FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017: Chile players, troubled by Kolkata weather, set adapting to conditions as 'basic goal'

Kolkata: They have been the first to touch base but the Chile U-17 football side is yet to come to terms with Kolkata’s searing heat and humidity, which could pose a problem during their upcoming World Cup campaign. In Chile’s group, the other teams are Mexico, England and Iraq. [caption id=“attachment_4110507” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File photo of Chile U-17 team. FIFA[/caption] The La Roja juniors’ forwards William Gama and Diego Valencia said on Wednesday that they were trying their best to adjust to conditions with four days left for their opening group league encounter against England on 8 October. “It’s really difficult for not just me but for everyone in the team. But we are trying our best to adapt to the high heat and humid conditions,” Gama, who plays for club side Santiago Wanderers, told reporters after their first official training session. His strike partner Valencia, who plays for the Catholic University said tackling the weather was their “basic goal”. “We are trying to adapt to the climate, that’s our basic goal. The basic difference here is heat and humidity. We are trying really hard each day adapt to the conditions,” Valencia said. Chile had earlier made use of the facility of a private club to train for two days, while they had also trained in a sauna-like condition and taken Hatha Yoga lessons back home before heading to India. But gauging their mood, they are caught in the wrong foot by the weather. “We are doing our best to keep ourselves hydrated throughout the day,” a team official said. Chile would be eying a strong start against heavyweights England who have the star forward duo of Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho and Manchester United’s Angel Gomes on their roster. But the young Chileans are not intimidated by their presence. “They both are really good but they are like us only. We don’t look them as our enemies but seek inspiration from them,” Valencia said. “Three days left, we are concentrating to play as a unit. The most important part is to play as a team.” Asked whether he is also aspiring to play for English clubs, Valencia said: “I’m not thinking that far. Right now, the focus is on our group matches and qualify for the pre-quarterfinals.” His teammate Gama also said they were prepared to take on their English opponents. “England are a very difficult rival. They play from the wings and we are prepared for it,” said Gama, who is a big fan of Bayern Munich star Arturo Vidal.