Stage set for SAFF U19

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Sept. 20: The SAFF U-19 Football Championship's fifth edition is ready to take place at Dashrath Stadium from October 4 to 13. The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has completed all necessary preparations for the championship. ANFA tournament coordinator, Sanjeev Mishra, stated that the Nepali team is aiming to win the title. "Nepal's performance has been consistently good in the age group. Being contenders for the title in the competition held at home ground, Nepal aims to become the champion again. 

We have already won the title in the previous two editions," said Mishra. Nepal previously won the title in 2015 and 2017.

In a press conference held on Tuesday, ANFA spokesperson Suresh Shah announced that ANFA's goal is to make the SAFF event a success in terms of management. 

Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan, India, Bhutan and Bangladesh will participate in this championship. Teams from Bhutan, India, Maldives and Bangladesh arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday. The Pakistani team will come on Wednesday.

The participating teams are divided into two groups. Pakistan and Maldives are in Nepal's group. The top two teams from the group will enter the semi-finals.