Bangladesh wasted little time settling into their Vietnam camp, completing an intensive training session on Sunday as preparations gathered pace for the upcoming FIFA international friendly against the hosts.
After arriving in Hanoi earlier in the day following a long journey from Dhaka, the national football team trained for around an hour and a half at the Vietnam Youth Training Centre. The session marked their first on-field workout since landing, with players shaking off travel fatigue quickly.
Despite the short turnaround, the training was demanding. Under the guidance of head coach Javier Cabrera, the squad focused on fitness work, ball control and tactical organisation, while also beginning match-specific planning.
“We had a long journey, but the players recovered very well, actually better than expected,” Cabrera said after the session. “So we had a slightly harder session than planned short but intense. We could also work on some tactical concepts for the Vietnam match.”
While Eid-ul-Fitr is being celebrated across Bangladesh, the footballers are spending the festival on national duty abroad. As families gather at home, the players are focused on training sessions and tactical preparations.
Alongside the senior men’s national side, three different age-group teams are also engaged in international assignments, making it a busy period for Bangladesh football.
Bangladesh departed on the morning of Eid for their Vietnam mission with limited preparation time. The squad managed only two training sessions in Dhaka before travelling.
“It has been a very short and tight window,” Cabrera said. “We trained just two days in Dhaka, and here we have only three or three and a half sessions before the match.”
Still, the Spanish coach remains confident, pointing to continuity in the team’s playing philosophy.
“Many of our concepts are a continuation of what we have been doing for a long time. There will be some adjustments, but we should have enough time to be prepared.”
Captain Jamal Bhuyan will lead Bangladesh against Vietnam on 26 March before the side face Singapore in their final Group C fixture of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers on 31 March.
Team manager Amer Khan said preparations will move into full rhythm from Monday despite the fatigue of travel.
