I hate to lose: Ranjan Choudhury

Pune FC, the Defending Champions of the U-20 I-League are gearing up to complete a hat-trick of titles under Ranjan Choudhary. The former Tata Football Academy Coach who guided Pune FC U-20 colts to two successive U-20 I-League crowns certifies his squad is “full of future stars.”

In an exclusive interview to www.i-league.org, Choudhury speaks about the expectations, his mainstays in the Team, the preparations and his penchant for winning matches. EXCERPTS:

What are you mostly looking forward to Under-19 I-League Tournament?

We have won the U-20 I-League titles for the last two years and we always try to play our best. This year we have a completely fresh group and most of them are Under-17 Players. My job is to promote a Player and like last year, if we can promote Players to the first Team, I think it is a job well done. Many an U-20 Player like Thongkhosiem Haokip and Amrinder Singh have bagged promotion to the Senior Team and we hope to continue the trend.

Are you aiming for a hat-trick of junior titles?

Absolutely! That always stays our goal. However, winning is not that important. The most important thing is to perform well and fulfill the standards we have set. It is that which drives you in moving forward. I have full faith that the boys will deliver.

I also must mention that I hate losing. Having weak links in the Team is a crime and I hate it.

How are the preparations going on for the upcoming Tournament?

The preparations have started four months before for the Competition. Most of them are very after young and very talented. I always aim for the best and expect the best in return. There are a lot of new Teams this year, and I believe the Competition is stiffer than previous editions.

Would you like to mention any prominent names?

It’s too early to pick out certain names but I think they all are prominent and full of confidence. The entire Team is filled with future stars. Nevertheless, we have Abhinash Pal, Henry and Shrivastava who promise a lot.

How are they developing as a Team?

They are doing very well. The boys are very powerful, aggressive and composed.

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