A 29-member Bangladesh U-19 Football team leave here for Nepal on Tuesday morning to participate in the six-nation South Asian Federation Football (SAFF) Under-19 Championship to be held in Kathmandu on August 20-29 keeping their eyes on the title.Dhaka Mohammedan’s midfielder Masuk Miah Jony will captain the Bangladesh youth football team which comprises of 23 booters and six officials.Earlier, Bangladesh have been placed in Group A along with hosts Nepal and Bhutan while Group B team consists of India, Afghanistan and the Maldives.Bangladesh will start their SAFF Under-19 campaign taking on Bhutan on Saturday (Aug 22) at 3:30 pm (Nepalese time) and will face hosts Nepal on Monday (Aug 24) at the same time, venue of which is yet to be finalised.Hosts Nepal will play Bhutan in the inaugural match on Thursday (August 20) while Afghanistan will encounter the Maldives on the following day (Friday), both at 3:30 pm. On completion of the group matches, the two semifinals matches will be held on Aug 27 — the first one at 12 noon while the 2nd semis at 3:30 pm. The final match will commence on August 29 at 3 pm.Addressing a press conference at the BFF Bhaban on Monday, Bangladesh captain Masuk Miah Jony said, “I am included in the U-19 side for the first time. I am expecting a good result from my team. We want to go far way and our final target is to be the champions.” Head coach of Bangladesh Under-19 team Saiful Bari Titu, who is also a national coach, said, “Our team did not play adequate practice matches ahead of the tournament due to rain and inclement weather during the one and half months training session where we gave emphasis on tactical side.” “I think the strength of all the teams in the region is almost the same and our target is to achieve best place,” he added. Replying to a question, the Bangladesh coach told the journalists that they have formed a balanced side recruiting nine professional league players with a strong midfield.BFF vice-president Tabith Awal, general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag, Bangladesh team manager ANM Aminul Haque Mamun and Assistant coach Zulfiker Mahmud Mintu also spoke on the occasion. Bangladesh team: players – Masuk Miah Jony (captain), Mohammad Salahuddin, Anik Hossain, Mashududdin Ahmed Chowdury, Mohammad Ibrahim, Sabbir Hossain Sumon, Mohammad Emon, Tutul Hossain Badsha, Mannaf Rabby, Rakib Sarkar, Faisal Ahmed, Mohammad Mithu, Shahriar Bappy, Anisur Rahman, Imran Hossain Rubel, Bishwanath Ghosh, Istekharul Alam Shakil, Biplo Ahmed, Mohammad Rocky, Saiful Alam Khan, Mahfuz Hasan Pritom, Rohit Sarkar and Rahmat Miah.Officials: ANM Aminul Haque Mamun (Team Manager), AKM Saiful Bari Titu (Head Coach), Zulfiker Mahmud Mintu (Asst Coach), Mahbubur Rahman Litu (Asst Coach), Mohammad Atiquzzaman (Team Doctor) and Shahidul Islam (Media Officer).
