KATHMANDU: Nepali national football team is currently practicing for the 2019 South Asian Games (SAG). To be held in Nepal from December 1 to 10, the Nepali team is upbeat of turning the tables in its favor taking advantage of the home ground.

Defending champion Nepali team started practicing at the ANFA Complex Ground, Satdobato from last Thursday. Balgopal Maharjan, the head coach, shared that a total of 45 people are receiving hard-core training which will continue for four months.

The training will focus on improving the players’ performance by fixing the weaknesses and playing tactical games in keeping with the opponent’s move.

Since the Dasharath Stadium is under maintenance and likely to take some months for completion, a little time is left for the Nepali team to get accustomed to the home ground. According to Ramesh Kumar Silwal, Member Secretary of the National Sports Council (NSC), a Chinese company will complete the under-maintenance stadium only by October 3.

“We are currently practicing matches. It started last Thursday. All the players are not participating now. Our goal is to lift the SAG trophy,” said head coach Maharjan.

Among eight teams, Pakistan has lifted the SAG trophy four times, Nepal and India three times each and Bangladesh two times.

Maharjan further shared that the training will focus on improving the players’ performance by fixing the weaknesses and playing tactical games in keeping with the opponent’s move.

“We could improve our team’s weaknesses and prepare the team accordingly if we got an opportunity to play a friendly match with a strong team prior to the SAG,” added Maharjan.

Among eight teams, Pakistan has lifted the SAG trophy four times, Nepal and India three times each and Bangladesh two times.

Nepal had lifted the SAG trophy in 1984, 1993 and 2016. To be held in Pokhara and Kathmandu of Nepal, the multi-sport event SAG will last for 10 days starting December 1 until 10.

In the SAG, that includes 27 items of sports including football, eight south Asian countries – Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Maldives, and Bhutan – will be participating.