Local forwards lack belief in their qualities: Colindres
World Cupper Daniel Colindres has become a household name in Bangladesh football after he played a key role in Bashundhara Kings' Bangladesh Premier League triumph in his debut appearance last season.
The Costa Rican was in the spotlight right after he landed here in September 2018 as he was came to Bangladesh soon after representing his country in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The now 35-year-old forward has continued displaying his talent in domestic and international circuit for the Bashundhara Kings.
Since the Bangladesh Premier League has been halted due to the outbreak of coronavirus, Colindres, like other footballers, is staying indoors, at his Bashundhara residence and continuing with a fitness regime.
"I am fine, thank God, I have a daily routine -- I get up, eat breakfast, exercise, bathe, eat lunch, read a little, have coffee in the afternoon, watch TV for a while, talk to my family, have dinner and go to bed," – this is how Colindres explained his current routine when asked via a team official.
The captain of Bashundhara Kings is following instructions of his team's trainer to stay fit as he works out at the free space of his house. However, he is a bit anxious about his homeland Costa Rica where the number of infections is growing even though none of his family members have yet been infected by the coronavirus.
Last season, Colindres had Marcos Vinicius of Brazil as his strike partner, but this time he is missing a genuine partner upfront at the domestic circuit. At the international circuit, though Colindres found Argentine striker Hernan Barcos as his partner, and the two combined to thrash Maldivian outfit TC Sports 5-1 in their AFC Cup debut match.
"Barcos is a great player. It is very easy to adapt with his game even for the team because he brings a lot of quality and experience," said Colindres, who was asked whether he is missing Barcos in the league.
"If much, for his qualities and leadership, but we also miss other players like Emon [Babu], Motin [Mia], [Masuk Mia] Zoni," said the 5ft 11inch forward, who scored a brace against Rahmatganj MFS to help Bashundhara Kings clinch the Federation Cup title.
Colindres believes the competition in the Bangladesh Premier League has increase, hence retaining the league title is going to be difficult. He also believes they need to fine-tune things to move up from the sixth position that the team currently lie on the 13-team table.
"We are fighting the top, but we lost last two games, we are three points away from the first-placed teams and we must improve some details to be on top," said Colindres, who has so far scored four goals in five matches following 11 goals in the league last season.
"I hope I can see Bashundhara Kings as league champions again and fight to win the AFC cup," hoped the Costa Rican, who is happy that the foreign forwards are fulfilling the demand of the club management by scoring goals regularly.
"For foreigners it is good because they [clubs] hire us to give results. As for the local forwards, from my point of view, they lack belief in their qualities," opined the inspiration forward.
"Professionally, it seems to me that I have met expectations, together with the team we have achieved great things and will fight to put Bashundhara Kings in the international eye. Outside of the profession, I have enjoyed my experience in Bangladesh," concluded Colindres.