Bangladesh arrived Nepal to play two international friendly matches with the second game scheduled for Thursday.[break]
The match on Tuesday will be the 13th international encounter between the two teams in which visitor holds better record than the host. Among 12 matches, Bangladesh has won eight and lost four.
But Nepal is likely to have psychological advantage as it defeated Bangladesh during its last encounter during the 7th SAFF in 2011. A miraculous freekick goal from skipper Sagar Thapa during the last minute of match enabled Nepal to defeat Bangladesh 1-0 in the group stage.
"We will have high morale and psychological boost against the visitors as we had defeated them during the last encounter and our standard of football has been rising since last few years," skipper Sagar Thapa said during a pre-match conference on Monday.
Bangladesh arrived Nepal with determination to win and has prepared according. But Nepal had not prepared even for a single day. "Though its friendly it is international match as well," said Bangladeshi interim coach Saiful Bari Titu adding, "We have taken the match seriously and arrived with full strength team."
Sagar Thapa (L) with Mohammed Sujan. (Photo: Bikash Karki)
According to Bari, the team had undergone a short 10-day preparation after selection from among all age group including U-19, U-22 and senior team. "We have picked the squad from among 85 players through selection," said Bari, who has been looking after Dhaka Mohammedan Club. Bangladesh has also taken the match as preparation for next SAFF Championship and AFC Challenge Cup to be held in 2013.
Bari was the coach of Seikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club of Bangladesh which lifted the Safal Gold Cup last year in Pokhara.
Bari has assumed the match against Nepal to be even. "Nepal and Bangladesh are neck to neck. However, Nepal may be little bit superior as it played Nehru Cup a couple of weeks ago."
Regarding the muddy pitch, Bari opined that the condition in Bangladesh was also similar and it depends on the mentality team. "We can play as long as mud doesn´t stop the movement of ball. But it will be harder and demand more physical strength."
According to Nepal´s coach Krishna Thapa despite no preparation for the match, the players were fit as they were in training with their respective clubs.
"We also played in the Nehru Cup few weeks ago and the same team will play against Bangladesh," said Thapa adding, "Robin Shrestha and two other ANFA Academy players from U-16 -- Bimal Gharti Magar and Heman Thapa Magar -- will also be included in the team."
"We are ready to play against them," said Thapa adding, "Whatever be the the condition of pitch, we will play unless the match referee or match commissioner stops it."
Meanwhile, the match coordinator and ANFA spokesperson Lalit Krishna Shrestha said that the match will be conducted if the match commissioner opts to conduct the match. "Looking at the current situation and ground condition, it seems it will be difficult to conduct the match but let´s hope for the improvement of weather."
The ticket fees for the VIP parapet are fixed at Rs 500 and Rs 300 for ordinary parapet.
1984 Nepal 0-5 Bangladesh 1st SAF Games
1984 Nepal 4-2 Bangladesh 1st SAF Games
1986 Nepal 0-1 Bangladesh 10th Asian Games
1987 Nepal 1-0 Bangladesh 3rd SAF Games
1991 Nepal 0-2 Bangladesh 5th SAF Games
1993 Nepal 1-0 Bangladesh 6th SAF Games
1995 Nepal 1-2 Bangladesh 7th SAF Games
1995 Nepal 0-2 Bangladesh 2nd SAARC Gold Cup
1999 Nepal 1-2 Bangladesh 2nd SAFF Championship
1999 Nepal 0-1 Bangladesh 8th SAF
2003 Nepal 0-1 Bangladesh 3rd SAFF Championship
2011 Nepal 1-0 Bangladesh 7th SAFF Championship
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