Dhaka: Indian football team head coach Stephen Constantine is unfazed that they will be facing arch rivals Pakistan in the semifinals of the ongoing SAFF Cup football tournament Wednesday and stated that it will be ‘just another match’.
“We are aware of the contest. But then it is nothing different. It’s just another match. We can’t let the occasion get over us and hopefully, we will beat them to advance to the final,” Constantine said here, Monday.
The two sides last played in 2013 where India pipped Pakistan by a solitary goal. Incidentally, this is the first time in 13 years that Pakistan have qualified for the last four stage of the tournament.
The 55-year-old Englishman heaped praise on Nepal who also entered the last four stage. “Nepal have played some stupendous football and they have deservingly reached the semis. Hopefully, we get a win against Pakistan and face Nepal in the final,” said Constantine.
Nepal will play Maldives in the other semifinal Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Manvir Singh, who scored one of the two goals against Maldives stated that it was the most delightful moment of his career to achieve his first international strike.
“Scoring for the country is always special. The first goal – it’s a different emotion. I was sniffing around but the goal was eluding me. So when I made it, it was the most delightful moment for me as a footballer,” he quipped.
