U-17 World Cup: Indian food a no no for Chile footballers

From avoiding Indian food to keeping a strict tab on the players' hydration levels, the Chile U-17 football team management is leaving nothing to chance in terms of adjusting to the humid conditions in this part of the world ahead of their Group F U-17 World Cup clash against England here on Sunday.

Since landing in the city on October 1, the Hernan Caputo-coached side has struggled to cope with the sultry conditions here as it is a complete departure from what it is like back home.

"We know that the weather of India and Chile are completely different. We can get hot weather but our humidity is very low. This time of the year it is colder than here and very dry," Chile team doctor Cesar Kalazich told reporters on Thursday.

Before coming to India, the Chileans trained in sauna-like conditions of 35 degree centigrade and a humidity of 95 per cent.

"So what we did since we know that the time to adjust is around 10-14 days for most athletes. So since we did not have that much time we took the players to this centre in Santiago that does 'Bikram Yoga' which has conditions similar to here," the doctor said.

"We completed a week in same conditions there. We know that we did not adjust completely to that but at least we know how it would be here."

Bikram Choudhury is a Kolkata-born 'Hatha Yoga' teacher in Santiago.

Indian food is a no-no for Chileans, Kalazich said.

"As much as we like Indian food, they are not trying that since we are so close to the competition. We don't want to risk anything," he said.

Asked if he has made any dietary changes keeping in mind chances of weight loss due to drain of fluids, the doctor said: "We are concerned that that can be an issue.

"Our food is almost the same as there but some food we kept away and a lot of fluid (is being given to them) all throughout the day."

"Also testing the players (whether they are dehydrated or not) by weight changes, and training and in the urine as well.

"They started out with some difficulties but now its been four days and they are all well hydrated when they arrive for training and when they finish. So I am happy that is very happening now," he added

The colts from South America are always kept under the scanner so that they don't run out of steam amidst adverse conditions.

"We check that first thing in the morning, the weight, when they wake up. This is for long term weighing, more specifically on the body composition of changes of the players.

"And we weigh them before and after training. This has to do with fluid loss. We also check the density of the urine before and after training," Kalazich said.

--IANS

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