Pokhara, Sept. 14 -- The two-time SAFF U-18 Championship winners Nepal aim to defend their title when the tournament kicks of on September 20 in Kathmandu.

The 25-member squad has started their closed-camp training in Pokhara from Sunday as part of their preparations for the event. The squad will be trimmed to 23 in due date. The squad trained at Bijaypur Army Barracks ground for two days but later moved on to Sahara Academy ground as the ground at the Army barracks needed some days to make it ready for training. Three coaching staffs and two officials are training the players.

Head coach Chet Narayan Shrestha said the team had to reach Pokhara for training as most of the grounds were not available in Kathmandu. "The weather and the tra...