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Cabrera in selection dilemma before FIFA friendly and Asia Cup


Published : 26 May 2022 07:38 PM

Bangladesh national football team’s head coach Javier Fernandez Cabrera inevitably to see a selection dilemma ahead of the FIFA international friendly match and Asia Cup qualifying round matches. 

Cabreara who shaped his 23-man squad keeping Tarek Kazi, Masuk Miah Jony, Sumon Reza and Matin Miah, players of the Bashundhara Kings are uncertain, as all four vital players of the team had injury during the AFC Cup.

If coach will have to bring changes in the squad, will have a huge dilemma in absence of four important performers.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh team is to leave Dhaka for Jakarta early hour of May 27 (3:45 am to play their FIFA frirndly international match against Indonesia to take place on June 1.

Following the the FIFA friendly in Jakarta, Bangladesh team will go Malaysia to play in the Asia Cup Qualifying round matches to be held in Kuala Lumpur from June 8-14.    

In the previous two games of FIFA friendlies, under the newly Spanish coach Cabrera has bitter experiences against Maldives and Mongolia in home and away ground respectively. 

The Spanish coach Cabrera could not make his journey with happy note with the Bangladesh national team when in his debut match went down to Maldives by 2-0 in Male on March 24 and managed a goalless draw against Mongolia at home ground four days later.

However, it would be another big blow for Cabrera if he will have to face stronger opponents than Maldives and Mongolia in the both FIFA friendly and the Asia Cup qualifying round matches in absence of four vital performers. 

Bangladesh are in the Group E which is comprised with the host Malaysia, Turkmenistan and Bahrain. 

Tarek Kazi, Masuk Miah Jony, Sumon Reza and Matin Miah, joined in the camp but are uncertain to accompany the Indonesia bound team when another setback is unavailability of stopper-back Tapu Barman who is yet to recover his injury. 

Coach Cabrera is worried about the four players fitness when he put across his outlook in a press meet on Thursday at the BFF Bhaban, said, “All four players, who returned from Kolkata (after playing AFC Cup), joined in the camp. Physio will review their condition and will give the decision.”

If any of the injured four players would be fit to play, who will be keep from the 23-man squad was not disclosed, as the coach said that it would be decided after the technical committee meeting.

If Cabrera will miss Masuk Miah Jony, Sumon Reza and Matin Miah, the squad will suffere a quite brilliant attacking output, as well as in absence of Tapu Barman and Tarek Kazi it would be a feeble defense line. 

Cabrera, sensibly did not expressed his target as he said, “It will not wise to set any target right now. First of all we are focusing on the FIFA friendly against Indonesia then will look forward about the qualifying matches. But I want fighting spirit from the boys in both the competitions.”

“We will have to concentrate every moments of the games, if nose dive we will be punished. It’s a great opportunity for the players to prove them. If we could fight then there is chance to do something good. But first of all we will have to play competitive football,” Cabrera replied to a query about his target. 

Team’s captain Jamal Bhuiyan said, “Players, who will not available, we will miss them but who are in the squad have ability to do well. But, we all will have to give our hundred percent.”