Bangladesh national hockey team skipper Mamunur Rahman Chayan and head coach Naveed Alam pledged to give hundred percent and are confident of bringing success in the men’s Asian Games Qualifying Tournament, which is starts in the capital tomorrow.
Oman will take on Chinese Taipei in the inaugural match at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium at 2pm. Bangladesh - who are in Pool B with Singapore, Hong Kong China and Iran - will play their first match against Hong Kong on Sunday at 4pm.
In a MoU signing ceremony held at the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA), the hockey federation introduced tournament sponsors and partners, Chayan said that the team is ready to give their 100 percent and determined to something to forget their Asia Cup Hockey debacle.
“We the players are more depressed than anyone after what happened earlier. The unity among the players was 50 percent in the Asia Cup but this time the thing is different and we are ready to give 100 percent and all play united as a team no matter who the opponents will be,” said the national captain yesterday.
Bangladesh’s Pakistani head coach Naveed Alam was more confident than the captain. “After Asia Cup disaster we focused on building three things- unity, discipline and trust. I know the team much more than before. The current team is better, united and it has mixture of youth and experience. We have attacking forward line with a compact defense.
“This is the best Bangladesh team and it has more fighters. They have done extra work for the national team and they will fight for the country. We want to become champions,” added the head coach.
Bangladesh Hockey Federation general secretary Khwaja Rahmatullah was also hopeful to bring success. “We are ready and prepared for the tournament. We will do our best to bring success this time,”
The federation, however, has been boosted by huge financial support from its sponsors to organize the meet. Title sponsor Islami Bank will provide Tk10m while co-sponsors Sadharon Bima, Jibon Bima and Janata Bank will give Tk2.5m each and Sonali Bank will give Tk500,000.
The acting chairman and managing director of Islami Bank Abdul Mannan and Mostafa Anwar and dress partner Anjan’s CEO Shahin Ahmed were also present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, Qatar team arrived in the city yesterday. The other six participating countries are likely to arrive by tomorrow. Six of the eight teams will qualify for the Asian Games and join the six elites - South Korea, India, Pakistan, Japan, Malaysia and China.
