‘All of Them Have a Chance’: Russia’s Veronika Backs India’s Young Footballers

Xtratime Webdesk: Russia midfielder Veronika believes the Indian Women’s National Football Team have made significant progress in recent years and urged the country’s young footballers to believe that they can reach the professional level, ahead of Thursday’s international friendly at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan.

Reflecting on Russia’s previous meetings with India, Veronika highlighted the improvement she has seen in the Indian side and said the younger players should take confidence from that progress.

“When you dream, and of course you do something for your dream, whether it is sport or something else, you can become a professional football player,” Veronika said at the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

“In five years, we won 2-0, and it’s very good progress. Your young players need to understand that all of them have a chance to become professional football players,” she added.

Veronika also revealed that Russia had closely analysed India ahead of the first of the two friendlies, identifying No. 10 and No. 16 as two players to watch. She also praised the physical qualities of the Indian attack.

Russia head coach Yuri Krasnozhan, meanwhile, admitted that his side have had limited preparation after arriving in Kolkata only on Tuesday. The visitors managed just one training session before Thursday’s game.

“We had our first and only training because we arrived only yesterday. I want to say that the pitch is very soft, but of course we want to play tomorrow,” Krasnozhan said.

He also welcomed Kolkata’s warmer conditions, saying the weather was comfortable for his team and that even the forecast of rain could provide suitable “football weather”.

The two sides will meet again on October 11 at the same venue, giving both teams further international exposure.

Entry for fans will be free for Thursday’s match, allowing supporters in Kolkata to watch the Indian women’s team take on Russia at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan.