BSS, Dhaka :
Bangladesh National Football team will start their three nations cup campaign as they face strong Palestine in a match scheduled to be held today at Dolen Omuzakov Stadium in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
The match kicks off at 8.30 pm (BST).
Ranked 102, Palestine are eighty six places ahead than Bangladesh in the FIFA rankings and have not lost against Bangladesh in the last five matches since 2006 with Palestine winning four matches and one ending in a draw. So Bangladesh will face an uphill task to tame Palestine in their today’s opening match of the tournament.
Prior to the first match, Bangladesh skipper Jamal Bhuiyan said the players are hundred percent ready for the tournament. The Bangladesh skipper also hinted to apply a new system against Palestine.
The captain said: ‘We’ll play in a new system. If it works, then we’ll continue the system.” Jamal however did not disclose what is the new system.
Terming next month’s SAFF Championship as important for team, Jamal Bhuyan said: “Less than a month is left for the SAFF Championship …. We’ll play the tri-nation cup tournament mainly to prepare for the SAFF Championship.”
The important thing now is to finish the preparation of SAFF in a short time. Time is very important for us. We are all fine and everyone is ready to play in the tournament, he added.
Commenting about the first match between Kyrgyzstan and Palestine, the Bangladesh captain said, they have seen the match and got an idea about the strengths and weaknesses of the two teams and worked on it in the practice session. He also discussed with the coach in this regard.
“The coach explained everything to us. We are now fully prepared for the tournament,” Jamal concluded.
Head coach Jamie Day said” “We’re looking forward for Sunday’s match against Palestine and the boys have been trying very well in the last three or four days…….. We know Palestine is a big side, powerful and strong team …. So it’ll be a difficult game……. It’ll be tough but at the same time it’ll be a good test for the players as well.”
Replying to a question Jamie said they would apply different tactics in the three matches of the tournament which is part of preparation for the SAFF Championship. The three games are going to be a good experience and very tough for the players.
On the other hand, after losing the first match against host Kyrgyzstan, Palestine must be looking forward to stage a fight back against Bangladesh.
