Bangladesh will begin their SAFF Championshp campaign with taking on the top favourites Lebanon today at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore, India.
Following their extensive training camp on home soil and Cambodia, went in Bangalore with three days ahead to help the squad adapt to the conditions, though the climate of Banglaore is almost similar to Dhaka.
However, Bangladesh, who could not break the title draught since 2003 they won for once out of 13 previous editions, also failed to cross the group hurdle since 2011 of the tournament.
This time the Red and Green comprised the team with young and experienced and expcted to fight confidently against the stronger sides in the group like Lebanon and Maldives.
But they will have to start the tournament with a little bit setback when the forwards will not be available in the starting line up.
Assistant coach Hassan Al Mamun informed the Bangladesh Post from Bangalore that Rakib, who had a hamstring injury wil be ruled out for the first match and hopefully he will be come round soon and will be available from the next match.
Bangladesh’s Spanish coach Javier Cabrera believes that Bangladesh may have chacnes to cross the at least the group stage, as the team is motivated after having good tour in Cambodia.
The race of Group B teams to secure a place in the last four will begin from today with Bangladesh will face Lebanon in the first match when Maldives will take on Bhutan in the second match at 4pm and 8pm respectively (Local time).
Both the coach and the players are expecting to secure a place in the last four riding on the momentum of Cambodia.
“We have two weeks preparations before came here, we have been in Cambodia played couple of games one against local team and another against the national side, players mange to do quite well. We are here with positive mentality, the atmosphere around the group is good, lot of excitement, lot of motivations and team are ready to face all strong sides in the group stage,” said Cabrera, Bangladesh head coach.
“Now it is important that here all are professional sides, professionally we have had preparation, I don’t think it will easy for anybody, we are quite ready for the first game. But for us it will very tough competition for sure. Regarding the climate we are use to play in Dhaka, in Bangladesh a bit different in Bangalore, so I think we will get any advantage.”
About the group Bangladesh comprised with, Cabrera said, “Best group, everyone wants to play, everyone wants to make a good start. I think competition in this group will be very, very tough, all of us want to qualify, all of us think we have chances to go further. For us it is quite important, because last five editions we could not qualify in the semifinals and we do believe that we are doing best following game idea and may have chances to qualify, so yea, we expect strong competition in all three games and to achieve the target.”
Hassan Al Maun, deputy of Cabrera, when talking to the Bangladesh Post from Bangalore before tohave their last practice for tomorrow’s match, said, “We are ready to begin our campaign and all the players but Rakib are well.”
Mamun, whowas one of the member of the champions team of the SAFF 2003, said, “Rakib had a hamstring injury and will not in the first XI, as he is yet to recover fully. But he is getting well and hopefully will be quite well from the next match.”
Mamun also said that they proper replacement of Rakib when Rafique will play along Fahim, Sumon Reza and Ibrahim in the attacking zone.
However, the former national captain said their main target to earn at elast one point from the Leabanon match - “We will have to face the tough opponents Leabanon in our frst encounter and our target to snatch at least a point which wil be a surprise for us.”
Replying toa query Mamun said, that they will play with counter attack strategy – “Actually Lebanon is very speedy and skilled, first we will have to defend then will go for attack.”
“We hare optimistic to have a point and that will be a tonic for us to go further to set our ultimate target,” said former national star Hassan Al Mamun.
