Chettri hails young India after record sixth SAFF women’s title

India have reclaimed their throne at the pinnacle of South Asian women’s football, securing a record sixth SAFF Women’s Championship title following a decisive 3-1 victory over defending champions Bangladesh at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Saturday.

The triumph ends a six-year wait for the hosts, who last lifted the trophy in 2019 before conceding their dominance to Bangladesh in Nepal.

Despite the magnitude of the occasion, India’s head coach Crispin Chettri cut a characteristically soft-spoken figure in his post-match press conference.

Yet, beneath his mild-mannered exterior lay undeniable pride in a young, unbeaten squad that delivered a dominant display on home soil.

The match itself was a fiercely contested affair initially.

After India took an early lead, Bangladesh asserted themselves and responded swiftly through a brilliant equaliser from Ritu Porna Chakma, ensuring the hosts were thoroughly tested before the break.

Addressing the media, Chettri highlighted the mental fortitude of his youthful contingent when navigating the heightened stakes of a final.

“I think this was a challenge for us because we had a lot of younger players, similarly like Bangladesh,” Chettri explained. “But I think our young girls showed character and they deserve to cherish this moment.”

He noted the striking similarities in squad composition and the fine margins that decided the tie. “Bangladesh also came with a mixed bag. They brought a lot of youngsters alongside senior players like Ritu Porna, Monika (Chakma), Maria (Manda) and all. But like I said last time, it is about who handles the pressure better. Our younger ones handled the pressure better, and we are on the winning side. But I think Bangladesh are going in a right pathway.”

The definitive turning point arrived within the very first minute of the second half.

India struck early to regain the lead, a blow that effectively shattered Bangladeshi momentum and placed the visitors under immense psychological strain.

A fiery half-time team talk inspired the swift restart, Chettri downplayed any tactical masterstrokes, attributing the shift entirely to his players’ sheer determination.

“I think there was nothing such of a talk, but I just told them, like, you have a desire,” he revealed. “Comparative to the first half, in the second half we had much more hunger, a desire to win. Sometimes that plays a vital role. That’s why we won the game.”

He further elaborated on the tactical advantage of that crucial second-half strike, “Whoever scores the goal early will have an impact on the game because then it comes about all resilience. And when you have a young squad, then resilience becomes very difficult. So I think we took advantage of that with the early goal.”

While securing regional bragging rights is a monumental achievement, Chettri was quick to contextualise the victory within India’s broader continental ambitions.

Pointing to the recent AFC qualification successes of the Bangladeshi youth teams, the Indian manager outlined a clear, long-term vision for his own programme.

“You always have to believe in a process. What they (Bangladesh) did in 2024, the result was shown in AFC, how they qualified. Sometimes you have to take that pain,” Chettri confessed candidly. “I’ll rather choose to qualify for AFC in age groups of 17, 20, and seniors, than winning the SAFF Championship. For us, the SAFF nations, it’s more important we be in the AFC right now.”