While countries like India have already begun preparations for the upcoming AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers, Bangladesh is yet to appoint a head coach for its U-23 national team — a major concern just months before the tournament.
The issue was included in Saturday’s meeting of the Bangladesh Football Federation’s (BFF) National Team Committee, but no final decision was reached. With head coach Javier Cabrera expected to be busy with the senior national team during the September FIFA window, BFF is now exploring both foreign and local options for the U-23 role.
However, to be eligible to coach in the AFC U-23 tournament, one must hold a Pro License. Among local coaches, only Maruful Haque, Saiful Bari Titu, Zulfiker Mahmud Mintu, Masud Parvez Kaiser, and Zakaria Babu meet this requirement. Yet, two to three of them have already shown reluctance to take up the responsibility, putting the federation in a bit of a bind.
Despite the coaching uncertainty, there’s growing optimism around this U-23 squad. As such, the committee is considering arranging one or two international friendly matches in August, either at home or abroad, to give the players some much-needed exposure.
One of the key decisions from the meeting was related to the use of Fortis Football Club’s facilities. If the dormitory standards improve, BFF is open to hosting national team camps there. Interestingly, the meeting was held at Fortis, whose owner Shahadat Hossain is himself a member of the National Team Committee.
The meeting also ended with a reaffirmation of BFF’s commitment to provide regular support to both the senior and U-23 national teams.