The India U-19 women's football squad arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday to compete in the SAFF U-19 Women's Championship, with their first game against Sri Lanka scheduled for December 13.
The team had been training in Goa, and head coach Alex Ambrose feels the programme will help them integrate more quickly. Before the team's departure on Wednesday, Ambrose remarked, “we have been training in Goa, and the girls have been adapting to all the situations here.”
“It’s a tough time for everyone in the world and we got the opportunity to train and play, for which I am happy. We certainly want to do well and the federation is supporting us so that we can live up to a certain expectation," underlined Ambrose.
The U-19 team is a young one, with just a few players having previously played for the national team. Ambrose feels that participating in the SAFF competition will assist the girls have a better understanding of the level of football played on a global scale.
Ambrose further said, “it’s a new team and everyone is excited to play a good brand of football. Playing competitive teams will help acclimatise them, and gain an understanding of International football. The players need to believe in themselves and play good football.”
He said, “it will help the girls prepare themselves to deal with tough situations. Expectations are always there, but we are here to play good football. There is absolutely no pressure on the players. We just want them to perform well, enjoy their football and have a good championship.”
