Mohammad Mahedi Hasan
Captain
Hometown: Bandar, Narayanganj
Major tournaments: Mokh Cup 2014 in Malaysia, Fiesta Cup 2015 in Korea (on both occasions coach was Mostafa Anwar Parvez Babu)
Mitul Marma
First-choice goal-keeper
Birth: December 11, 2011
Hometown: Bilaichhaari, Rangamati
First major tournament: Bangabandhu Gold Cup Primary School Tournament 2014
“We had this focus in training to practise extra penalties. Mehedi [Hasan] proved he is better in this skill. If we continue training under the current coaches for a long time, we will get better and we have some players who could be top-class.”
Bangladesh’s age-level football could not be in a better shape right now, be it boys or girls, and the success story continued as the U-15 lads brought more laurels for the country at the Saff Championship early last month in Nepal.https://t.co/Zb5qiFhYMb#BFF #BANGLADESH #SAFF
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) December 21, 2018
Mohammad Mehedi Hasan
Goalkeeper, penalty specialist
Birth: February 1, 2004
Hometown: Sharsha, Benapole
First major tournament: Pioneer League 2016
Joined Alhaz Nur Islam Football Academy in late 2016 and coached by former national footballer Sabbir Ahmed Palash. Trained there every afternoon.
“It was our first international tournament. We made many mistakes at the beginning of the national camp, but the coaches were always there to help me rectify those mistakes. We the players also discussed among ourselves in the hotel room.”
When Rajon Hawladar missed the first spot-kick in the final’s penalty shootout, Mehedi went up to him and said, “Don’t get upset. I will save the penalty for you.”
Mostafa Anwar Parvez Babu, head coach, started taking coaching seriously after being inspired by former national senior team head coaches Saiful Bari Titu and Maruful Haque.
Playing career: 1998-2009
One of the key playing members in Bangladesh’s only Saff Championship winning campaign in 2003, and runners-up campaign in 2005.
“I only coached them for two months and a half and you could see the difference. I also credit Paul Thomas Smalley for the guidelines. It’s only the beginning of a long journey, but we can take inspiration from the title.”
Took “A License” course under the supervision of Smalley, along with his coaching mates.
On his goalkeeping duo
“I wanted to utilise the most of their talents as a coach. He (Mehedi) has the ability to do such things against penalties. He rescued us in the semi-final. Mitul [Marma] is good in a 90-minute game. So we had this plan, if we go to tie-breaker, we would field Mehedi, and he was mentally prepared beforehand. Both of them shared their experience with each other, and bonding is very strong between them.”
Coaches: Mostafa Anwar Parvez Babu, Mahbubur Alam Polo, Jahan-e-Alam Nur-e Rahel, Rashed Ahmed Pappu and Mizanur Rahman Minar (goalkeeping coach).