Bangladesh will host the SAFF Championship for the first time in eight years, and head coach Thomas Dooley has made no secret of his target: bringing the title back to a country that last lifted it on home soil in 2003, its only triumph in the competition’s history.
The 15th edition of the tournament runs from 4 November to 17 November, with matches to be held at the National Stadium in Paltan. The tournament logo was unveiled in Dhaka on Saturday, with mobile phone brand Tecno confirmed as title sponsor. Dooley, the 65 year old American coach tasked with ending the 23 year drought, was the focus of attention at the event and did not shy away from the scale of the ambition.
“What’s the main target of the tournament? Of course, we want to be champions,” Dooley said. “Whether we will win in the end, I don’t know, but I can tell you we are doing everything possible to win. The same goes for the players. I want them to give everything they have on the pitch. If the opponent plays better, then bad luck, we will find out what we did wrong, but this is not just talk, it’s about action. It’s been 23 years since Bangladesh last won. I think the time has come. We have to move forward with confidence, but not overconfidence.”
Dooley, who played at two FIFA World Cups during his own career, said he wants that same winning mentality instilled in his squad, including defender Topu Barman and forward Shekh Morsalin. “My mentality has always been the same, whether as a player or a coach. I want to win every match. It doesn’t matter whether we’re playing Germany, Brazil, Argentina or anyone else.” He was quick to add perspective on the level of opposition Bangladesh will actually face. “In SAFF we’re not facing Argentina, Brazil, Germany or England. We’re playing our neighbours, teams that are slightly above or below us in the FIFA rankings. What matters is the mentality we take onto the pitch. Everything is possible. But if we take it lightly, it will be very difficult. If we take it seriously, we have a chance of lifting the trophy.”
India remain Bangladesh’s fiercest rivals in the competition, with Nepal also having emerged as a strong side in recent years. Dooley reiterated that preparation time has been limited. “For the players and coaches, it’s exciting. The most important thing is that this is a tournament, not just a friendly. A tournament means much more than anything else. We haven’t had much time to work together, especially on the pitch, so it’s a challenge.”
Shekh Morsalin echoed his coach’s ambitions, pointing to the significance of playing in front of a home crowd. “The coach always wants to win and that motivates us, whether in team meetings or anywhere else. Our thinking is the same. We have to win somehow. This is a massive opportunity for us because we haven’t won SAFF for so long. We don’t want to let this chance slip away.”
Bangladesh reached the semi finals of the previous edition, and the squad has since been bolstered by the arrival of overseas based players Hamza Choudhury, Shamit Shome and Fahamedul Islam. Having now spent more than a year training and playing together, defender Topu Barman believes the group has developed a stronger understanding heading into the tournament. “We won SAFF 23 years ago, and our main goal is to win it again. We’re playing at home, with our supporters behind us and the whole nation watching. We have a big responsibility, but we want to prove on the field that we are the best and that we deserve to be champions. We’ve already spent a year playing with them, so we understand their mentality, especially during training and matches. They fit into the team without any problems. Whenever they join us, they lift the mood of the entire squad and give us extra confidence.”
