Zoran picks 39

New coach Zoran Djordjevic yesterday declared a 39-member preliminary squad for the residential camp for the South Asian Games to be held in Bangladesh from January 29 to February 9.
The preliminary squad consists of maximum familiar faces, who were also in the preliminary squad of the SAFF Championship. Players like goalkeeper Aminul Haque, Zahid Hasan Emily, Wali Faisal, Enamul Haque, Arman Aziz, Mamunul Islam, Zahid Hossain all were picked up for the SA Games preliminary squad. However, Mehdi Hasan Ujjal, Biplab Bhattacharja, Rajani Kanti Barman and Pranotosh Kumar of SAFF squad were dropped from the meet of Under-23. Only three over-age players will be allowed in the squad.
The Serbian coach and his two assistants, who watched a few matches of the Bangladesh League in and outside Dhaka, have picked some faces like striker Touhidul Alam Sabuj of Farashganj SC, striker Touhidul Islam Siddique of Ctg Mohammedan, defenders Akramuzzaman Liton and Mintu Sheikh of Feni Soccer, midfielder Habibur Rahman Shohag of Abahani Limited along with veteran striker Mohammad Yousuf of Sheikh Russel KC.
Manager Hasanuzzaman Bablu said the Serbian coach having watched a few matches of the Bangladesh League picked eight to nine beside the players' list provided by the National Team Management Committee.
Bablu, also executive committee member of the Bangladesh Football Federation, said that the coach told him that he would cut down the preliminary squad to 25 after a week's camp to be started from Monday at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP).
He also informed that two British-born Bangladeshi's -- Sarwar Ahmed and Shiblu Mia-- will join the camp.
Bangladesh, who were eliminated from the group stage in the last edition of the SA Games in Colombo in 2006, have been drawn in Group A along with Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan.
Preliminary squad: Aminul Haque, Mazharul Islam Himel, Mostaqur Rahman, Mohammad Nehal, Mamun Mia, Ariful Islam, Mofazzal Hossain Saikat, Nasirul Islam, Atiqur Rahman Mishu, Arup Baddya, Akramuzzaman Liton, Mintu Sheikh, M Sujan, Wali Faisal, Aminul Islam, Mamunul Islam, Shedul Islam Shahed, Imtiaz Sultan Zitu, Monaem Khan Raju, Maruf Ahmed, Mobarak Hossain, Zahed Parvez Chowdhury, Mejbabul Haque Manik, Shakil Ahmed, Habibur Rahman Shohag, Alamgir Kabir Rana, Enamul Haq Sharif, Zahid Hossain, Arman Aziz, Zahid Hasan Emily, Abdul Baten Komol, Mithun Chowdhury, Touhidul Alam Sabuj, Touhidul Islam Siddique, Enamul Haque, Nasiruddin, M Yousuf, Sarwar Ahmed and Shiblu Mia.