Soumo Ghosh
AIFF Media Team
THIMPHU, BHUTAN: The picturesque Changlimithang Stadium, in Thimphu, Bhutan, is all set for the battle royale, as India and Bangladesh look to fight it out in the summit clash of the SAFF U-16 Championship 2023, on Sunday, September 10.
While the players from both sides get ready for what would be the biggest match of their embryonic careers so far, little would they be aware of the sheer history of the ground where the stadium was built. Indeed, it was in this area, that the Battle of Changlimithang was fought, a conflict that is believed to have eventually brought peace to the small Himalayan nation, which has over time, learned to value happiness above material wealth.
India and Bangladesh have already met each other in the first match of the tournament (the former winning 1-0), and the clash on Sunday could well serve to be a re-match of sorts.
India head coach Ishfaq Ahmed said, “We have worked so hard to get here, but we know that Bangladesh are a tough side, and we will have to work even harder to beat them in the final and achieve the dream.”
