We can beat any team – Shahzad

Sep 01, 2013 - 07:46:33 | Shimaz Ali and Mohamed Firash

Pakistan assistant coach Shahzad believes that they can beat any team in this tournament. (MS photo: Shimaaz Ali)

Kathmandu, NEPAL - Pakistan assistant coach Shahzad Anwar has said that his side is fully prepared for the region's biggest football tournament.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference he said that they look forward for the tournament and the players are in good form and well prepared for the competition.

“We had very good preparations, and we have a very young squad. We have emphasized on special training sessions and the players are in good shape. “

Shahzad believes his side have high chances of qualifying for the next round.

“We are in a good group and boys are very motivated. The first game is against India and then we also face Bangladesh. We shall qualify for the second round”

He also highlighted on the friendly against Afghanistan which they lost by three goals.

“Before this competition we played in Afghanistan and we lost. But practice match doesn’t matter. We also played friendlies with clubs”

He believes that there is no pressure for them at all.

“We feel no pressure. We are motivated playing India and Bangladesh. In our region all teams are equal. We can’t say one is good, one is not good. I can say my team has the ability to beat any team in the competition”

The coach also expressed that inclusion of five foreign based players will boost the strength of the squad.

Pakistan will face India in their first game of the SAFF championship today at 1830 local time (1745 Maldivian time).