NorthEast United FC Start Preparation for a New Season

Our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI: NorthEast United FC, the lone outfit of North East in the Indian Super League, started their preparation for the upcoming season of the championship. The Head Coach Robert Jarni is supervising the preparation which is going on at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium.

Having made it to the first-ever ISL semi-finals last season, the team will look to build on the achievements of last year and at the same time aim higher this season.

Jarni, appointed Head Coach this season, comes with an illustrious profile, having bagged a World Cup bronze as a player from Croatia and at the same time turning out for the biggest European clubs like Real Madrid and Juventus amongst others.

Addressing a media gathering here today Jarni said, “It’s a big challenge for me and I am ready. Last season we have made into the semi final and this time we want to make progress further.”

NEUFC has retained the services of talismanic midfielder Federico Gallego and also recruited prolific Argentinian Striker Maximiliano Barreiro to lead the line this season. Joining them in forming a formidable attacking trio is 21-year-old Uruguayan Martin Chaves, who becomes the youngest South American to join NEUFC. The club has also retained the services of several key Indian players such as Pawan Kumar, Redeem Tiang, Laithathanga Khawlhring amongst others while bringing in young talents like Rakesh Pradhan (Assam), Nim Dorjee (Sikkim) and teenagers Ninthoi Meetei (Manipur), Lalengmawia (Mizoram).

The team will fly to the UAE on September 6 to continue their preparation for the upcoming season and will return for the final leg of pre-season in the first week of October.

Northeast United FC will face defending champions Bengaluru FC in their opening game on October 21 in Bengaluru.

Local boy Rakesh Pradhan also attended the media briefing. In a brief interaction with the media he said, “It’s a good opportunity for me to learn and improve my game. My only aim is to represent India and the experience that I will gather here will help me to reach that goal.”

Meanwhile, NEUFC’s Head of Youth Development Khalid Jamil is restructuring the youth setup for the club. The club plans to field U-13, U-15, U-18, and a reserve side this year in order to create a sustainable youth system which delivers a platform for youngsters to make it to the senior team in due course. Jamil informed: “Selection and trials for these junior teams have been going on since last month and final selection will be done by the first week of September.”

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