Booters' new campaign starts today
Bangladesh will be looking forward to producing a good performance irrespective of the outcome in the first-leg play-off of the Asian Cup Qualifiers against Tajikistan at the Republican Central Stadium in Dushanbe, Tajikistan today.
The match will get underway at 9:00pm (Bangladesh Standard Time).
It was a nightmare for the men in red and green when the two sides met six months ago in Dushanbe amid freezing conditions and rainfall. Under the guidance of Fabio Lopez, Bangladesh suffered a massive 5-0 defeat on that night which was an away fixture of the World Cup and Asian Cup Qualifiers.
Since then Bangladesh's performance graph has gone down consistently under three different coaches and Bangladesh's last international match of the World Cup Qualifiers against Jordan ended in an 8-0 drubbing.
So it is expected to be a tough assignment for Bangladesh to produce a positive result in today's match. However, the visitors can take inspiration from the fact that they won a game against the Tajiks six years ago in Sri Lanka and also from the return of Lodewijk de Kruif, who had guided them to a 1-1 draw against the same side last year.
Though the Dutchman, prior to departure for Tajikistan, vowed to bring a point home, yesterday he said they were looking forward to delivering a good performance.
“The players are highly motivated and dedicated for the match. Our preparation has been good. We want positive performance, no matter what the result is. Tajikistan have some good level players who are playing in foreign countries like Russia, but we will give our best in the field tomorrow [Thursday],” said de Kruif at an official press briefing yesterday.
If the team can deliver their best, it is not impossible to collect a point against Tajikistan, who were held twice by Bangladesh in the past. Last June, a spirited Bangladesh side were on the verge of posting their second win over the Central Asian nation in Dhaka, but the visitors escaped from defeat with a late equaliser from Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev.
This time de Kruif is concentrating on good defensive organisation, but he would definitely miss the services of defender Yeasin Khan, who has been serving a six-month ban.
One thing that might help Bangladesh team this time is the fact that the weather condition in Dushanbe is very congenial right now.
De Kruif's counterpart, Khakim Fuzaylov, is taking nothing for granted and warned his charges to be cautious in the home match.
“We have prepared well for the match. Our training camp was very good and the players understand how important this game is. It is the play-off stage and we have to qualify.
“Our target is to win and to progress to the group stage of the qualifying round. We are expecting a tough match and it will not be easy against Bangladesh. We respect this team,” said the former defender, who is set to make his debut as the country's coach.
The reverse fixture of this double-legged qualifier will be held in Dhaka on June 7.
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