SAFF football is just
around the corner and the quest for much needed glory in Nepali football is
about to begin. 20 years since the start of regional football competition,
Nepal has nothing substantial to show for. The tournament could not have come
at right time for Nepal. While the country is in stalemate, a tournament win
could be paving stone for happy days, or a loss would be just another chapter
of sad days of Nepal. As I see, there is nothing to lose for Nepal and
everything to gain for. Although we are playing in home, we are not considered
title favorites and that helps us in some ways. We are tabled in the group of
deaths. There are opportunities to be grabbed and plenty to play for.
Nepal’s build up to
the much awaited tournament has to be said fair. The team is back to homeland having
toured two gulf countries, playing 5 matches, winning 4 of them. Whatever may
be the strength of opposition, Nepal team would have loved to have wins under
the belt. After all winning is a habit, which Nepal has acquired. It would also
have been helpful to players to be in the right kind of mood and shape. A nice
play combination must have been established.
The strikers look like are firing. Again, it
is about feeling good about being in the field, determination to be in the
right place, making the opportunities and making opportunities count. Goals of
any nature would have helped them. It is not time to criticize strikers for
their failure in the past; they need our support which there will surely be
plenty of. I believe Nepal has to play with two strikers; constantly changing
position because that will keep the defenders engaged and create space in the
midfield. Football is a team game and it is not only striker’s fault to not
score goals. It is important to understand that there have not been enough
balls from the midfield for them to play with.
Play from the midfield
is dependent on the formation team plays in. Jagjeet Shrestha (if totally fit)
is a sure starter and he is the most important player for Nepal, in other words
playmaker. But I have a problem, if he has not got pace to work with his
skills, opposition will easily close him down and Nepal may never get going. So
it is important for team to have someone easily available around him to receive
pass and distribute the play. Play in the midfield must be such that there are
always multiple passing opportunities. We need players in midfield who can ride
out the challenge, both defensively and offensively. Mid fielders who can move the ball very
quickly while in attack and while defensively close the opposition and slow the
pace of the opposition must be included in the team set up.
Five of the six
defenders selected for the tournament will surely start any game. If opposition
can beat our defense in anything, that is in pace. There are experienced
players in the defense, so defense may not be a big problem for Nepal. It is
occasional lack of concentration while going for goal, that Nepal often
concedes a goal. Nepal win not concede too many goals, so that should not be a
problem.
All in all, this is
the best side we can gather and the team looks balanced. What is important is
the team to play as a team and to play for each other and for the crowd. All
the fans want to see is a determined performance. It is important for players
to understand that this is the last opportunity for them to create glory and
make name in the history. International careers of most of the players are in
line and they too must be determined to create history. The team is fairly unchanged
for almost about 3-4 years with occasional new names, so they all understand
each other.
I believe Nepal has to
play very tactical game. Best team according to the tactics should be fielded
from the start. Nepal always starts brightly but that slowly fades as the game
progresses, and opposition gains confidence. The crowd goes erratic and Nepal
loses all the momentum. So, Nepal should go on aggressively from the start and
try to create chances. The crowd will be after them, opposition will take time
to settle. Scoring early will help everyone settle and the crowd will surely
win the match for us.
Other thing is the players taking on chances. Someone from midfield taking shots on target will always encourage the crowd. A powerful shot will always bring different factors in play. A deflection may result in a goal, or the team can get set play to work with. Why not keep the ball in opposition half? Being thoughtful in match should also be helpful for Nepal, like taking the freekicks early, making most of the tackles and getting into referee’s ear to bring out card for opposition players. These small things are important in football.
A regional tournament
against some fierce local rivals is surely going to be fascinating. There is
nothing to lose for Nepal and a place in history to be gained. So bring on, we
are all ready to get behind the team.
