The residential camp of the Bangladesh Under-23 football team under the supervision of head coach Andrew Ord begins at Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP) today (Tuesday).
“I would work keeping in mind both the present and future needs of Bangladesh football,” said Ord while talking to reporters at Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) House on Monday.
The newly appointed British-born Australian head coach said he had one eye on the present and another on the future as he announced a 36-member U-23 squad slated to feature in the AFC U-23 Championship Qualifiers in Palestine in July.
Bangladesh will play Jordan, Tajikistan and Palestine in the four-team Group E Qualifiers battles of the AFC U-23 Championship on July 19, 21 and 23.
“There had been five days of trials so far. Then, in the second phase I will try to see more players. Unfortunately I am still to see a number of players to play,” Ord said.
The coach, who is interested to see the new crop players from U-16 and U-19 sides, emphasised on building a team for the future and pointed out that the nine out of the 36 were U-19 players. “That is 25 percent. It will be the future of Bangladesh football. They will gain more experience with the U23 team.”
Ord was surprised at the lack of fitness among the selected players at the trials. “One month should be good enough for the players. We need to train hard with intensity.”
Replying to a query, he said, “There were tough challenges ahead. We have got to be organised. We need to make sure we are solid at the base. They (Jordan, Palestine) are all strong.”
Asked a specific goal in the AFC U-23 Qualifiers, the coach was quick to pull the reins back on high expectations. “You have to be realistic. I have no expectation from this tournament.”
He said the campaign would give the team some experiences and also give him an opportunity to observe the players.
He intends to use the team for the upcoming Bangabandhu Cup and the SAFF championship. “I can’t guarantee anything,” said Ord.
Having started on the job about two weeks ago, Ord cautioned that in Palestine, the ground will be big. “It will not be easy. Tajikistan will be strong. We just have to get fit, organised and get some team spirit going.”
He stressed that the team has to get some experience too.
Team manager Satyajit Das Rupu, BFF general secretary Abu Naeem Shohag, BFF members Fazlur Rahman Babul and Amit Khan Shuvro were also present at the press briefing.
