BSS, Kathmandu :
Bangladesh will take on defending champions India in the battle of group champions of the 6th edition of SAFF Women’s Championship scheduled to be held today at Dasharath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal.
The match kicks off at 5.45 pm (BST).
Bangladesh so far maintained their winning run in the tournament. The girls in red and green earlier blanked the Maldives by 3-0 in their group opening match and thrashed Pakistan 6-0 smashing in their second match of the tournament and they must be looking forward to maintain their winning spree against India in order to become the group champions.
India also stared their campaign with 3-0 win over Pakistan and crushed the Maldives by 9-0 drubbing in the tournament.
However it’ll not be an easy task for Sabina and Co. because Bangladesh never defeated India in the history of SAFF Women’s Championship. In the last seven encounters with India, Bangladesh only managed a draw and lost the remaining six matches. India has won the title in the previous five editions of the SAFF Championship and this time they have come here with the same goal.
The defending champions also a little bit advantageous position than Bangladesh at the moment because India will be needed only a draw to become the group champions. So Bangladesh will have to struggle hard in this stage to snatch victory against India.
Though Bangladesh team’s head coach Golam Robbani Choton was found very much optimistic with his girls prior to the tough match against India.
“India is strong team and defending champions having experience players…….. they play league in the foreign soil….. they are well strong team, but my girls also continued to improve in the tournament …. India is strong team, but we are also fully prepared.” Choton said after the team’s practice session at the Army Headquarters Ground on Monday.
“Choton categorically admitted that India is the best team in SAFF and they have experience players, but my girls also gained experience … hope the girls will play their best football and we’re waiting for the Tuesday’s match,” he added.
The head coach said they don’t feel any pressure right now ahead of India match because the team already fulfilled their target by reaching the semifinal in the tournament. The girls would give their test of improvement they gained in the last few days in the Tuesday match.
Choton informed that all his girls are physically fit and the best eleven would play the Tuesday’s match against India.
Bangladesh skipper Sabina Khatun said: “In terms of experience Bangladesh are much behind compared to the other participating countries of the championship. We have to keep in mind that the girls have just come from the age level football. But what I can say confidently that my girls are physically fit compared to others. Our lacking is our experience which sometime give something good. As the girls are new so they will give their best.”
