Messi Mania grips Pailan Arrows

Kolkata, Sept 1 (IBNS) Lionel Messi stays the best in the World at the Moment, a role model for all budding footballers.

And amidst the VVIPs, corporate honchos, Bollywood celebrities and the in-numerable fans, Team India's U-23 Footballers has been losing sleep for quite some time now, all for that glimpse of the superstar from the stands.

Pailan Arrows striker CS Sabeeth, who with his deft feints and sudden burst of speed was the discovery of the last edition of the I-League feels, "It's a Dream come true."

"I'm excited. When you get to watch the World's Best Footballer in action, that too in your own backyard, you ought to be excited, Sabeeth said. "I feel this will prompt other big teams to turn their attention to the City. The madness for the sport in Kolkata knows no bounds," he added.

"He's such a small chap. But look how he shields the ball from all," quipped Shilton D'Silva, Pailan Arrows midfielder. "I have just 90 minutes and it's a life-time opportunity for me. I will try to gauge from the stands as to how he manages to keep the ball at his feet all the time,"

Shilton's eyes lit up as he went on about Messi.

"But it isn't just about Messi. Is it?" he hit back. "There's Aguero, there's Higuain, there's Mascherano; there's the Venezuelan squad. I may just go mad," he smiled.

Pailan midfielder Jibon Singh feels this is the perfect start to the new season. "There's couldn't have been a better start to the New Season. You have one of the Best Team of the World playing with another good team. And that the World's Best Player is also playing, is an added bonus," Jibon said in one breath.

Jibon, who many feel has the best 'left-foot' in the country at the moment, added: "The only frustration stays it will all be over in 90 minutes. But that's football. And we ought to grasp as much as we can from the scheduled time."

Lalrozama Fanai, however, isn't willing to gaga over Messi alone. "I'm looking forward to see the entire Argentinean team in action. You do not get to watch them in front of your eyes every time. I always look up to them," the Pailan defender added.

"Unless you watch in a Stadium, you do not learn some tricks of the trade," Sabeeth maintained. "I eagerly wait to watch as to how they draw their marker out of the zone," something which even Shilton stressed on. "The off-the-ball play is important. I need to watch and learn,"

Shilton added. "The match will be another analytical session for us."

The pre-season training for Pailan Arrows has just begun.