The SAFF U-18 Championship is extremely significant- Floyd Pinto
The tactician feels his team is ready for the challenge.
A “confident” India U-18 will be looking to open their campaign in the SAFF U-18 Championship on a winning note when they take on Bangladesh in their opening match in Kathmandu on Monday (September 23, 2019).
Bangladesh sit pretty with a 3-0 victory over Sri Lanka in the opening encounter of the group, and India U-19 Head Coach Floyd Pinto is quite aware of the threats the Bangladesh team possess.
“We watched them in their first match against Sri Lanka. Their physical presence and strength is remarkable. They are also really good on set pieces,” Pinto told AIFF Media. “All of that means that we need to be on the top of our game. It will be quite a test for us,” he added.
“But we are ready for the challenges. We need to maintain the focus, and the intensity and play the same way as done before.”
Assistant Coach Mahesh Gawli also highlighted that the SAFF Championship will be the indicator of the team’s strengths, and weaknesses as they prepare for the eventual test – the AFC U-19 Qualifiers slated in November.
“The SAFF Championship is extremely significant. We have done well in the 3 exposure tours where the boys faced International oppositions and performed very well,” Gawli, touted as India’s best-ever defender since the 1990s stated. “The boys look focussed, and very sharp in training.”
The U-19 boys headed to the SAFF Championship on back of a successful outing in Vanuatu, where they had finished in the first place.
Floyd insisted that they will be “taking one match at a time.”
“We have to take one game at a time. We also have to maintain the right level of focus, and let our football do the talking. Only what we do on the pitch will matter,” he maintained.
[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]Goalkeeper Prabshukhan Singh Gill felt there is no dearth of leadership in the team. “We have a lot of leaders in the team who can guide in pressure situations. Bangladesh have a good squad. They had reached the finals in the last edition. The SAFF is a tough tournament. But we are here to win it,” he quipped.
The match against Bangladesh tomorrow (Monday) is at IST 2.45pm and will be streamed live on mycujoo.tv.
Latest News
- Inter Miami vs New York Red Bulls Predicted Lineup, betting tips, odds, injury news, H2H, telecast
- Atlanta United vs Minnesota United Predicted Lineup, betting tips, odds, injury news, H2H, telecast
- DC United vs Philadelphia Union Predicted lineup, betting tips, odds, injury news, H2H, telecast
- Sassuolo vs Inter Milan Predicted lineup, Betting tips, Odds, injury news, H2H, telecast
- Al Nassr vs Al Wehda Predicted lineup, betting tips, odds, injury news, H2H, telecast
Trending Articles
- The vision of the academy is to identify young talented footballers, says U-19 RFYC asst. coach Saksham Kakkar
- Looking back at all the ISL finals
- Report: Jamie Maclaren has two more offers apart from Mohun Bagan
- Want to do something for Indian football, says Indian cricketer Kuldeep Yadav
- CC Jacob recalls how his goal-line saves helped India win Asian Youth Championship 1974
Editor Picks
- Which is the highest-scoring match between Mohun Bagan & Mumbai City FC?
- Sporting Clube de Goa lift seventh Goa Pro League title
- Looking back at all ISL finals Mohun Bagan have played in
- The vision of the academy is to identify young talented footballers, says U-19 RFYC asst. coach Saksham Kakkar
- Looking back at all the ISL finals