The matches will be historic because this is the first time that Nepali women will be playing official international friendly matches. The matches are scheduled for January 13 and 15. [break]
Gurung, the 28-year old veteran APF player, had picked knee injury during the first match of Women´s National League held in Dhangadhi in December. Doctors have advised her to rest for at least three months. However, all players of the SAFF Championship, including Gurung, have been included for the friendly.
Team coach Kumar Katwal opined that Chandra Bhandari could be a sound replacement for skipper Gurung and decided to give the captain´s armband to Bhandari. "Bhandari is a talented forward and I hope she will not let us feel the absence of Gurung during the matches. I have planned to pair Bhandari with Anu Lama in the striking line-up," said Katwal, who is pleased with ANFA for arranging the international friendly matches. According to Katwal, Gurung is also assisting the coaching team.
"The friendly matches are a good beginning and a milestone in the development of women´s football. It would also be helpful for regional tournaments like the South Asian Games (SAG) and SAFF," he said.
Players undergoing training. (Bikash Karki/File Photo)
Katwal is optimistic about putting up a good show against Kuwait, ranked 131 in the FIFA rankings, and beating the opponent. Nepal is ranked 108. The matches will be the first encounter between the two sides.
"We did not make any changes to the squad that played the Second SAFF Championship in September because we had short time for preparation soon after the completion of the national league on December 29. The closed camp training started from January 3," said coach Katwal, who has taken charge of the national team for the first time. "We also faced problems regarding passports and citizenship certificates."
Katwal said he is focused more on endurance, speed and tactical aspects of the team.
The coach, who is assisted by Santosh Baniya in his job, said they decided to include skipper Gurung in the team despite her injury to honor her long contribution to the national team and also to motivate other players. "Besides, ANFA President Ganesh Thapa also wanted Gurung to be included for the friendlies to honor her long contribution to the team."
Katwal has planned to come up with a 4-4-2 formation. Chandra Bhandari and Anu Lama will be given the duty of forwards while Laxmi Paudel, Sajana Rana, Deepa Adhikari and Pramila Rai will be the midfielders in the starting line-up. Bhagawati Thapa, Usha Bhandari, Tulasa Singh and Dhim Kumari Magar are the defenders. Namita Dali is the goalkeeper. "The players may be replaced if need be," Katwal said.
Coach Katwal has also taken the match as an opportunity in his coaching career spanning more than two decades. "This is the first time that I have been assigned the responsibility of head coach in my 24-year-long coaching career. I will try my best to bring good results," said Katwal.
(Bikash Karki/File Photo)
"I will leave no stone unturned to lift the standard of the team. If the team´s standard goes down under me, I will resign immediately," said the coach, who was seen training players at the ANFA ground on Thursday afternoon.
Katwal also hinted at changing more than half a dozen players of the national squad for other regional tournaments. "I have watched the whole national league and there will be some changes in the next national squad."
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