With two matches away from their maiden SAFF Championship title, hosts Nepal are running high on confidence before facing Afghanistan today in the first semi-final at the Dasharath Rangashala Stadium. After the hosts progressed to the last four of the regional football tournament for the second consecutive time, the All Nepal Football Association has increased the ticket prices of the semi-final and final from rupees 300 to 700 and from rupees 500 to 1000.
The ANFA is hopeful that the national side will create history by lifting their first SAFF silverware in the tournament’s 10th edition.
Nepal’s Polish coach Jack Stefanowski requested the local fans to continue their unwavering support for the Gorkhali and was also confident of securing a place in the final for the very first time in the nation’s history.
‘We hope that our football fans across the country will support the team and I believe that if we get support we will make history,’ said Stefanowski during the practice session at the Lagonkher Buddhi Bikash Ground on Saturday.
‘No doubt the Afghanistan team is very strong but we are all fine-tuned and we know how to face the tough opponents so we won’t think about the past or what happened to us in Delhi the last time,’ he added.
The home side received a fillip when midfielder Jagjeet Shreshtha was passed fit for the semi-final after recuperating from a heel injury.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan will be looking to make it second time lucky as they went down to India in the final of the tournament’s previous edition in Delhi two years ago.
The Afghans overcame the challenge of Nepal in the last four before succumbing to a 4-0 defeat in the final.
Afghanistan coach Yousuf Karger was circumspect with his team’s chances as he said that he was looking to avoid the hosts in the last four.
‘Nepal were not the team we were hoping for in the
semi-final,’ said Yousuf on Saturday before adding that, ‘we tried to avoid Nepal by beating Maldives in the last group game but it did not happen.’
‘But, football is a game in which you can›t avoid [any] opposition. We were hoping to play against India. Nepal look a better side with home support. But we are okay with it. We are ready for it. It›s a game and we have to beat Nepal to reach the final,’ said Yousuf.
Yousuf praised the local team’s strength, especially the pace at which the Nepalese team conducts their attacks.
‘Nepal are very sound technically and love to play speedy football. We will try to take care of their strong points.
They are playing in front of their home fans, which is a positive side for them,’ said the Afghan coach.
ESPN will telecast the
last four tie live from 6:45pm.
-With New Age input
