KATHMANDU, Sept 25: Nepal U-18 football team head coach Tshering Lopsang has said that his team has still a chance of winning the SAFF U-18 Championship despite a shaky start in Bhutanese capital.
The first edition champion Nepali team had left Thimpu with a target of defending the Championship faced shocking 1-0 defeat at the hands of host team in its first match on Wednesday.
Although Lopsang led young Nepali team registered its first victory of the Championship overcoming Maldives 2-0 on Friday, the title defending task will not be an easy task as it is facing strong opponents Bangladesh and India in its remaining matches.
SAFF Championship: Nepal defeats Bhutan
“We are still a title contender despite making an unimpressive start. But we rejuvenated the hope wining the second match against Maldives,” said Lopsang speaking during the pre-match conference on Sunday ahead of clash against Bangladesh.
Nepal is scheduled to play its third match in the Championship against Bangladesh on Monday at Changlimithang Stadium.
Lopsang also said that matches against Bangladesh and India are going to be do-or-die. “We should have won first two matches with big margin.
But after the win against Maldives, players’ confidence is boosted and which is positive ahead of such crucial matches,” added Lopsang.
However Nepali Head Coach says that the match against the Bangladeshi team which stays at top of the table with six points is going to be tough. “Match against Bangladesh will be hard. It will be 50-50 contest so we will have to be clinical in front of goal,” further added Lopsang.
Bangladesh has made decent start to the Championship winning its first two matches against India (4-3) and Maldives (2-0).
Nepali skipper Arpan Karki says that the players have regained the strength after win over Maldives. He added that his team wants to be ready for India test defeating Bangladesh.
On other match of the day at Changlimithang Stadium, India will take on Maldives.
