The residential camp of the Bangladesh football team got underway yesterday as 27 booters among the 32-member preliminary squad reported for training at BFF House yesterday.
Sheikh Russel KC winger Zahid Hossain (illness) and Nasir Uddin Chowdhury and Yeasin Khan (head injuries) were unable to report while Jamal Bhuiyan will join the camp this Monday following his vacation in Denmark. Bangladesh-born German expatriate Reasat Khaton is expected to join the camp on May 30.
In the absence of Dutch head coach Lodewijk de Kruif, who is currently vacationing in the Netherlands, and his deputy Saiful Bari Titu, German goalkeeping coach Christian Schweichler and assistant coach Masud Parvez Kaiser are guiding the national side. Bangladesh Football Federation general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag yesterday informed that De Kruif will return to Dhaka tomorrow to take charge while Titu is scheduled to return from Malaysia this Saturday.
During the camp, Schweichler’s instructions were simple: “Eat, sleep and practise but no gossiping and facebooking during this time. It’s a great opportunity for the players to prove their worth in the World Cup qualifiers.”
Captain Mamunul Islam is suffering from an injury and was unable to play the last three matches for Sheikh Jamal DC in the Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League. The talismanic midfielder, however, is hopeful of a return sooner rather than later.
“I am feeling better but still on the road to recovery. I do not want to take any risks but wish to play the warm-up matches if I get fully fit. Hopefully, I can start pressure training within two or three days,” said Mamunul yesterday.
Bangladesh will kick off their 2018 Fifa World Cup second round qualifiers against Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on June 11 and 16 respectively. Both the qualifiers will be held at Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Ahead of the World Cup qualifiers that will also double up as the qualifying stage for the 2019 Asian Cup, Bangladesh will also face Singapore and Saff champions Afghanistan on May 30 and June 2 respectively in two Fifa international friendlies at Bangabandhu National Stadium.