With Bhutan set to host the South Asian Football Federation, SAFF Under-16 Championship in a month’s time, the country’s Under-16 national football team is preparing for the tournament. The team has been training continuously for the last two months. Bhutan will be competing with the likes of top ranked teams such as India and the Maldives at the Changlingmithang Stadium to win the championship.
The team is practising for the championship at the Bhutan Football Federation Academy at Changjiji in Thimphu. The training has been going on since last month for around three hours every day.
According to the senior coach, the team has been following a strict diet plan and has been practising very hard for the tournament.
He also added that to prepare for the tournament, the team also went to Osaka in Japan to play friendly matches to enhance the exposure of the players. According to players and officials, they are expecting a good finish to the tournament because of the home advantage and their rigorous training sessions.
“For two months, we have been practising for the tournament both at the Changlimithang Stadium and the Bhutan Football Federation Academy. We are expecting to win the matches and reach the semi-final at least. Our main objective is to win the championship,” said Yeshi Wangchuk, head coach of the U-16 National Football Team.
“As we are the home team, we are expecting to win the matches. With regard to training, we have been preparing for the last two months. We are expecting to reach the semi-finals,” said Sonam Dorji, team captain of the U-16 National Football Team.
“We are very excited and our Under-16 boys have been trained very well. Looking at the talent we have and the coaching that we have done and the investment we have made, I think we have a very good chance of winning the championship. This is the second time Bhutan is hosting the championship. We have a new ground, new training facilities and better hotels,” said Phuntsho Wangdi, Head of Media and Marketing of Bhutan Football Federation.
As per the tournament record, this is Bhutan’s sixth appearance in the championship. Bhutan’s best finish came in 2017 securing the 4th position in Nepal.
This is the 8th edition of the championship, which will begin on the 1st of September. Bhutan will be joined by Under-16 teams from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, the Maldives and Pakistan. Bhutan is placed in Group B alongside Pakistan and the Maldives.
With 4 wins, India are the favourites to clinch the title. India are also the defending champions having won the championship last year. However, with Bhutan playing at home, the possibility of the team pulling off a surprise cannot be written off.
Ugyen Dorji
Edited by Kipchu
