25 booters called for camp

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) yesterday announced a 25-member preliminary under-23 squad for September's Asian Games with the inclusion of five senior players -- Mamunul Islam, Zahid Hasan Emily, Atiqur Rahman Meshu, Mithun Chowdhury and Denmark-based Jamal Bhuiyan.
Young defender Tutul Hossain Badsha, who warmed the bench for Abahani throughout this season, is the surprise inclusion apart from relegated Uttar Baridhara goalkeeper Osman Gani and Mohammedan's promising winger Yousuf Sifat.  Veteran winger Zahid Hossain is a notable exclusion from the squad, probably owing to his 'questionable performance' during the SAFF Championship last year.
The residential camp for the selected players will start from August 3 at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan (BSKP) under the guidance of Dutch coaches Lodewijk de Kruif and Rene Koster, who are expected to arrive on August 1, after their imposed vacation in Netherlands. The 25-member squad will be trimmed to 18-memebr final squad before they leave for on September 12.
Out of the 25 selected players, 15 were in the national squad which played a FIFA friendly match against India early this year.
Though De Kruif and Rene have hardly watched the players' performance in the domestic competitions, BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem informed that the players have been picked in line with their instruction.
The grouping of Asian Game's football event will be held on August 19.

SQUAD: Shahidul Alam Shohel, Atiqur Rahman Meshu, Shahedul Alam Shahed, Tutul Hossain Badsha, Zahid Hasan Emily, Hemanta Vincent Biswash, Yousuf Sifat, Tapu Barman, Wahed Ahmed, Nahidul Islam, Emon Babu, Shohel Rana, Toklish Ahmed, Mamunul Islam, Raihan Hasan, Yeamin Munna, Kesto Kumar, Yeasin Khan, Mithun Chowhdury, Omar Faruque Babu, Jewel Rana, Rubel Mia, Rasel Mahmud Liton, Osman Gani and Jamal Bhuiyan.