Prepared to do our best against higher-ranked Kyrgyz Republic: Lallianzuala Chhangte
In what will be the final game of the Hero Tri-Nation International Friendly Football Tournament, the Blue Tigers will face their biggest test against Kyrgyz Republic, who are ranked 12 spots above India in the FIFA rankings. Chhangte said the team is prepared physically and mentally for the challenge.
Indian football team winger Lallianzuala Chhangte is confident that the Blue Tigers can produce a good performance against Kyrgyz Republic in their second game of the Hero Tri-Nation International Friendly Football Tournament, at the Khuman Lampak Stadium, in Imphal, on Wednesday.
Playing in Manipur for the first time, India beat Myanmar in the opener of the tournament with Anirudh Thapa’s strike separating the two teams. Myanmar, ranked 159 in the FIFA rankings, played out a 1-1 draw with Kyrgyz Republic on Saturday.
In what will be the final game of the Hero Tri-Nation International Friendly Football Tournament, the Blue Tigers will face their biggest test against Kyrgyz Republic, who are ranked 12 spots above India in the FIFA rankings. Chhangte said the team is prepared physically and mentally for the challenge.
“Kyrgyz Republic are a very good team. We have had good matches against them in the past. They (94) are of course higher ranked than us (106). But we are prepared to do our best. The boys are in great shape, both physically and mentally, and I hope that we have a great match,” he said in an interview to the-aiff.com.
Chhangte, who recently bagged the Hero of the League during the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2022-23 season, was one of the starters in the game against Myanmar. The Mizoram winger was impressed with the support and the reception the Indian team has received in Manipur so far.
One of the starters in the match against Myanmar, Chhangte was a constant threat with his dangerous runs down the flank and delivery of crosses.
The 24-year-old stated that the crowd made the players ‘feel at home’ and expected more supporters to turn up in the final game of the Hero Tri-National International Friendly Football Tournament.
“It really felt like a special moment in the first match. Not a single empty seat was seen, the Chief Minister turned up and said some inspiring words. Overall, we could really feel how Manipur made us all feel at home,” he said. “I hope we get the same number of fans or even more in the match against Kyrgyz Republic,” he added.
