AIFF XI to miss Ralte against ONGC in I-League

GURGAON - AIFF XI will be looking to make an impression when they face Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in their second round league match at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium here Wednesday.

AIFF XI, comprising mostly under-19 and under-23 national players, have been floated by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to prepare the footballers for the 2018 World Cup.

The young boys started their campaign with a 1-2 loss against Chirag United while newly promoted ONGC went down 0-1 to East Bengal.

AIFF XI coach Desmond Bulpin, an Englishman, knows that his boys are here not to be champions, but to gain experience.

However, against ONGC, Bulpin is eyeing for a win.

“We had a good match against Chirag. Though we lost the match, but we were the better side. It was a match that we could have won. Our strikers created chances but were unlucky not to get the goals. We will look for a win tomorrow,” Bulpin said after his team’s practice session here.

Bulpin, who has been a youth coach at Tottenham Hotspur and the Philippines national coach, said his plan is to end in the top half of the points table.

“We are not here to win the league, but give the boys some experience of playing in the league. Our priority is to develop players and give chances to everybody,” he said.

Bulpin will be banking on his young strikers Jeje Lalpekhlua and Malswamfela, but attacking midfielder Lalrindika Ralte, who scored a brilliant goal against Chirag, will be missing the match with a knee injury.

Bulpin will also expect another great performance from his wingers Jibon Singh and Tirthankar Sarkar