The players of the Myanmar football team train at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. They will be the team to beat for Bangladesh in the AFC Challenge Cup Group A qualifiers that kick off today.Photo: STAR

The scorching heat seems to be of no concern to any of the teams of Group A in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers that begin today at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
The opening match between a youthful Myanmar side and minnows Macau could well be played under testing conditions with the temperature soaring above the 35 degrees mark. Even the timing of the opener, 3.30pm, could have a devastating effect on the sides but not according to their team bosses.
"There is no problem with the weather. We are used to such conditions," said Myanmar coach Tin Myint Aung in the team's press conference at a local hotel yesterday.
His counterpart Leung Sui Wing, the Macau coach, also seem to be unperturbed with the weather, terming it 'good conditions' but said that they needed some time to adapt.
"We started training on Friday and we train here today (Saturday) but definitely we need time to settle," said Sui Wing. Macau were the first time to be introduced during the marathon press conference that involved all four teams including Cambodia who take on hosts Bangladesh in the other opening day fixture today.
"It (the hot weather) is no different from Cambodia. The difference between the two countries is just an hour so I don't think that will be a problem. The heat will surely be there but we have to play," said Prak Sovannara, head coach of Cambodia football team.
Apart from the weather, the focus was also on the youthful Myanmar side that will face lowly Macau today. Some of their baby-faced players, spotted at the hotel lobby, are as young as seventeen and according to their coach Myint Aung, it is time to build for the future.
"I want to make a new generation in the national team and that's why we have our under-23 team here," said Myint Aung who informed that eleven of the 23-man squad are part of Myanmar's national team.
Myanmar are the highest-ranked team among the four at No. 159 in the FIFA table and the pressure would certainly be on them to beat the hosts.
"We have played Bangladesh and players of both sides know each other quite well so it will be hard for us. But the team is prepared and ready," said Myint Aung who added that his side has been training since the end of March after the conclusion of the domestic competition, the Myanmar league.
Macau captain Geofredo de Sousa Cheung said that his side would depend on team spirit after having trained together for a year. He also named goalkeeper Leong Chon Kit and striker Chan Kin Seng as the most reliable players of his side. According to their coach Sui Wing mentioned that his side would also like to qualify to the main event that is AFC Challenge Cup like all the other teams despite being the lowest ranked side at 195.
The Macau captain also indicated that their 2-0 win over Mongolia on April 7 would give his side a lot of confidence.
The opening match begins at 3.30pm with Bangladesh Television providing live coverage to all the matches of the six-match qualifying round.