AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: Before our U15 colts kick-start their campaign to retain the SAFF U15 Championship title against arch-rivals Pakistan at the ANFA Complex in Kathmandu tomorrow (October 25, 2018), coach Subhendu Panda stated that a match against Pakistan "is always special."

"A clash between India and Pakistan match is always special and extra competitive. The boys are ready to face the challenge."

Defending champions India are clubbed with Bhutan and Pakistan in the Group B and two teams from the group will advance to the semi-finals.

Before this SAFF sojourn, the colts had plied their trade in the 2018 Jinshan International Youth Football Championship in Shanghai in August this year. The coach mentioned that their primary focus is to find the solutions to the problems that they faced in China.

Panda added, "We are looking forward to solving the problems as much as we could which we had during our last International exposure tour to China. Additionally, our focus during the entire camp before the SAFF Championship has been to develop the communication within the team and adapt to our own playing >

Meanwhile, he mentioned that he's looking forward to this tournament as "an opportunity to test ourselves."

"As we are preparing for a long-term development of players, we are looking forward to this competition as an opportunity to test ourselves and prepare accordingly for future."

The match will kick-off at 11:15 AM IST.