Elita Kingsley overlooked in the Cabrera’s SAFF Squad

Cambodia bound and for the SAFF Championship 23-man national football team was announced on Friday when most discussed, the highest scorer among the local booters Elita Kingsley was not considered. 

Javier Fernandez Cabrera decalred his 23-man final squad on Friday at the BFF Bhaban in a press meet when he reduced the team from 30-man preliminary squad. The Nigerian born Bangladeshi was left out from the 23-man squad that set to fly out to Cambodia for their FIFA friendly match. Elita who had been called to the squad that Bangladesh played against Seychelles and was also in the 30-man side, a short list of 35 players’ preliminary team ahead of the Cambodia match and SAFF Championship.

But it was a big surprise that the Sapnish coach overlloked Elita, who scored highest nine goals among the local players in the ongoing Bangladesh PremierLeague football for Abahani Limited. It is very much interesting that Cabrera mentioned the reason of keeping out Elita from the squad is that he considered players’ quality and capability in the tough competition and choose the 23-man squad. But there is none in his squad, who could not score even two goals in the whole league. 

Cabrera, kept Sumon Reza in his team, who could not score even a goal in the league but Elita was not considered being the highest scorer. 

However, Cabrera announced the 23-man squad excluding seven from 30-man short-listed when Tutul Hossain Badshah and Rimon Hossain ruled out for injuries when Srabon, Sazzad, and Elita Kingsley was kept out for performances and other reasons.

Bangladesh team scheduled to leave Dhaka at the early hour of last night for Cambodia to play a FIFA friendly match on June 15 and expected to leave Cambidia for India on June 16 to play the SAFF Championship.

The 14th edition of the SAFF Championship will start from June 21 with eight teams, including two guest teams out of the South Asian region – Lebanon and Kuwait wil play splitting into two groups. Bangladesh team was drawn in the Grpoup B along with the strongest side of this edition of the tournament Lebanon, former champions Maldives and Bhutan are the other two sides. Bangladesh squad-  Anisur Rahman (Zico), Mitul Marma and Shahidul Alam Sohel (Goalkeepers), Kazi Tarek Rayhan Bisawnath Ghosh, Tutul Hossian Badsha, Tapu Barman, Isa Faisal, Rahmat Meah and Alaamgir Molla (defenders). Mashuk Meah Jony, Sohel Rana, Mojibur Rahman Jony, Sohel Rana, Robiul Hassan, Jamal Bhuiyan, Mohammed Ridoy and Sheikh Morsalin (midfielders). Rakib Hossain, Sumon Reza, Faisal Ahmed, Mohammed Ibrahim, Rafiqul Islam and Aminur Rahman

Rakib Hossain, Sumon Reza, Faisal Ahmed, Eleta Kingsley, Mohammed Ibrahim, Rafiqul Islam and Aminur Rahman Sajib (forwards).