Bangladesh Olympic team got North Korea in their first-ever knockout stage fixture in the Asian Games 2018 Friday after drama in Monday's football events saw both Group F overnight leaders Iran and Saudi Arabia concede defeats against Myanmar and North Korea respectively.
Bangladesh footballers however, passed the day after their win and historic qualification in quite a happy and relaxed mood while two of the assistant coaches Mahbubur Rahman Roksy and Masud Parvez Kaiser went to watch the Myanmar versus Iran and Korea versus Saudi Arabia matches at two separate venues respectively.
The topic among the players during breakfast in the morning was all about the win on the previous night against Qatar. They had been staying in the same hotel and left the place in the morning.
Mahbubur Rahman Sufil said it was a “dream come true” after beating the 2022 World Cup host.
Those who played against Qatar stayed in the hotel, recovered through swimming sessions while the rest of the players including the senior ones had their usual training session.
Although the Bangladesh Olympic team competing in the @asiangames2018 comprise U-23 players except three senior members, almost all of them have been in national team contention for quite a while.https://t.co/LWFplaW0gO#ASIAN #GAMES #ASIANGAMES #AG #ASIAD #BANGLADESH #BFF
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) August 20, 2018
The mastermind behind Bangladesh’s brilliant display at the Asiad, English head coach Jamie Day, was congratulated by the Bangladesh Football Federation, his family members and friends. It has to be one of the best moments of his coaching career to guide Bangladesh into the historic Asiad knockout qualification in only three months with the national team.
The seven senior players including Mamunul Islam, Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, Waly Faisal, Emon Babu, Shakhawat Rony and Sohel Rana have been vibrant presences during each of the games, encouraging and appreciating the efforts of the junior players all the time.
The most veteran member of the national team, Nasir told reporters, “They play on the pitch but off the pitch we are the ones with more pressure. They did their job for the country at Asiad, now it’s our turn to give the country something back in the Saff Championship.”
With the Round of 16 opponent just decided Monday night, Day said they will start working on the game plan for the game Friday.
