Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kathmandu: AFC Challenge Cup 2012 hosts Nepal have set themselves the target of a place in the semi-finals with head coach Graham Roberts confident that a passionate home crowd can help the Gorkhalis in their mission.
A capacity crowd is expected at the Dashrath Stadium for Nepal's Group A opener against Palestine and Roberts (pictured) is well aware of the expectations on his charges as they look to repeat the achievement of the 2006 side, who reached the semi-finals of the inaugural AFC Challenge Cup in Bangladesh before bowing out on penalties to Sri Lanka.
"Our objective is to get to the semi-final and then we will see what happens from there," the former England international told reporters ahead of Thursday's clash with Palestine.
"Whatever happens, everybody knows when Nepal is playing here. We have good crowd and hopefully we will get to the semi-final.
"There are great expectations from all the fans but we are ready for all the games coming up. We have a plan and we worked on this plan in training and we will have the support of about 25000 fans.
"The expectations are bigger on us than any of the participating teams because there is a whole nation keeping their fingers crossed for us and we would try our best to address their hopes."
Despite home advantage many consider Nepal to be the underdogs in Thursday's fixture with a physically superior Palestine.
But Roberts, who had a spell coaching in Pakistan, is unconcerned with such labels.
"I don't think there are any favourites, it's eleven against eleven. Yes the Palestine and Turkmenistan are big and play strong games but my team is ready to play anyone.
"We are not playing to lose with respect."
The two sides are meeting for the first time since playing out a goalless draw in Kathmandu back in March, 2009 and while Palestine coach Jamal Mahmoud is well aware of the partisan crowd his team will face at the Dashrath Stadium he will not let the atmosphere affect his mission to become the first West Asian nation to win the Challenge Cup and qualify for Australia 2015.
"Nepal is a good team and strong team," stressed the Jordanian.
"They may have their home advantage and big support but we are not deterred by that.
"We are here to win this tournament. We may have some professional players not here due to their club commitments but we are ready to fight all the way."