Pakistan coach lauds India's U-19 women's team

Pakistan head coach Mohammed Siddique Sheikh heaped praises on the India U-19 women’s team ahead of the crucial AFC U-19 Women’s Championship Qualifier opening match between the two arch-rival.

Group B of the first round of the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship qualifiers are set to be kicked-off by India and Pakistan.

Pakistan head coach Mohammed Siddique Sheikh heaped praises on the India U-19 women’s team ahead of the crucial AFC U-19 Women’s Championship Qualifier opening match between the two arch-rival.

Although both the teams had played in the SAFF U-18 Women’s Champion, they did not face each other in Bhutan earlier this month. While India topped its group and went on to clinch the bronze medal, Pakistan finished rock-bottom of its group, losing all the matches.

On the eve of the high-intensity fixture between the two rivals, Sheikh opined that though India and the other two sides provide them with a stiff challenge, the qualifiers will serve to give his players good exposure.

“These qualifiers are going to give our girls good exposure. I’ve seen the Indian team, and they play really good football,” said Sheikh. “Thailand and Nepal are also quite good, so we have to bring our best cards to the table. We are playing here for the first time, so things are going to be new for us. Let’s hope for the best.”

Sheikh further went on to concede that his team are at a bit of a disadvantage due to the weather conditions in Chonburi, where sporadic rains are expected throughout the week.

“We have not been able to prepare for the conditions here as much as we would have liked. It rains quite often here, and that is not something that we are very used to,” he said. “Rains change the game, but we will try to cope with it.”

On the flip side, India gaffer Alex Ambrose stressed on the importance of his team playing their own game, regardless of who the opposition is. “I’ve seen all the teams before coming here, and they all play some really good football. But we are prepared to play our own game,” said Ambrose. “It all depends on how things go on the matchday. Depending on that, we can take things forward.”

Group B of the first round of the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship qualifiers are set to be kicked-off by India and Pakistan at 4 pm local time (2.30 pm IST), followed by the match between Thailand and Nepal at 7.30 pm local time (6 pm IST). The matches will be streamed live on Mycujoo.