Nepal vs Yemen: An intriguing matchup

The national football  team of Nepal  will return to action when  they take on Yemen in the 2019 Asian Football  Confederation Asia Cup qualifiers  in Kathmandu.

The host has an edge over the war ravaged Middle East outfit. It remains to be seen whether they are able to translate  it into victory. They stand a reasonably  good chance of pulling  off a win, but  I expect this to be a very hotly contested game.

But keep in mind, they are certainly  no pushovers and cannot be taken lightly. They are a dangerous side made up of skilful players with dogged determination and plenty of fire in their belly.

They are not short  on confidence and very optimistic about the clash  against bottom placed  Nepal. Having beaten Tajikistan 2-1  in the opener, they hope to repeat the feat against the home team.

The Yemenis  have endured the pain of civil war, political turmoil  for long,but they  have not abandoned football and  continue to play with utmost passion under  the most appalling conditions.

They have not played at home for nearly four  years.Remember, most of their  playing fields and facilities have been destroyed by the  war. They train in Qatar for the most part.

Having lost the  opening away tie to Philippines, Nepal cannot afford another mediocre performance, if they  wish  to stay afloat in the competition. A defeat would be a perfect recipe for disaster.They  will have to bounce back with a  solid performance and deliver the result needed.

Nepal will go into the crucial game hoping to earn full points.They have to put in extra efforts to bolster their performance and win outright,but it is easier said than done. It will require more than just rock solid will and fighting spirit. That said, it is not going to be  easy by any means.

No doubt , there will be  enormous  pressure on the team  to perform  well and win in front of a partisan  crowd. The key is the ability to perform well  under pressure. More important, they must capitalize on home advantage.

In Yemen they face a physically superior,  strong and speedy opposition capable of upsetting the applecart.

The recent defeat in a friendly against India is a reminder that much work lies ahead. There are challenges, and they can be overcome , unless  they play up to their potential.The squad is young, energetic and has talent in abundance.

2016 was a great year for Nepal football in terms of results, despite challenging circumstances.There is no question our footballers are capable of achieving a lot more. Since then the team’s form has been shaky, and they must shake off the slump.

While taking into account the team’s recent showing there is some concern. Everyone agrees that they must show marked improvement  offensively, defensively and in midfield to make a positive impact in the game.

Youngsters Bimal Gharti Magar, Nawayug Shrestha   and Bharat Khawas have much to prove,  and they must step up their game and start scoring the goals.They have to make the most out of goal scoring chances.

Midfielders Rohit Chand  along with  Sujal Shrestha ,Anjan Bista and Bishal Rai have  quite the task on their hands . Their performance will be an important factor in the success of the team.

The defensive  work has to improve especially with Rabin Shrestha nursing an  injury. Skipper Biraj Maharjan  Ananta Tamang and  Aditya  Chaudhary  will shoulder greater responsibility.  They are most likely  to face challenge controlling  aerial duels.

I  have no clue what Coach Koji Gyotoku’s starting eleven looks like and his approach to the game. The bottom line is: if they play their best game, they will prevail.

Domestic football  has  taken a  heavy,harsh  toll on most players.  Some of the key players are carrying injuries, while others appear exhausted both mentally and physically. But what has really set off the alarm is the poor  physical  conditioning of players. We will have to wait and see, if these factors  affect team performance negatively.

It is  a shame  that the game is being played in Halchowk Stadium . It is a  national disgrace  that the  only international standard Dasarath  Stadium  in the country hit hard by the 2015  earthquake  still remains in a dilapidated state.So far, the government has not shown interest in completing the renovation work. This is unbelievable.