Ryan Williams Anticipates Exciting Matches Against New Zealand

Auckland, November 11 (Daily Kiran) : India’s forward Ryan Williams is drawing on his previous experiences in New Zealand as the national team prepares for its first tour of the country. The Indian squad is set to face New Zealand’s All Whites in the first of two international friendly matches at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium on Thursday.

This matchup marks the third international encounter between the two teams, with previous meetings occurring in 1981 and 2018. For many members of the Indian squad, this tour presents a new challenge. Williams has played in New Zealand during his tenure with the Australian club Perth Glory.

The 33-year-old participated in a notable match in January 2023, where Perth Glory drew 2-2 with Wellington Phoenix in a game dubbed the “Distance Derby.” Having traveled extensively to Tasmania, he understands the hurdles posed by lengthy journeys and time zone changes.

“Every time I’ve come to play in New Zealand, it has always been challenging because it is so far from everything. It’s a long way from Perth, and the time difference is something you have to manage,” Williams said.

Auckland is seven and a half hours ahead of India, making the adjustment to the body clock a top priority for the team. Williams mentioned that he followed a planned sleep routine during the journey, utilizing his experience from years of travel between Australia and the United Kingdom.

“My plan was to sleep during the first part of the flight to Malaysia. I managed to get a few hours of sleep, and then I stayed awake until we arrived here. It helps reset your body clock, so you can come here, sleep right away, and try to get a full night’s rest. I feel good. I’ve done this many times before, so it definitely helps in these situations,” he explained.

During a training session at North Harbour Stadium’s Outer Oval on Tuesday, heavy rain fell. Williams, accustomed to such conditions, found his teammates’ reactions amusing.

“It was quite funny. After training in heavy rain, cold, and muddy ground, I’ve gotten used to it. But the guys came out, and it felt like a scene from ‘Cool Runnings,’” he joked.

Despite the weather, everyone enjoyed the experience. “As footballers, we want to test ourselves in different climates and conditions around the world. It’s genuinely exciting. Everyone is happy to be here and grateful that these games are happening,” he added.

Williams has previously faced New Zealand at the youth international level, representing Australia’s Under-20 team in a friendly match that ended in a 5-0 victory back in June 2013. However, Thursday’s match will be his first international appearance on New Zealand soil. For India, these two matches offer another opportunity to test themselves against World Cup-level teams, following recent encounters with Panama, Brazil, and Uruguay.

“These are really good games for us. After playing against Panama, Brazil, and Uruguay, we are now getting a test against teams that have played in the World Cup. We’ve learned a lot from those games and know how we can improve. There were moments in those three matches where it didn’t feel like there was much difference. Our goal is to carry that forward and maintain those good moments against equally strong teams for a longer period. These are teams that have all played in World Cups, and as a nation, we want to reach that level. The more games we play against these big teams, the better it will be for everyone,” he concluded.