Bangladesh national U-23 football skipper Mamunul Islam Mamun said they are aiming to achieve something good in the 17th Asian Games scheduled to be held from September 19 to October 4 in Incheon, South Korea.
“Our preparation in the last 35 days was very good and we played six practice matches, those who will play with us are very strong opponents, but of course our target will be to achieve something good in the Games,” said Mamun at a pre-departure press conference on Sunday afternoon at the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) conference room.
The famed mid-fielder said as they have been placed in a tough group (Group-B) in the Games, so they are targeting to win the first match against Afghanistan, the winners of the SAFF Championship.
The Bangladesh captain also expressed his firm determination about his boys performance to bring honor for the country.
The U-23 team head coach Lodewijk Darius De Kruif said boys had top preparation in the last one month and are committed to do something in the Games. “As we are in top group we have nothing to lose so we’ll play all out game to win points,” he added.
Replying to a question the Dutch coach admitted that the assignment of Asian Games is a big challenge for him. He is ready to take up the challenge and hoped that the boys would play an organized football game to bring good results. Team manager Amirul Islam Babu was also hopeful about his team’s good performance.
He said the team’s preparation was very good and if the boys are able to give as per their ability, it’s possible to bring good results for the country.
The football events of the Asian Games will begin on September 15, six days before the inauguration of the main Games.
National team’s committee chairman Kazi Nabil Ahmed, BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Sohag and U-23 team’s assistant coach Rene Koster were present on the occasion.
