Training to begin in earnest from Saturday
Despite uncertainty about the 2021 AHF Junior Asia Cup due to the need for rescheduling, the Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) organised a month-long camp in August to keep players in touch amidst the coronavirus pandemic. The conditioning camp was greatly beneficial especially to those outside service teams and was completed in early September.
However, training for the under-21 team will again be in full swing from Saturday as they prepare for the Junior Asia Cup to be held at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium in Dhaka from January 21. The tournament will also see the top four teams qualify for the 2021 FIH Junior World Cup.
Although 18 players were included in the conditioning camp under Bangladesh Air Force trainer Mohammad Moniruzzaman, 36 players, including those 18, were included this time. They will train under Mamunur Rashid, who had initially started the training with the group in June last year and oversaw three wins and a loss during a five-match series against their Omani counterparts last November, which were also staged as part of preparations for the Junior Asia Cup.
"We selected 36 players from the U-21 national team for residential training. They are scheduled to report to the coach on Saturday," BHF acting general secretary Mohammad Yousuf said. "The players, coaches and officials will undergo Covid-19 testing next Monday and Tuesday before going to Bangladesh Air Force's Bangabandhu Base in Cantonment on October 15."
Saying that it would take at least a month for players to regain fitness, head coach Mamunur Rashid added: "We will come to the Maulana Hockey Stadium four days a week for practice. Each day will consist of two sessions in the morning and afternoon. There will be two more days' training to be determined on the basis of available facilities at the Bangabandhu Base.
"Some players had physical training a few days ago but I don't know the present condition of players, barring six from Bangladesh Navy. Players from Bangladesh Army and Bangladesh Air Force are also supposed to be in good condition as all service teams have been training," the former national coach said, adding that he would have a better idea about the players after conducting a fitness test.
Explaining why the Bangabandhu Base was chosen as the venue, BHF general secretary Yousuf said: "We thought it would be tough to control players and others and keep them separate, so we took this decision. However, if the [coronavirus] situation is normal in the near future, we will shift the camp to the stadium."
Bangladesh have set their sights on finishing among the top three teams in the 10-team tournament to secure qualification to the U-21 World Cup and Mamunur feels staging a tri-nation tournament involving top two teams in December would allow him to get some perspective.
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