Booters start reporting for camp

The footballers are set to shift focus to national engagement from domestic completions as they have started checking in at Inter-Continental Hotel in Dhaka for next month's World Cup Qualifiers in Qatar.

"I had to give up affection of my small daughter and had to forego spending Eid with the family members. So you can understand how serious we are to do well in Qatar," Habibur Rahman Shohag told The Daily Star yesterday.

The Mohammedan defender was one of four footballers who reported to team management yesterday while the rest of the 28-member squad will check in by Wednesday.

Though Bashundhara Kings have not decided yet when to release their 10 players, seven players from Uttar Baridhara Club, Sheikh Jamal DC, Sheikh Russel KC and Chattogram Abahani are scheduled to join the camp today. The remaining players from Saif SC and Muktijoddha Sangsad are scheduled to join on Wednesday.

"We had training this (Monday) afternoon but no decision of releasing the players for the national team has been made," said Kings' technical director BA Jubair Nipu.

The players will undergo Covid-19 tests on Wednesday and training will start the day after Eid. Fitness coach Ivan Razlog is supposed to conduct gym and swimming sessions today.