Kolkata: Chile goalkeeper Julio Borquez who kept a clean slate in the four qualifying games wants to carry forward the same momentum into the FIFA U-17 World Cup which begins October 6. His terrific show help him to emerge the best goalkeeper in the South American U-17 Championships. Riding on Borquez’s show, Chile qualified for the event for the first time since 1997.
“I’m striving to give my best and carry forward the momentum. It’s really a big competition, all teams are tough, you need to prepare really hard,” Borquez told reporters after here after a training session.
“Those clean sheets are not just down to me. It’s a group achievement and dependent on everyone doing their job. I did mine and my teammates fulfilled their responsibilities,” he added.
Chile featured in the 2015 U-17 World Cup by virtue of being the hosts but it was way back in 1997 that they had qualified for the event. Borquez is also happy to play an inspirational role among his teammates.
“We all are good friends in the team, each one of us is aware of his responsibility. They look up to me for inspiration, and seek advice. I’m happy to help them out,” pointed
The teenager picked Manuel Neuer, Claudio Bravo and Thibaut Courtois as his three role models. “Perhaps I identify a bit more with the first two because of the way they can play with the ball at their feet,” he said about the German and the Chilean shot stoppers. “Neuer is something of an exemplar for the future of goalkeeping.”
Restrictions imposed
Kolkata: The Chile national team have restricted the usage of smartphones to two hours per day in a bid to avoid distractions from social media in the run-up to FIFA Under-17 World Cup. “They have a fixed quota of two hours per day for the usage of smart devices. The coach is very particular about it and is aware how social networking or gaming can hamper their preparations,” informed a team official here Tuesday. Earlier, the La Roja juniors made a trip of the Mother Teresa House to have a feel of the city’s rich heritage.
Press trust of India
