Aashis Pradhan in India U-16 football team

GANGTOK, 11 Sept: Sikkimese footballer Aashis Pradhan has been selected for the national U-16 football team.
An SFA release informs that the All India Football Federation has organised two friendlies as part of an exposure trip to the UAE for the India Under-16 national team in which they will be playing the UAE U-16 National Team and Al Sharjah SC ahead of their AFC U-16 Championship qualifiers campaign in Kuwait later this month.
The India Under-16 Boys, who have won the SAFF Under-16 Championship recently in Nepal, will be playing Al Sharjah SC on 13 September and the UAE Under-16 National Team on 17 September, 2013.
In the AFC Under-16 Championship qualifiers from 21 to 29 September, India would be facing the hosts Kuwait, Tajikistan, Lebanon and Bhutan. All matches would be played at the Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium in Kuwait City.
The India Under-16 team, which is being represented by the AIFF Regional Academy’s Under-15 boys, will be training at the renowned UAE club Al Wasl FC’s grounds and will also be using the club’s facilities, the release mentions.
India Under-16 Head Coach Goutam Ghosh said, “I would like to take this opportunity and thank the AIFF wholeheartedly for providing us this international exposure against competitive teams before AFC Qualifiers. Both teams are very good, and we are lucky to get such preparation.”
“We will benefit from practicing at Al Wasl’s grounds. They are a top club and it will be a learning experience for the Boys,” Goutam Ghosh added. President, BK Roka and general Secretary, SFA, Menla Ethenpa have congratulated Aashis Pradhan and wished him all the best.
The India Under-16 boys will be leaving for Dubai on Wednesday, 11 September.