KATHMANDU, Aug 31: Head coach of Nepal national football team Johan Kalin is confident that the team would be more competitive during Asian Qualifiers FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and Asian Cup China 2023 match against Kuwait. Kalin was speaking at an official farewell for the team held at All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) complex in Kathmandu on Friday.
“I hope we have the best available squad. The inclusion of Chand (Rohit) and Chemjong (Kiran) will definitely improve our performance,” said Kalin on the occasion.
Nepal team is set to leave for Kuwait for the away fixtures on Sunday. Kalin remains optimist about the preparations, seeing players’ efforts during the training sessions.
“We have to manage with whatever we get. The turfs here in Kathmandu are challenging but I am really happy with the players’ efforts. They are very hard-working.”
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The head coach also addressed the issue of the exclusion of regular captain Biraj Maharjan.
“The decision on Biraj Maharjan is based on other things as well, rather than only fitness. However, its details will remain between me and the player.”
Kalin was also aware of the work Kuwait Football Association has put in recent times for the national team’s preparations for the upcoming crucial matches.
“We have played them recently. But they have been practicing and preparing for the qualifiers ever since. They are a strong team, no doubt. We have to believe on our scouting and hope to do well against them.”
Likewise, Kalin wanted each player to be a leader in the pitch regardless of whoever wore the armband on the given day.
“I want 23 captains. It is just an armband. It is a team sport and each player is just as important.”
It was later announced that vice-captain Kiran Chemjong will be officially leading the team during the two matches.
Nepal is set to face Kuwait and Chinese Taipei on September 5 and 10 respectively. Nepal will return home before leaving for China for a match against Chinese Taipei.
Earlier, Nepal national football team suffered a 1-0 loss at the hands of Malaysian Super League Champion Johor Darul Ta’ Zim football club in a friendly match on Monday at the Pasar Gudang Stadium in Johar City.
The friendly was part of Nepal’s final preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers matches. Nepal is pitted in Group B of the qualifiers along with Australia, Jordan, Kuwait, and Chinese Taipei.
ANFA had announced a 23-member national team for the second-phase qualification of Asian Qualifiers FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and Asian Cup China 2023 on Thursday.
SQUAD
Kiran Chemjong, Bikesh Kuthu, Bishal Shrestha, Saroj Dahal, Ajit Bhandari, Dinesh Rajbanshi, Ananta Tamang, Devendra Tamang, Rajeen Dhimal, Suman Aryal, Rohit Chand, Sunil Bal, Rabi Paswan, Anjan Bista, Sujal Shrestha, Heman Gurung, Bikram Lama, Tej Tamang, Santosh Tamang, Bishal Rai, Bimal Gharti Magar, Avishek Rijal, Nawayug Shrestha.
