Dido calls for patience

SEE YOU TOMORROW: Bangladesh captain Aminul Haque (R) shakes hands with his Cambodia counterpart Kim Chanbunriph at the Sonargaon Hotel yesterday, ahead of their today's AFC Challenge Cup Group A qualifiers at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.Photo: STAR

Bangladesh's football coach Edson Silva Dido has asked the people of the country to be patient and remain in support of the team as they take on Cambodia in their first Group A match of the AFC Challenge Cup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium today.
"[My message for the people] is to stick behind the team. I would tell them not to give up because that would be the wrong attitude at this stage," said Dido during the pre-match press conference at a local hotel yesterday.
The Brazilian coach is on his first big assignment as Bangladesh coach and although he has voiced his concern over preparation, Dido promised eye-catching football.
"I am for attractive as well as efficient football. You know I come from a country where we believe that football is an expression of art," explained Dido when asked whether he would go for 'robotic' football or for the natural way.
"I refuse to go into the robotic way and make sure that there's a balance between technique and skill," said the Brazilian before adding, "You know how difficult it has been for me in the training camp."
He informed that all three injured players -- Zahid Hasan Emily, Mohammad Robin and Jahid Parvez -- have been passed fit by the medical team but Dido wasn't sure if they will be playing the first game.
He also said that his side has improved somewhat when it comes to position sense. "They have improved little bit but when one eats with his left hand, its hard to make him eat with the right. We have tried to fix it but time will be the only answer," commented the Brazilian.
Dido also expressed that it would come down to the players' fitness which would help his side go forward.
"The story about the last fifteen minutes is fitness. How they push or slow down but I hope they can carry on at the same rhythm in the final stages," said Dido.
He said that despite being Vietnam coach, he has little idea of today's opponents Cambodia but he assured that he applied no extra pressure on the players. He quipped," Maybe not knowing is the best advantage."
Bangladesh captain Aminul Haque had his own idea for the three matches of the qualifiers. "We want to take it as quarterfinal, semifinal and the final," revealed Aminul, the country's leading goalkeeper.
"If we take it like that, then we can progress well in the tournament. As the coach has explained, we have improved on positional football," said Aminul who added that they have played against their opening day opponents previously and gathered experience of playing them.
Cambodia however are also here to win and will want to compete, win and qualify, according to coach Prak Sovannara. He informed that they have prepared for the past two months during which they have played four practice games.
"Apart from the training camp, they played the Prime Minister's Cup from which we selected the team.
"There are big changes as some players are getting old. The younger lot has to push up into the national team," said Sovannara.
He however was least bothered about Bangladesh's coach being a Brazilian. "It doesn't matter where they come from. The only thing important is the players' quality out in the field," added the Cambodian coach.
TEAMS
BANGLADESH: Aminul (captain), Biplob, Himel, Nasir, Rajani, Saikat, Arman Aziz, Sharif, Robin, Wali Faisal, Sujan, Zahid Pervez, Mamun, Emily, Mishu, Zahid Hossain, Munna, Mamun Mia, Emon Babu, Enamul, Rashed, Manik and Mithun.
CAMBODIA: Chanbunrith (captain), Sokumpheak, Narith, Ravy, Than, Thavrak, Sovannarith, Vathanak, Rithy, Bunchay, Pichseyla, Tiny, Sokgorn, Chansothea, Nasa, Mic, Rithy, Raksmey, Laboravy, Seiha, Rady, Borey.