UNB, Dhaka :Hosts Bangladesh will play SAFF champions Afghanistan in their FIFA International Friendly match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here today (Tuesday). The match will kick off at 4pm and Channel 9 will telecast live the match and Peoples Radio will also broadcast the running commentary of the match.Earlier on Saturday, hosts Bangladesh national team conceded a 1-2 goals defeat to Singapore National team in their first match of the FIFA International Friendly at the same venue, despite a 1-0 lead in the very 4th minute of the match.Afghanistan national football team arrived in the capital on Saturday to play the friendly match against Bangladesh as part of their preparations for the World Cup Football Qualifiers. Ahead of Tuesday’s match, Head Coach of Bangladesh team Lodewijk de Kruif said, “Afghanistan is a strong opponent, they have German, Holland and Finland based players… they have good basics and they’re tactically and technically good. So we have to put our best.””They’re a strong opponent and I’m very happy to play against a tough opponent ahead of our real challenges against Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan (in the World Cup Qualifiers),” De Kruif further said.The Bosnian born German coach of Afghanistan Slaven Skeledzic was serious about the match and said. “We’re about to start a new era with new generation footballers, I coached many of them in Germany as the youth level coach, there are no dearth of talents in Afghanistan.” “We are preparing ourselves for the World Cup Qualifiers. Bangladesh is a formidable opponent and we’re ready for the tough times they will provide in their own yard.” Slaven added.Afghan Team Manager Mustafa Mehrzad, captain Djalaludin Sharityar, Bangladesh team Manager Aminul Islam Babu, Coach Saiful Bari Titu, captain Mamunul Islam Mamun and BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag also spoke on the occasion.
