Sweeping changes on the cards?

Macedonian coach Nikola Ilievski is all set to bring a sweeping change to the national squad for the upcoming SAFF Championship, scheduled for December 1 to 14 in Delhi.
On the eve of a training session of the national U-19 team at the BFF House premises yesterday, Ilievski said that he would submit a 23-member squad to the National Team Management Committee (NTMC) with 11 players amongst those coming from the U-19, U-21 and U-22 teams.
Some 80 booters, including members of senior national side, trained under Ilievski for two months at BKSP.
Before the ongoing AFC Championship Qualifiers, the national U-19 team played a total of 14 practice matches against U-21, U-22 and the national team and having watched those games, Ilievski has chosen some players for the national squad.
Ilievski said three players from the U-19 side and four each from the U-21 and U-22 sides are likely to get into the national fold.
They are defender Raihan, midfielder Shahed and striker Wahed from U-19, goalkeeper Sohel, midfielders Nayeem and Munna and striker Biplob from U-21 and U-22 team's midfielders Mezbabul Haq Manik, Imon Babu, Alamgir Kabir Rana and winger Mobarrak Hossain, all four of whom had earlier been called for the national side.
The 56-year old coach also said that he would like to train his charges abroad for 10 to 12 days before heading to Delhi for the SAFF Championship.
“After the three-day Eid vacation, the national camp will resume, but I want to train the boys and play three to four practice matches in India,” said Ilievski.
NTMC chairman and BFF vice president Badal Roy, however, said that they would try to meet the demands of Ilievski given that they manage a sponsor, or else the national team will have to at home.