Agency, South Korea :
It will be an acid test for Bangladesh national U-23 booters as they face mighty Uzbekistan-23 football in a crucial Asian Games football group-B match schedule to be held today at Ansan Wa Stadium in South Korea.
The much-awaited tie is going to kick-off at local 8pm (5pm BST) under the floodlight.
Bangladesh team management believes that expectations at home must be sky high. Assistant and goalkeeper coach Saidul Bari Titu talking to BSS correspondent said: “In reality we know that Uzbekistan are way ahead of us, where as the FIFA ranking is concerned, but we know if we pull a miracle then we would have the chance to proceed to the second round.
Uzbeks are 15th in the World Ranking while we languish at distant 170th position, but on the given day, it matters how you play on that particular day. So we are keeping our finger cross and hope for another brilliant performance like we did against Afghanistan.”
“We know our limitations, so our strategy should be not to swallow many goals because at the end of group matches, it’s the goal averages that would decide who goes to next round. But we know it would be a Herculean task to keep the Uzbeks forwards at bay, said Titu.
Bangladesh skipper Mamunul Islam with his brilliant goal is now a hero for Bangladeshi staying in South Korea. Mamun taking to BSS said: “I would thanks BOA and Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) for taking steps to send us earlier.
Specially, the friendly match against Vietnam allowed to find our weaknesses. Though we lost 4-2 but after watching the video of that match, our coaches could identify the mistakes we committed and against Afghanistan, we could apply and rectify those mistakes.
But we know, Uzbeks forwards must be hungry after drawing 1-1 against Hong Kong, so our next rival Uzbeks would leave no stone unturned to dismantle our fortress.
“The ball is in our court, now is the time to produce something extra ordinary performance. I have asked my boys that this match would decide our fate whether we can qualify for the second round.
Tomorrow, before our match, Hong Kong is meeting Afghanistan, so the result of that encounter would also have an impact in our match, said the mid fielder Mamun”. Bangladesh Dutch head coach Lodewijk de Kruif was more practical while talking to BSS he said “It is a very important fixture for my team and what out any doubt, Uzbeks are one of the contender for gold medal in this competition.
My message for my boys is to remain positive and they should not allow their opponent to think that they have come in this match only to avoid big defeat. Give them impression you mean business and play your best soccer.
I hope our boys can match their physical strength and spring surprise for our superior rival. It is a very tough match and all depends how our boys reacts against very organized and experienced side.
