Are We on the Right Path? Crispin Chettri Reflects Ahead of Uzbekistan Friendly

Bengaluru, May 29 (NationPress) India and Uzbekistan share a rich history in women’s football. The two teams are gearing up for their 14th encounter in a FIFA International Friendly scheduled for Friday.

The senior Indian women’s national team will face Uzbekistan in the first of two FIFA International Friendlies at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence.

Head coach Crispin Chettri expressed confidence during the pre-match press briefing, stating, “We are moving in the right direction. The team has benefited from nearly 25 days of preparation, and everything is progressing according to our plans.”

Since taking the reins in February, Chettri has guided the Blue Tigresses through a significant transition, incorporating a younger roster which he has highlighted as crucial.

“Currently, we are in a transitional phase, and as a coach, I am prepared to make sacrifices for this process,” Chettri explained. “Our squad is diverse; while we have many young talents, we also possess experienced players like Panthoi (Chanu Elangbam), Grace (Dangmei), Sweety (Devi Ngangbam), Anju (Tamang), and Ratan (Nongmaithem Ratanbala Devi).

“We are missing key players such as Ashalata (Devi Loitongbam), Dalima (Chhibber), Aditi (Chauhan), and Indu (Indumathi Kathiresan),” he noted.

“Our primary focus is to mold the next generation of players for 2031. With a blend of seasoned athletes surrounding them, I believe we are heading in the right direction.

“It’s crucial that we have experienced players in key positions such as goalkeeper, centre-back, midfield, and forward,” the coach emphasized.

The Blue Tigresses are preparing for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 qualifiers from June 23 to July 5, in Group B where they will face Mongolia (June 23), Timor-Leste (June 29), Iraq (July 2), and hosts Thailand (July 5). Chettri is ready to prioritize development over immediate results.

“The matches against Uzbekistan are an opportunity for us to experiment and provide chances to young players. Our goal is to play cohesive football and maintain possession. Instead of fixating on outcomes, we are concentrating on how players execute their roles and responsibilities, and there's no better opponent than Uzbekistan to test that,” he stated.

Defender Hemam Shilky Devi highlighted the significance of their month-long training camp in Bengaluru, as they gear up for Asian qualifications.

“Our camp has been exceptionally productive. The facilities we have at our disposal are top-notch, allowing us to focus solely on our training throughout the month,” she remarked.

Historically, Uzbekistan has the advantage, having won nine out of the 13 encounters, with three matches ending in ties. India’s sole victory against Uzbekistan came back in 2003. Their most recent clash was in June 2024, which ended in a draw in Tashkent.

“We have faced them frequently, and they are a formidable side. We respect them greatly. However, our team is also evolving, and based on our preparation, I am hopeful we will perform better than last year,” Shilky added.

Uzbekistan's head coach Kotryna Kulbyte acknowledged India's progress in women's football.

“India is a strong opponent, which is why we agreed to these two friendly matches. They have been training for a month, so we anticipate a challenging set of matches,” Kulbyte commented.

“We are aware of the rapid growth of women’s football in India, supported by increasing government assistance. I hope both teams enjoy the match tomorrow,” she concluded.

Uzbekistan's captain Diyorakhon Khabibullaeva added, “From our previous encounters with India last year, we recognized their strength. We are gearing up for a tough game ahead.”