Nepal set sight on SAFF U17 title

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Sept 5 : Nepal sets sight on title as the SAFF U-17 Championship will start from Monday in Colombo, Sri Lanka. 

Coach Arjen Shrestha said that his team has only one aim which is to win the title. "Nepal's main target is to return home lifting the trophy. We finished second in the last edition. So, this time we will go back home with a title. We have prepared well for it," Coach Shrestha said.

"All the players are good. We have made a month-long preparation for the event. I am confident about winning the title. “We also got a three days training opportunity here in Sri Lanka. It helped us to understand the condition of the ground," Coach Shrestha added.

Nepal's national U-17 Captain Prashant Laxsam pointed out that team India is their main rival.

"Our team’s main strength is unity. Team India is our main rival because their grassroots football is wonderful," Captain Prashant said.

Altogether six teams from the South Asian region are participating in the tournament including hosts Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, India, Bangladesh, and Maldives. Host Sri Lanka has been drawn into the group 'A' alongside Maldives and Bangladesh.

Similarly, Nepal has been drawn into Group B alongside India and Bhutan. The top two teams from each group will secure their spot in the last four of the tournament. Nepal will take Bhutan on Wednesday and will encounter India on Friday.