The All India Football Federation (AIFF), on Wednesday, named former India international Derrick Pereira as the new head coach of the India U-23 national team for the upcoming AFC U-23 Qualifiers, scheduled to be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from March 22. He will take charge of the team and oversee the preparatory camp in Goa from March 2. The team will also play a friendly against the Qatar U-23 national side on March 11.

Pereira has a wealth of coaching experience at the domestic level. He joined FC Goa back in 2017 as their head of youth development and the assistant coach of the first team. Working alongside head coach Sergio Lobera, Pereira was instrumental in the Gaurs' run till the semi-finals of the Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2017-18 season. In Lobera's absence during the Hero Super Cup 2018, Pereira took over the reins of the team and guided them to a top four finish. He was later promoted as the technical director of the first team.

Prior to his stint with the Gaurs, the 56-year-old also has also coached a host of Hero I-League teams like Mahindra United, Pune FC, Churchill Brothers, Salgaocar and DSK Shivajians.

Speaking about his latest appointment, Pereira said, "It’s an absolute honour to get associated with the national team set-up. I love to take challenges. I know most of the players and have seen them in action. But we need to find the right combination to perform and achieve the desired results."

He also shared his thoughts on the match against Qatar and stated, "They are a quality side. I have a feeling that some of the U-23 boys from Qatar will be in their 2022 World Cup squad. It will be a tough challenge which will help us prepare for future assignments."

AIFF General Secretary Mr Kushal Das congratulated Pereira on his appointment and said, "His coaching pedigree along with AFC Pro Licence degree is the perfect recipe to guide our young players in the AFC U-23 qualifiers. We aim to qualify from the group to the AFC Championship next year, and I wish him and the team good luck."

India's first match of the AFC Qualifiers will be against Tajikistan on March 22. They will then play hosts Uzbekistan and arch-rivals Pakistan on March 24 and 26 respectively.