Ilievski wants foreign games
Ahead of the AFC U-19 Championship Qualifiers at home, the preparation of the national U-19 squad is seemingly going at the right direction as both elevens of Bangladesh national U-19 squad recorded victories against national U-22 squads in practice matches at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
The U-19 (B) squad came from two goals down to beat the U-22 (B). Kanon and Sohel struck in the second and 11th minutes respectively to give the seniors side a 2-0 lead before the break. However, the juniors showed tremendous nerve to fight back in the second half of the 60-minute game with Sifat scoring twice and Touhidul netting the other.
The main squad of U-19 side did not face much trouble to outplay the senior side after striker once Malek opened the account in the very second minute. Shahed doubled the margin before Wahed sealed the comprehensive victory in the 40-minute game.
Coach Nikola Illievski expressed his satisfaction over the performance of the two U-19 squads as they dominated most of the time in the short-duration game.
The Macedonian coach however emphasised on the need of playing a couple of matches against the Indian U-19 team.
“The U-19 sides have been playing against U-21, U-22 and the national team and I am happy with the show they put up today. However, it would have been better if they could have played against the U-19 side of a foreign team,” said Illievski.
Illievski requested the Bangladesh Football Federation to arrange two friendly matches against India U-19 team, though the game's governing body is yet to get any response from the All India Football Federation.
Illievski believes that Saudi Arabia and Iraq would be tough opponents compared to Oman and Maldives in the group-phase battle of the AFC U-19 Championship Qualifiers.
But the Macedonian coach is very much optimistic about qualifying for the 16-team finals as the champions and runners-up will advance to the finals.
Illievski also praised some players such as midfielder Shahed, striker Sobuj, captain Malek and defender Tapu Barman as he felt these boys would be the key players in the side.
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