Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Bangkok: Coach Alexander Mochinov believes it will be difficult for defending champions Uzbekistan to repeat their success at the AFC U-16 Championship in Thailand this month ahead of facing Nepal in Sunday's Group C opener at Muangthong Stadium.
Two years ago in Iran, Uzbekistan claimed a first-ever AFC U-16 Championship title after edging out Japan on penalties in the final.
But despite an intensive pre-tournament build-up, Mochinov is cautious about Uzbekistan's chances of claiming back-to-back titles this month in Bangkok.
"The team have been preparing for a while having trained in Serbia, Turkey and Malaysia in the weeks leading up to the tournament," said Mochinov, who will be without midfielder Sukhrob Nurulloev due to suspension.
"Football in Asia is improving and every team is strong, so it will be tough to repeat 2012, but we will try our best."
Meanwhile Nepal, who last qualified in 2006, have enjoyed successful training camps in Korea Republic and Belgium as part of their preparations for the tournament which offers the four semi-finalists qualification for the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
"We have been preparing for five to six months. Now we want the tournament experience and to improve our confidence," said coach Bal Gopal Maharjan, who will be without suspended forward Bimal Gharti Magar for the tie.
"When trying to qualify for this tournament we were not thinking about the World Cup, but the quality of the players is not bad and we want to reach the World Cup."
In Sunday's other Group C match, also at Muangthong Stadium, 2010 champions DPR Korea face 2012 quarter-finalists Kuwait.
"All the teams that have qualified are strong, but we have prepared well. We won the tournament in 2010 and I will do my best as coach to help us achieve that again," said DPR Korea coach Yon Kwang-mu.
"Since we qualified for the tournament we have prepared for these matches, and we are ready to perform to our best level.
"With such a strong tournament, everyone can be successful. I don't know how we will do, but we will try to do our best."
Kuwait lost 3-1 to Iraq in the 2012 quarter-finals having finished second in their group behind Iran.
"Since we started preparing for the tournament in June, we have had a 10-day training camp in Saudi Arabia and a two-day camp in Egypt. We also competed in a tournament in Qatar," said Kuwait coach Ibrahim Al Shammari, who will be without suspended midfielder Yousef Al Rashidi for the opening game.
"There are two champions in this group, but every team has an equal chance. The key to qualifying from the group stage is the first game, so I hope we can perform well on Sunday.
"The target is to reach the semi-finals and qualify for the 2015 World Cup."
Photo: WSG