India TFA Blue upbeat before Bangladesh tie
The Asian Age - September 11, 2003

Jamshedpur: After undergoing rigorous training at a month-long preparatory camp, the Suiting Lekini-led India TFA Blue is raring to go against an inexperienced Bangladesh team in the inaugural tie of the under-19 JRD Tata Cup international invitational football tournament here on Thursday.

Comprising a clutch of budding footballers, India TFA Blue players looked fit as a fiddle, their body language indicating a resolve to take their opponents on by the horns at the JRD Tata Sports Complex.

Three members of the home squad - goalkeeper Subhashish Roy Choudhury, defender Subhash Mondal and mid-fielder Bhola Prasad - were part of the Indian colts’ side that lifted the Ian Rush Trophy in Wales, and will surely like to utilise the opportunity to impress the selectors for berths in the AFC qualifiers in Malaysia next month. While expressing happiness over his team’s preparations in the lead-up to the tourney, India TFA Blue coach Satheevan Balan said that he has cautioned his boys not to take the opponents lightly. Balan said he had no idea about the strengths and weaknesses of the Bangladesh side:

"It will be difficult to judge the foreign team before the tournament opener as I have no idea about their game."

The coach said his team would size up the opponents for the first few minutes before going for the kill. "We will tailor our strategy to suit our on-field needs. Our main objective will be to win the match," he said.

Balan said his charges would not stick to any particular formation but keep on improvising as per requirement. On the prospects of the three foreign teams, he said: "Though I do not have much idea about them, I consider Iran as a tough side followed by Uzbekistan."