Bangladesh’s 2-1 defeat to Singapore in the Asian Cup Qualifiers wasn’t just a defeat -- it was a missed opportunity to build something better with the right tools finally in hand. And that’s exactly what former striker and Mohammedan’s league-winning coach Alfaz Ahmed is talking about: we finally have the parts, but we don’t know how to assemble the machine.
Despite a 2-0 defeat to Singapore in their Asian Cup Qualifiers encounter at the National Stadium on Tuesday, Bangladesh head coach Javier Cabrera insisted his side was the better team and described the result as deeply disappointing.
The Daily Star’s Ekush Tapadar, Anisur Rahman, and Atique Anam delve into Bangladesh’s prospects in this much-anticipated encounter, examine the influence of these high-profile players on the national team and address the persistent issues crippling the country's domestic football.
Bangladesh football team head coach Javier Cabrera said that he wants to present a victory against Singapore in their upcoming AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers game as an Eid gift to the nation.
A few expatriates have made their way into Bangladesh football in recent times, with Canada-based Shamit Shome being the latest addition after England-based Hamza Choudhury, Fahamedul Islam from Italy, Finland-based Tarik Kazi, and Denmark-based Jamal Bhuiyan.
The Bangladesh national football team is set to begin preparations from Saturday for two upcoming international fixtures, with 26 players joining camp at the Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka.
The national team received a boost with the addition of midfielder Shamit Shome, who joins star player Hamza Choudhury in the middle of the park.
Bangladesh’s domestic competitions are not producing forwards who steal the spotlight in big matches. Goals in lopsided fixtures, played in front of empty stands, do little to prepare players for the intensity of international football.
Jamal Bhuiyan, the most-capped player in Bangladesh’s history, is slowly becoming a peripheral figure in the team despite being the captain. To know his views on this issue and his overall plans in football, The Daily Star's Anisur Rahman and Atique Anam caught up with the Denmark-born midfielder. Following are the excerpts of the interview.
Before going for a two-week training camp in Saudi Arabia ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers against Palestine, Bangladesh coach Javier Cabrera had repeatedly said that his team needed to put in more than they did against Lebanon in a 1-1 draw in November last year.
Bangladesh football team landed in Kuwait on Sunday for their World Cup Qualifying round match against Palestine on March 21 after a two-week training camp in Saudi Arabia which included a couple of warm-up matches against higher ranked Sudan.
“The camp, like the previous year’s one, was a great experience for the team and definitely, we are better team than what we were before coming here. We are little closer to the Palestine tie and we will be ready for March 21,” Cabrera was quoted as saying in a video footage sent by Bangladesh Football Federation.
“He [Jamal] has been in training and has played friendly games for Sol de Mayo. We know he is fit. He lacks in competitive game time but that’s because of the situation of the league in Argentina,” Cabrera told the reporters at a press briefing yesterday.
Three new inclusions -- Syed Shah Quazem Kirmanee, Rabby Hossain Rahul, and Taj Uddin – featured in Bangladesh national football team's 28-member preliminary squad for their World Cup Qualifiers fixtures upcoming next month, head coach Javier Cabrera announced on Wednesday.
Promising forward Sheikh Morsalin is all set to miss out on the home-and-away fixtures of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Palestine in March, informed national team coach Javier Cabrera.
Sheikh Morsalin, one of the rising stars in Bangladesh football, has been struggling to find a place in the Bashundhara Kings playing XI this season, having not played a match for the club since December 11.
The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) renewed its contract with current head coach Javier Cabrera for another year running till December 2024.
Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is likely to extend the contract of Javier Cabrera, the head coach of men’s national team, for another year with an increase of his wages following demand from the 39-year-old.
Even though Bangladesh coach Javier Cabrera is eager to show improvement of his charges, the men in red and green will probably look to avoid embarrassment in their opening World Cup Qualifiers fixture against Australia at the AAMI Park in Melbourne today.
