Families are our motivation, says India U-17 football players

New Delhi Oct 1 (IANS) With five days left for the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 to kick-off Indian U-17 World Cup football team members on Sunday said the presence of their families during the matches will motivate them to perform better.

"On behalf of the team I can say that the AIFF has already planned to get our families to Delhi and host them so that they can watch our games even during the AFC U-16 Championship in Goa (in September 2015) the AIFF had ensured that our parents were present during the matches and that made the occasion all the more memorable for us " India U-17 skipper Amarjit Singh said.

The entire India squad showed excitement when they heard that the process to bring their parents here has already started.

"This is so motivational it s a great motivation to have your parents around to watch you play in a World Cup " striker Aniket Jadhav from Maharashtra said.

Sanjeev Stalin who hails from Bengaluru said it s a pre-Diwali gift for him.

"The last time during AFC U-16 Finals all our parents were here. It s always nice to see your dear ones during the championship " the defender and set-piece specialist said.

Manipur s Md. Shahjahan admitted that this is a novel concept for him.

"I wasn t in the squad during the AFC U-16 Finals but since then I have only heard stories from my teammates about their parents cheering for them. On the 6th (October 6 2017) when I step on to the ground I know my parents will be the loudest cheerleaders. Nothing can be more inspirational for me " midfielder Shahjahan said.

--IANS
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