Bangladesh national football team's newly appointed head coach, Thomas Dooley, has praised the country's unwavering passion for football, saying the extraordinary attention surrounding an upcoming friendly against San Marino reflects how deeply the sport is embedded in the nation's culture.
The German-American coach shared his thoughts on Facebook before Bangladesh's departure for Europe on Sunday, where the team will face San Marino in an international friendly on June 5. The match will mark Dooley's first outing since taking charge of the national side.
Despite spending only a few days in Dhaka and overseeing three training sessions, the 64-year-old said he has been struck by the extraordinary level of enthusiasm surrounding football in the country.
"As we leave for Europe for our upcoming test match, I continue to be amazed by the passion for football in Bangladesh," Dooley wrote.
The coach highlighted the remarkable attention the team has received despite the fixture being a friendly rather than a major tournament or qualifier.
"This is not a World Cup qualifier. It is not a continental championship. It is not even a match against a higher-ranked opponent. It is simply a friendly test game against a team ranked below us," he said.
"Yet the media attention has been extraordinary. Cameras lined both sides of the field. Reporters everywhere. Fans following every step."
According to Dooley, the overwhelming interest reflects the importance of football in Bangladesh and the expectations carried by the national team.
"That level of interest says everything about how much this country loves football. The expectations, the passion, and the support are immense. It is a privilege for me, our staff and players to represent millions of people who care so deeply about the game," he added.
The former United States international concluded his message by paying tribute to the country's football culture.
"Bangladesh football has a powerful heartbeat, and you can feel it every single day."
Bangladesh left Dhaka on Sunday for San Marino, where they will continue preparations with four more training sessions before Thursday's friendly.
Midfielder Hamza Choudhury, along with Shamit Shome and Zayyan Ahmed, are expected to join the squad in San Marino ahead of the match.