Bangladesh football team is likely to play two international friendly matches against Japan in December, hinted Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president Kazi Salahuddin yesterday.
The arrangement is, however, in preliminary stage as the Japan Football Association gave only their verbal agreement to visit Bangladesh in December and the agreement is expected to be finalised before October 15. The two friendlies are planned to be held in Dhaka and Sylhet.
“The president (Kazi Salahuddin) visited Japan earlier this month and held a meeting with Japan (football federation) to talk about how to use the bond between the two nations in the development of football. They gave their verbal agreement to play friendlies in Bangladesh. It will be officially confirmed in the next two weeks,” said BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag yesterday.
BFF earlier planned to invite Japan for the Bangabandhu Gold Cup which is still uncertain, but considering the fact that a World Cup playing nation like Japan may not show interest in staying here for two weeks, Salahuddin decided to ask them for friendlies. It is also not sure, if agreed to play friendlies, whether Japan will send their full strength national team or their Olympic team to Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh U-23 team returned home from the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, as Salahuddin met the Dutch national head coach Lodewijk de Kruif on Friday and discussed about the national team’s performance in the Asiad and their future plan.
As the national team has no duty before October 24, Kruif also requested BFF president for a short leave. The Dutch coach will fly for Netherlands tomorrow morning via Turkish Airlines along with assistant coach Rene Koster.
The Dutch duo is expected back in town on October 8 or 9 and start the preparation camp for the two friendlies against Sri Lanka scheduled on October 24 and 27 in Jessore and Rajshahi respectively.
“Kruif’s father is sick so he wanted the permission to leave as he has very less to do before Eid. The president gave him a condition and asked him to return on October 8 or 9. The national training camp for Sri Lanka friendlies is likely to begin on October 10,” said Shohag.
