Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuiyan has described the upcoming Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong on 9 October as a “do or die” match for the national team. The Red-Greens will then travel for an away clash against the same opponents on 14 October, making victory in the home fixture essential to remain in contention for the main round.
Speaking at the team hotel on Monday (29 September) after the squad reported for camp, Jamal said, “Actually, this match is do or die for us. To play in the Asian Cup, we must win. Hong Kong is probably at the top of the group right now, level on points with Singapore, so this match is extremely important.”
Ahead of the clash, coach Javier Cabrera announced a 28-member preliminary squad. Despite recent limited appearances for the national side, Jamal expressed his desire to play: “I want to play. I felt bad not being able to play in the previous match. It also bothers me if I cannot play. That is the coach’s decision.”
In Group C, Singapore and Hong Kong both have four points, with Singapore ahead on goal difference. Bangladesh sits third with one point from two matches, while India also has one point but a worse goal difference. The group winner will directly qualify for next year’s Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Jamal highlighted the importance of preparation, noting Bangladesh’s limited recent match practice compared to their opponents. “It would be good for us to play a match. We were supposed to play two against Nepal, but due to circumstances only one happened. That is not in anyone’s control,” he said. Hong Kong, meanwhile, has tested itself against some of Asia’s strongest sides, including Japan and South Korea.
Despite the challenges, Jamal remains optimistic. “We will have the home advantage in this match. Still, performance on the day is crucial in football. If we cannot perform well on that day, we will have to be disappointed,” he said.
Tickets for the Bangladesh-Hong Kong match sold out in under an hour, a development that excited the captain. “Football is now moving into a new landscape. Earlier, when we started playing, people did not follow so closely. Now everyone asks when the match is, whether we must win, and who played and who didn’t,” Jamal added.
