All the players and coaches of the Bangladesh football team in Qatar tested Covid-19 negative and were allowed to train on the field for the first time at Aspire Zone Sundaymorning, ahead of their World Cup and Asian Cup joint qualification fixture against the host on December 4.
The Covid-19 positives of manager Amer Khan and physio Fuad Hasan Hawlader after arriving in the Qatari capital raised a little bit of concern regarding the travelling members but the latest report saw the rest of them free from the virus.
Before leaving the Bangladeshi capital, defender Manjurur Rahman Manik tested positive two days after a similar result of head coach Jamie Day, who is waiting to join the team in Qatar soon after the recovery period.
Through a video message from the practice venue in Doha’s famous sports city – Aspire Zone - assistant coach in-charge, Stuart Watkiss said, “Finished first proper football session since we are in Qatar. It’s very nice to get back on the grass again.
“It was a good 90-minute session. There was lots of passing, movement and there was a practice match to finish with in the last 30 minutes. So it gets everybody going again, breathe it heavy, and working on the fitness,” added the English coach, terming the venue “fabulous” training center.
Goalkeeper Ashraful Islam Rana said, “Everyone is okay and enjoyed the first practice session. Everyone is excited with regards to the facilities of the practice venue, accommodation, gymnasium, foods. If we do good training we can hope for a good result.”
Bangladesh assistant coach Stuart Watkiss makes a point during training BFF
Aspire Zone has one of the finest football academies in the world.
It has been scouting and nurturing millions of budding footballers around the globe for over a decade.
Bangladesh trained at one of around half-dozen pitches in the outer spaces of Aspire Academy.
BFF’s assistant competitions manager Hasan Mahmud informed Dhaka Tribune that the majestic venue is half-an-hour distance from the team hotel where Bangladesh side are staying at one of three adjacent towers.
The team stayed quarantined in the last three days after the arrival.
They had only gym sessions at the team hotel during this time but no swimming sessions yet due to safety concerns.
Bangladesh team pose for photographs BFF
“The hotel has three towers and there is only Bangladesh team at one of the towers. We are like quarantined in the hotel,” said Hasan over phone.
The Covid-19 mark was identified on Amer and Fuad during the RTPCR test at the airport.
Their second report was “fine” but they will be isolated for two more days and undergo another test Tuesday before their release, informed the BFF official.
Day had another Covid-19 test in Dhaka Saturday which came positive again the next day, while assistant coach Masud Parvez Kaiser flew in the morning to join the team in Qatar.
The team are scheduled to play a couple of practice matches against local clubs Army Football Team and Lusail Sports Club Wednesday and Thursday respectively.