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.
Javier Cabrera, the head coach of the national team, said the players were rewarded for their performance in the ongoing season.
Bangladesh football team’s head coach Javier Cabrera claimed his team are in very good shape and, given good preparation, can be competitive and make things difficult for other teams in next month’s SAFF Championship.
Bangladesh coach Javier Cabrera put the onus on preparing for the upcoming SAFF Championship, scheduled for July in India, after a meeting with the National Teams Committee at the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) House yesterday.
Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuiyan was dropped from the starting eleven in the second FIFA friendly against Seychelles at Sylhet District Stadium on Tuesday.
The last time Rabiul played for Bangladesh before the Seychelles matches was 36
Seychelles coach Neville Both is wary of challenge posed by Bangladesh’s two centre-backs – Tapu Barman and Tariq Kazi – and midfielder Jamal Bhuiyan ahead of the second FIFA friendly match in Sylhet on Tuesday.
Javier Cabrera has been handed one-year extension on his contract as head coach of Bangladesh national football team, said a statement from Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) on Wednesday.
Having met with the Bangladesh coach Javier Cabrera and technical director Paul Smalley following the recent performance of the national football team, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is now searching a path to counter the inconsistent performance of the men in red and green, which especially becomes prominent during a tournament’s latter stages.
Despite a long-standing problem when it comes to scoring goals, Bangladesh coach Javier Cabrera has pinned his hopes on inexperienced strikers for the two FIFA-sanctioned friendlies next month and excluded Nabib Newaj Jibon, the country's most experienced forward.
Bangladesh head coach, Javier Cabrera, announced a 27-member preliminary squad for the two upcoming FIFA international friendly matches without country’s top striker Nabib Newaj Jibon.
