India's first-choice goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh on Tuesday expressed confidence that the hard work he has put in and the sacrifices he made will be rewarded in the form of impressive performances in the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The marquee tournament starts October 6, and the Manipuri boy is excited to be a part of India's first-ever World Cup team.
"All my days of sacrifice and hard work will be rewarded and I am very much excited to be a part of the first Indian team to feature in a FIFA World Cup," Dheeraj said three days before the start of the tournament.
Dheeraj, who hails from Moirang in Bishnupur district, said he prefers to strike a balance between aggressive goalkeeping and composed goalkeeping.
"You have to pick your moments and chose what type of goalkeeping will suit the moment. Sometimes the aggressive goalkeeping can lead to difficulties and even conceding a goal whereas composed goalkeeping could work and vice versa. For a goalkeeper, both ways of goalkeeping are important."
Asked how tough is a goalkeeper's job, he said, "Staying in the moment is the job of a goalkeeper and a slight lack of focus or concentration can easily lead to a goal.
"Goalkeepers are the last barriers and it makes the job all the more tough when there is a pressure of performing in every single game associated with it."
India will be up against some of the top teams in the world, but Dheeraj is prepared for the challenge.
"It is a challenge that I am prepared for. We respect our opponents but as a goalkeeper it is my job to be the hardest barrier the opponents face and I will try to be the hardest barrier that they will ever face in scoring a goal."
borquez targets senior team
Kolkata: Chile goalkeeper Julio Junior Borquez wants to use the FIFA U-17 World Cup platform to prove a point and be in the reckoning for senior team call-up.
Borquez was voted best goalkeeper at the South American U-17 Championship in March, when Chile booked their place at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
"I want to make this opportunity count and try and break into the senior national team. It's a dream," Borquez told reporters after Chile had their first practice sessions under floodlights here on Monday evening.
Chile have been drawn in Group F alongside England (who they play on October 8), Iraq (October 11) and Mexico (October 14). They will play their matches at the revamped Salt lake Stadium.
"We are all looking forward to the tournament. We have pressure but we are a good team and everyday I have been preparing to get better for this meet," Borquez, 17, said.
Chile coach Hernan Caputo added that he is one player teammates look upto.
"He is an inspiration for the players," Caputo said.
The key performance for Borquez was the 1-1 draw with Colombia in the group phase of South American Qualifiers. As he saved penalties to salvage a point for his country despite conceding a goal earlier.