Bangladesh’s Under 20 hockey team produced a much stronger display against the senior national side on Wednesday, just hours after newly appointed head coach Giles Bonnet took charge for the first time.
The practice match took place at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium, where the senior team is preparing for the Asian Games. Bonnet, who arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday night, watched the match from the dugout and guided the young players throughout the game with instructions from the sidelines.
The impact was clear. After suffering a heavy 7-1 defeat to the seniors in their previous meeting, the Under 20 side fought with much greater discipline and determination this time.
The youngsters kept the senior team scoreless through the opening two quarters with an impressive defensive effort. The breakthrough finally came in the third quarter when the seniors scored twice from penalty corners. Ashraful Islam and Amirul Islam found the net to secure a 2-0 victory for the senior side.
Despite the defeat, Bonnet was pleased with what he saw in his first session with the team.
“Yeah, I enjoyed it. It was a good start. The players were very receptive to the information that we are trying to change things. I’m very happy with that,” Bonnet said.
“There’s a mindset in the players with a willingness to change. Great energy from the team, it’s a good group.”
The performance offered encouraging signs for Bangladesh’s youth programme. The young players showed far better organisation and resilience against a stronger and more experienced senior side, suggesting Bonnet has already begun to make an early impact.
The display is expected to give the Under 20 squad a boost in confidence as they continue preparations for upcoming international tournaments.
