Bangladesh U-19 team aims to qualify in AFC age group

A 31-member Bangladesh Under-19 football team will leave Dhaka for Tajikistan today with a high hope to qualify in the AFC age group competition when they will participate in the qualifying round to start from October 29.

The team will fly at 11:30am from the Shahjalal International Airport.   

Tajikistan bound Bangladesh Under-19 team comprised with most of players who were in the SAFF Under-18 championship squad, played last month where they could not win the trophy due to head to head equation with Nepal.

Bangladesh, who were drawn in he Group B, will have to face the hosts Tajikistan in their opening match on October 31 when the other teams are – the top favourites Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

However, ahead to their Tajik mission head coach Mahbubur Hossain Roxy, team manager Amirul Islam Babu, technical and strategic director of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Paul Smally and the goalkeeper Pappu Hossain expressed their expectation and possibility.

Paul Smally, explained the tour of Bangladesh Under-19 in Tajikistan will be very exciting, as the Under-18 team’s had in Bhutan in the SAFF Championship where they displayed dominating football.

“It was very exciting time in the SAFF competition in Bhutan, I think there is big opportunity in the AFC to focus in the bigger competition with demonstrating good performance. Players are prepared and hope they would keep up the momentum. In the age level competition usually the difference not so high among the participants.”

Team’s head coach Mahbub Hossain Roxy, in his address first of all said that his target is to get good result and to display improved performance but he repeatedly said that it would be better if the team would have more times to practice all together and had to play any practice matches.

“First of all, our target to do better result in Tajikistan, than we did in Butan and to display improved performance. But we had only nine days to practice, if you have more time and would have opportunity to play practice matches to prepare the team it would be better.”

“Our plan is to go match by match and our first match is against Tajikistan that is very important. But the main concern is weather, we are going from 24 to 25 degree Celsius but Tajikistan we will have to play normally 15, 14 but it turned into under ten and in the evening six to five also, said Roxy.”

Replying to a query, whether there is any possibility to cross the qualifying round, former national colour said, “I don’t like to say anything advance, performance on the field is main thing, as main subject is to qualify so we certainly we can expect.” “Though, if we can win the two matches, against the hosts and Uzbekistan I think we would be able to qualify but if to move into final round we have to win all the matches,” said Roxy.

Pappu Hossain, the young goalkeeper also looked very confident, when he said that they have good team and have ability to cross the phase if they perform in accordance with their ability.

Out of 41 teams - ten (10) group winners and five best second-placed teams will advance to final phase along with the host country. The AFC U-19 Championship qualifying stage is scheduled to take place from October 31 to November 8, 2017.

Bangladesh U-19 team aims to qualify in AFC age group

A 31-member Bangladesh Under-19 football team will leave Dhaka for Tajikistan today with a high hope to qualify in the AFC age group competition when they will participate in the qualifying round to start from October 29. The team will fly at 11:30am from the Shahjalal International Airport. Tajikistan bound Bangladesh Under-19 team comprised with most of players who were in the SAFF Under-18 championship squad, played last month where they could not win the trophy due to head to head equation with Nepal. Bangladesh, who were drawn in he Group B, will have to face the hosts Tajikistan in their opening match on October 31 when the other teams are the top favourites Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives. However, ahead to their Tajik mission head coach Mahbubur Hossain Roxy, team manager Amirul Islam Babu, technical and strategic director of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Paul Smally and the goalkeeper Pappu Hossain expressed their expectation and possibility. Paul Smally, explained the tour of Bangladesh Under-19 in Tajikistan will be very exciting, as the Under-18 teams had in Bhutan in the SAFF Championship where they displayed dominating football. It was very exciting time in the SAFF competition in Bhutan, I think there is big opportunity in the AFC to focus in the bigger competition with demonstrating good performance. Players are prepared and hope they would keep up the momentum. In the age level competition usually the difference not so high among the participants. Teams head coach Mahbub Hossain Roxy, in his address first of all said that his target is to get good result and to display improved performance but he repeatedly said that it would be better if the team would have more times to practice all together and had to play any practice matches. First of all, our target to do better result in Tajikistan, than we did in Butan and to display improved performance. But we had only nine days to practice, if you have more time and would have opportunity to play practice matches to prepare the team it would be better. Our plan is to go match by match and our first match is against Tajikistan that is very important. But the main concern is weather, we are going from 24 to 25 degree Celsius but Tajikistan we will have to play normally 15, 14 but it turned into under ten and in the evening six to five also, said Roxy. Replying to a query, whether there is any possibility to cross the qualifying round, former national colour said, I dont like to say anything advance, performance on the field is main thing, as main subject is to qualify so we certainly we can expect. Though, if we can win the two matches, against the hosts and Uzbekistan I think we would be able to qualify but if to move into final round we have to win all the matches, said Roxy. Pappu Hossain, the young goalkeeper also looked very confident, when he said that they have good team and have ability to cross the phase if they perform in accordance with their ability. Out of 41 teams - ten (10) group winners and five best second-placed teams will advance to final phase along with the host country. The AFC U-19 Championship qualifying stage is scheduled to take place from October 31 to November 8, 2017.