Despite getting more scoring chances than any of its opponents, Nepal crashed out of the SAFF semifinals due to weaknesses in finishing. None of the strikers succeeded to score single goal among the four matches played and Nepal could score only three goals with two goals coming from defenders and another from midfielder. [break]
In the current edition of the SAFF Championship, no doubt, Nepal put up an impressive performance and proved that it was capable of playing against any other opponents of the South Asian region.
But few goals possible from numerous opportunities has raised serious question mark on the ability of strikers as well as coach. One must believe that, Nepal cannot become dominant football force in any other international forum, unless it holds permanent dominance is South Asian football.
The tournament is a proper time for judgment of British coach Graham Roberts who had told to judge him after the SAFF Championship while finalizing the squad for the event.
On the basis of the result and on-the-field performance, it won´t be a mistake to say that coach failed to train players for making a proper finishing despite getting ample time for the preparation of the event.
But the fact should not be ignored that Roberts did appreciable job to raise the fitness level of the players and make them technically sound than any other teams of the sub continent.
Similarly, only three goals conceded in four matches was the proof of Nepal´s strong defense line up and the midfield was also superb.
Though the coach did not have many options for replacement of his forwards, he could have tried some other players having potential to play in the position. After seeing the failure of his regular forwards Santosh Sahukhala, Anil Gurung and Jumanu Rai, the coach never bothered to try any other potential player as forwards such as Bharat Khawas and Sujal Shrestha.
It has been ten international matches that Sahukhala has not scored a single goal while Gurung and Rai have also failed to score in seven matches each.
Khawas had scored in Nepal´s 1-1 draw against Pakistan and he was also the same person to score the vital goal in Nepal´s 1-0 win over Afghanistan during the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers at home a few months ago. Khawas who plays as forward for his club Nepal Police had also scored in Nepal´s 1-1 draw against mighty Jordan.
But it is not the sole responsibility of the only coach who arrived Nepal about a year ago for having blunt strikers in his squad. ANFA, the football governing body of the nation, also failed to produce some good strikers.
Thus, to lift the standard of Nepali football in the sub continent, AFNA, if cannot instantly raise the standard of Nepali football should atleast take initiation to make it stable.
As the current Nepali football need some good strikers, ANFA should come up with effective plans to address the drought and some long term plans for the sustainable development of football.
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