India Women’s Football Team Head Coach Thomas Dennerby says his side is preparing and fighting very hard to ensure a successful campaign in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 which is set to take place next year from January 20, 2022, to February 6, 2022.
For the preparation for the continental mega event, the senior women’s team has been camping in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand since mid-August. “We have been in camp for three-and-a-half weeks now, and a normal week for us would see the girls going through around 11 training sessions. The training sessions vary, some are based on strength, some are running sessions, and some are football sessions,” said Dennerby.
“We also have meetings where we explain tactics to the players, so we are working very hard,” the coach added.
Dennerby, who was earlier in charge of the Indian U-17 Women’s World Cup squad, has experience of over 30 years in coaching several national squads with a high success rate. The UEFA Pro Diploma holder had guided Sweden’s Women’s National team to a 3rd-place finish in the FIFA World Cup in 2011, and a quarter-final spot in the 2012 London Olympics.
“We are fighting very hard. The team around me, the technical staff and the backroom staff is also working very hard, and hopefully, we will see success in the Asian Cup,” he continued.
With the current pandemic situation, the senior women’s national team is perhaps the sole batch that is undergoing a camp currently with aid from the Government of Jharkhand. The Jharkhand government has stepped in to provide training facilities, and a secured bio bubble environment for the players to train in. Impressed by the facilities, Dennerby was quick to thank the government. “We are very happy with all the support that we are getting here in Jamshedpur. The facilities are excellent, and we can avail the training pitches, gyms and pools any time we want. I’d like to thank the Jharkhand Government on behalf of the entire team,” Dennerby, who coached Nigeria during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and won the AWCON Award 2018, expressed.
Asked about the aim for the team in the AFC Asian Cup, Dennerby stated that a run to the quarterfinals on the continental stage could be termed as a success. “I think we have a good squad already, and we have different types of players. Some have speed, some are strong, some are good in one-vs-one situations.” he said
