Skipper Ashalata Devi feels it will be important for the Indian women’s football team to maintain focus and take responsibility by each player ahead of the AFC Asian Cup in the country next month. The players are currently camping here in Mumbai and Pune to prepare for the continental shows to be held from January 10 to February 6. The team had returned from Brazil earlier this month after participating in a four-nation tournament.
“It is not easy to concentrate before such a big tournament, but I have found that it is the little things that help you,” Ashalata said.
Of the 27 campers, 13 are under the age of 25 and senior players like Ashalata are helping young players take responsibility.
“In the bigger scheme of things, it is about taking responsibility. “All we talk about is a very young team, and it’s great to have all 19-20 year olds,” the defender said in a release from the All India Football Federation.
“They (young players) bring a lot of energy to the team. But at the same time, everyone needs to understand that they are no longer children.
“They are in the senior team for a reason, being responsible off the pitch creates the mindset to do the same on the pitch, and that’s the mindset we all should have, going into the Asian Cup.”
Winger Dangmei Grace, who scored against Venezuela in the four-nation tournament in Brazil, said it is time to polish the hard edges as the tournament is just five weeks away.
“We have only five weeks left for the Asian Cup. It is now about completing our game. Everyone wants us to do well in the Asian Cup.”
India will play their first group match against Iran on January 20 and will then face Chinese Taipei and China on January 23 and 26 respectively.
Five teams from the tournament will qualify directly for the 2023 World Cup and two more countries will advance to the Inter-Confederation play-offs.
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