logo
Naushad Moosa appointed India U23 men's national football team head coach

Naushad Moosa appointed India U23 men's national football team head coach

Malaysia Sun21-05-2025
New Delhi [India], May 21 (ANI): The All India Football Federation (AIFF), on Tuesday, appointed Naushad Moosa as the head coach of the India U-23 men's national team, as per the official website of AIFF.
Moosa will take charge of the team on June 1, when they begin their camp in Kolkata, with the long-term aim of preparing the Indian team for the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi and Nagoya, in Japan, in line with the plans laid out to the federation by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
While performing well in the Land of the Rising Sun remains the long-term goal, on a more immediate basis, Moosa's team will face Tajikistan on June 18 and Kyrgyz Republic on June 21 in two exposure matches in Dushanbe.
AIFF Deputy Secretary General Satyanarayan M said, 'In discussions with Manolo Marquez, we concluded that the federation needs to develop the U23 team with more emphasis. The best of these players are all training 10 months a year, and we are thankful to the clubs for the readiness with which they are available for national team duty,' as quoted from the official website of AIFF.
'However, some of them are not getting much game-time, which is where we are looking to bridge the gap by playing exposure matches against other competitive international teams of the same age group, during the international windows,' he said.
'We want to thank NorthEast United FC for cooperating in releasing Naushad Moosa for the international windows,' he added.
As per the preparation plans for the Asian Games next year, the federation plans to utilize the FIFA International Windows in September, October, November, and March to arrange short training camps of around 10-14 days for the India U23s, which would also include matches against other U23 teams from around Asia, with longer camps being planned ahead of the June 2026 FIFA International Window, when there are no club matches.
Moosa, who had coached the India U23s in two friendly matches against Malaysia last year, said after his appointment, 'Representing my country, whether as a player or a coach, is one of the greatest honors in my career. Opportunity to lead the U-23 team for a second year is both exciting and a proud moment. Last year, we built a strong foundation, and the players showed real commitment. This year, we return with more experience, more hunger, and a few new faces who I believe will add great strength to the squad. I'm confident we can continue to grow and make the country proud.'
Later this year, the India U23s will also partake in the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, the draw for which will be held on May 29, 2025, at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
'The June games are very important in our journey toward the Asian Games and the AFC U23 Asian Cup. This is an opportunity to assess player responses under pressure, improve our tactics, and build stronger bonds within the team. Our goal is to be fully prepared for these major tournaments by testing ourselves against strong opposition,' said Moosa.
After camping in Kolkata for a fortnight, the India U23s, on June 16, will travel to Dushanbe, Tajikistan, for the two exposure matches, and return on June 22. (ANI)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

No room for slow starts as Aaron-Wooi Yik eye China Open final
No room for slow starts as Aaron-Wooi Yik eye China Open final

New Straits Times

time4 hours ago

  • New Straits Times

No room for slow starts as Aaron-Wooi Yik eye China Open final

KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik believe they are getting back on track at just the right time after marching into the China Open semi-finals on Friday. The Malaysians looked sharp as they dispatched world No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun 21-16, 21-16 in just 33 minutes in their all-Malaysian quarter-final clash at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium. Aaron-Wooi Yik, who suffered a shock first-round exit to independent pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi at last week's Japan Open, were back to their best, showing the kind of form that has won them three titles this season. "We're getting back on track at the right time, and we'll give our best shot tomorrow (Saturday)," said Aaron. "We used to train together, so it really came down to making the right changes at crucial stages." Yew Sin-Ee Yi had threatened to set up an all-Malaysian semi-final, but those hopes were dashed by world No. 12 and reigning Asian Games champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty. The Indian pair won 21-18, 21-14 in 40 minutes to book a meeting with Aaron-Wooi Yik. Wooi Yik said they must avoid the lapses in concentration that saw them fall 9-4 behind in the opening game against Wei Chong-Kai Wun. "It was a tight game, but we didn't overthink it. We just focused on our gameplay and rhythm," said Wooi Yik. "At the start, we lost concentration and allowed them to take a big lead. That's something we need to work on." Despite the defeat, Wei Chong gave credit to Aaron-Wooi Yik. "Their game plan was effective, and they were very clear about what they needed to execute. We couldn't break their rhythm." Kai Wun admitted that Aaron-Wooi Yik raised their level in Changzhou to improve their head-to-head record to 4-3. "Our service returns and defensive retrieving didn't work today," said Kai Wun. "That made it difficult, and we ended up making more mistakes. Even though we know each other's game, the pair who controlled the drift and shuttle flight had the edge." Aaron-Wooi Yik's commanding 10-3 head-to-head record against Satwik-Chirag should give them confidence heading into Saturday's semi-final of the Super 1000 tournament. In the other semi-final, China's world No. 6 Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang face Indonesia's scratch pair Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto.

Aaron-Wooi Yik, Pearly-Thinaah storm into China Open semis
Aaron-Wooi Yik, Pearly-Thinaah storm into China Open semis

The Sun

time4 hours ago

  • The Sun

Aaron-Wooi Yik, Pearly-Thinaah storm into China Open semis

KUALA LUMPUR: The national men's doubles pair, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, advanced to the semi-finals of the 2025 China Open Badminton Championships in Changzhou after defeating another Malaysian pair in the quarter-finals today. The second seeds put on an energetic display to down Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun 21-16, 21-16 at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium, improving their head-to-head record to 4-3. Aaron-Wooi Yik are set to face the Indian duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty, who had earlier ousted Malaysia's Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi 21-18, 21-14. Also making it to the last four are national women's doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, who put on a consistent showing to defeat Japan's Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto 21-16, 21-12. They are set to face the host pair Jia Yi Fan-Zhang Shu Xian, against whom they have won only once in four previous encounters. - Bernama

China Open 2025: Aaron-Wooi Yik, Pearly-Thinaah Advance To Semi-Finals
China Open 2025: Aaron-Wooi Yik, Pearly-Thinaah Advance To Semi-Finals

Barnama

time5 hours ago

  • Barnama

China Open 2025: Aaron-Wooi Yik, Pearly-Thinaah Advance To Semi-Finals

KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (Bernama) -- The national men's doubles pair, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, advanced to the semi-finals of the 2025 China Open Badminton Championships in Changzhou after defeating another Malaysian pair in the quarter-finals today. The second seeds put on an energetic display to down Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun 21-16, 21-16 at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium, improving their head-to-head record to 4-3. Aaron-Wooi Yik are set to face the Indian duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty, who had earlier ousted Malaysia's Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi 21-18, 21-14.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store