Siliguri: The last time India played Nepal in the SAFF Championship in Kathmandu, he watched from his residence in Goa. An untimely injury in the Preparatory Camp in Bangalore prior to the Championship had ruled Clifford Miranda out.<\/p>\n
The curly haired winger shakes his head. \u201cIt was frustrating,\u201d he opines. \u201cBut this time I\u2019m available for selection.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are taking the Nepal match very seriously. Every match is important. We never underestimate any opponent,\u201d Miranda adds. \u201cNepal\u2019s display in SAFF Championship showed how strong they are,\u201d he maintained.<\/p>\n
Even as everyone in Siliguri prefers to talk about India\u2019s \u201cinexperienced\u201d defence, Central Defender Arnab Mondal isn\u2019t willing to buy the logic. \u201cPhilippines were such a strong Team. Most of their Players play in Europe which includes Bundesliga Club Eintracht Frankfurt defender Stephan Markus Schrock,\u201d he quips.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s true that the back-four played together for the first time. But never did we go out of shape and all throughout, we backed each other,\u201d he states. \u201cNepal know us as much we know them. It will be an interesting battle. Off-course we will play to win but every Team has the same aim when they take the Field.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no denying that there\u2019s an added confidence in the Team especially after our display against Philippines. We should have won it but that\u2019s Football,\u201d he argues.<\/p>\n
Goalkeeper Subhasish Roychowdhury complements Arnab. \u201cAiborlang Khongjee and Arnab (Mondal) did a splendid job as did Gurjinder (Kumar) and Denzil (Franco). Raju (Gaikwad) was also so composed as and when he came on as a substitute,\u201d he echoes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was such a huge turnout when India played Philippines. We expect a full-house against Nepal,\u201d he quipped.<\/p>\n
Aiborlang Khongjee, the 475th Player to have played for India informs: \u201cArnab and myself talk to each other a lot. It helps and it did against Philippines. Arnab nods.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe entire contingent is working hard and planning for our next outcome. The Coach is just working tirelessly,\u201d Clifford informs.<\/p>\n
Clifford, however, refused to divulge any strategy for the Match. \u201cWe will stick to the instructions. Surely an early goal will give us an advantage. But it\u2019s also the other way round. A confident Nepal will also be planning for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe present National team setup is all about taking responsibilities. Everyone is old enough to understand what his responsibility is. As long as we execute it, results will come out way.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Siliguri: The last time India played Nepal in the SAFF Championship in Kathmandu, he watched from his residence in Goa. An untimely injury in the Preparatory Camp in Bangalore prior to the Championship had ruled Clifford Miranda out.<\/p>\n
The curly haired winger shakes his head. \u201cIt was frustrating,\u201d he opines. \u201cBut this time I\u2019m available for selection.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are taking the Nepal match very seriously. Every match is important. We never underestimate any opponent,\u201d Miranda adds. \u201cNepal\u2019s display in SAFF Championship showed how strong they are,\u201d he maintained.<\/p>\n
Even as everyone in Siliguri prefers to talk about India\u2019s \u201cinexperienced\u201d defence, Central Defender Arnab Mondal isn\u2019t willing to buy the logic. \u201cPhilippines were such a strong Team. Most of their Players play in Europe which includes Bundesliga Club Eintracht Frankfurt defender Stephan Markus Schrock,\u201d he quips.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18008","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-isn-front-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n