The India U-16s have had a month-long training camp in Srinagar, before travelling to Bhutan, where they are set to play Bangladesh (September 2) and Nepal (September 6) in Group A of the SAFF U-16 Championship, with the top two teams from each group making it to the semi-finals.<\/p>
India head coach Ishfaq Ahmed laid emphasis on his team\u2019s preparations in Srinagar, a city that enjoys similar weather conditions to that of Thimphu.<\/p>
\u201cThe weather conditions are similar, but Thimphu (2,334m) is at a higher altitude than Srinagar (1,585m), so stamina will be key,\u201d said Ahmed on the eve of their match against Bangladesh. \u201cI feel the first half, especially the first 30 minutes will be important. If we are mentally ready and give our best, then we can succeed,\" he was quoted as saying by the AIFF in a report on its website.<\/p>
\u201cEven if somebody tires out, it should not be a problem, because we are allowed five substitutions, so we can always change our players,\u201d he said.<\/p>
India\u2019s first match of the tournament will be against Bangladesh, one of the tougher teams in the competition, but the U-16 boys are up for the challenge.<\/p>
\u201cWe know a bit about them, and they are an extremely physical side, so we must be careful, especially in the set pieces. They might try to put us under pressure through direct football,\u201d said Ahmed.<\/p>
\u201cBut I have complete faith in my boys. They are the chosen ones, and all they need to do is to execute the talent they have and play according to the plan in a confident manner,\u201d said the head coach.<\/p>
Ahmed, a former India international winger, believes that this is as good a time as any for the new batch of U-16 footballers to taste international football for the first time.<\/p>
\u201cIt\u2019s always a challenge when the team have not played internationally before, but everyone must start somewhere. Even Sunil (Chhetri) and Bhaichung (Bhutia) bhai started somewhere,\u201d said Ahmed. \u201cThe boys are mentally strong and ready, and they will put up a good show for the match.\u201d<\/p>
India U-16 midfielder Ngamgouhou Mate said, \"We have had a good preparation for the SAFF U-16 Championship in Kashmir, and all the boys are determined to do well. We need to put our heads down and stick to the plan and get the result.\u201d<\/p>
Bangladesh head coach Shaifur Rahman Moni believes that any match against India is always a pressure situation for his boys.<\/p>
\u201cAny match against India is always a pressure situation. That is more so for us because this is our first match of the tournament,\u201d said Moni. \u201cWe certainly respect India, but we know the work that we have put in, and we are here to win the trophy. India play hard, but so will we. Our boys are ready to fight.\u201d<\/p>
Bangladesh captain Najmul Huda Faysal said, \u201cIndia are a very good team, and they work very hard. But we have also studied the tactics and know how to play them. Our team is extremely fit, so hopefully we will get a good result against them.\u201d<\/p>
The India U-16s\u2019 match against Bangladesh will kick off at 2.30 pm IST at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan, on Saturday, September 2, 2023, and will be streamed live on the Sportzworkz YouTube channel.<\/p>", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2023\/09\/saff-u-16-cship-india-look-to-dominate-opening-exchanges-against-bangladesh-in-opener.jpg", "alt_img": "SAFF U-16 C\u2019ship: India look to dominate opening exchanges against Bangladesh in opener", "alt_title": "SAFF U-16 C\u2019ship: India look to dominate opening exchanges against Bangladesh in opener", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "SAFF U-16 C\u2019ship: India Look To Dominate Opening Exchanges Against Bangladesh In Opener On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "SAFF U-16 C\u2019ship: India Look To Dominate Opening Exchanges Against Bangladesh In Opener, Shaifur Rahman Moni: Head coach Ishfaq Ahmed feels that the first 30 minutes will be crucial for his boys in.", "seo_keywords": "Ishfaq Ahmed, The India, Even Sunil, Ngamgouhou Mate, Shaifur Rahman Moni, Najmul Huda Faysal, Changlimithang Stadium, Sportzworkz YouTube", "tag": "", "tagging": "Ishfaq Ahmed, The India, Even Sunil, Ngamgouhou Mate, Shaifur Rahman Moni, Najmul Huda Faysal, Changlimithang Stadium, Sportzworkz YouTube", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "saff-u-16-cship-india-look-to-dominate-opening-exchanges-against-bangladesh-in-opener", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "566", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "0", "created": "2023-09-01 23:28:02", "updated": "2023-09-01 23:28:02", "img_from": "Image Source: IANS", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "Ishfaq Ahmed, The India, Even Sunil, Ngamgouhou Mate, Shaifur Rahman Moni, Najmul Huda Faysal, Changlimithang Stadium, Sportzworkz YouTube", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "1", "google_feed": "1", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "23", "jio_date": "2023-09-01 23:28:02", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "0", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "sports_name": "football", "cnmid": "786220", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/sports-news\/saff-u-16-cship-india-look-to-dominate-opening-exchanges-against-bangladesh-in-opener-8164" }