Mission regaining title

Bangladesh coach Abu Yusuf (2nd from L) addressing a press briefing as BFF vice-president Badal Roy (L), national captain Aminul and vice-captain Biplab (R) look on at the BFF Bhaban yesterday.Photo: STAR

Bangladesh will leave Dhaka today in a bid to regain the SAFF Football Championship title with just two recognised strikers.
One of the penalty area specialists being the only debutant in the 20-member squad that was announced yesterday, all suspect whether the current crop of the national team would be able to match their predecessors from 2003 when Bangladesh triumphed the regional football extravaganza at home.
Expectedly, recalled veterans Joy and Nazrul made the squad to add experience while youngsters Maruf and Robin made way for Komol and Abul who missed the AFC Challenge Cup earlier this month.
Coach Abu Yusuf, however, believes that his array of multi-purpose players would be able to fill in the void.
"Those days are gone when a striker would have waited for the ball. So our priority is to have players who can work with or without the ball. We have players in the midfield who started their career as forwards. So this would not be a problem," said Yusuf at a press conference at the BFF Bhaban yesterday.
Bangladesh's first stoppage en route to Sri Lanka is Bangkok where they will play preparation matches on May 28 and 30 against the second string national side and a club.
They will depart for Colombo on May 30 and open the SAFF campaign against Bhutan on June 4, followed by matches against Afghanistan and hosts Sri Lanka on June 6 and 8.
"It is a plus-point that we are playing Bhutan in the first match. Although we respect all the oppositions, Bhutan are probably the weakest. It would give us a chance to find the right combination," said Yusuf.
Bangladesh drew with Afghanistan in the Challenge Cup but the coach thinks that he would need 70 percent of his team's strength on the pitch to beat them and ensure the semifinals.
"Sri Lanka would be our main opponents in the group but they are not unbeatable," Yusuf opined about the hosts, who recently thrashed Pakistan 7-1 in the Challenge Cup.
When asked whether the team, who have not been impressive in the two warm-up matches at home, have any hopes to win the title, Yusuf commented that their mission will be to regain the trophy after losing the 2005 final to India in Karachi.
"India are the best team in this region. Can they guarantee winning this title? We will be there to win and I feel our team will play 90 minutes in the same rhythm."
Team manager Sheikh Mohammed Aslam, who criticised Yusuf's style and the team's strength only a day before, said he was not frustrated.
"In fact, I have been with the team for only a few days and felt that they are not playing at a level where I want to see the national team. The coach knows better and I hope once we are in Sri Lanka, things will get better," the former national striker said.
THE SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Aminul Haq (captain), Biplab Bhattacharya (vice-captain); defenders: Hassan Al Mamun, Nazrul Islam, Ariful Islam, Wali Faisal, Rajani Kanta Barman, Atiqur Rahman Mishu, Mofazzel Hossain Saikat, Arup Kumar Baidya; midfielders: Arif Khan Joy, Arman Aziz, Enamul Haq Sharif, Zahed Parvez, Faisal Mahmud, Abul Hossain, Mamunul Islam Mamun; forwards: Mehdi Hasan Ujjal, Abdul Baten Komol and Zahid Hasan Emily.
Officials: Shafiquzzaman (team leader), Sheikh Mohammed Aslam (manager), Abu Yusuf (coach), Golam Rabbani Choton (assistant coach), Mahfuzullah Chishti (physician), Mohammed Mohsin (team staff).