Girls seek repeat win over India

Bangladesh are approaching today’s SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship final at Pokhara Stadium in Nepal with caution, aiming to stay focused and avoid overconfidence. 

Head coach Peter Butler has stressed the importance of a positive mindset as his five-time champions prepare to face India once more in the four-team competition, having beaten their familiar cross-border rivals 2-0 in the round robin phase.

“I have a fair indication of how they are going to play,” Butler said in a video message sent by the Bangladesh Football Federation, urging his players to perform at their best to overcome India again.

“They [India] have some good players, and we will need to be on top of our game, fresh, and ready to play them again -- and more importantly, beat them again.

“What is gone is gone; we have to put that behind us and approach this game with a positive mindset without being overconfident.” 

In their last group match against Nepal, Butler rested seven to eight regular starters, but Bangladesh faced little trouble in downing the hosts 4-0. He is expected to field his full-strength side to bring another laurel to the country.

Training ahead of the final has been limited due to concerns over poor field conditions and potential injuries, though Butler has ensured his players study video footage of the opposition thoroughly.

“We have tried to limit training as much as we possibly can because the training field is not suitable. Unfortunately, we have picked up a number of injuries, and my foremost objective is to ensure we have a healthy group of players on the pitch, as their welfare is of paramount importance.” 

The English coach also indicated that the final will help him assess which players are ready for the upcoming AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia.