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My Memories: It Is Never Easy To Win The SAFF Cup – Mehrajuddin Wadoo
The Indian international looks back at the 2005 triumph…
04-Dec-2009 2:59:28 AM
The 2005
SAFF Cup was Mehrajuddin Wadoo’s first international tournament. India went on
to win the tournament after beating Bangladesh 2-0 in the final with Mehraj
scoring the opening goal.
The
Kashmiri shared his happy memories of that tournament with Goal.com.
Speaking to Goal.com he said, “It was my first tournament with the senior Indian team and we won it so I couldn’t have wished for a better start in my international career.
“Scoring in the final was a great feeling for me and then when I lifted the trophy, I felt very proud.”
The 2005 edition was held in Pakistan and even though Mehraj was happy to play there he doesn’t believe it gave the team any different motivation.
“When you play for your country, you want to win everywhere. We enjoyed playing and winning in Pakistan but it would have been the same feeling for us if we had played in some other country.”
The East Bengal player then pointed out that football in the subcontinent is always improving and so winning the SAFF Cup is not easy.
“India and Maldives are rated highly because the two countries have been performing well and are ranked higher than others.
“But it’s an international competition and every team wants to win. The standard of football is also improving in the sub-continent so one cannot take anything for granted.
“Only eight teams take part but it is never easy to win the tournament.”
Like many senior and former players, Mehraj backs the plan to send an Under-23 squad for the tournament and fancies them to win it.
“It is a very good move to send the Under-23 team because they need to play international matches. Only then will they learn and improve.
"A majority of the players in the squad play for big clubs so they know how to deal with pressure. If they work hard and perform well I think we have a very good chance of winning the tournament,” he concluded.
Amoy Ghoshal
Speaking to Goal.com he said, “It was my first tournament with the senior Indian team and we won it so I couldn’t have wished for a better start in my international career.
“Scoring in the final was a great feeling for me and then when I lifted the trophy, I felt very proud.”
The 2005 edition was held in Pakistan and even though Mehraj was happy to play there he doesn’t believe it gave the team any different motivation.
“When you play for your country, you want to win everywhere. We enjoyed playing and winning in Pakistan but it would have been the same feeling for us if we had played in some other country.”
The East Bengal player then pointed out that football in the subcontinent is always improving and so winning the SAFF Cup is not easy.
“India and Maldives are rated highly because the two countries have been performing well and are ranked higher than others.
“But it’s an international competition and every team wants to win. The standard of football is also improving in the sub-continent so one cannot take anything for granted.
“Only eight teams take part but it is never easy to win the tournament.”
Like many senior and former players, Mehraj backs the plan to send an Under-23 squad for the tournament and fancies them to win it.
“It is a very good move to send the Under-23 team because they need to play international matches. Only then will they learn and improve.
"A majority of the players in the squad play for big clubs so they know how to deal with pressure. If they work hard and perform well I think we have a very good chance of winning the tournament,” he concluded.
Amoy Ghoshal
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