Booters settle in Bengaluru after immigration, hotel hassles

The Bangladesh football team players are ready to have their first training session in Bengaluru this afternoon following an unexpected issue on their arrival in India.

The team landed India on Friday night for the SAFF Championship after posting a 1-0 win over Cambodia in a FIFA friendly match in Phnom Penh, but they had to go through some hard time before settling down in Bengaluru.

"We have already had a team meeting this morning and the players will have their first training session at 3:30pm today. They only had gym session yesterday," Bangladesh team manager Amer Khan told The Daily Star over phone today.

Amer informed that their flight to India from Cambodia was delayed and there was a lengthy immigration at the airport. 

Bangladesh team also changed their accommodation – from Holiday Inn to Renaissance Hote – as the rooms and food at the former hotel was not satisfactory.

"It took too much time at immigration for the foreign coaching staff, who had e-visa for India. Then we checked in at Holiday Inn at midnight and found the rooms not to be as spacious as they seemed online. Besides, the breakfast was not suitable for the players," said Amer, adding that the players had their dinner with biriyani as the hotel authority was doubtful whether we would stay following the dilemma.

"Later, with the help of AIFF officials, we changed the hotel to check in at Renaissance Hotel, where India and Kuwait teams are also scheduled to check in," said the former national footballer.