Staff Reporter
NAHARLAGUN, Dec 12: Host Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram are all set for a fierce battle in the semifinal of the Hero Sub Junior National Football Championship.
The two rising football powers of northeastern states will lock horns with each other for a place in the final at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Thursday.
Arunachal entered into the semifinal with a 3-1 win-loss record. They had beaten Maharashtra 1-0 in the opener, drubbed Punjab and Tamil Nadu 5-0 and 9-1 in the second and third match before going down fighting 0-1 to Odisha in their last pool match.
On the other hand, Mizoram advanced to the last four with three wins and a draw.
They drew 2-2 with Maharashtra and beat Telengana, Haryana and Jharkhand.
With both teams not having much to separate between them, it becomes difficult to guess the clear victor. However, Arunachal will have the home advantage.
Odisha will lock horns with Jharkhand in the first semi final at 1.30 pm.
Anil Kamat, AGS and Competition Director of All India Football Federation will be arriving at Naharlagun on Thursday to witness the semifinals and final match, informed Arunachal Football Association Secretary Kipa Ajay.
He also informed that a talent scouting teams from AIFF will conduct trials for boys and girls on Dec 16, 17 and 18 at RG Stadium.
The scouting team includes National Youth (Boys) Coach Bibiano Fernandes and National Women’s Team Coach Maymol Rocky.
