SAF Football: Nepal must seize the moment to dazzle

With the South Asian Federation Games in Guwahati, India close on the heels, Nepal looking to turn things around in football face yet another daunting challenge.

Just like always, the big question is, will Nepal live up to expectations? This time around, however, the mood in Nepal camp is very different.

There is great optimism, confidence, positivity, buoyancy, stubbornness and expectancy in the team, like never seen before.

The players are bubbling with confidence and raring to go. This is a very encouraging sign. The Bangabandhu Gold Cup success could not have come at a better time and has provided them a shot in the arm they needed.

Also it has given the team a tremendous boost in morale and confidence ahead of the South Asian Federation Games (SAFG).

This is the moment for the talented new look Nepal outfit to sparkle, deliver and recapture the glory the nation has been desperately clamoring for 23 years. They have to seize the moment to dazzle when it counts most.

A peek into the fixtures for the tournament, Nepal is in a relatively comfortable group alongside Bhutan and Bangladesh. In analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the opponents, they are well positioned to reach the semi-finals.

Should they stumble, like in the South Asian Federation Football Championship, which I don’t expect, I will be very surprised and shocked. Furthermore, the failure would be tantamount to disaster.

Nepal, a team that has a roaster virtually unchanged from the side that played in Bangladesh recently. The only change is the head coach. Mr. Raju Kaji Shakya, former skipper of the national team, has replaced Mr. Bal Krishna Maharjan.

After the stupendous success in Bangladesh, understandably, the team is riding a high. The most important thing is to stay razor like focused, in the moment and avoid getting caught up in the highs and lows of it.

Keep in mind football is so much about momentum and confidence. Going into the competition, Nepal has all the momentum and must be darn wary not to squander it. They have to perform cohesively and play aggressive and positive attacking football. The key is to be able to make the most of goal scoring opportunities.

 When it comes to goal scoring, it all hinges on three players: Nawayug Shrestha, Bimal Gharti Magar and Anjan Bista. They will have to find their scoring touch to serve the team well.

Besides, players have to put in that extra effort, maintain their composure, avoid over-confidence and rise to the occasion. There is certainly no room for inconsistency and complacency if they want to stay in contention.

Nepal kicks off against a vastly improved Bhutan in the opener. Forgetting not, the Dragon Boys have been playing a good brand of football lately and are eager to prove themselves against the Gorkhalis.

 Undoubtedly, it is an intriguing and interesting matchup. Nepal   must   show respect   to the opponent, employ a cautious approach and not let their guard down.

It would be a costly mistake to underestimate the opponent.

The fact of the matter is that both sides seem to be pretty evenly balanced.

I still think Nepal has a slight edge over Bhutan. That being said, they must get off to a good start and cannot afford to be mediocre.

The same approach and tactics should be used against the unpredictable Bangladeshi side. There is not much separating the two outfits in terms of standards, performance, physicality and playing style

Everyone agrees that the team that plays most consistently and scores goals wins, at the end of the day.

Nepal ‘s progress, expectations, opportunities positivity must translate to wins. Before I go any further, I would like to stress here that the first target is to reach the semi-final, which is reachable, in my estimation.

Who knows? This could be the year Nepali football aficionados have been waiting for. For now, let us keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best.