However, Nepal are set to play two friendly matches with comparatively ‘weaker opponents’ Bhutan on March 15 and 17 at Pokhara Stadium, Pokhara. [break]Looking back at past results, Nepal have always had an upper hand against the Druks. So far, Nepal have officially played eight matches with Bhutan and on all occasions Nepal won.
Nepal are 174 in the FIFA rankings while Bhutan are in the 197th spot. Nepal’s 7-0 win over them achieved during the Eighth SAF Games is the highest margin win ever against the underdogs. The last time these two South Asian countries met was during a friendly match in India two years ago. On that occasion, Nepal had defeated Bhutan 2-1.
“To judge our weaknesses and strengths we need to play with strong opponents,” Roberts told Republica. “Nepal and Bhutan know each other very well so the match may not be as effective as [if] we play against a strong and unknown opponent to test ourselves.”
Along with hosts Nepal, North Korea, Sri Lanka and the winners among Bhutan and Afghanistan will compete in the qualifiers. The top two teams from the group will qualify for the final round.
Roberts, who has been looking after the team since February 1, is optimistic that All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) would arrange some other teams for the friendlies.
The 51-year-old Briton, accompanied in his coaching job by former national goalkeeper Upendra Man Singh and Meghraj KC, is satisfied with the preparations and confident that his side would make it to the final round of the Challenge Cup.
The team is currently undergoing training at Nepal Police Training Academy, Maharajgunj. The training has been reduced from twice-a-day to one-time from Sunday. All 27 players selected in the second phase, other than Rohit Chand (currently playing professional football from HAL, I-League Club), are attending the camp. Chand is expected to join the training from Tuesday.
National striker Anil Gurung, who plays professional football from India’s Shillong Lajong, joined the training from Thursday. Gurung had returned from India after sustaining injury to the nose about a week ago. Coach Roberts was impressed with Gurung’s performance in the very first training session. “He is quick and has the qualities of a professional footballer,” Roberts said.
The former England international and also former Tottenham and Chelsea player claimed that the fitness and technical aspect of his boys had progressed to a large extent. “The boys have made great stride in fitness and technical aspect,” said Roberts, who gave much emphasis to fitness in the first phase of training. He also said that his side need not be too worried over North Korea, the strongest team of the group.
The Nepali team will come up with a new formation and play in offensive rather than defensive style, said the coach who, however, did not wish to disclose the strategy.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Bikash Malla has sustained injuries to his right thigh. He has a strain in his muscle and will be out of the grounds for a week.
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