The Bangladesh national football team’s visit to Thailand is likely to be deferred for 10-15 days as Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) wants the players to work on their fitness and prepare more thoroughly under the supervision of the new trainer. The 35 man preliminary camp will start today, with the players reporting to BFF coach Syed Golam Jilani. With the players warming up until Dutch assistant coach Rene Koster takes charges from July 1, BFF will be completing the process of appointing the trainer, who will be included in the national team management. Head coach Lodweijk de Kruif will be arriving in the capital on June 3. Kazi Nabil Ahmed, the vice president of BFF and the chairman of the National Teams Committee, explained the causes behind the deferral of the national teams’ Thailand visit. “Firstly, there is no rush or time deadline. We are all set to appoint a new trainer and we have to give him some time to adjust with his players. If the players get full-fledged training for two weeks and then fly to Thailand, we think it would be more useful, so we are planning to defer the tour for ten or some more days,” said Nabil. Meanwhile the national players will be staying at the BFF House and practice will be held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. Rumours of a mystery camp outside Dhaka have yet to be confirmed. “We have not finalised anything like that, it will all depend upon the Dutch coaches,” said Abu Naeem Shohag, the general secretary of BFF. The BFF is also not sure yet about the arrival of the three expatriate players - Jamal Bhuiyan of Denmark, Reasat Kahton of Germany and Anondo Rahman of Australia. BFF has chalked out an elaborative program focusing upon regaining the SAFF Championship scheduled to be held in Nepal in September. BFF is looking to give more overseas exposure to the team and is mulling a couple of overseas tour before the final challenge of the SAFF Championship. The plan includes matches against Malaysia also. After completing the SAFF Championship in September there will be no respite for the national booters as BFF is set to host the Bangabandhu Gold Cup in October. Five teams - Malaysia, Thailand, Iran, Kuwait and UAE – have responded positively to the tournament.