Nepali men’s national football team captain Kiran Kumar Limbu has expressed excitement about training under newly appointed head coach Matt Ross. Ross began preparations for the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers on Wednesday at Dashrath Stadium in Tripureshwar, Kathmandu.

Limbu, who also serves as Nepal’s goalie, said players are enthusiastic about working with the new coach, adding that they have a busy year ahead. He shared Ross’ enthusiasm for Nepali football and the coach’s ambition to win the SAFF Championship and secure a strong result in the Asian Cup qualifiers.

With some new players joining the squad and a short preparation period, Limbu remains hopeful for a positive outcome. He stressed the importance of match exposure against strong teams to achieve the coach’s objectives.

Defender Ananta Tamang said every coach brings a different philosophy and tactics, and the team is eager to adapt. He said longer coaching tenures provide stability but acknowledged the challenge of integrating new strategies. While he enjoys playing on home turf, Nepal has often had to compete abroad, though he hopes for home matches in upcoming fixtures.

Nepal is in Group F of the Asian Cup Qualifiers alongside strong opponents Vietnam, Laos, and Malaysia. Vietnam reached the quarter-finals in the 2019 edition. With only one team qualifying from the group, Ross has set a goal of achieving a favourable result. He expressed excitement about working with Nepal’s top players.

Australian-born Ross, 47, signed a one-year contract with the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) on March 2 and was introduced at the association’s office in Satdobato on Monday.

Ross succeeds Italian coach Vincenzo Alberto Annesse, whose year-long contract, with a brief extension, ended in October last year. ANFA had sought a new head coach with a vacancy announcement on September 16, 2024. Nabin Neupane looked after the team as the interim coach.