Coach Annese wants Nepal to play best at SAFF Championship

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, June 12: All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) bade farewell to the Nepali national men's football team for the international friendly match against the Philippines. The friendly match, slated on Thursday, is taken as a preparation for the 14th edition of the SAFF Championship. 

The mega footballing event of South Asia will kick start in Bengaluru, India on June 20. Addressing the farewell, National team head coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese expected a brilliant performance from his team at the SAFF Championship.

"I believe in the players selected for the final squad. Every player is best. I want my players to be mentally prepared. We want to perform better and yield the best result. “

“This is my first appearance in the SAFF Championship and Asia too. So, the opportunity will be meaningful for me as a coach.  Keep on supporting the Nepali team.”

Captain Kiran Chemjong said that Nepal chances to win the title is very slim as the coming SAFF Championship is at the next level. 

"It will be a tough tournament this time with the participation of Kuwait and Lebanon. We are the first runner-up of the last edition. We will be travelling to India with new faces in the squad. Some of them are waiting for their international debut. 

“The preparation for the regional tournament has also not been well for Nepal. We have a very short period for the preparation.  The tournament is just nine days ahead and we are going to play the preparation match.

“Besides, we are also pitted in a tough group. We will, however, play for a positive result in the SAFF. But right now we will concentrate on the match against the Phillippines,” said Chemjong. Italian Coach Annese named his 23-member final squad last week for the SAFF Championship.

The Championship will feature eight teams including host India, Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Kuwait, and Lebanon. The South Asian regional side Sri Lanka will miss the tournament after being suspended by the global football governing body FIFA.

Nepal has been drawn into the tough group alongside their arch-rival and defending champions India, Kuwait, and Pakistan. Lebanon, Maldives, Bhutan, and Bangladesh make Group B.

Nepal will encounter Kuwait in the inaugural match on June 20.