Saintfiet leaves for Belgium

Bangladesh national football team's head coach Tom Saintfiet flew for Belgium yesterday to attend to his pregnant wife, who is expected to give birth to the couple's first child today.

The 43-year-old coach is expected to accompany his wife and his new-born child for three days before joining the Bangladesh national team in Maldives for the warm-up match against the Islanders in Male on September 1.

“He [Saintfiet] will join the national team in Maldives from Belgium after the national team leave here for Male on August 30,” said Bangladesh Football Federation general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag, adding that the coach had already finalized his 23-member squad for the warm-up game against Maldives.   

Under Saintfiet's supervision, Bangladesh started their preparation for the Asian Cup Play-off Qualifiers against Bhutan from August 22. Bangladesh will host Bhutan on September 6 in Dhaka before travelling to Thimphu to play the away leg of their match on October 10.