Nepal´s British coach Graham Roberts also agrees the first match to be played against the Maldives to be vital. [break]
"The first match is always vital. The victory in the first match will ease our way to knockout stage and also boost the team´s confidence," Roberts had said to the Republica before the team left for Delhi on Wednesday.
The tournament will also be a real test for Roberts who was appointed as the coach of Nepali team in January earlier this year and guided Nepal to the final rounds of AFC Challenge Cup on home turf. All eight teams of SAFF are considered equally competent and play in a similar fashion.
The match will also be an opportunity for Nepali team to achieve victory over the Maldives which has not defeated the latter since 1999. The last time Nepal defeated the Maldives was during Eighth SAF Games in Kathmandu.
Nepal´s skipper Sagar Thapa echoes the coach. "We have not thought of any other matches than that with the Maldives. The result of the first match will be vital and carries a special significance," Thapa told Republica during a telephonic conversation.
"We have undergone hard training for the last four months and I think our fitness level is better than the opponents," said Thapa who expects a tough challenge from the opponent. Thapa has also urged all Nepali fans to pray for the success of the team when they take on the Maldives.
Nepal team is likely to come up in 5-3-2 formation and play with an aggressive strategy and Roberts is satisfied with the team´s fitness level.
"All the players are in good shape and cent percent fit. Besides, we have team spirit and are confident of beating the Maldives. I know how the Maldives plays. The Maldives has good midfielders. I have a strategy to play against them," Roberts told Republica.
Roberts has not named the starting line up for Friday´s match until Thursday evening.
Since 1984, Nepal has played 10 international matches against the Maldives. Of them, Nepal has lost four, won three and played draw in three matches.
SAFF Championship always has been an opportunity and challenge for the Nepali team since the beginning of the greatest football fiesta in the region began in 1997.
Until the sixth edition held so far, Nepal has crossed group stage during Goa SAFF in 1999. On that occasion, Nepal was knocked out from the semifinal by the Maldives. During Nepal´s last encounter in 2009 SAFF Championship Nepal had played 1-1 draw.
Meanwhile, Nepali team underwent training in New Delhi Thursday morning and inspected JLN stadium, the venue for the championship.
Nepal´s probable line up
Goalkeeper: Kiran Chemjong
Defenders: Biraj Maharjan, Rohit Chand, Sagar Thapa, Sandip Rai, Rabin Shrestha
Midfielders: Bharat Khawas, Raju Tamang, Bijay Gurung
Forwards: Jumanu Rai, Anil Gurung
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