2018 SAFF Suzuki Cup starts tomorrow with 7 countries from South Asia participating. The tournament takes plays between 4th to 15th of September at Bangladesh.
Despite fielding their U-23 side India coached by Stephen Constantine are favourites for winning the cup. Pakistan who are returning to international football after a 2 year suspension from FIFA might well be India’s biggest challenge, they have named a lot of European based players in their squad. Bangladesh and Maldives will also be contenders to win the championship.
Host Bangladesh alongside Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan are in group A, While India, Maldives and Sri Lanka are placed in Group B.
The tournament will not feature former champions Afghanistan who have moved to Central Asian Football Federation which includes Asian heavyweights Iran.
The SAFF Suzuki Cup will be a big opportunity for the young Indian players to bring themselves into consideration for a spot in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup squad with
The coach Stephen Constantine during the Australian tour said “We focus on every single aspect of the game during our camp and we look to work cohesively. We continued the same process with these boys as well and we can say that after the SAFF Championship, we will have another group of players who will be a little more prepared for the future, say the AFC Asian Cup in January”.
Indian Squad
GOALKEEPERS: Vishal Kaith, Kamaljit Singh, Sukhdev Patil.
DEFENDERS: Davinder Singh, Salam Ranjan Singh, Sarthak Golui, Subhasish Bose, Mohd. Sajid Dhot, Jerry Lalrinzuala.
MIDFIELDERS: Nikhil Poojary, Isaac Vanmalswama, Nandha Kumar, Vinit Rai, Germanpreet Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Ashique Kuruniyan, Vignesh D.
FORWARDS: Sumit Passi, Hitesh Sharma, Manvir Singh, Farukh Choudhary.
The 2018 SAFF Suzuki Cup will be telecasted in D Sports.
