Yupia Arunachal Pradesh), May 7 : Bibiano Fernandes, one of the most successful coaches in Indian men's youth teams’ history, having qualified the Blue Colts to three successive AFC U16/17 Asian Cups from 2018 to 2023, is now set to begin a new cycle with a new batch of players. It all starts with the SAFF U19 Championship that will kick off on May 9 in Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh.

Fernandes has a 100 percent record at SAFF age-group championships, winning all three tournaments he has led India in (U15 in 2017 and 2019, and U17 in 2022). The 48-year-old now not only targets his fourth but also looks forward to nurturing a strong squad for next year's AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers.

"We all know that the AFC (U20) Qualifiers are the main target, and I've been talking to the boys and trying to raise the bar. We need to do a lot of work with these boys to prepare them for next year. For sure, there will be more of them coming into the camp. This SAFF is a good platform to start preparing for it," said Fernandes to AIFF’s media team.

The Blue Colts begin their campaign in Group B against Sri Lanka on May 9 before taking on Nepal on May 13. Both matches will kick off at the Golden Jubilee Stadium, which also hosted the 2023-24 Santosh Trophy Final Round.

While Fernandes has coached India U15, U16, and U17 before, this will be his first time leading the U19 side. But he's already familiar with many players — five of the 23-member squad were also at the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2023. He has coached a few others during his time at Bengaluru FC over the last two years.