STEPHEN CONSTANTINE expressed his joy and satisfaction after overcoming what was a tough challenge from defending champions Afghanistan in the SAFF Championship final, and said it was the result of hard work put in by the entire team.
AFGHANISTAN GOALKEEPING COACH Eric Siegfried Rasp congratulated India on the SAFF Championship win, said they were unlucky not to convert more of their chances and and accused the referee of not giving them two penalties.
IT WAS A NIGHT of fairy-tales as Gurpreet Singh's solid performance at the back and an absolutely stellar shift put in by Sunil Chhetri and Jeje Lalpekhlua, both of whom got a goal to their name, ensured that India overcame an imposing Afghanistan side 2-1 after a gruelling contest that kept everyone on the edge of their seats through the 120 minutes that it lasted.
WHEN STEPHEN CONSTANTINE started the national team preparatory camp in Kochi early last month to get a squad ready for the SAFF Championship, nearly all the usual faces he could depend upon were absent; busy playing in the ISL.
THE SAFF CHAMPIONSHIP final between India and Afghanistan on Sunday evening is likely to see a turnout considerably higher than any other match in the tournament as fans from all over India and Afghanistan are flocking to Trivandrum to witness the contest.
TEAM INDIA are facing a qualitatively better side in Afghanistan with remarkably less preparation in the SAFF Championship final and chances are, this will always be the case for them in the near future.
AFGHANISTAN NATIONAL TEAM coach Petar Segrt on Saturday said they are not taking India lightly as the two teams head into the SAFF Championship final at the Trivandrum International Stadium here on Sunday.
TEAM INDIA COACH Stephen Constantine feels that Afghanistan will be the favourites when the teams meet in the SAFF Championship final here on Sunday.
BY WINNING IT TWICE and discarding it forever for a bigger challenge in Central Asia, Afghanistan are about to leave their mark forever on the SAFF Championship.
INDIA'S DEADLY DUO up front Sunil Chhetri and Jeje Lalpekhlua shined for India as both found the net in India's nervy 3-2 victory over Maldives in the first semi-final of the SAFF Championship
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