Nepal coach Sanoj Shrestha is setting his sights at the title of SAFF U-15 Championship which kicks off at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato, on Thursday. Nepal take on Maldives in their opening Group ‘A’ match in the second match on Thursday. Defending champions India and Pakistan will clash in the curtain raiser the same day in the Group ‘B’ game. The championship has been elusive to Nepal in all four previous editions despite reaching the finals twice in 2013 and 2017. The tournament was branded as the Saff U-16 before switching to U-15 from last year. Nepal had lost both their previous title matches to India. In 2011 and 2015, Nepal had failed to cross the semi-finals hurdles.

“We will obviously go for the title,” said Shrestha who has been looking after the ANFA Academy team for the last one year. “Our forward, midfield and defence are all good,” said the Nepali coach whose side has been bolstered by the inclusion of five new players picked up through open selection two months earlier. Regarding their opening match against Maldives, Shrestha said: “The first match will always be difficult but we hope to get the result in our favour.” Nepal skipper Pradip Lamsal was equally confident on putting a good show against Maldives.

Maldives coach Ibrahim Halim sounded more resigned than confident saying that his team comprised of players 14 years old. “All the players are either 13 or 14 years old and we had only two-month preparations. But we will try to secure all three points,” said Halim adding that Nepal were a strong opponent.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh coach Mostafa Anowar Parrez said his team had been preparing for the tournament for more than two months. “We will analyse the match between Nepal and Maldives and devise our plans accordingly,” said Parrez. “Securing a semi-final berth will be our first target.”

Pakistan’s Brazilian coach Jose Roberto Portella said that his team was prepared to take on India despite a short preparations. “We had prepared for just 20 days but the training was really good,” he said. Bhutan’s Japanese coach Atsushi Nakamura wants his team to give their best and win all the matches. “I am totally unaware of the opponents strength and weaknesses. The opening day matches will give me some ideas of their strengths,” said Nakamura, whose team has been training together for the last seven months.