Competition for places in nat'l side

National football team's players share a light moment during their reporting at the Bangladesh Football Federation house in Motijheel yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

New faces of the preliminary squad of Bangladesh national football team are well aware of facing firm challenge from their senior teammates, but they are ready to take the challenge for a place in the final squad of the SAFF Championship.
Of the 35-member squad, 31 players reported to team manager Iqbal Hossain and local coach Syed Golam Jilani at the BFF House yesterday. Defender Wali Faisal could not join as he is in India while three expatriate booters -- Jamal Bhuiyan, Anando Rahman and Reasat Khaton -- are expected to join the two-month long training camp soon.
Dutch coach Lodewijk De Kruif, along with his assistant Rene Koster, picked up four new faces and recalled some of the old faces to his preliminary squad after having watched eight matches of the Super Cup which was held without foreign players.
Left-back Nahidul Islam, midfielder Omar Farque Babu, striker Yousuf Sifat and defender Tapu Barman are the new faces while marksman Wahed Ahmed, winger Mobarak Hossain, midfielder Arman Aziz, stopper Uttam Kumar Banik, goalkeeper Biplob Bhattacharjee, Arup Kumar Baddya, Yeamin Munna returned to the fold. Defenders Sujan, Mamun Mia, midfielders Abdul Baten Komol, Shakil Ahmed and Alamgir Kabir Rana are the ones that have lost their places.
Midfielder Omar Farque Babu knows he would have to compete against midfielders like Mamunul Islam, Pranotosh Kumar, Mithun Chowdhury and Mezbabul Haque Manik for a place in the eleven.
“I will try heart and soul in training to draw the attention of the coach. I am really confident of doing it and excited for being selected for the preliminary squad,” said 19-year-old Babu, who is a product of Canary Wharf Football Academy and received a short period of training in London and United States and represented Bangladesh at U-16 and U-17 levels.
However, the emotion is different for Super Cup's star winger Mobarak Hossain, who was selected for the preliminary squad six times, but never found a place in the final squad.
“I have been there quite a few times but could not make it to the final squad. However, I am determined this time to secure a place. I know there are a couple of good right wingers, a position I prefer to play but I am ready to play at any position place,” said Mobarak, the man-of-the-tournament in the Super Cup.
Midfielder Arman Aziz has been out of the national side since 2010 due to injuries and dip in form, but he staged a superb comeback in 2012. However, he hardly got any chance in the starting eleven for Abahani under Iranian coach Ardeshir Pournamate last season before proving himself again in the Super Cup.
“I was eagerly waiting for a recall since 2012 but failed to draw the attention,” said Arman. “This time I want to grab the chance with both hands.”
Mamunul Islam, the key midfielder of the national team and treble winning Sheikh Russel KC, thinks the challenge is on the older players to keep their places, but overall the competition bodes well for the team as a whole.
“I will have to give extra effort to keep my place now that there are some new faces knocking on the door. But the more the competition, the better it is for the national team. I want to play for a side where the coach has to sweat it out to pick a best eleven as there will be many available options to choose from,” opined Mamunul.
The training will get underway from today at the Bangabandhu National Stadium under local coach Syed Golam Jilani before Dutch coaches arrive in the first week of July to take full charge of the national team.