Bangladesh face Singapore in semifinal today

Defending champions Bangladesh are looking forward to confirming the final berth in the 5th Men's AHF Cup when they take on Singapore in the first semifinal today.

The game will get underway at 2:00pm (Bangladesh time) at the King's Park hockey ground in Hong Kong.

Bangladesh, the pre-tournament favourites, are the only side to have won all three of their matches coming into the last-four battle, and they will be playing against a team they have never lost.

Singapore, however, have always given Bangladesh a tough time on the pitch. Even though Bangladesh defeated the islanders 3-0 in their last meeting during the World Hockey League Round-2 in 2015, today's encounter is expected to be a tough one for the men in red and green.

“Singapore are a good side. They have been playing comparatively well in the ongoing tournament. Besides, they have also been under a coach for a long time and the players have a good understanding among them. So it will not be easy for us,” captain Rasel Mahmud Jimmy said over phone yesterday.

“However, we are confident about performing well and carry the momentum from the last three wins. If we don't miss scoring opportunities like the first two matches, I believe it will not be difficult for us to win the match,” said Jimmy.

Bangladesh are trying to insert the European style in their game under German coach Oliver Kurtz in a bid to do well in the World Hockey League Round-2 next year in Dhaka, and Jimmy believes that they have implemented nearly 60 per cent of the style in this tournament.

“We, the Asian players, play typically to dribble one or two players before passing it to the next player, but here we are not going to do any difficult dribbling, passing, receiving and dodging. We know that as long as we hold possession of the ball, we are out of danger. We are playing as a team and trying to play according to the game plan,” Jimmy added.