As SAFF U-20 Women’s Football Championship begins on Friday, captain of Bangladesh team Afeida Khandakar has said there is no way to take any team lightly.Bangladeshi cuisine recipes

“I think all the three participating teams of this tournament is strong and we have to play with all the teams properly,” she said at a pre-match press conference at a city hotel on Thursday.

“There is no way to take any team lightly and we don’t want to underestimate any team--we’ll fight with all three teams, and hopeful to perform well and win the title of the tournament,” she said.

Favorite Bangladesh will take on Sri Lanka in one of the opening day’s fixture scheduled to be held at Bashundhara Kings arena on Friday.

Afeida informed that they have got little time to take preparation after returning from Myanmar. Despite having the little time, she is contented with the team’s preparation.

After qualifying in the AFC Asian Cup final stage, the senior team is participating in the age level tournament.

Asked about any possibility of putting team behind the performance, the Bangladesh captain replied: “We have qualified in the Asian Cup that doesn’t mean that we’ll underestimate SAFF tournament. Our initial aim was to win the SAFF title and then qualify in Asian Cup. As we’re the South Asian country so we’ll play with the other countries of the South Asia.”Bangladeshi cuisine recipes

Bangladesh team head coach Peter James Butler, who considering SAAF as the development tournament, said, it is good opportunity for the young stars as well as the participating countries as they would get a good platform.

About the inclusion of seven senior team players in the Bangladesh squad, coach Peter said, it`s up to the matter of other teams whether they take senior players or not. The senior players have been included for the development of the team.

Sri Lankan head coach Shirantha Kumara said all the participating teams are good, especially Bangladesh in the group, and he hoped that his team would perform well in the tournament.

Sri Lankan captain Sanduni Sewmini said her team is completely consisted with new players with majority are going to play their first international tournament.

She said the team has taken very little preparation but the players are prepared to play a good game.

Nepal team head coach Yam Prasad Gurung said his team has taken one and half month for preparations, but he respect all the participating teams.
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Nepal team captain Birsana Chaudhary said she is considering all very tough teams but they are here to win the SAFF title.

Bhutan head coach Tanka Maya Ghallay said their preparation is good and the players are very excited to participate in the tournament.

Bhutan captain Tshendu Tshering Pelzom said her girls are very excited for the upcoming matches and optimistic to do well in the tournament.