SAFF U-18 Championship | We’re well prepared and confident of our abilities, says Floyd Pinto

09/19/2019

India U-18 head coach Floyd Pinto sounded a confident man ahead of India’s opening match against Bangladesh in the SAFF U-18 Championship. This would be the third edition of the SAFF U-18 Championship, which started back in 2015 and has seen Nepal winning it on both occasions.

The Indian colts would be approaching into the tournament at the back of a training camp in Bhubaneswar and would be looking to extend their superior form from their run in Vanuatu last month. They had finished on top at the OFC Youth Development Tournament.

And coach Pinto pointed out the same in expressing the confidence and momentum that his boys are enjoying at the moment. “After the good showing in Vanuatu the mood camp is very positive. All the boys are focused and determined to take the winning momentum into the SAFF Championship,” he said, reported Sportstar reported.

“We are confident in our abilities and have prepared well. We are looking forward to the approaching the tournament with positivity and putting our best foot forward in all our games,” he added.

Pinto also revealed how the tournament could be a real "step up" following the OFC Youth Development Tournament that would provide his side time to prepare for the “acid test”, the AFC U-19 Championship Qualifiers. India have been grouped with Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan there.

“We expect stiff competition in Nepal from every team that we will face. We were successful in Vanuatu, and SAFF will be a step up from it. Hence, we need to keep improving ourselves and play with positivity,” Floyd stated.

In the SAFF U-18 Championships, India have been drawn in Group B alongside Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.