NEW DELHI (India): Indian senior women’s football coach Maymol Rocky exuded confidence before the team embarked on a tour to Vietnam.
The Indians, who won the SAFF Women’s Championship will play play two FIFA International friendlies next month.
“I think this is the first time that we will play against Vietnam. It’s all about playing against higher-ranked teams so that we can improve,” Rocky told AIFF website.
India had done well at the AFC Olympic Qualifiers Round 2 and finished third in the COTIF Cup in Spain.
But a bigger challenge awaits Rocky when India take on a higher-ranked side in the friendlies on November 3 and November 6 respectively.
The South-East Asian side are 34 while India is 57 on the FIFA ranking.
“Our focus is to do well against them. It’s only when we play against better sides that we can gauge our strengths and weaknesses,” she added. “Our aim is to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup. We need to have patience and keep improving.”
Indian Squad
GOALKEEPERS: Aditi Chauhan, Panthoi Chanu, M Linthoingambi Devi.
DEFENDERS: Jabamani Tudu, Ashalata Devi, Michel Castanha, Sweety Devi, Ranjana Chanu, W Linthoingambi Devi.
MIDFIELDERS: Roja Devi, Grace Lalrampari, Karthika Angamuthu, Manisha, Ratanbala Devi, Ritu Rani, Sangita Basfore, Sanju, Sumithra Kamaraj.
FORWARDS: Anju Tamang, Dangmei Grace, Daya Devi, Bala Devi, Renu
