In one of the two games of the opening day at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu today, Bangladesh will start their quest to reclaim the SAFF U-16 Championship crown by facing the formidable India.
The game is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM (BST) at the same site where Pakistan and hosts Bhutan will be playing.
Due to a one-day delay in the event, the guys in red and green had an extra day to get used to the cold temperature in Bhutan. Before the encounter against India, who defeated Bangladesh 2-1 in the previous edition’s semifinals in 2022, Saifur Rahman Moni’s charges had their penultimate training yesterday.
“The tournament’s first game is always crucial—and not only because it features India. The players will thus be under pressure. “I think the boys will give it their all tomorrow to get off to a good start,” Moni said in a video message.
The coach had said that Bangladesh wanted to guarantee a spot in the semifinals before they left for Bhutan.
Having an extra day before the start makes Captain Nazmul Huda Faisal delighted.
“The frigid temperature here has been difficult for us to acclimate to. Faisal said, “But the deferment gave us an extra day, which is helping us get used to the weather.”