“We were here with only one goal, and that is to lift the trophy,” India’s Dutch coach Wim Koevermans said at the pre-match conference on Tuesday. “We are only 90 minutes away from the title.” [break]
Also speaking at the press conference, Afghanistan’s assistant coach Ali Jawad Attaii said, “We want to avenge the defeat against India in the final of the last edition. It is not revenge against the country but in football. All the people of our country felt bad after the final defeat two years ago.”
In the final of previous SAFF, Afghanistan custodian Hameedullah Yousufzari was sent off with 20 minutes remaining and the Indian team was awarded a penalty. Skipper Sunil Chhetri converted the penalty to put his side 1-0 up. India added three more goals in the remaining time to seal a 4-0 victory. It was India’s second successive SAFF title and fifth overall since the first edition of SAFF. Bangladesh and the Maldives are the only other teams to win the SAFF Championship.
India’s skipper Sunil Chhetri (left) and Afghanistan captain Haroon Fakhruddin hold SAFF Championship trophy on the eve of the 8th SAFF Championship final at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu on Tuesday. (Republica)
Afghanistan has been claiming they were the victims of the referee’s wrong decision in the final two years ago. “I hope there will be a better referee in the final as it was the referee who changed the match scenario in the last edition, and we are not playing in India this time,” Attaii said.
Attaii also opined that his side was physically and technically better than India. “I am the coach of the Afghani team and I know we are better than India,” said the assistant coach, claiming that they were better in all departments including defense, midfield and forward.
He, however, said that the Indian team deserved to be in the final. “India has won the title many times and has experienced players,” Attaii said.
India coach Kovermans said that the real fight will be on the ground. “I am happy whatever they think of us. They will see on the pitch tomorrow,” said Kovermans.
He, however, said that Afghanistan was not the same team as the Maldives and that his side would come up with a different approach. He also said the Maldives made the mistake of underestimating his side in the semifinal.
Meanwhile, Indian skipper Sunil Chhetri, who is all set to return in the final after serving a one-match suspension -- said that his side has already beaten Afghanistan in the last edition. “We achieved good momentum in the semifinal and hope to continue with that,” said Chhetri.
The Indian side, which struggled to beat the Maldives in the semifinal, will be motivated by the presence of its skipper-cum-forward Chhetri. “Chhetri is a dangerous player but we will keep an eye not only on him but on the whole Indian team,” said Attaii.
Attaii said his side will have the physical advantage of well-built Afghani players. Besides, India should also be wary of the stubborn Afghani defense line-up. More than half a dozen Afghani players including custodian Mansur Ahmadei, midfielder Mustafa Hadid, Sanjar M Ahmadi and others play professional football in European clubs.
Meanwhile, India, the most successful team of the South Asian region, will have psychological advantage over Afghanistan. Afghanistan has never defeated India in their five encounters since 1951. India has won four matches and one ended in a draw.
India 3-0 Afghanistan 1951 Asian Games
India 4-0 Afghanistan 2003 SAFF Cup
India 1-0 Afghanistan 2008 AFC Challenge Cup
India 1-1 Afghanistan 2011 SAFF (Group stage)
India 4-0 Afghanistan 2011 SAFF (Final)
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