Kathmandu: The Indian men’s football team will begin his preparations for the Saffal Championship the following month in Maldives with the first of the two international friendly matches against Nepal here on Thursday.
The SaffF five team championship will be held from October 3 to October 13 at the National Stadium in Men.
Besides India, other participating teams are Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, host Maldives and Nepal.
“We are happy to be here and are happy together again.
The two international matches will help us prepare the SaffF championship that will come in Maldives next month.” I only know these games will be good and we need to study in the field, “said Indian head coach Igor Stimac in the media release.
Friendly Nepal will be played in September 5.
The two matches will be held at the Dashrath Stadium here.
This will be that First in international games.
Since playing Afghanistan in their last group match from the 2018 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup combined qualifier in Watar on June 15 Land exercises are difficult because of heavy rain.
“I hope that we don’t suffer from heavy rain during the match so we can play some exciting football,” said Stimac.
“We have analyzed Nepal as opposed and the type of progress they made in the FIFA World Cup qualifier .
They have displayed that they can play quality football and can defend as a team.
My colleague has done a good job and there are many young players in the squad.
“India Captain Sunil Chhetri thanked” ANFA and Nepalese government for hospitality and invitation to play in this Kathmandu during difficult times.
“” We understand the situation in the world.
Hospitality has been extraordinary and the opportunity to play international soccer calm for us.
“We want to give the best account from ourselves and get a good start for this season.
Nepal is a formidable opponent and we want to give as much as we can for the coach,” Chhetri said.
Captain India Talismanic is a favorite crowd.
Exactly from landing at the airport to the hotel team to a training session, the locals ask him to click.
“I will admit that I have a soft-corner for Nepal.
But, it ended when I stepped on the tone.
My mother came from Nepal and whatever the culture of sports and discipline had been implanted was all because of my mother,” Chhetri said.
“Nepal always makes it very difficult for us on the football field, and we don’t expect anything.
Playing Nepal at home and outside Nepal is two different things, and don’t forget that they are the home team here.” Coach Nepal Abdullah Almutairi admitted that he had worked a lot to “change the mentality of his players.” “I don’t want to make people happy, more precisely I want to make them proud.
We have been practicing for the past two months and there are many young people in the squad.” Our target is to win the SaffF championship in Maldives, and finally qualify for the Chinese AFC Asian Cup 2023.
We don’t care about the FIFA ranking.
It won’t be easy for them (India).
“