What is so special about an Indian under-16 football team making it to the finals of the AFC championship? Young Indians have done it before. So why should there be song and dance about it? Simply because the seniors in the country, for long, have not seen the front gates of the finals of a major tournament, and because in these youngsters may lie the seeds of a plant pretty impressive, one day.

A dream run at the AFC under-16 championships qualifiers in Damman, Saudi Arabia, coming on the heels of the successful exposure trip in Germany—the Indian rookies are doing their little bit to change the global perception about India being a one-sport nation.

After beating Asian giants Saudi Arabia 3-0 and holders Iraq 2-2 during the Group C qualifying meet, the youngsters are already drawing comparisons with the golden batch of 1996.

It is not the first time that India have qualified for the main round of the AFC championship in recent years, but the feat becomes special since it has been achieved away from home against much stronger opposition.

India had made it to the main round on three previous occasions—1996, 2002 and 2004. While the first success came in Peshawar, the other two were achieved at home against a much weaker field.

It’s not only the change in appearance, but attitude that holds hope for the rejuvenation of the nation’s footballing fortunes. A bunch that has been woven together from across the country—unlike in the past where they were mainly sourced from the Tata Football Academy and Manipur.

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