Fans are the backbone of the National Team: Lyngdoh

The Indian National Team is set to face Nepal and the Kyrgyz Republic over the next few days at Mumbai and Bengaluru respectively...

A cloudy Andheri Sports Complex saw the entire national team come together for another practise session on Saturday. Bengaluru FC and Mohun Bagan players joined their colleagues after their respective AFC campaign fixtures. The players and their coach, Constantine, were in a jolly mood and got around with their drills preparing for their fixture against Nepal as well as their all-important Asian Cup qualifier against Kyrgyzstan. The new joiners were clubbed together against those who have been there for the last twenty days at the camp to practice their movements and passing skills and the coach kept a keen eye on the proceedings. Eugenson Lyngdoh, the national team’s central midfield mainstay, interacted in an interaction and gave insights into the preparation.

After a gruelling campaign in the I-league, the Federation Cup and the AFC Cup, Eugenson had just joined the rest of his team-mates. When asked about the tiring schedule, he said,” The coach had given us enough rest of a few days before joining the camp and we are fresh and ready to play.”

Stressing on the importance of continuing the winning run they are on, Eugenson opined, “We are always gunning for a win and would like to do so against Nepal (sic).”  Further, on the return of the Indian skipper Sunil Chettri, who was deemed doubtful on account of his injury, he said, “It is obviously a big boost to the whole team, he has been great for the country and the players are now 110% more confident.”

Last year, when the Indian team played a game against Puerto Rico, the Mumbai Football Arena witnessed a full-house. Eugenson was thrilled by the fans enthusiasm and exhorted them, saying, “ You guys are really the backbone of the team, you guys give us extra energy to play.”

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Eugenson reminisced on his debut which was against the same opponents in 2015, added: “It was my first match and when they were playing the national anthem I was feeling better, like, I had achieved a dream.” Eugenson has built upon that debut and has firmly established himself as the midfield general, pushing the ball forward and masterminding the attack.

Eugenson is indeed a vital cog in the national team’s wheel which has been climbing up the rankings and is in no mood to stop. We at Khel Now wish him and the National team all the very best.