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Reigning FPAI (Football Players Association of India) Indian Player of the Year Lenny Rodrigues believes that winning the SAFF Championship 2013 will be a bigger achievement than last year’s Nehru Cup success as the former will be achieved on foreign soil.
“Yes I think this trophy will be a bigger achievement if we manage to win it. We have worked very hard to be in the final, so hopefully we can give one more big performance and retain the trophy. It will be extra special for me as I wasn’t part of the 2011 SAFF team,” Lenny stated.
The central midfielder produced his best display of the tournament in the 1-0 semi-final win over Maldives and also branded it as one of the best displays under Wim Koevermans.
“I was happy with my performance yesterday. I was asked to do a role in front of the back four and thankfully I managed to do it well. We have had some good performances under him (Koevermans) but yesterday was one of the best for sure,” the Churchill Brothers star said.
A lot was made about India’s preparation ahead of SAFF 2013 as they had their camp on artificial surface, although, all matches in the tournament are being played on natural pitches and Lenny admitted that the team took time to get used to the conditions.
“It wasn’t easy for us initially in the tournament because we had to get used to the weather and the grounds here because before the tournament we trained on an artificial pitch. The performance and result in the semi-final has given us more confidence for the final,” he said.
Lenny echoed his central midfield partner Mehtab Hossain’s thoughts that Afghanistan’s superior FIFA Ranking won’t matter but was full of respect for the opponents.
“Afghanistan are a good side and deserve to be in the final. They have some good players including Balal (Arezou), who is my former teammate of course,” Lenny concluded.
