Bangladesh U-15 football team coach Mostofa Parvez Babu dedicated the 2018 Saff U-15 Championship trophy to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after his charges clinched silverware beating Pakistan in the final at ANFA Complex, Lalitpur, Nepal Saturday.
Bangladesh prevailed in the tie-breaker once again as they won on 3-2 after the stipulated 90 minutes ended in a 1-1 draw.
With this trophy, Bangladesh equalled India, whom they beat in the semi-final, in the roll of honour as they won silverware for the second time in five editions.
Pakistan have won it once.
Bangladesh boys clinch Saff U-15 Championship after beating Pakistan in the final in Nepal. Read more - https://t.co/glcHsW8QTZhttps://t.co/CNMv8GfQNI#BANGLADESHFOOTBALL #FOOTBALL #BANGLADESH #PAKISTAN #PAKISTANFOOTBALL #BANGLADESHU15FOOTBALLTEAM #PAKISTANU15FOOTBALLTEAM #BFF pic.twitter.com/xZ9BolQVH3
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) November 3, 2018
Parvez also thanked Paul Thomas Smalley, the technical director of the Bangladesh Football Federation, who has been guiding the age-level men and women’s teams, as his experience enriched the boys.
While dedicating the win to PM Hasina, an ecstatic Parvez said after the game, “Can’t express my feelings in words. The players worked hard on the pitch. We tried to play following the guidance of our technical director Smalley. The game was like a war against Pakistan.”
Parvez also mentioned the support of the BFF, especially its boss Kazi Salahuddin.
Bijan Barua, one of the officials of BFF, who was with the team in Nepal, also thanked Salahuddin and he thought this is a step forward towards a greater journey.
Bangladesh boys clinched the Saff U-15 Championship after beating Pakistan 3-2 on penalties in the final at ANFA Complex in Lalitpur, Nepal Saturday.https://t.co/CNMv8GfQNI#BANGLADESH #FOOTBALL #BANGLADESHFOOTBALL #PAKISTANFOOTBALL #PAKISTAN #PFF #BFF #BANGLADESHU15FOOTBALLTEAM
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) November 3, 2018
“It’s the start of our journey. The BFF and its president have dreams, we hope with these steps we will get closer to attaining that. This is a start. I hope this success will transcend to the senior teams, thus we may bring greater glory for our country. I thank the BFF and also our countrymen for their immense and continuous support,” said Bijan.
Meanwhile, Salahuddin enjoyed the enjoyed the game with the club officials of Dhaka Mahanagari 1st Division, 2nd Division and 3rd Division and other football organisers at the conference room of BFF House through a giant screen.
Bangladesh’s reverse goalkeeper Mehedi Hasan became the hero once again and stamped his credentials as a penalty saver as he made three saves in the shootout to hoist his country’s flag high.
Mehedi, who emerged as the hero against India in another pulsating tie-breaker, however, was not in the starting XI.
It was the shrewd tactical decision of coach Parvez that saw Mehedi replace designated goalkeeper Mitul Marma in the 90th minute as the match was heading to a tie-breaker with score locked on 1-1.
Mitul, who could not play in the semi-final due to suspension, had a decent day under the sticks but the prescience of the team boss proved prophetic as Mehedi made the whole team ecstatic after blocking Pakistan player Mudassar Nazar’s penalty.
BFF office was also inundated with joy as BFF boss immediately congratulated the victorious side, along with others who were accompanying him.
BFF has also planned to accord the winning side a grand reception at their arrival today afternoon at Dhaka airport.
