Same old seniors

A full-house turned up at the renovated Sheikh Kamal Stadium in Nilphamari yesterday to see a refreshingly different Bangladesh against Sri Lanka in what was the first big match experience for an otherwise tranquil city in the northern part of the country.

Others glued to television sets across the country anticipated the fresh wave of energy that a youthful Bangladesh side injected in the Asian Games being instilled into the experienced one.

Unfortunately, they discovered the same old Bangladesh against a team they have only lost to thrice in their previous 16 meetings. Bangladesh lost the FIFA friendly against the Emerald Island nation 1-0.

It was not that Sri Lanka have made a marked improvement, nor was it the case that Bangladesh have turned from bad to worse. A few might argue that Bangladesh dominated possession and created more openings in a game that was played over 105 minutes (including a staggering 10 minutes of added time in the second half) under physically demanding hot and humid conditions. But how many clear-cut chances did Bangladesh create in the game? Just one in the first half and hardly a couple after the break.

It was only a build-up match for next week's SAFF Championship. However, more importantly it was a game for the senior members to prove their worth against the growing popular notion that if Bangladesh are to move ahead from their lowest ebb, the future is the next generation. And after yesterday's game, Mamunul Islam and Co. only took a step towards that inevitable conclusion.

They did train with the young guns hard and stayed together during Bangladesh's Asian Games campaign, where a team mostly comprised of a generation of Under-19s made it to the quarterfinals for the first time. But they looked like the same old players in Nilphamari when it was their turn.

Bangladesh conceded the only goal of the match quite against the run of play in the 10th minute. It was an intelligent chip shot from Sri Lankan forward Mohamad Fazal from about 35 yards out that caught an out-of-position Bangladesh custodian Shahidul Alam Sohel napping. Shahidul was only to be blamed for standing too high off his line.

If that was a basic flaw from a goalkeeper, there were plenty of loopholes in other areas.

The Lankans never attempted to take control of the midfield. They defended deep and tried to attack on the break. Bangladesh used the flanks to create something but all their efforts stumbled in the third quarter. They failed to penetrate down the middle and were not allowed to win a single free-kick just outside the box. The first three corners they won were wasted by midfielder Mamumul. His first two flag-kicks could only reach the near post while the other harmlessly sailed way over. There were a few crosses down both flanks but they were either off target or the forwards were not in the right position. Bangladesh tried to use their two wingbacks to create space. Unfortunately, those who were assigned to comply with that demanding job primarily did not possess the physical ability and more importantly lacked the necessary understanding of that art.

Bangladesh's English coach Jamie Day has a few days before he announces his SAFF squad. And after yesterday's failed experiment, he might turn to his young guns leaving behind a wasted experience.