With the aim of offering positive performances and collecting at least a point from the group stage, the 20-man Bangladesh Under-23 squad left the country yesterday night to take part in the men’s football competition of the 17th Asian Games to be held in Incheon, South Korea.
Bangladesh will face a strong challenge in Group B as they were pitted with Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Hong Kong, all ranked higher than the men in Red and Green. Bangladesh will take on the Afghans on September 15 before facing Uzbekistan three days later. Bangladesh will round off their campaign against Hong Kong on September 22.
Ahead of their departure, Bangladesh’s Dutch head coach Lodewijk de Kruif asked the fans not to place high expectations upon the team given the country’s poor record in the Asiad. Bangladesh have won just two matches in 19 attempts in the history of the competition.
De Kruif though repeated the common theme often used in football – nothing is impossible.
“The teams we will face are ranked higher in Fifa and Afc but it doesn’t mean we don’t have a chance. Everything is possible in football,” said the 44-year old head coach.
“In every game you can win three points, even if you play against Argentina. This is a big challenge for the boys. I want the players to be highly motivated,” he said.
Uzbekistan are ranked third in the AFC rankings and are considered by many to be the favourites to claim the title. Defending Saff Championship winners Afghanistan occupy 19th position in the AFC rankings while Hong Kong are placed 32nd. Bangladesh, meanwhile, are ranked 36th according to the latest AFC rankings.
“Don’t expect highly. We know they are all ranked higher but it doesn’t give any pressure to me because if you go there and have nothing to lose then you can play without pressure,” he added.
In the previous edition of the Games hosted by Guangzhou four years ago, Uzbekistan and Hong Kong were grouped with Bangladesh. Bangladesh will not have fond memories as they went down to defeats against both the teams.
De Kruif went on to say Uzbekistan will be the toughest team among the three nations. “I think even my country Netherlands will have problems with a team like that when they face them. That is the toughest game in the group stage.”