India takes on Maldives in SAFF U-17 Cup opener

India U17 Blue Colts begin their SAFF Championship 2025 campaign against Maldives, aiming to defend last year’s title, with Bibiano Fernandes and captain Wangkhem Denny Singh emphasizing focus and preparation

Hyderabad: The India men’s team is set to begin their SAFF U17 Championship 2025 campaign against Maldives in Group B on Tuesday at the Racecourse International Stadium in Colombo.

All seven SAFF nations are participating in this year’s edition. Group A consists of hosts Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh, while Group B will see the Blue Colts face Maldives, Bhutan, and Pakistan. The top two from each group will advance to the semi-finals on September 25. The final will be held on September 27. India are the defending champions, having won the SAFF U17 title in Bhutan last year after beating Bangladesh 2-0 in the final.

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Blue Colts head coach Bibiano Fernandes is gunning for his record fifth SAFF title, the fourth one coming as recently as May 2025, when he led India to the SAFF U19 title in Arunachal Pradesh. He was also in charge of the Indian side that lifted the SAFF U17 Championship 2022 in Sri Lanka.

Now entrusted with leading the current U17 batch, comprising players born in 2009 and later, Fernandes praised the team’s dedication and commitment during preparation. “The players have spent nearly two months in Goa undergoing rigorous training. We are delighted to be here in Sri Lanka, and we also appreciate the hosts’ warm hospitality,” he said.

Amid the excitement of defending the crown, Fernandes stressed the need to stay focused and grounded. “We would like to focus on the present rather than the past. Right now, we are only thinking about the first match against Maldives. We will give our best and take each match as it comes,” he said.

Captain Wangkhem Denny Singh, who plays in midfield, echoed the coach’s words. “We worked really hard during the last two months in Goa, and we are prepared to give our best here,” said the skipper.

The Blue Colts will also take on Bhutan on September 19 and Pakistan on September 22 in the group stage. While the immediate task is navigating the SAFF U17 Championship, Fernandes is equally focused on the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, scheduled for November this year in Ahmedabad.

The match will be streamed live on the Sportzworkz YouTube Channel.