Bangladesh Under-19 football team will kick off their 2015 Saff U-19 Championship campaign today with the match against Bhutan at ANFA Complex in Nepal at 3:45pm (Bangladesh standard time).
The hosts defeated Bhutan 3-1 in last Thursday's inaugural game of the age-level tournament's maiden edition so a victory for the junior Tigers will be enough to take them through to the semi-finals and consign the Dragons to last place in the group.
Following the success of the Bangladesh U-16 side in the just-concluded third edition of the Saff U-16 Championship, the U-19 team are inspired to put up a positive display in Nepal. Unlike the past, none of the current U-19 players have represented the senior team but the squad does comprise nine players who have played in the top-flight.
Bangladesh U-19 head coach and national assistant coach Saiful Bari Titu admitted yesterday that the current Bhutan side have improved than before but said his charges are ready.
“We must win the match to qualify for the semi-final. All of us saw the match video of the Bhutan team. They are much-improved than before because they are now playing pressing football. But we also know how to tackle them. So our first target is to reach the last four,” Titu told the media yesterday.
Bangladesh captain Masuk Mia Joni said, “All the players are physically well, mentally prepared and ready to give a tough fight to win the match and play in the semi-final.”
Bangladesh will face hosts Nepal in their second and final group-stage match this Monday at the same venue.
