Exclusive: Indian player rejects Portuguese passport and Watford to play for India

The Junior Colts are preparing for the AFC U-19 Championship 2018 qualifiers...

Princeton Rebello has been called up for the India U19 camp by head coach Floyd Pinto. He is the only Goan player to be called up for the camp in Goa.

India U-19s are preparing for the AFC U-19 Championship 2018 qualifiers which will be played in the month of November. India have been drawn in Group D along with hosts Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Turkmenistan.

“I feel very confident and I know that it will be tough competition. I have fought and reached here through all this and I’ll give my best to be amongst the top players here because it’s every player’s dream to play for the national team, Princeton said speaking exclusively to Khel Now following his call up.

The Goan midfielder was part of the GFA First Division League club Penha De France where he was in excellent form scoring four goals and assisting more than 20 times he helped his side to finish runners-up and earn promotion to the Goa Professional League. Princeton has also represented Sporting Clube de Goa in the U-18 I-League and GFA U-18 league. His brilliant performance scoring 12 goals has also helped Sporting to reclaim the GFA U18 league title.

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“Playing under Micky (Fernandes) sir (Penha de France head coach) has helped me a lot.  I have gained a lot of experience and he taught me a lot of things. He always motivates me that I can do the best. Even yesterday, when I called him to tell that I am joining India U-19, he was happy to hear that and told me to give my best. He said that I have improved and he believes that I will continue to do so,” the 18-year-old said.

He further added, “Even my father is always supportive. He has helped me to move from the United Kingdom to Goa to play football. He believes that one day I will be part of the India senior team."

In 2015, when Rebello was living in England with his parents, he was offered the chance to join English Premier League side Watford FC's academy after completing the trials successfully but due to issues with his immigration documents the move fell through.

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“I had a chance to join the Watford academy but they wanted me to surrender my Indian passport and apply for a Portuguese passport but that would have shuttered my dream to play for India. So I declined them,” Rebello said.