Nepal need victory to keep hopes alive
Nepal need victory to keep hopes alive
Published: 02:29 pm Nov 01, 2009
KATHMANDU: Nepal will be under tremendous pressure to win when they take on Jordan in their fourth match of the AFC Under 19 Championship Group A qualifiers here at the Dasharath Stadium on Sunday. The disappointing loss against Tajikistan has made Nepal's chances of qualifying for the finals more difficult as the hosts will now be dependent on others even if they go on to win both their remaining matches. 'Only a win can bring us back in contention. We will definitely be playing for a win against Jordan,' said the team coach Raju Kaji Shakya. Nepal have so far collected three points from as many matches where leaders Tajikistan have nine points and Jordan have seven. Jordan are posing themselves as the tournament favourites and a win against the home side would guide them closer to qualification. The Nepali side as usual would be dependent on their technical abilities playing against the physically strong Jordan. 'Jordan have been playing a complete physical game which is their strength as well but they have not been able to come along nice with other aspects in the previous matches. We are preparing to outsmart them with our technical abilities,' the coach added. Shakya said he is also wary of the mistakes that Nepali players have been making during the qualifiers. 'We have conceded all the goals so far from our own mistakes. I am hoping that my boys won't repeat those mistakes again,' added the former Nepali international. Needlessly to say that Nepali defence had been weakened following a sent off of their influential defender and skipper Dipak Bhushal on Thursday. The hosts are also likely to miss reliable mid-fielder Ganesh Khadka through injury. Shakya indicated that Naresh Pokharel was likely to replace the skipper while Prabin Kumar Sainju is supposed to take his position in the right wing. Ganesh played against Tajikistan on Thursday despite nursing an injury. Shakya said that the team management would decide on the chances of Ganesh playing on Sunday. 'We would go according to the doctor's advice regarding Ganesh,' said the coach. The team management has also decided to keep mid-fielder Amir Shrestha on the bench after he failed to impress in last match. Amir could be replaced by Jagjeet Shrestha. Though Nepali team is looking relatively weak in comparison to Jordan, Shakya is still hopeful to come with good result. 'Jordan easily defeated Palestine but Yemen, who played a draw against Jordan, was forced to share a point with Palestine. This unpredictable nature of the game has given us a hope,' said Shakya.