Bangladesh girls are confident of putting on a good show in the first round of the 2019 AFC U-19 Championship Qualifiers, despite being pitted in a formidable group alongside two-time champion South Korea, Chinese Taipei and host Tajikistan.
The girls in red and green will leave here for Tajikistan early Friday morning before taking on the Koreans Wednesday. They will conclude the first round qualifiers against Chinese Taipei and Tajikistan on October 26 and 28 respectively.
The six group champions will qualify for the second round of qualifiers, alongside the two best runners-up sides. The second round of qualifiers will be held in April next year. The eight teams will be divided into two groups from which the two pool champions and as many runners-up sides will advance to final round where host Thailand, Japan, North Korea and China lie in wait.
Ahead of their Group D opener against South Korea, Bangladesh U-19 women’s team head coach Golam Rabbani Choton was under no illusions with the tough task facing them.
“South Korea are the strongest team of the group. Other teams are formidable as well. It will be a tough challenge. But if the girls believe they can do it, then I think we can achieve something significant. The girls are ready,” said Choton in a press conference at BFF House in Dhaka Thursday.
Captain Mishrat Jahan Mousumi echoed the same sentiment, but said they are looking forward to progressing to the second round of qualifiers.
“South Korea are the reigning champion. We will try to put up a fight against them, and give our best. And we will try to win against Chinese Taipei and Tajikistan, so that we can advance to the next round,” said Mousumi.
As many as 12 members from last month’s AFC U-16 Championship first round qualifiers have been named in the current U-19 squad.
