Ironing out and learning from mistakes the order of the day for Blue Tigresses

CHENNAI: India will look to iron out the shortcomings ahead of their second International friendly match against Nepal at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, on Saturday, February 18, 2023.
The first match ended in a 2-2 draw after India took the lead in the second half through goals from Soumya Guguloth and Indumathi Kathiresan. However, Nepal left it late in injury time, when Sabitra Bhandari netted two goals in three minutes to draw level.
Indian Women’s Team Head Coach Thomas Dennerby sounded cautious on the eve of the second International friendly, saying, “We were certainly the better of the two sides on the day, and definitely should have closed that match with a comfortable win. It was just a few minor mistakes that led to those late goals.”
The Blue Tigresses coaching staff has been tirelessly working with the players to get smooth the creases, and Dennerby believes that these are the experiences that will eventually help the players ahead of the AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifiers First Round, where India has been placed in Group G, alongside the Kyrgyz Republic and Turkmenistan.
“Mistakes tend to happen, and we never blame any individuals for them – we are all human after all. What we try to do, though, is to learn from them and improve for the better, and that is something I have seen in these girls, over the last couple of years,” said Dennerby.
“That is why high-intensity International Friendlies like these are essential. I would rather have them commit such mistakes in these games and learn from them, rather than do that in the Olympic Qualifiers,” he said.
Despite the fact that the team had a near-comfortable victory snatched from under its feet, Dennerby was quite positive about how the Blue Tigresses are shaping up.
“Results don’t always reflect the real picture. Anybody who saw the last game can see that we were the better team. Some of the intricate moves that the girls had put together showed that they have a real aptitude for the game. As a coach, that gives me a lot of hope,” he said.
India will be without some key figures in the second friendly against Nepal, with the likes of Bala Devi and Aditi Chauhan joining Ashalata Devi and Ratanbala Devi on the treatment table. Dennerby, however, maintained a positive outlook.
“It’s quite a blow for the players and for the team as well. Aditi has an ACL, and Bala has shoulder injuries from a bad fall,” said Dennerby. “But we take it in our stride. This is also a good chance for the other players to step up to the plate and prove their mettle.”
Indumathi Kathiresan, who had the pleasure of scoring in an international match in her home state for the first time, feels that the support from the stands is something that the players really appreciate.
“We have not played in front of our home crowd for quite some time now, especially due to the pandemic. It was special,” she said. “We were heart-broken after the final whistle that we could not secure the win. But we surely want to win it for the fans in the next game.”
Nepal head coach Anant Thapa sounded optimistic about his side’s prospects, saying that it may just be down to a matter of converting the chances for the team.
“India are of course a very good side. But we have worked out their strengths and weaknesses. We got a lot of chances in the last game, and we need to utilise them to make life a little easier for us,” said Thapa. “I think it will be an even contest, and hopefully, the girls will be able to implement the things that we have worked on in the training ground, and win the match.”
India’s match against Nepal will kick-off at 7 pm IST at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, on February 18, and will be streamed live on FanCode.
Hashu Advani Centennial Cup / Local Football
Union Bank of India clinch Inaugural Hashu Advani Centennial Cup 2025
Union Bank of India defeated Kalina Rangers in the final to clinch the inaugural edition of Hashu Advani Centennial Cup 2025
South United FC announces Trials for their Residential Academy
South United Football Club (SUFC) announces the upcoming trials for its new Residential Academy, which will be held at the Club’s Ulsoor facility in Bengaluru.
MFA / MFA Elite Premier League
Mumbai Premier League: Mohd. Khatib’s late equalizer rescues a Point for MH Oranje FC against Mumbay FC
MH Oranje FC salvaged a dramatic late equalizer in the dying seconds of added time as Mohd. Khatib’s strike deep into the injury time denied Mumbay FC all three points…
Mumbai Soccer Prodigies Crowned Champions in thrilling Mumbai Super League Finale
A come from behind win helped Mumbai Soccer Prodigies to lift Mumbai Super League title while a last gasp equalizer helped Waves FC finish runnerups
FC Goa break 13-game-long winless run against Mumbai City FC with 3-1 victory
FC Goa defeated Mumbai City FC by 3-1 at the Mumbai Football Arena in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 to break their 13-game-long winless run against the Islanders in…
Corporate Football / MFA Elite Corporate League / Trials
Bank of India announces open trial for Mumbai Corporate League Campaign
Bank of India is set to make its mark in the Mumbai Corporate League and is looking for exceptional football talent to bolster its squad. The trial is scheduled for…
India Khelo Football Workshop returns to Mumbai for its 4th Season
The Indian Khelo Football (IKF) Workshop returns to Mumbai this September, bringing with it an exceptional platform for aspiring footballers to showcase their skills and seize opportunities that could transform…
MFA / Mumbai Super League / Trials
Somaiya FC announces trials for the upcoming 2024-25 Season
Somaiya FC, having secured a commendable 5th position in the MFA Super Division last season, has announced open trials as they gear up for upcoming season. The team, known for…
VR Academy to conduct trials for 2024-25 Season
Mumbai based VR Academy has announced trials for the upcoming 2024-25 season. The club is looking for talented young players to join our esteemed academy and participate in various competitive…
MH ORANJE FC U-17 Trials for the Upcoming Season
With a proud legacy of nurturing talent and achieving excellence, Maharashtra Oranje FC has recently made waves with appearances in I-League 2, securing a remarkable runner-up position in the fiercely…
Football School of India announce trials for Young Talents
Football School of India (FSI) has announced trials for young football enthusiasts in the upcoming week of June. A golden opportunity for aspiring players to showcase their talents and potentially…
Mumbai Super League club Charkop FC to conduct open trials for upcoming Season
Calling all aspiring football stars! Charkop FC, a MFA super division club based in Charkop, Kandivali, is set to conduct Open Trials for the upcoming season. About Charkop FC: In…
Academy / Football Academy / Trials
Mumbai 42 Football Academy to conduct trials for Youth players
Newly established Mumbai 42 Football Academy will be conducting trials for young footballers in the upcoming week.
SSE BFC to conduct trials for U9 to U17 age group players
SSE BFC Soccer School will be conducting fresh trials this month for players aged below 17 to be part of their football program SSE BFC Soccer Schools is a football…
India Khelo Football Season 3 Trials for Mumbai and Thane are here
India Khelo Football (IKF) is back with Season 3 of its widely acclaimed trials with an aim to cover more than 50 cities this time around. After the resounding success…