Bangladesh prepare for Afghanistan tie
The Bangladesh national football team are set to begin a training camp ahead their opening match of the joint qualifiers of the 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup against Afghanistan, which will be held on September 20, at the Bangabandhu National Stadium today.
The Bangladesh Football Federation named a 25-member preliminary squad for the camp on Friday. Head coach Jamie Day informed that although he has called up an additional goalkeeper the finalised 23-member squad for the joint qualifiers will not feature all four keepers present at the camp.
“Like I said before, I like [Mazharul Islam] Himel. I think Himel has done well. Obviously we are not going to carry four goal keepers in a squad of 23 but I think it is important to keep him involved in the national team. So I asked if he wanted to come and train with us up until the 31st and that’s what he will do. It keeps him involved, it keeps him training with the other three goalkeepers and Bobby -- the goalkeeping coach -- can also assess all four keepers and train them. I thought it was right to add him to the squad.” said Day at the team hotel in Paltan yesterday.
The Englishman also spoke of his plans for the national booters for the next two weeks, ahead of their departure for Tajikistan on September 1 for the upcoming match against Afghanistan.
“I think up until the 31st it is about just making sure the boys are where we want them to be fitness wise and mentally back in the swing of training every day and be in a camp to prepare for very important games. Then in the second week we will be more demanding of the tactical side of it. They have had a 10-day or 12-day break. I think they will be looking forward to coming back and doing a little bit of training.”
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