Focus on performance, not result
While Bangladesh and visiting Nepal are eagerly anticipating their first taste of the new normal through the first of two FIFA-sanctioned friendlies today, both sides are also nurturing hopes of a triumphant return to action.
The match will get underway at 5:00pm BST with state-owned Bangladesh Television and private channel T-Sports telecasting the match from the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
The coronavirus pandemic had halted sporting activities all over the world, but European nations have already come out of their Covid-19-induced slumber and are holding domestic and international matches.
Asian nations have also stepped up and adapted to the new normal, with Bangladesh and Nepal availing the opportunity afforded by FIFA's November friendly window to renew their rivalry as well as get back into competitive action after a break of almost eight months.
Bangladesh and Nepal had little time to prepare for the match and, given the circumstances, are focused on their performance rather than thinking about the outcome. "We are looking forward to getting football back in Bangladesh. I think providing the players with match time is the first thing and it is obviously going to be a tough game because we lost to them in an U-23 game and in the SAFF championship. The boys worked as hard as they could. It is their first game in eight months so they may make mistakes, but we have to ensure they are prepared and injury-free," head coach Jamie Day told a crowded press conference at the BFF House yesterday.
Despite Bangladesh having more time to prepare than Nepal, whose preparations were hampered by eight of their players testing positive for Covid-19, Day was not interested in
"This time I'm not worried about favourites. I'm not worried about winning the match. I want to get the team ready and give players game time before the Qatar match. If you ask about a win, I want to win every match for Bangladesh. If you see the whole picture of Nepal, they are around 170 in the FIFA rankings and they beat us twice previously. We had three weeks of training and will assess the performance of the players through tomorrow's match. I don't think the match is about who is stronger, who is sharper or who had more training."
On the other hand, captain Jamal Bhuiyan was hungry to avenge the two losses against Nepal.
Nepal coach Bal Gopal Maharjan echoed Day's sentiments, saying: "I am not looking for a win. I want to measure the team and individuals' improvement as we lacked preparation and lost almost four players of the starting eleven due to Covid-19. So it is going to be a problem, but I believe in my boys."