC U-16 Championship.
In the short video, Chhetri tells the boys and coach Bibiano Fernandes that they have made India proud by getting this far in the tournament and to give everything that they have got. He further says that the entire country would be rooting for them.
“Boys, Bibiano, and everyone with the team, all the very best, my friend. Go there, give everything that you've got and enjoy. It is very, very important that you enjoy this whole moment. You guys have already made us proud. The whole country is proud. The whole country is going to be rooting for you. Just go there and give whatever you have. All the very best.”
The Indian colts are facing heavyweights South Korea in the quarterfinal of the AFC Championship. A win would help India get a ticket to the next U-17 World Cup.
Earlier, Bibiano had said that the quarterfinal against South Korea will be the most challenging 90 minutes of his players' careers. South Korea are clear favourites, however, their head coach Kim Jung Soo said the Indian side deserved to be in the quarterfinal, and each team that has qualified for the quarterfinals “should be considered as favourites”.
Kim Jung Soo also praised India's defence line that has not conceded a single goal as yet in the tournament.
India will look to give South Korea a run for its money, but the suspension of central defender Bikash Yumnam for double booking is surely going to be a setback for the team.
The Indian team had faced South Korea in the same stage 16 years ago, and lost 1-3.