"We Need To Win...": Indian Football Star Sets Expectations Straight Ahead Of AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers

The Indian senior men's team have had two training sessions in Shillong and are getting into the groove for the AFC Asian Cup Qualifier against Bangladesh (March 25) and the preparatory friendly against Maldives (March 19). Defender Rahul Bheke is adamant that anything less than a victory in the two games will be a failure for the side. Bheke, who has faced Maldives once and Bangladesh twice before (all in 2021), felt that the three teams have undergone a lot of changes in the last four years.

"I have played against both teams before, but it's been a few years since we last met them. I have seen their clips from recent matches. They are both good teams aiming to qualify for the Asian Cup. So, we need to do our best. These are two home matches that we surely need to win."

Maldives' 22-member squad landed in the Meghalaya capital on Sunday and will have two training sessions before facing the Blue Tigers.

Bheke, who scored in India's last match against Malaysia in November, said, "We've had a good start to the camp, with two solid training sessions. We still have two more days before our friendly, and that's great preparation for the 25th game (against Bangladesh). I think Maldives will be a good test because they are a similar kind of side to what Bangladesh will be."

Having played in Shillong several times during his domestic career, the 34-year-old expressed his excitement about representing the country here and hoped for a chock-a-block Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium for the two matches.

“I have played in Shillong before, during I-League, and recently came here with Bengaluru FC to play against NorthEast United. The weather was really cold last time, but now it's pleasant for football. Everyone enjoyed training on the pitch