Haroon confident

Even though Bangladesh national hockey team cruised to an emphatic 10-1 win over Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan in the final of the two warm-up matches yesterday, the team's coach Mahbub Haroon feels it will be a tough challenge to win the inaugural Hockey World League (HWL) which is going to start on August 31 in Singapore.
Bangladesh have been pitted with hosts Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand in their group, and only the top finisher will get the ticket for the next round after round robin league matches.
Four months ago Bangladesh managed to win the AHF Cup, albeit not convincingly, and coach Mahbub Haroon had warned at that time that Bangladesh might lose its position to the likes of Singapore, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and Oman as those teams are improving fast.
Haroon has been given the charge of the national team again and his side would be facing those teams in this tournament.
“I said before that the opponents are very close to us and the tournament is not going to be an easy one for us,” said Haroon after the second and final practice match at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium yesterday.
The former national player, however, feels that the domestic league that took place after the AHF Cup and the two weeks of practice has prepared his side for the challenge.
“I think my team will succeed in winning the tournament, if the boys can implement 80 percent of my instructions,” said Haroon.
He added that the present squad is in better shape physically and mentally than the one that took part in the AHF Cup in April.
During the two-week training, the coach has emphasised on penalty corners, build-up attack, territory defending and keeping ball possession.
The coach also believes that passing of the ball has improved which is helping them to keep possession.
However, Haroon feels three matches in consecutive days will be a disadvantage and taking on Hong Kong in the opening match would be their biggest challenge.
“We have to play consistently in all three matches in successive three days,” said Haroon. “Hong Kong will be our main rivals as we have not faced them in the last two years after the 1-1 draw in the Asia Cup Qualifiers at home in 2010,”
Bangladesh defeated Singapore and Thailand 4-1 and 9-0 respectively in the AHF Cup in April this year.
Bangladesh will start their HWL campaign on August 31 taking on Hong Kong followed by Singapore on September 1 and Thailand on September 2.