![\"SAFF-260\"](\"https:\/\/indiansportsnews.co.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/SAFF-260.jpg\")
Kathmandu: Mountains, Clouds and the buzz in the City, add to it the fluctuating weather. A local saying in Nepali goes that in Nepal, you get to witness three seasons in a day.<\/p>\nKathmandu: Mountains, Clouds and the buzz in the City, add to it the fluctuating weather. A local saying in Nepali goes that in Nepal, you get to witness three seasons in a day.<\/p>\n
On Thursday (August 29) when Team India kicked-off their practice it was very pleasant indeed. Within ten minutes it poured, and it poured heavily. Onlookers including the watching journalists ran for shade even as the Players continued in the rain. Barely half an hour later, it was bright and sunny and then a bit scorching.<\/p>\n
\u201cIsn\u2019t it funny?\u201d Gouramangi Singh, changing his boots at the dugout queried. \u201cThat\u2019s the beauty of the Mountains,\u201d he continued. \u201cWe arrived here early and have already had two practice sessions. We are ready for the challenge,\u201d he pronounced.\n<\/p>\n
The rain anyway couldn\u2019t dampen the spirit of the Indian Players who thoroughly enjoyed the high intensity practice session at the Police Headquarters Ground.<\/p>\n
Who are the favourites in SAFF Championship? National Coach Wim Koevermans was asked at the Official Interaction.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook at this,\u201d Koevermans pointed to the India Logo on his shirt and smiled. \u201cEvery match is tough. Every match is a Final,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
India begin their Campaign against Pakistan on September 1. \u201cWe\u2019ve heard that Pakistan had a number of Foreign based players in the squad. We will have a look at them when we play against them,\u201d Koevermans said in response to a query from a journalist from Pakistan.<\/p>\n
India\u2019s Japanese born midfielder Arata Izumi admitted he was \u201cexcited\u201d about the forthcoming Indo-Pak clash.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m excited about playing Pakistan. We have a good track record at the SAFF Championship and there will always be pressure on us,\u201d he said. \u201cBut we are taking it as a motivation and will try our best to maintain it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a dream of playing International Football and am honoured to wear the India Blue,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Goalkeeper Sandip Nandy emphasised the importance of the first match of any Tournament. \u201cThe first match is always very tough and tricky too. We are taking it one match at a time,\u201d he quipped.<\/p>\n
Nandy was a member of India\u2019s triumphant SAFF squad which won in Pakistan in 2005. \u201cThat was a memorable moment for me. But every Player wants to win every match and every Tournament. Even our opponents who would be coming hard at us have the same motive in mind. We are all playing for our Country,\u201d Nandy who made a comeback to the National squad after five years commented.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kathmandu: Mountains, Clouds and the buzz in the City, add to it the fluctuating weather. A local saying in Nepali goes that in Nepal, you get to witness three seasons in a day.<\/p>\n
On Thursday (August 29) when Team India kicked-off their practice it was very pleasant indeed. Within ten minutes it poured, and it poured heavily. Onlookers including the watching journalists ran for shade even as the Players continued in the rain. Barely half an hour later, it was bright and sunny and then a bit scorching.<\/p>\n
\u201cIsn\u2019t it funny?\u201d Gouramangi Singh, changing his boots at the dugout queried. \u201cThat\u2019s the beauty of the Mountains,\u201d he continued. \u201cWe arrived here early and have already had two practice sessions. We are ready for the challenge,\u201d he pronounced.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17203,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17204","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-football-football"],"yoast_head":"\n