Bangladesh take on Nepal in the final of SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship scheduled to be held today (Thursday) at Birshreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in the city’s Kamalapur with both the teams optimistic on winning the trophy.

The match kicks off at 6 pm.

Addressing a pre-match press conference held yesterday (Wednesday) at the conference room of Bangladesh Football Federation Bhaban, Bangladesh team’s head coach Golam Robbani Choton hinted that the final is going to be a very competitive and exciting match for the crowd.

Choton said: “We’ll play our natural game and take to the field to win the final match. We beat Nepal in the group stage and before that we beat them (Nepal) in age level tournaments. Tomorrow’s is a different game but our girls are prepared to take the challenge to win the trophy.”

He also urged the local football fans to come to the stadium to support the Bangladesh team in the final match.

Bangladesh so far played impressive football in the tournament. They beat Nepal 3-1 in their opening match, played goalless draw with strong India in their second match and dumped Bhutan 5-0 to emerge as the group champions. So the Shamsunnahar and Co. are naturally in good shape and positive frame of mind before the big match.

“Undoubtedly Nepal is a strong team and there is no scope to underestimate them (Nepal) … if our girls are able to play their natural game in the final match, then there will be good chance for us,” said the Bangladesh head coach.

Choton said they would take to the field in the final with some plans which the girls will try to execute in the field as Nepal is always a tough side.

Nepal played impressive football against India as they came from behind and beat them by 3-1 goals which must have boosted the Nepali girls before the final match.

When asked whether Bangladesh is taking Nepal as a big threat in the final, Choton said that Nepal, India and Bangladesh all are equal in strength and Nepal is always a good side.

Team’s captain Shamsunnahar Jr. said they have the ability to cross the major hurdle of reaching the final in the championship and now their main aim is to win the SAFF title.

She said they would make the best use of opportunities in the final match and try to carry out the same performance which they showed in the first match against Nepal.

Asked if she has any personal target in the final, the Bangladesh captain said contribution for the team is bigger than personal target which she likes to prefer in the final match.

Nepal women’s football team’s head coach Yam Prasad Gurung is taking the final as revenge of one of their group phase defeat against Bangladesh.

“Tomorrow is final and I hope we’ll take revenge by winning the final match against Bangladesh.

The Nepal head coach replying to a question said they know the weaknesses of Bangladesh team and his team must take the advantage of it in the Thursday’s final match.

Preeti Rai, the captain of Nepal team, said her team has worked very hard to reach the final and each one of her teammate deserve the trophy because they worked very hard for this and at the same time she hoped to take the SAFF trophy at home.

Nepal earlier made a losing start in the championship after going down a 1-3 goal defeat to India in their opening match but staged a brilliant fight back after thrashing Bhutan by 4-0 goals in their second match. The Himalaya nation eventually reached the final of the championship stunning tournament favorite India in their last group match.