The national football training camp began Wednesday in the absence of head coach Jamie Day, captain Jamal Bhuiyan and the nine players of Bashundhara Kings, ahead of the six-nation Bangabandhu Gold Cup, scheduled to kick off at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka next week.
A total of 12 players out of 23 attended a light training session under assistant coach Stuart Watkiss at Birsreshtha Shaheed Mustafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur in the morning, after which Day and goalkeeper coach Bobby Mimms landed in the capital to join the players at the team hotel.
Jamal, who completed his nuptial ceremony this week, will join the training Thursday along with the Bashundhara players, who were also given an extended day’s rest for being involved in the Federation Cup final Sunday.
Nabib Newaj Jibon also couldn’t attend the training session due to stomach pain.
“Jamie, Bobby [Mimms] and Bashundhara players will join [later Wednesday]. After having the full squad [Thursday], then we can really get to work and look to prepare properly for the upcoming tournament,” Watkiss told reporters after training.
Bangladesh football team will begin training Wednesday morning at Kamalapur Stadium in Dhaka, ahead of the sixth edition of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup, scheduled to get underway next Wednesday.https://t.co/eRKSJo7DlQ#FOOTBALL #BANGLADESH #BANGLADESHFOOTBALL #BFF
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) January 8, 2020
The fatigue of the national booters has been a concern as the players from Abahani Limited (7), Saif Sporting Club (4), Chittagong Abahani Limited (2) and Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra (1) had more rest than the new Federation Cup champion Bashundhara.
“We had heavy work schedules so some of the players need a break. With Abahani and others going out of the tournament early, their players have had a few days rest. Hope we can benefit (from) this during the Gold Cup,” said Watkiss.
In the inaugural game, Bangladesh will face reigning champion Palestine, who defeated the men in red and green 2-0 in the semi-final of the last edition.
“It will be a great game to open up the Bangabandhu Gold Cup where the host play arguably the strongest nation,” said Watkiss.
Bangladesh face familiar foe Sri Lanka in the last group stage match on January 19 and if they reach the semi-final they would be up against an opponent they have never played before.
Bangladesh will take on defending champion Palestine in the opening game of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup at Bangabandhu National Stadium on January 15, according to the fixture list revealed by the Bangladesh Football Federation Tuesdayhttps://t.co/rLrfFq2Yr5#BFF #FOOTBALL #GOLDCUP
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) January 7, 2020
The players are clueless about the east African countries in the other group comprising Burundi, Mauritius and Seychelles.
Terming Palestine and Burundi favorites, Sheikh Russel custodian Ashraful Islam Rana admitted to have learned from his club’s Kenyan goalkeeping coach Abdul Iddi Salim about the physical attributes of the African participants.
Abahani midfielder Sohel Rana googled to find out that a Burundian footballer plays in the English league.
Stuart cleared the confusion regarding their potential rivals.
“The teams are ranked above us and the African players will provide different challenge because they are physically stronger but we hope with our fitness, organization and ability, we can beat them,” said Watkiss.
