Football

As the hosts look to go all out in front of a partisan crowd, Bhutan are aiming to pull off a coup 

Hosts Nepal will be looking for three points when they meet Bhutan in the opening match of the sixth SAFF Women’s Championship on Tuesday. The match kicks off at Dashrath Stadium at 5:30pm.

It will be the fourth meeting between the teams, with Nepal enjoying a clear upper hand. Nepal have defeated Bhutan by wide margins in the group stage of the three editions of the SAFF competition. After sweeping the Bhutanese challenge by an identical 8-0 margin in 2014 and 2016,  and Nepal scored a 3-0 victory in 2019.

Having been a bridesmaid to India in four out of five finals - in 2010, 2012, 2016, and 2019, Nepal are aiming to go for broke this time around.

Goalkeeper Anjila Tumbapoo Subba will be in charge of the team, filling in for injured regular captain Renuka Nagarkoti. Subba, who made her debut in the 2016 SAFF competition, has 31 caps going into this match.

Geeta Rana and Poonam Zargha Magar have been assigned roles in the central defence, while Amrita Jaishi and Hira Bhujel will guard custodian Subba from the sides. Debutant Saru Limbu is starting with seasoned campaigner Deepa Shahi in the central midfield.

Anita KC and Anita Basnet will be doing much of the running on the flanks. 

Nepal will be counting on the predatory skills of Sabitra Bhandari, who has netted a total of 38 goals for the women’s national team. Seventeen of them came to the SAFF Championships - that should exude confidence in the hosts camp. Coach Thapa, who had used Bhandari as a lone striker in his previous stint with the team in 2016, is bringing on Amisha Karki for support up front to complete his 4-4-2 formation. 

While the home side are keen to maintain that winning momentum, coach Kumar Thapa is not taking things for granted. 

Bhutan have ringed many changes to their squad since the last competition in 2019. The side, who have yet to win a match in the regional event, are planning to pull off a coup this time around. They are setting their sights on a place in the semi-finals.

The Bhutanese team was the first to arrive in Kathmandu - on August 25, which gave the visiting players enough time to acclimatise themselves ahead of the competition.

Nepal squad:

Goalkeepers: Anjila Tumbapo Subba, Anjana Rana Magar, Usha Nath

Defenders: Hira Kumari Bhujel, Amrita Jaishi, Gita Rana, Punam Jargha Magar, Nisha Thokar, Samikshya Ghimire, Bimala BK

Midfielders: Bimala Chaudhary, Manjali Kumari Yonjan, Preeti Rai, Saru Limbu, Dipa Rai, Dipa Shahi, Indira Rai, Anita Basnet, Anita KC

Forwards: Amisha Karki, Rekha Poudel, Sabitra Bhandari, Rashmi Kumari Ghising

Bhutan squad:

Goalkeepers: Norbu Zangmo, Kinzang Dema, Sangita Monger

Defenders: Kelden Lhamo, Karma Zangmo, Sonam Choden, Suk Maya Ghalley, Jamyang Choden, Dorji Edon, Karma Wangmo, Kinley Zangmo, Ugyen Choden

Midfielders: Pema C. Tshering, Deki Yangden, Sonam Yangchen, Namgyel Dema, Sunita Rai, Tshering Lhaden, Sonam Choden, Yeshey Bidha

Forwards: Tshering Yangden, Galey Wangmo, Deki Lhazom