KATHMANDU: Adeel Rizki’s emphasis was on growth; the Pakistan head coach hoping for a “good game” when his side take on India in their SAFF Women’s Championship opener on Thursday.

The last time the two cross-border rivals met on the football pitch, India ran out 3-0 winners in what was Pakistan’s first internatio­nal match in eight years at the last edition of the reg­ional tournament in 2022.

But since then, the Paki­stan team has featured in several matches, including a six-nation tournament in Saudi Arabia and Rizki is counting at that exposure even though the Group ‘A’ clash at the Dasharath Stadium will be his side’s first game in over a year.

“I think it will be an interesting match,” Rizki told reporters on Wedn­esday. “India have prepared well. They have a new coach as well, so they have new strategies, we don’t know what to expect.

“It’s a good rivalry. We respect them in terms of how they play and what they’ve done in the past. On the other hand, we have done well and have grown a lot from last time. We hope we can perform and have a good game against India tomorrow.”

India have won five out of six editions of the tournament but head coach Santosh Kashyab was wary of Pakistan’s physicality. “I have watched Pakistan’s recent matches,” he told reporters. “They have strong physicality and play good football.”

Pakistan have their work cut out in advancing from the three-team group, which also features defe­nding champions Bangla­desh. The top two teams advance from each of the two groups advance to the semi-finals and Pakistan will face a tall order in their next game against the holders, who trounced them 6-0 last time out.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2024