Indian Football Team‘s second friendly against Nepal is now in jeopardy as the Nepal Football Association has failed to provide adequate training facilities to the team.
As a result of poor conditions at the Army headquarters, India has not practised since their last match against Nepal. Heavy rains have rendered the pitch unfit for training as the management fears player injuries. When Sunil Chhetri and co took the field at Army headquarters, their boots were completely submerged under water, thus showing how poor the conditions were.
The match officials thwarted India’s request to practice on the main pitch of the Dasharath Stadium because an hour of practice would make the pitch unplayable the next day. Igor Stimac, the team’s head coach and the management are upset with the arrangement, which puts tomorrow’s game in danger.
As for the pitch conditions, they were equally bad before the rain, as the players had found large pebbles on the field as well before the first game. Furthermore, the Nepal Football Association did not provide access to the entire practice ground before the match. It was evident that the field at Dasharath Stadium was not in the best condition last day.
India scrambled to a 1-1 draw after Anjan Bista opened the scoring for Nepal. Sunil Chhetri’s assist set up an Anirudh Thapa goal to restore parity. The friendlies were supposed to form part of India’s preparations for the SAFF Cup. However, the level of facilities provided by Nepal’s management indeed puts the Indian players at risk and the friendly tomorrow in peril.
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