LFI won both the NSL’s inaugural Under-14 and Under-16 titles a year ago and both age groups will line up for last 16 clashes at The Sevens this weekend.
Deswarte’s U-16 side face Fujairah’s Our Own English High School in the last 16 tie on Saturday, while the reigning U-14 champions meet Abu Dhabi’s Merryland.
Deswarte said both sides are desperate to retain their titles, although he acknowledges the standard of the competition has gone up in the second year of the tournament.
“Defending the title, of course they want to win, but the level is harder than last year, so it will be tough,” said the pragmatic Frenchman.
“You can be sure all my players will 100 cent give their best this Saturday.
“The kids are looking forward to the knockout rounds, they are very motivated and I hope they are 100 per cent ready mentally. I’m sure they will give their best.”
In the revamped group stages, LFI’s U-16s scored 10 goals in their two wins in Dubai Pool 2 and conceded no goals. The U-14s, meanwhile, bagged 21 goals in just three games on their way to top spot in Pool 4.
Although he is wary of the target on both his sides’ backs, Deswarter is only concentrating on his own teams, not their opponents.
“We don’t know the opponents, we just focus on us, we never focus on the other teams,” said Deswarte, who actually believes both teams can improve.
“Maybe for the important games like finals, yes, but for now we concentrate on our own game, especially as I don’t think the U-14s or U-16s played well in the group stages.”
