Ilievski to leave trio out
Bangladesh's Macedonian coach Nikola Ilievski has opted out strikers Zahid Hasan Emily and Mithun Chowdhury as well as winger Zahid Hossain of the national side which is supposed to play a few short-duration practice matches against U-19, U-21 and U-22 later this month.
Emily and Mithun were handed five-match ban each in domestic matches along with a Tk two-lakh fine following their unauthorised participation in a local tournament on the eve of national team's departure for Lebanon for the World Cup pre-qualifiers. Zahid was handed two-match ban in domestic circuit with a fine of Tk one lakh fine following his indisciplined behaviour after being substituted in the home match against Lebanon.
The national team are supposed to play a few of short-duration matches against the U-19, the U-21 and U-22 on September 26 in a bid to give the age-group teams ample opportunity of practice ahead of national U-19 team's AFC U-19 Qualifiers in October.
“Forget about him (Zahid), he made the same mistake twice. He was given a warning after making the first mistake, yet he repeated it,” Ilievski told reporters at the BFF House yesterday.
However, the Macedonian coach seemed a little lenient in the case of Emily and Mithun though both of them were not considered for the national team at the moment.
“They may be or may not be playing in the SAFF Championship,” replied the Ilievski when asked the striking duo would be considered for the SAFF Championship campaign.
“I wanted to exclude both of them (Emily and Mithun) before the home match against Lebanon but I could not do so for the requests made by rest of the players and that's why they were given a chance against Lebanon,” explained Ilievski.
“Any one could have struck that goal that Emily scored as it was a simple tap-in on a cross provided by Komol,” Ilievski said when he was asked why both Emily and Mithun would be expelled after both of them struck against Lebanon in Bangladesh's 2-0 win over Lebanon.
Ilievski also submitted a plan for nine friendly matches against different clubs which will commence with the match against Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club on October 7.
Rest of the friendlies are expected to take place on October 14, 21, 28, November 4, 11 and 18 while the coach also wants to play two friendly outside Bangladesh.
Ilievski appreciated the punishments awarded by the National Team Management Committee (NTMC) against Emily, Mithun and Zahid.
NTMC chairman Badal Roy hinted that the trio might be considered in future if they could prove themselves through their club engagement.
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